Lamp Safety Circuit Staggered Testing Parallel Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tubular LED lamps lack reliable safety testing when connected in parallel, leading to false test results and potential electrical hazards due to interference between lamps, especially when more than 50 lamps are connected, as conventional safety circuits perform tests simultaneously, causing incorrect human body impedance detection.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a safety circuit that varies the time of safety tests for each lamp, allowing them to perform tests at different times relative to when external power is applied, thereby reducing interference and enabling multiple lamps to be connected in parallel without erroneous results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a prior art safety circuit is used in a battery-operated lamp, then protection against overheating and overcharging is provided, but the circuit requires a large number of separate electronic components that complicate the lamp construction and increase manufacturing costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple safety functions (overheating protection, overcharging protection, and short-circuit protection) into a single integrated safety circuit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate electronic components while maintaining comprehensive safety protection, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The safety circuit is designed to perform multiple protective functions simultaneously using a unified architecture. The circuit monitors temperature, charge status, and current conditions through integrated sensors and control logic, enabling one circuit to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate protection circuits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a prior art safety circuit is used in a battery-operated lamp, then protection against overheating and overcharging is provided, but the number of separate electronic components increases manufacturing costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple safety functions into a single integrated circuit module, the patent reduces component inventory, simplifies assembly procedures, and lowers manufacturing costs. The integrated design eliminates the need for multiple separate protection circuits and their associated mounting and wiring requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a prior art safety circuit is used in a battery-operated lamp, then protection against overheating and overcharging is provided, but the circuit does not protect against reverse polarity connection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidprotection coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The safety circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle various abnormal conditions including overheating, overcharging, short-circuits, and reverse polarity connection. The circuit incorporates polarity detection capabilities and protective switching mechanisms that activate when reverse polarity is detected, ensuring comprehensive protection across all identified failure modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3906379B1A lamp having a safety circuit, and a safety circuit for use in such lamps
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3906379B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3906379B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3906379B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A lamp has a safety circuit connected to first and second electrical connection terminals. A test is used to detect if the first and second electrical connection terminals are both connected to external power without an interfering impedance such a human body, and only then enable operation of the lamp. A time for the test is different from a time when another lamp in the system applies a test.