Cable Temperature Threshold Control for Safe Power Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices connected to poor-quality cables that mimic E-marked cables can misidentify the cables, leading to potential overheating and safety risks due to inadequate temperature management during power delivery.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a power control unit with a temperature detecting unit that sets a threshold temperature and stops power reception or supplies when the cable temperature exceeds a permissible limit, ensuring safety by authenticating the cable and managing power delivery based on its characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If power is supplied via a cable without proper authentication, then power delivery functionality is improved, but cable temperature may exceed permissible limits causing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower deliveryVSAvoidcable temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device performs cable authentication and temperature threshold setting before power delivery begins. The temperature detecting unit measures cable temperature in advance, and the control unit sets appropriate temperature thresholds based on authentication results, preventing unsafe power delivery before it can cause harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature detecting unit continuously monitors cable temperature during power delivery and provides feedback to the control unit. When the cable temperature approaches or exceeds the threshold, the control unit adjusts or stops power delivery to prevent dangerous temperature rise, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If cable authentication is performed to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable authenticationVSAvoidcontrol unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs multiple functions including cable authentication, temperature threshold setting, and power delivery control within a single integrated component. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the added authentication requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature detecting unit and control unit work as an integrated safety management system, combining temperature monitoring, authentication verification, and power control functions into a unified approach that manages complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If temperature monitoring is continuously performed, then safety is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature managementVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature detecting unit performs periodic temperature measurements rather than continuous monitoring. The control unit adjusts monitoring frequency based on power delivery state and authentication results, reducing energy consumption while maintaining safety through strategically timed measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution effectively prevents overheating and ensures safe operation by authenticating cables and managing power delivery, thereby protecting both the device and the cable from damage.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the cable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3998520B1Electronic device, method, and program
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 CANON KK
  • EP3998520B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3998520B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3998520B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device (100) includes a detecting means (1097), a communicating means (1097), and a control means (108). The control means (108) changes a threshold temperature from a predetermined temperature to a temperature indicated by a cable information including information related to a cable (200), in a case where the temperature indicated by the cable information is higher than the predetermined temperature and the communicating means (1097) has received the cable information. The control means (108) controls a power supply device (300) to stop supplying power from the power supply device (300) to the electronic device (100) via the cable (200) or controls the electronic device (100) to stop receiving power from the power supply device (300) via the cable (200), in a case where a detected temperature of the cable (200) is higher than the threshold temperature.