Inverter Housing Optical Control Layout for Wiring-Free Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inverter housings face challenges with mechanical control elements that are prone to wear and require extensive wiring, making assembly, disassembly, and maintenance time-consuming and prone to faults, while optoelectronic control units still necessitate complex wiring and assembly efforts.
Innovation Solution
An inverter housing design featuring an optoelectronic control unit with a reflection light sensor, light source, and evaluation electronics, where a light guide connects the operating panel to the light source and detector, eliminating the need for direct wiring and allowing for simplified assembly and maintenance by bridging the distance between the components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical control elements are used, then the inverter can be operated, but the control elements are subject to wear and require extensive wiring, making assembly and maintenance time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical control elements with an optoelectronic control unit that uses a light guide and reflection light sensor. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and reduces wiring complexity, as the light guide integrates the light source, detector, and signal transmission path into a single component that requires minimal external wiring.
2Reliability
If optoelectronic control units are used, then galvanic isolation is achieved, but wiring of the light sources and light detectors is still necessary, requiring assembly effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source, light detector, and light transmission path into a single integrated light guide component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate wiring of light sources and detectors to the evaluation electronics, reducing assembly effort while maintaining galvanic isolation between the control unit and the inverter's electrical systems.
3Reliability
If the connection area is separated from the operation area, then electrical safety is improved, but accessibility for maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inverter housing into separate housing parts, with the operation area (containing the light guide control unit) accessible from the exterior and the connection area (containing electrical connections) isolated in a separate compartment. This segmentation maintains electrical safety by separating live components while allowing easy access to the control unit for maintenance without requiring disassembly of the entire housing or exposure to electrical hazards.
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
This design reduces assembly and disassembly costs, simplifies maintenance, and avoids the complexity of wiring, while providing galvanic isolation and increased design flexibility, with the light guide enabling optical confirmation signals and improved robustness against mechanical wear and electromagnetic influences.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide (8) connected to a housing part (16, 17) is arranged between each operating panel (6) and the light source (3) and the light detector (4) of a reflection light sensor (2)
Implementation Method 2
at least one reflection light sensor (2), in each case with a light source (3) and a light detector (4) arranged next to the light source (3)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns an inverter housing (15) with at least two housing parts (16, 17), which can be detachably connected to one another by way of fastening elements (19), with a connection area (21), and an operation area (20) provided on a housing part (16, 17). In accordance with the invention, an optoelectronic control unit (1) is provided for purposes of operation, with at least one reflection light sensor (2), with in each case a light source (3) and in each case a light detector (4), evaluation electronics (5), and with an operating panel (6) for purposes of operating the reflection light sensor (2) as a result of the approach of an object (7), wherein a light guide (8) is arranged connected to a housing part (17), the other housing part (16) has a mounting (25) for a circuit board (14), which contains the reflection light sensor (2) of the optoelectronic control unit (1), and a signal light source (9) for the emission of light in the visible wavelength range is arranged such that the light emitted by the signal light source (9) can be projected via the light guide (8) onto the operating panel (6), wherein the connection area (21) is arranged below the operation area (20).