Car Charger Cable LED Power Level Indication Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chargers lack an effective way to indicate the power level of a device being charged, making it difficult for users to determine when a device is fully charged or low on power, especially when the device is not in their line of sight.
Innovation Solution
A power sensing and indication circuit that uses multiple photodiodes emitting different colors to indicate the power level of a device, connected via various USB connectors, including USB, USB-C, and micro-USB, to provide visual feedback on the charger itself, allowing users to see the charge status without needing to look at the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If charging indicator lights are used on the charger, then users can see when the charger is providing power, but the lights cannot indicate the power level of the personal device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the charging cable as an intermediary element that contains LED indicators. The cable acts as a mediator between the charger and the user, transmitting power level information from the charger to the user's field of view. The cable's position between the charger and the device allows it to display power level information conveniently for the user without requiring them to look at the device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the power level indication from the device dimension to the cable dimension. Instead of displaying information on the device screen (which may be out of user view), the indication is transferred to the charging cable, creating a new spatial dimension for information display that is always accessible to the user.
2Loss of information
If the personal device has its own indicator, then the power level can be shown, but the device may be located in an inconvenient location that is out of the field of view of the user
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable serves as an intermediary that relocates the power level indication from the device to a position within the user's field of view. The cable connects the charger to the device and brings the indication capability to the user's immediate vicinity, eliminating the need for the user to look at the device which may be in an inconvenient location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the indication function from the device itself and places it on the charging cable. By dividing the system into charger, cable, and device components, the indication function is assigned to the cable segment, which is optimally positioned for user observation regardless of device location.
3Reliability
If existing charging indicator lights are used, then power provision can be indicated, but the power level status (fully charged, low on power) cannot be communicated to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different colors to different segments of LEDs along the charging cable to provide localized quality variations that encode power level information. Different sections of the cable display different colors (e.g., green, yellow, red) to indicate different power levels, allowing the user to determine the exact charging status without additional indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes in the LED indicators to communicate power level information. The LEDs can display different colors (such as green for fully charged, yellow for partially charged, red for low power) to provide intuitive visual feedback about the device's power status, enhancing the information conveyed by the charging indicator.
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 provides clear visual indicators on the charger, allowing users to easily determine the power level of their devices, ensuring they are not overcharged or undercharged, and supports multiple device types, ensuring compatibility and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a first set of multiple photodiodes for emitting light of a first color and second set of multiple photodiodes for emitting light of a second color
Data Source
AI summary
A power sensing and indication circuit includes a first device connector for charging a first device and having a first pin and a second pin, the first pin of the first device connector being connected to an output voltage port of a controller. The power sensing and indication circuit includes a first amplifier. The first amplifier has an inverting input port, a non-inverting input port and an output port. The power sensing and indication circuit includes a first set of multiple photodiodes for emitting light of a first color and a second set of multiple photodiodes for emitting light of a second color. The power sensing and indication circuit includes at least one of a transistor or a digital circuit to cause the first set of multiple diodes to emit light of the first color or the second set of multiple photodiodes to emit light of the second color.