Fuse Resistor Network for Stable Line Driver Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face communication disruptions due to high resistance tolerances and temperature coefficients of fuses in Ethernet-based networks, particularly in potentially explosive environments, leading to unreliable data transmission and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A resistor network comprising a fuse connected in series with a first resistor and a second resistor in parallel, where the second resistor has a higher value to compensate for the fuse's resistance tolerances, ensuring a stable total resistance at predefined temperatures and power inputs, suitable for use in potentially explosive environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fuse is used to limit current or power, then current limitation is achieved, but resistance tolerance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse is divided into two functional parts: a first fuse segment connected in series with a first resistor, and a second fuse segment connected in parallel with the series combination. This segmentation allows each segment to serve different purposes - the series segment for current limitation and the parallel segment for resistance tolerance compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
Resistors are introduced as intermediary elements to compensate for fuse resistance tolerances. The first resistor in series and the second resistor in parallel work together to stabilize the total resistance, reducing the impact of fuse resistance variations on the overall circuit performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If a fuse with low resistance tolerance is used, then resistance stability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the circuit configuration from a single fuse to a combination of fuse segments and resistors. By adjusting the resistance values of the first and second resistors, the total resistance tolerance is reduced without requiring expensive low-tolerance fuses, thus achieving cost-effective resistance stability.
3Reliability
If a fuse is used in potentially explosive environments, then current limitation is achieved, but power input increases
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel connection of the second fuse segment with the series combination of the first fuse segment and first resistor creates a dynamic circuit configuration. Under normal operating conditions, current flows through both paths, but under fault conditions, the circuit dynamically adapts to limit power input and ensure safety in explosive environments.
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 resistor network effectively reduces resistance tolerances, ensuring reliable power adjustment and current limitation, maintaining communication integrity and safety in industrial automation systems, even in explosive environments, while minimizing costs by reducing the need for fuses with low resistance tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
A second resistor is connected in parallel with the fuse and with the first resistor. The resistance of the second resistor is, depending on a power input into the apparatus in a fault state and/or depending on a predefined tolerance of the resistance of the apparatus, a multiple of that of the first resistor.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for compensating for resistance tolerances of a fuse for a circuit, wherein the apparatus is particularly intended for use in a line driver for a communication device and includes a tolerance-affected fuse, a first resistor connected in series with the fuse, and a second resistor connected in parallel with the fuse and the first resistor, where the apparatus has, at a predefined ambient temperature, a resistance that corresponds to a desired total resistance, where the resistance of the second resistor is, depending on a power input into the apparatus in a fault state and/or depending on a predefined tolerance of the resistance of the apparatus, a multiple of that of the first resistor.