Electric Grill Protection Circuit for Ground Fault and Overcurrent Shutdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric grills lack effective protection against harsh environmental conditions, leading to potential electrical hazards such as short circuits, overcurrent, and component failures, which can result in unsafe current conditions, especially when used outdoors.
Innovation Solution
An electric grill with advanced protection circuitry incorporating a microprocessor, Hall Effect sensor, and ground fault detection unit, which measures current and detects errors, and communicates wirelessly with a remote device to control and monitor the grill, ensuring safe operation by disabling current flow in case of faulty conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art electric cooking devices use basic wall outlet current protection and ground line reliance, then device complexity is kept low, but reliability is insufficient for harsh outdoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary protective actions by incorporating multiple detection mechanisms (ground fault detection, overcurrent protection, thermal protection) that proactively identify and respond to potential hazards before they cause damage. The microprocessor continuously monitors system parameters and preemptively shuts down heating elements when abnormal conditions are detected, preventing unsafe current conditions rather than merely reacting to them.
Solution Approach 2:
The microprocessor serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls heating element operation, monitors current levels, detects ground faults, tracks thermal conditions, and manages wireless communication. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits for each protection function, achieving high reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electric grill components are exposed to harsh outdoor environments, then ease of operation is improved for outdoor cooking, but reliability deteriorates due to component degradation from heat, weather, and contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors operational parameters including current draw, temperature, and system status through the microprocessor. This feedback mechanism allows the grill to detect environmental stress effects on components and adjust operation accordingly, shutting down when degradation thresholds are exceeded. The wireless communication provides additional feedback to users about system health and any detected issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates multiple layers of protective circuitry that cushion against potential environmental damage. Overcurrent protection prevents electrical surges from harsh conditions, thermal protection shields against heat-related component failure, and ground fault detection protects against moisture-induced electrical hazards. These protective measures are built in beforehand to withstand outdoor environmental stresses.
3Reliability
If advanced protection circuitry with multiple detection mechanisms is implemented, then reliability is improved for detecting unsafe current conditions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protection functions (ground fault detection, overcurrent protection, thermal monitoring) into a single integrated microprocessor-based control system. Rather than using separate dedicated circuits for each detection function, the microprocessor handles all monitoring and control tasks, reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining comprehensive protection capabilities. The wireless communication module also serves dual purposes for both user interaction and system status monitoring.
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 effectively protects against unsafe current conditions, enabling safe outdoor use by detecting and responding to errors such as overcurrent, ground faults, and microprocessor failures, thereby preventing electrical hazards and ensuring user safety.
Implementation Method 1
a Hall Effect sensor configured to measure current passing to said at least one heating element
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. The microprocessor may further be in wireless communication with a remote device and wirelessly communicate error codes indicative of an error, and receive control signals from the remote device for controlling temperature or turning the grill off. The remote device may also receive operating parameters and create a log of the electric grill's conditions at the time of an error.