Wall-Outlet Ethernet Surge Protector With Ground Plug Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet surge protection devices lack mounting components for wall installation and require professional installation with extensive copper wiring to a ground point, making them difficult to install and use.
Innovation Solution
A surge protector design with a housing, printed circuit board, and ground plug portion that allows mechanical and electrical coupling to a wall outlet, eliminating the need for copper wiring and enabling easy installation by directing electrical surges to the outlet's ground for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional Ethernet surge protection devices are used, then surge protection function is provided, but installation complexity increases due to requirement of copper wiring to ground point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ground wire connection requirement from the surge protector device itself and relocates it to the electrical outlet infrastructure. The surge protector only needs to connect to the outlet's existing ground, eliminating the need for separate copper wiring runs to a distant ground point. This is achieved by designing the surge protector to utilize the outlet's ground path instead of requiring an independent ground connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical outlet serves as an intermediary between the surge protector and the ground system. Instead of directly connecting the surge protector to a ground point through copper wiring, the outlet's ground path acts as a mediator, providing a convenient and already-established ground connection path that simplifies the installation process.
2Reliability
If conventional Ethernet surge protection devices are used, then surge protection function is provided, but ease of installation deteriorates due to professional installation requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The surge protector is designed to utilize the existing electrical outlet infrastructure (outlet body and ground path) to provide its own grounding connection. This self-service approach eliminates the need for professional installation personnel to run copper wires to a ground point, allowing end-users to install the device themselves by simply plugging it into an electrical outlet.
3Reliability
If conventional Ethernet surge protection devices are used, then surge protection function is provided, but device complexity increases due to extensive copper wiring requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the extensive copper wiring requirement from the surge protection system by extracting the ground connection function and relocating it to the electrical outlet. The surge protector device itself no longer includes or requires long copper wire runs to a ground point, as it utilizes the outlet's existing ground path instead.
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
Facilitates simple and effective surge protection for Ethernet equipment by eliminating the need for copper wiring and professional installation, enhancing protection against electrical surges without compromising installation ease.
Implementation Method 1
the ground portion and the electrical coupling portion of the housing portion are structurally configured to electrically couple the printed circuit board to a ground of an electrical wall outlet via the ground plug portion such that an electrical surge on the input Ethernet cable is directed to the ground of the electrical wall outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A surge protector is configured to protect Ethernet equipment from an electrical surge. The surge protector includes an Ethernet cable input portion structurally configured to receive an Ethernet input cable, an Ethernet cable output portion structurally configured to receive an Ethernet output cable to connect to an Ethernet device, a ground plug portion having a dummy portion and a ground portion, and wherein the ground portion is structurally configured to connect to an electrical wall outlet so as to direct an electrical surge on the input Ethernet cable to a ground of the electrical wall outlet so as to protect equipment that is electrically connected with the output Ethernet cable from the electrical surge.