Electric Harness With Supercapacitor Branch for Inrush Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic systems face issues when a secondary electronic device draws a brief inrush of electric current exceeding the supply capacity of the primary device, leading to overcurrent conditions that can damage the primary device or cause it to disconnect power, resulting in failure of the secondary device to perform its intended functions.
Innovation Solution
An electric harness with a main branch and an auxiliary branch, featuring an electronic current limiter, a main one-way switch, and an electric energy storage device, such as a supercapacitor, to manage inrush currents, ensuring the primary device's power protection module does not trip, and the secondary device receives the required current without modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the secondary electronic device draws inrush current to activate electromechanical modules, then the device can perform its intended functions, but the primary electronic device experiences overcurrent conditions that may cause damage or power disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
An electric harness is introduced as an intermediary component between the primary and secondary electronic devices. The harness includes an energy storage device (capacitor) that acts as a mediator to absorb and release current, preventing direct transmission of inrush current to the primary device while ensuring the secondary device receives adequate power for activation
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage device in the electric harness is pre-charged before the secondary device activates. This preliminary charging allows the capacitor to immediately discharge and supply the required inrush current when the secondary device activates, preventing overcurrent conditions before they occur
2Power
If the primary electronic device supplies sufficient current for inrush conditions, then the secondary device can activate successfully, but the primary device may be damaged or disconnect power due to exceeding its supply capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The electric harness changes the current delivery parameters by using an energy storage device to decouple the peak current demand from the primary device. The capacitor absorbs the current surge and releases it at the appropriate moment, transforming the current profile to protect the primary device while meeting the secondary device's power requirements
3Reliability
If the primary electronic device limits current to protect itself, then the primary device remains safe, but the secondary device fails to perform its intended functions
Solution Approach 1:
The electric harness serves as a mediator that allows the primary device to maintain safe current limits while still enabling the secondary device to achieve its full power requirements. The energy storage device in the harness bridges the gap between the limited supply capacity and the high peak demand
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 supplies the necessary current to the secondary device, preventing overcurrent conditions in the primary device and ensuring the secondary device functions correctly without requiring modifications to either device.
Implementation Method 1
The auxiliary branch comprises an electric energy storage device and an auxiliary one-way switch connecting the electric energy storage device to the load end
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric harness for supplying electric power from a primary electronic device to a secondary electronic device that makes inrush current demands. The electric harness includes a main branch with a current limiter, and a secondary branch with an electric energy storage device. When the secondary electronic device makes an inrush current demand, the electric energy storage device supplies an auxiliary electric current in the auxiliary branch which when added to a main current in the main branch, meets the inrush current demands.