Leakage Current Detection in Electronic Devices with Conductive Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with conductive exterior members face challenges in detecting and preventing leakage current, which can lead to electrical shocks, as existing methods require detachment of the exterior member for testing and may not effectively cut off current leaks.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design that includes a housing with a conductive back plate and side member, a touch screen display, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with a ground plane, and a leakage current cutoff circuit, allowing for detection and cutoff of leakage current without detaching the conductive exterior member, using a female connector and conductive paths to couple with an external test device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external test device is coupled to the PCB to test leakage current prevention, then the test can be performed, but the conductive exterior member must be detached which complicates the testing process
Solution Approach 1:
A test terminal is introduced as an intermediary component that provides an external access point to the leakage current cutoff circuit. This terminal allows the external test device to couple with the PCB and detect leakage current without requiring detachment of the conductive exterior member, thus simplifying the testing process while maintaining reliable leakage current detection
Solution Approach 2:
The testing function is segmented from the main device assembly. The test terminal is designed as a separate access point that can be reached externally, allowing independent testing of the leakage current cutoff circuit without disassembling the conductive exterior member or other device components
2Stability of the object's composition
If the conductive exterior member is designed as a difficult-to-detach element, then the device structure is more integrated, but it becomes impossible to couple external test devices to the PCB
Solution Approach 1:
The test terminal serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the integrated device structure and external testing requirements. It provides a dedicated access point that maintains the integrity of the conductive exterior member while enabling external test device coupling to the PCB for leakage current detection
Solution Approach 2:
The test terminal is positioned in a different spatial dimension or location that is accessible from the exterior without requiring disassembly of the conductive exterior member. This dimensional separation allows the integrated structure to remain intact while providing versatility for external testing
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
Enables easy detection and prevention of leakage current without disassembling the device, ensuring user safety by effectively cutting off current leaks and maintaining the device's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a circuit electrically coupled to the ground plane and/or mounted thereon to cut off leak current from the PCB
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a housing including a front plate, a back plate disposed to the opposite side of the front plate, and a side member surrounding a space between the front plate and the back plate, wherein at least a part of the back plate is constructed of a conductive material, and the side member includes an opening, a touch screen display disposed between the front plate and the back plate, a female connector disposed inside the opening, constructed to house a meal connector an external male connector, and including a plurality of pins, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) disposed inside the space and including a ground plane, a circuit electrically coupled to the ground plane and/or mounted thereon to cut off leak current from the PCB, a first conductive path constructed between the circuit and a first point of at least part of the back plate, and a second conductive path constructed between at least one of the pins and a second point of at least part of the back plate. In addition, various other embodiments are also possible.