Foreign Substance Detecting Circuit Using Voltage Slope Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foreign substance detecting circuits in connectors fail to accurately distinguish between external devices and foreign substances like water, leading to potential corrosion due to incorrect resistance readings and voltage slopes.

Innovation Solution

A foreign substance detecting circuit that includes a voltage detector and a slope detector, performing primary and secondary determining operations to differentiate between external devices and foreign substances by analyzing voltage levels and slopes, thereby preventing corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If resistance-based detection is used to identify foreign substances in connectors, then detection capability is provided, but accuracy deteriorates because resistance readings cannot distinguish between external devices and foreign substances like water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign substance detection capabilityVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from using only resistance parameters to using multiple parameters including voltage level, voltage slope, and current characteristics. By measuring the slope of voltage change over time and comparing it against threshold values, the system can distinguish between external devices (which show specific voltage slopes) and foreign substances like water (which show different voltage slopes), thereby resolving the inability to accurately detect foreign substances using resistance alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If corrosion prevention measures are implemented, then connector reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection circuits and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector reliabilityVSAvoiddetection circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects voltage level, calculates voltage slope, identifies foreign substances, and controls current flow all within a single integrated system. The same circuitry that monitors voltage for connection status also detects foreign substances by analyzing voltage slope characteristics, eliminating the need for separate dedicated detection circuits and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If multiple determining operations are performed to accurately identify foreign substances, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign substance identification accuracyVSAvoiddetection processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection by first measuring voltage level and then immediately calculating voltage slope as the connection is established. By preparing and analyzing these parameters in real-time during the connection process itself, rather than performing multiple sequential tests after connection, the system achieves high detection accuracy without significant time delay. The voltage slope calculation provides immediate differentiation between external devices and foreign substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Accurately identifies the presence of foreign substances, reducing the risk of connector corrosion by distinguishing between external devices and foreign substances based on resistance and voltage slope analysis.

Implementation Method 1

determining whether a resistance of the at least one first pin is within a resistance range corresponding to an external device is detected from the at least one first pin, based on the voltage level detected from the at least one first pin by the voltage detector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

determining whether the foreign substance is present in the connector, based on whether the voltage slope has a value determined to correspond to charge and discharge characteristics due to a capacitance element of the foreign substance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11181561B2Foreign substance detecting circuits, electronic devices having the same, and foreign substance detecting methods

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A foreign substance detecting circuit may include a voltage detector that may detect a voltage level from a first pin of a connector, a slope detector that may detect a voltage slope indicating a change of the voltage level based two voltage levels from the first pin, and a foreign substance determining device that may determine a presence of a foreign substance in the connector. The foreign substance determining device may determine whether a resistance range of an external device is detected from the at least one first pin based on the detected voltage level. The foreign substance determining device may, when the resistance range is detected, determine that the foreign substance is present in the connector, based on the voltage slope having a value determined to correspond to charge and discharge characteristics due to a capacitance element of the foreign substance.