Miniature Load Switch Wireless Control Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless intelligent contactors require additional control modules, leading to increased volume, complex wiring, and safety concerns due to their bulkiness and poor cost-effectiveness, resulting in crowded control boxes and potential electrical safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A load switch with a wireless transmission circuit, control circuit, and switching circuit using a relay to enable intelligent wireless control while maintaining miniaturization, incorporating a bistable relay for short-circuit resilience, circuit state detection, and user-friendly state indication, along with metering and contact state monitoring to enhance safety and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an additional control module is installed to enable wireless control of switching devices, then intelligent control capability is improved, but device volume increases and control box space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless control capabilityVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the control module and relay into a single integrated unit. The control module includes a microcontroller that directly drives the relay switching circuit, eliminating the need for separate control devices. This integration achieves wireless intelligent control while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for standard control boxes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control module is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating wireless communication (WiFi/Bluetooth), circuit monitoring, and relay control capabilities within a single device. This universal design allows one compact module to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate components, thereby reducing overall device volume.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If an additional control module is installed for wireless control, then intelligent control is achieved, but wiring complexity increases and assembly becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless control capabilityVSAvoidwiring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control module integrates all control functions including wireless communication, signal processing, and relay driving circuits into a single compact unit. This merging eliminates the need for complex interconnections between separate control devices and relays, significantly simplifying the wiring structure and making assembly more straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional control modules are installed, then wireless control function is improved, but electrical safety is compromised due to crowded control box

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless control capabilityVSAvoidelectrical safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated control module reduces the number of components in the control box to just the module itself and the relay, creating adequate spacing for proper heat dissipation and electrical clearance. This integration maintains electrical safety while achieving wireless control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control module includes a circuit state detecting circuit that continuously monitors the electrical state and provides feedback to the microcontroller. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of abnormal conditions such as overheating or electrical faults, allowing the system to respond appropriately and maintain electrical safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution allows for intelligent wireless control with reduced volume, simplified wiring, improved safety, and cost-effectiveness, enabling better control performance and user understanding of electrical states, thus addressing the issues of bulkiness and safety in conventional contactors.

Implementation Method 1

a switching circuit coupled to the control circuit and comprising a relay disposed in a circuit, the switching circuit being configured to control a state of the circuit by controlling contacts of the relay

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3657523B1Load switch
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP3657523B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3657523B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a load switch. The load switch comprises: a wireless transmission circuit configured to generate a first control signal in response to a control command signal from a remote device; a control circuit coupled to the wireless transmission circuit and configured to generate a second control signal in response to a reception of the first control signal from the wireless transmission circuit; a switching circuit coupled to the control circuit and comprising a relay arranged in a circuit, the switching circuit being configured to control a state of the circuit by controlling the contacts of the relay in response to a reception of the second control signal. The load switch achieves intelligent wireless control with the same size as a conventional common contactor. In addition, the load switch can monitor and acquire the information about the states of the circuit and the contacts, and voltage and current of the circuit, so that the user can understand various information of the circuit and the load switch in time. This improves both user experience and safety of electricity.