Detachable Standalone Controller with Sealed Terminals for Device Reuse
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices integrate control and instrumentation components, leading to increased costs and design complexities, and often result in the entire device being discarded when only peripheral components are damaged, hindering recyclability and reusability.
Innovation Solution
A standalone controller with a detachable design, featuring a housing with power terminals, a PCB, and conducting elements, including reverse polarity protection and EMF shielding, allowing it to be attached to and detached from various electronic devices while preventing EMF leakage and ensuring efficient power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control and instrumentation components are integrated into electronic devices, then operational characteristics can be achieved, but overall costs and design complexities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is separated from the electronic device into a standalone unit with a housing, PCB, and detachable connections. This segmentation allows the control components to be designed independently, reducing the complexity of integrating multiple functions into a single device while maintaining operational capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The standalone controller is designed to work with multiple types of electronic devices through universal interfaces and detachable connections. The controller can be attached to different devices as needed, providing multi-functionality without requiring device-specific integration for each application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control and instrumentation components are integrated into electronic devices, then targeted operational characteristics are achieved, but the entire device must be discarded when peripheral components are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the controller into a standalone unit with detachable connections, the design enables selective replacement of only the damaged peripheral components while retaining and recycling the controller and other functional parts. This reduces material waste and supports sustainable design principles.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable design facilitates the recovery and reuse of the controller and other undamaged components. When peripheral components fail, they can be replaced while the controller is retained for continued use with different devices, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing disposal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a standalone controller is designed to operate several kinds of devices, then versatility is achieved, but the controller must be sold separately for attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The controller incorporates universal interfaces and detachable connection mechanisms that enable compatibility with multiple types of electronic devices. The standardized design allows the same controller unit to be attached to and detached from different devices without requiring separate manufacturing or configuration for each device type.
4Strength
If power terminals are made from ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, then magnetic attachment is achieved, but reverse polarity connections may cause adverse incidents
Solution Approach 1:
Reverse polarity protection circuitry is incorporated into the controller to prevent damage from incorrect connections. The protection mechanism is built in advance to detect and respond to reverse polarity conditions, blocking harmful current flow before it can cause adverse incidents while allowing proper magnetic attachment to function normally.
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
Enables the reuse of control and instrumentation components across multiple devices, reduces waste, and provides cost-effective, modular operation with enhanced protection against reverse polarity and EMF interference.
Implementation Method 1
The at least two power terminals are made from a ferromagnetic or a paramagnetic material
Implementation Method 2
at least two conducting elements electrically coupled to the PCB for transmitting electrical power received from the power source
Implementation Method 3
contacts between the lower portion and the at least two power terminals are sealed at locations of the at least two respective holes for ingress protection
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a standalone controller for detachably attaching to an electronic device to perform monitoring and control of operational characteristics of the electronic device. The standalone controller includes a housing defining an enclosed cavity, the housing including an upper portion and a lower portion. The standalone controller further includes at least two power terminals, the at least two power terminals located in at least two respective holes provided in the lower portion. The standalone controller further includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) located within the enclosed cavity. A power source is electrically coupled to the PCB. Also, at least two conducting elements are electrically coupled to the PCB for transmitting electrical power received from the power source. Also, contacts between the lower portion and the at least two power terminals are sealed at locations of the at least two respective holes for ingress protection.