Current Sensor Visual Indicator for Electrical Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical power indicators only show the presence of voltage, not current flow, leading to inaccurate representations of power usage, as demonstrated by the inventor's experience with a block heater where a plugged-in vehicle failed to start due to undetected open circuit issues.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a current sensor, microcontroller, and visual display (such as LEDs) to indicate actual current flow through an electrical connector, providing a visual or remote indication of power consumption, and optionally using Wi-Fi to transmit this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a light emitting diode (LED) is disposed in an electrical plug or connector to provide visual indication, then the device can indicate the presence of electrical voltage potential, but it cannot provide indication of electrical current flowing through the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a current sensor as an intermediary component that indirectly measures current flow by detecting the magnetic field generated around the conductor. This mediator enables the system to obtain current information without direct electrical contact, resolving the contradiction between providing current information and maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or direct electrical measurement methods with a magnetic field-based sensing approach. The current sensor uses electromagnetic induction to detect current flow, substituting direct electrical measurement with a non-contact magnetic field detection method, thereby enabling accurate current measurement while preventing additional current draw.
2Loss of information
If a current sensor and microcontroller are added to detect and indicate current flow, then accurate current flow indication is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the visual indicator to serve multiple functions: indicating voltage presence, current flow status, and potentially current magnitude levels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate indicators for each parameter, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while maximizing information provision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different LED colors or blinking patterns to represent different current flow states (e.g., green for normal current, red for excessive current, blinking for no current). This encoding method allows the system to convey multiple pieces of information through a single visual indicator component, reducing overall system complexity.
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 accurately indicates electrical current flow, preventing misinterpretations of power usage and ensuring safe and effective electrical connections by providing a clear visual or remote indication of current consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a current sensor operatively coupled to the connector wherein the current sensor is configured to detect the flow of the electrical current through the connector
Implementation Method 2
a visual display device operatively coupled to the microcontroller wherein the microcontroller comprises executable software program or code that causes the microcontroller to illuminate the visual display device when the electrical current is flowing through the connector
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for detecting the flow of electrical current through an electrical connector or outlet to an electrical load.