Capacitor Energy Transfer for Controlled Shutdown of Marine Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine electronic devices often experience abrupt power disconnections, leading to data loss and corruption of flash memory and SD card modules during shutdowns.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a main unit and a secondary unit, where the secondary unit stores energy for sonar functions and can transfer this energy to the main unit via a harvesting circuit when the primary power source falls below a predetermined threshold, ensuring a controlled shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the marine electronic device uses large capacitors to store energy for sonar functions, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor bank is designed to serve dual purposes: storing energy for high-power sonar transmissions and providing backup power for controlled shutdown operations. This multi-functionality allows the same energy storage component to address both sonar performance requirements and data protection requirements, avoiding the need for separate backup power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing capacitor bank resources to provide backup power for shutdown operations, rather than requiring external backup power sources. The detection circuit monitors power input levels and automatically activates the shutdown sequence using stored capacitor energy when power loss is detected, making the system self-protecting.
2Reliability
If the system transfers energy from the secondary unit to the main unit during power loss, then the reliability of shutdown process is improved, but the loss of time for energy transfer occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor bank is pre-charged during normal operation while the system is powered by the main power source. This preliminary energy storage ensures that when power loss occurs, the energy is already available for immediate transfer to support the shutdown sequence, eliminating the need for real-time charging during the critical shutdown period.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a rapid detection and response mechanism where the detection circuit immediately identifies power loss conditions and triggers the shutdown sequence without delay. The pre-charged capacitor bank enables the system to rush through the shutdown process quickly, minimizing the time window where data loss could occur.
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 system allows for a proper shutdown of marine electronic devices without data loss, even when power is abruptly lost, by utilizing stored energy from capacitors to complete the shutdown process.
Implementation Method 1
Some modern marine electronic devices use large capacitors to store energy for sonar functions, and this energy can be used to ensure a complete and proper shutdown of the marine electronic device.
Data Source
AI summary
Example systems and methods are provided herein for providing for a controlled shutdown of a marine electronic device. Such marine electronic devices include a main unit, a power input in connection with the main unit, and a secondary unit configured to store energy for processing sonar data. The power input is configured to provide energy to the main unit, and the secondary unit is connectable to the main unit to provide stored energy to the main unit. Also included is a processor configured to determine whether the power input is providing energy within a predetermined threshold to the main unit and then, in response to a determination that the power input is not providing energy within the predetermined threshold to the main unit, cause the secondary unit to provide the stored energy to the main unit.