Circuit Breaker Faceplate Illumination via Segmented Translucent Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuit breaker modules lack effective illumination for indicating the status of circuit breakers, especially in dark conditions, making it difficult to visually distinguish tripped or faulted circuit breakers and failing to communicate diagnostic needs.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker module with a faceplate assembly featuring a planar member with opaque and translucent portions, and localized illumination sources, such as LEDs and an electroluminescent backlight, which selectively illuminate specific areas to provide clear indications of circuit breaker conditions without illuminating the entire faceplate or adjacent objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional incandescent light bulb is used to illuminate the faceplate, then all indicia are illuminated, but it cannot illuminate a specific indicia such as a warning indicia
Solution Approach 1:
The faceplate is divided into multiple translucent portions, each associated with a specific circuit breaker or warning indicia. Each translucent portion can be independently illuminated by its own light source, allowing selective illumination of specific areas rather than illuminating the entire faceplate uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the faceplate have different optical properties - some areas are translucent to allow light passage while others are opaque. This enables localized illumination control where specific indicia can be highlighted with different intensity or color based on their operational status.
2Illumination intensity
If the entire faceplate is illuminated, then all indicia are visible, but adjacent objects and push-pull handles are also illuminated which may cause glare or excessive light
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources, each positioned behind or adjacent to a specific translucent portion of the faceplate. This allows only the necessary indicia to be illuminated based on operational conditions, preventing unnecessary light from reaching adjacent objects and reducing glare.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing full illumination across the entire faceplate, the system applies partial illumination only to the specific translucent portions that need to be visible. This selective approach provides sufficient lighting for critical information while avoiding excessive illumination that would cause glare.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the module is in dark conditions, then power consumption is reduced, but the push-pull handle brightly colored stem may not be visible
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for dark conditions by having the illumination system ready to activate automatically or on-demand. When a circuit breaker trips or a fault condition occurs, the associated translucent portion is illuminated to highlight the status change, ensuring visibility without requiring continuous illumination and excessive power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system responds to feedback from circuit breaker status changes. When a circuit breaker trips, the system activates illumination for the associated translucent portion to communicate the status change to the user, balancing power consumption with information visibility.
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
The solution ensures that critical circuit breaker status and diagnostic information are clearly visible, even in low-light conditions, enhancing user safety and operational efficiency by providing targeted and customizable illumination.
Implementation Method 1
said source of localized illumination may be illuminated causing a selected planar member first side translucent portion to be illuminated
Implementation Method 2
the planar member defining a number of openings that are sized to receive the respective movable handles of the circuit breakers so as to prevent a passage of light though the openings while permitting the light to pass through the translucent portions of the planar member first side
Data Source
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AI summary
A faceplate assembly (100) is provided. The faceplate assembly (100) includes a faceplate (110) having planar member (112) with a first side (114) and a second side (116), the planar member (112) having a number of openings (118) therethrough, the planar member first side (114) having a number of opaque portions (117) and a number of translucent portions (119), each planar member first side translucent portion (119) disposed adjacent one planar member opening (118), a number of sources of localized illumination (120), each the source of localized illumination (120) disposed adjacent the planar member second side (116) and adjacent a planar member first side translucent portion (119), and wherein the source of localized illumination (120) may be illuminated causing a selected planar member first side translucent portion (119) to be illuminated.