Low Ohmic Alloy Conductors for Current Transformer Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AC current detecting elements for monitoring power consumption in electrical wiring devices are bulky, costly, and wasteful due to inefficiencies in converting AC power to DC, leading to significant energy waste, especially when devices are not in use.
Innovation Solution
The use of current carrying wires and terminals made of low resistance metal alloys, such as brass or silver/nickel, in current transformers with optimized primary and secondary coil windings to minimize power loss and generate measurable voltage drops for efficient current sensing, allowing for accurate power consumption reporting with minimal energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If AC transformers or large AC capacitors are used for power supply, then reliable DC power can be provided, but the devices become bulky and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply function from traditional bulky AC transformers and capacitors, replacing it with a compact circuit board integrated power supply that uses switching circuits and rectification to convert AC to DC, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically reducing device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical AC transformer system with an electronic switching circuit system that uses semiconductor devices to perform voltage conversion and rectification, achieving the same power supply function in a much more compact form factor
2Volume of moving object
If small power supply with power switching circuits is used, then device size is reduced, but cost increases and noise is generated requiring bulky filters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power switching circuit, rectification, and voltage regulation functions into a single integrated power supply module on the circuit board, combining multiple functions that would otherwise require separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining compact size
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated power supply circuit performs multiple functions including AC to DC conversion, voltage regulation, and noise filtering within a single unified design, eliminating the need for separate bulky filter components and reducing overall device complexity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If analog regulators are used to convert AC to DC, then noise is minimized, but substantial power is wasted as heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic switching action in the power supply circuit, using pulse-width modulation or cyclic switching to transfer energy from AC to DC in controlled intervals, which reduces continuous power dissipation and heat generation while maintaining low noise levels through regulated energy transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the power supply by using switching frequency and duty cycle control instead of continuous analog regulation, allowing the circuit to operate in a more efficient mode that reduces power waste while maintaining low noise through controlled energy transfer intervals
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If current transformers with traditional wires are used, then current detection is achieved, but voltage drop is insufficient for accurate measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the resistance parameter of the current carrying wire to an optimized value that produces a measurable voltage drop while maintaining acceptable current carrying capacity, enabling accurate current measurement through voltage detection without requiring traditional low-resistance wires
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific high-resistance section in the current path (the current carrying wire) that is dedicated to measurement purposes, while the rest of the circuit maintains its normal low-resistance characteristics for efficient power delivery
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 solution reduces energy waste by generating only the necessary power for sensor circuits, consuming zero power when no current is passing through, and enabling precise power measurement across a wide range of consumption levels with minimal heat dissipation and cost.
Implementation Method 1
current carrying wires and terminals made of low resistance metal alloys, such as brass or silver/nickel, in current transformers with optimized primary and secondary coil windings to minimize power loss and generate measurable voltage drops for efficient current sensing
Implementation Method 2
current transformers with optimized primary and secondary coil windings to minimize power loss and generate measurable voltage drops for efficient current sensing
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for measuring current drain and reporting power consumption using current transformer with primary windings made of low ohmic alloy, enabling the use of the secondary coil to power the sensing and reporting circuits eliminating the power wasted by AC-DC power adaptors used for the current sensors. The saving is substantial as the current sensors will not drain a current when the AC outlets are disconnected from a load or when the load is switched off. The apparatus using low ohmic alloy is extended to the structuring of terminals, including power pins, power sockets and combinations to provide a low ohmic sensing elements in AC plugs, outlets, adaptors and extension cables with multi outlets, dissipating the heat from the sensing elements by the plugs and the larger metal heat dissipation.