Heating Protection Circuit for Industrial Computer Boot Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial computers with lower temperature booting functions risk burning down heating elements due to unconditional heating caused by malfunctions or abnormal control voltages, leading to system failure.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a heating protection circuit that receives control signals from a control module to generate a third control signal, which the heating switch module uses to determine whether to heat or stop heating, preventing unnecessary heating and potential damage to heating elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control element controls the heater continually to heat in response to heating signal malfunction or abnormal control voltage, then the heating function can be maintained, but the heating film or heated element may be burnt down causing system failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating function reliabilityVSAvoidheating element damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protection circuit as an intermediary between the control element and the heating device. This protection circuit includes a control pin that receives control signals and a protection unit that generates the actual control signal for the heating switch module. The protection circuit acts as a mediator that monitors the control signals and prevents abnormal signals from reaching the heating device, thereby avoiding heating element damage while maintaining reliable heating function control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the control element switches are controlled only via firmware, then the control logic can be flexible, but the system is vulnerable to firmware errors causing unconditional heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic flexibilityVSAvoidheating control reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the heating control system into three independent parts: the firmware control element, the protection circuit with control pins, and the heating switch module. This segmentation isolates the firmware from directly controlling the heating device. The protection circuit serves as an independent layer that can detect firmware errors or abnormal control voltages and prevent them from causing unconditional heating, thus maintaining both control flexibility and system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protection circuit provides beforehand cushioning by preparing a protective mechanism in advance that can intercept abnormal control signals before they reach the heating device. The control pins and protection unit are pre-configured to monitor control signals and generate appropriate protection responses, cushioning the system against potential firmware errors or voltage abnormalities before they can cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS8263911B2Electronic device with heating protection circuit and heating protection method thereof

Publication Date: 2012.09.11 PEGATRON

AI summary

This invention discloses an electronic device with a heating protection circuit and a heating protection method thereof. The electronic device includes a control module, a heating protection circuit, a heating switch module, and a heating module. The control module provides a first control signal and a second control signal via a plurality of control pins, respectively. The heating protection circuit generates a third control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal. The heating switch module controls the heating module whether to heat according to the third control signal.