Controllable Electrical Outlet with Timed Power Cut
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical outlets lack a mechanism to automatically disconnect electrical loads after a predetermined time, posing safety hazards due to forgotten appliances that continue to draw current, potentially leading to fires or other hazards.
Innovation Solution
An electrical outlet equipped with a current sensor, a carrier-current or wireless transceiver, and an addressable microcontroller that detects current flow and automatically switches off the power after a timed interval, using a power regulator or battery for operation, and includes a reset button for manual reactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical outlets continuously provide power to electrical loads, then electrical availability and convenience are improved, but safety hazards increase due to forgotten appliances that continue to draw current
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical outlet automatically switches off power after a predetermined time interval, creating a periodic on-off cycle. This timed disconnection prevents continuous power draw from forgotten appliances while still providing convenient access when needed, resolving the contradiction between electrical availability and safety hazards
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical outlets automatically disconnect power after a timed interval, then safety hazards are reduced, but device complexity increases due to added control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical outlet monitors its own current draw and automatically triggers the switch-off mechanism based on predetermined time intervals. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external monitoring systems or complex control mechanisms, achieving safety functionality while minimizing added device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical outlet uses a current sensor to detect when an electrical load is connected and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic timed disconnection without requiring complex external control, resolving the contradiction between safety and device complexity
3Use of energy by moving object
If electrical loads continue to draw current indefinitely, then continuous power availability is maintained, but energy wastage increases from forgotten appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic timed switch-off creates periodic power delivery cycles, ensuring energy is supplied when needed but disconnected after predetermined intervals. This prevents continuous energy drain from forgotten appliances while maintaining power availability for intentional use, resolving the contradiction between power availability and energy wastage
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 effectively prevents electrical hazards by automatically disconnecting power to appliances after a set time, enhancing safety by reducing the risk of fires and energy wastage, while allowing for manual reset for convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between the hot electrical terminal and the neutral electrical terminal
Implementation Method 2
a carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to the hot electrical terminal and the neutral electrical terminal to receive and transmit messages over existing electrical wires
Data Source
AI summary
Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.