Electrical Distribution System With Asymmetric Trace Cross-Sections

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical distribution systems experience non-uniform current distribution among parallel conductors, limiting their overall current carrying capacity due to uniform cross-sectional areas and similar resistances in both traces and conduction paths.

Innovation Solution

The system features a configuration where the first and second traces have respective cross-sectional areas that decrease in opposing directions along the connection span, with multiple conduction paths forming parallel electrical connections, each with similar nominal electrical resistance, and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches to facilitate uniform current distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If uniform cross-sectional areas are used in both traces and conduction paths, then manufacturing is simplified, but current distribution becomes non-uniform limiting current carrying capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcurrent carrying capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the cross-sectional areas of traces and conduction paths to achieve uniform current distribution. Specifically, the first trace has a cross-sectional area that decreases along the connection span, while the second trace has a cross-sectional area that increases, creating locally optimized resistance characteristics that balance current flow across all parallel conduction paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If similar nominal electrical resistance is achieved in all conduction paths, then current distribution becomes uniform, but trace geometry becomes asymmetric

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent distribution uniformityVSAvoidtrace symmetry

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry in trace geometry to achieve symmetric current distribution. The first trace is designed with a cross-sectional area that decreases along the connection span, while the second trace has a cross-sectional area that increases, creating asymmetric shapes that compensate for the natural current distribution tendencies and result in uniform current flow across all parallel paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration achieves a more uniform distribution of electrical current, enhancing the overall current carrying capacity by ensuring similar resistance across all conduction paths, thereby optimizing power transmission.

Implementation Method 1

Multiple conduction paths can form parallel electrical connections along a connection span between the first and second conductors, with each of the conduction paths having a respectively similar nominal electrical resistance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS8916996B2Electrical distribution system

Publication Date: 2014.12.23 RUSHMORE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

An apparatus, such as an electrical distribution system, is provided. The apparatus can include a first conductor and a second conductor. Multiple conduction paths can form parallel electrical connections along a connection span between the first and second conductors, with each of the conduction paths having a respectively similar nominal electrical resistance. The first and second conductors can have respective cross-sectional areas that decrease in opposing directions along said connection span.