Miniaturized Connecting Appliance Power Supply via Terminal Potential Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic appliances face challenges in creating small-sized connecting devices that can receive power supply while enabling communication, as internal power sources hinder the miniaturization process.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves an electronic appliance system with a connecting section that includes a power-supply terminal and a detecting section to recognize the type of connecting appliance based on the potential change of the connecting terminal after power supply initiation, allowing power to be supplied externally without the need for an internal power source in the connecting device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an internal power source section is installed in the connecting appliance, then power supply capability is ensured, but the size of the connecting appliance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidsize of connecting appliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power source function from the connecting appliance itself and relocates it to the electronic appliance side. The connecting appliance no longer needs an internal battery or power source, as the electronic appliance provides power through the USB interface. This extraction eliminates the bulky power source component while maintaining power supply capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary power supply mechanism where the electronic appliance acts as the power source through the USB interface. Instead of the connecting appliance having its own power source, the system uses the electronic appliance's power output as an intermediary to supply power to the connecting appliance, enabling miniaturization of the connecting appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If power supply is provided to the connecting appliance through USB interface, then the connecting appliance can be miniaturized, but the type of connecting appliance cannot be recognized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of connecting applianceVSAvoidtype recognition capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the connecting appliance change the potential of the ID terminal before power supply is activated. This preliminary potential change serves as a signal to the electronic appliance to identify the type of connecting appliance, enabling type recognition to occur before power is supplied, thus resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and type recognition capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by having the connecting appliance actively signal its type through potential changes on the ID terminal, which the electronic appliance detects and uses to determine how to configure power supply and communication. This feedback mechanism enables the electronic appliance to adapt its behavior based on the connecting appliance type while maintaining a miniaturized design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the connecting appliance changes potential before power supply, then type recognition is enabled, but power supply control becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetype detection accuracyVSAvoidpower supply control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses preliminary action by having the connecting appliance set its ID terminal potential before power supply is activated. This allows the electronic appliance to detect the appliance type in advance and pre-configure its power supply control logic, simplifying the overall control mechanism rather than increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing potential level changes on the ID terminal as a simple binary signal to indicate appliance type. This straightforward parameter change approach (high/low potential) enables reliable type detection without introducing complex control mechanisms, maintaining system simplicity while achieving accurate detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9047073B2System method for detecting a type of device wherein a potential level of the device determines if power should be supplied based on the type of the device

Publication Date: 2015.06.02 NIKON CORP

AI summary

A small-sized connecting appliance is provided. An electronic appliance includes: a connecting section including a power-supply terminal and a connecting terminal to be connected to a connecting appliance; a detecting section that detects the potential of the connecting terminal; a power source control section that starts supplying power via the power-supply terminal; and an appliance recognizing section that recognizes the type of the connecting appliance based on the result of detecting the potential of the connecting terminal after the power supply start. A computer readable medium causes a computer to perform: detecting the potential of a connecting terminal connected to a connecting appliance; starting power supply via a power-supply terminal included in a connecting section that connects to the connecting appliance; and recognizing the type of the connecting appliance based on the result of detecting the potential of the connecting terminal after the power supply start.