Flasher Relay Thermal Management via Node B Heat Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flasher relays, particularly thermocouple and capacitor types, face issues with stability, short service life, sensitivity to temperature changes, large size, heavy weight, and poor heat dissipation, making them unsuitable for high voltage applications and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A flasher relay design featuring a microchip-controlled circuit with a field-effect transistor and electromagnetic buzzer, integrated heat dissipation through a copper wire, and a compact casing without a heat sink, capable of operating across a wide voltage range of 3V-100V, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermocouple-type flasher relay is used, then the device can control turn signal lamps to flash, but the quality is unstable and service life is relatively short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermocouple-type mechanical system with an electronic control system comprising a microchip, transistors, and resistors. This electronic substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and thermal instability inherent in thermocouple designs, providing more reliable and longer-lasting operation while maintaining the flash control function.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a capacitor-type flasher relay is used, then service life is longer than thermocouple-type, but the device is sensitive to temperature changes, has large volume, heavy weight, and unstable flashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the capacitor-type system with a solid-state electronic circuit using a microchip (e.g., NE555 timer) and transistors. This substitution achieves long service life through solid-state reliability while dramatically reducing volume and weight compared to capacitor-based designs, and provides stable flash control through electronic timing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control circuit integrates multiple functions into a compact design: the microchip provides timing control, transistors provide switching and amplification, and the same circuitry adapts to various voltage ranges (3V-100V), making the device universally applicable while maintaining small size and light weight.
3Reliability
If an electronic flasher relay is used, then there is no contact and it is a silent flasher relay with stable number of flashes, but heat dissipation is poor and additional heat sink is required resulting in increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from a separate heat sink component and integrates it into the existing transistor housing and circuit board structure. The transistor cases and PCB traces serve as heat dissipation paths, eliminating the need for additional heat sink components while maintaining effective thermal management for the power transistors.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing flasher relays are adapted for voltages of 6V, 12V, 24V, then they can operate at these standard voltages, but when applied to high voltages such as 48V-60V or more, it is difficult for production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the electronic circuit with components selected to operate across a wide voltage range (3V-100V). The microchip, transistors, and resistors are chosen with parameters that accommodate varying voltage inputs, and the circuit includes voltage-dependent component selection that allows the same basic design to be manufactured for different voltage applications without requiring complete redesign.
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 provides a reliable, long-lasting, lightweight, and cost-effective flasher relay with improved heat dissipation and adjustable voltage capabilities, reducing material costs and enhancing industrial competitiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a heat dissipation terminal of the field-effect transistor is coupled to the node B, and the node B guides thermal energy to a wire so that the heat of the field-effect transistor can be dissipated effectively
Implementation Method 2
The electromagnetic buzzer is charged and discharged by a capacitor, so that the electromagnetic buzzer emits intermittent sounds
Data Source
AI summary
A flasher relay for driving a left turn signal lamp and a right turn signal lamp of a vehicle to flash includes a main body and a control circuit. The main body includes a base, a casing, and a circuit board. The circuit board is disposed on the base. The casing is mounted on the base and covers the circuit board. The control circuit is disposed on the circuit board. The control circuit includes a microchip having an input terminal coupled to a field-effect transistor and an electromagnetic buzzer. A drain of the field-effect transistor and one end of the electromagnetic buzzer are coupled to a node B. A heat dissipation terminal of the field-effect transistor is coupled to the node B, and the node B guides thermal energy to a wire.