Battery Transport Safety System with Microcontroller Switch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport safety systems for battery-operated electrical devices are not satisfactory as they can lead to errors and are not user-friendly, as they require additional steps or aids for activation/deactivation, and may not prevent battery discharge during transport effectively.
Innovation Solution
A transport safety system that uses a microcontroller to deactivate the electrical components by interrupting the voltage supply through a mechanical or electronic switch, activated by a specific button actuation sequence during charging, ensuring the device remains inactive until the user intentionally deactivates it, allowing for easy activation and deactivation without additional user actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transport safety system using labels or adhesive strips is used to prevent battery discharge during transport, then battery discharge is prevented, but the system requires additional user actions to remove the label and may leave residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transport safety function from passive labels and integrates it into an active electronic control system. The microcontroller-based system removes the need for physical labels by using electronic switching to control battery connectivity, thereby eliminating label removal steps and residue issues while maintaining discharge prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical label-based system with an electronic control system. Instead of using physical labels that must be manually removed, the system uses a microcontroller to electronically control the connectivity between battery and device, providing a more reliable and user-friendly solution.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is used to prevent unwanted actuation during transport, then unwanted activation is prevented, but the system increases device complexity and may not be reliably activated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the activating button serve multiple functions: it acts as both the normal operation button and the transport safety system activation/deactivation button. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms while maintaining reliable prevention of unwanted activation during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's own existing button and microcontroller to provide transport safety functionality, rather than requiring external locking mechanisms. The microcontroller monitors button presses and automatically controls battery connectivity, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall complexity.
3Reliability
If the battery is completely separated from the consumer unit during transport, then discharge is prevented, but the device cannot be used immediately after purchase without reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protection by activating the transport safety system automatically when the device is in transport mode (battery separated or device in charging dock). The microcontroller is pre-programmed to control battery connectivity based on detected conditions, providing discharge prevention without requiring user intervention while maintaining immediate usability upon purchase.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical device having a transport safety system that prevents unwanted discharge of the battery during transport. The electrical device has a battery connected to the electrical device, a charging device configured to be connected to the electrical device or to the battery, and an electrical discharge protection circuit associated with the battery or the electrical device to prevent discharge of the battery during transport. The electrical discharge protection circuit is adapted to be activated when connected to the charging device by engaging a button actuation on the electrical device, and is adapted to be deactivated by charging the battery. The discharge protection circuit is configured so that a wanted or unwanted actuation of the button when the discharge protection circuit is activated does not lead to activation of electrical components of the electrical device.