Heater Power Distribution Using Random Duty Cycles to Prevent Flicker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature-regulated home appliances experience periodic large power variance, causing light flickering and circuit breaker trips due to periodic current draw on AC input, particularly in less ideal electrical wiring environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a first and second heating element, controlled by a processor to generate a random distribution of AC power percentage among cycles, using a temperature sensor to adjust heat output and avoid periodic current draw, thereby maintaining a reference temperature without bulky filtering components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional periodic heating control is used to regulate temperature, then temperature control function is achieved, but periodic current draw causes light flickering and circuit breaker trips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using cyclic heating patterns with random duty cycles. The heater is activated in periodic cycles where the duration and intensity of each cycle are randomly varied, achieving both temperature regulation and elimination of consistent periodic current draw that causes light flickering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle and power distribution of heating elements based on random patterns. This dynamic control changes the electrical load characteristics over time, preventing the stable periodic current draw that triggers circuit breakers and causes light flickering while maintaining effective temperature control.
2Reliability
If large filtering components are added to meet certification requirements, then electromagnetic compatibility is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful periodic current draw into a beneficial random pattern. By intentionally introducing randomness into the heating control, the system transforms what would be a harmful electromagnetic interference pattern into a beneficial spread-spectrum-like effect that reduces peak currents and eliminates consistent flickering, thereby meeting certification requirements without large filters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameters of power consumption by using random duty cycles and varying power levels. This parameter variation spreads the electrical load over time in an unpredictable pattern, reducing electromagnetic interference peaks and allowing the device to meet EMC certification requirements with minimal or no filtering components.
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 system effectively regulates temperature while preventing light flickering and power fluctuations in other appliances, meeting certification requirements without the need for large filtering components.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating element and a second heating element, the first and second heating elements being configured to generate heat to be output in response to being powered with alternating current (AC) power
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the generated heat
Data Source
AI summary
Various exemplary devices, systems, and methods for power distribution for temperature regulation of home appliances are provided. In general, in some implementations an apparatus includes a first heating element and a second heating element configured to generate heat to be output in response to being powered with alternating current (AC) power. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the generated heat and a processor configured to, based on the temperature, generate a set of cycles with a random distribution of a total AC power percentage among the cycles. An AC power percentage of each of the cycles is within a set of AC power percentage values, to control the first heating element and the second heating element such that the total AC power percentage leads to a temperature adjustment to reach a reference temperature.