Motorized Cable Spool Control for Adaptive Power Cord Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power supply cables that are too long create clutter and tripping hazards, while cables that are too short restrict user movement and accessibility, posing challenges in cable management, especially in professional settings.
Innovation Solution
A power supply device equipped with a device cable spool rotated by a motor, which adjusts the cable length based on sensor-determined properties such as tension, bending strain, and length, using control instructions to actuate the motor for optimal cable extension or retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device cable is made longer to improve user accessibility and movement freedom, then user accessibility is improved, but cable clutter and tripping hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable length is made dynamic rather than fixed. A motorized spool system automatically adjusts the cable length based on detected conditions (tension, bending strain, user behavior), allowing the cable to extend when needed for accessibility and retract when not needed to reduce clutter and hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect cable properties (tension, bending strain, length) and user behavior, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of cable length, resolving the contradiction by extending the cable when accessibility is needed and retracting it when clutter becomes an issue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the device cable is made shorter to reduce clutter and safety issues, then cable clutter and safety issues are reduced, but user movement freedom and accessibility are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cable length transitions from a static short cable to a dynamic system that can extend and retract. The motorized spool allows the cable to lengthen when user movement freedom is needed while maintaining a compact retracted state when not in use, eliminating the need to choose between short and long fixed cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback (tension detection, bending strain detection, length measurement) to automatically extend the cable when user movement is restricted, thereby reducing clutter while maintaining accessibility on demand.
3Device complexity
If a fixed cable length is used to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different environments and usage scenarios is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cable length adjustment mechanism adds dynamic adaptability to the device. The motorized spool system with sensors enables the cable to automatically adapt to different environments and usage scenarios, from compact retracted states in clutter-sensitive areas to extended states in open spaces, without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Feedback from sensors (tension, bending strain, length) enables the system to automatically adapt cable length to different environments and usage scenarios, providing versatility without requiring manual intervention or complex mechanical structures.
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 effectively reduces extraneous cable length, preventing tangling and tripping hazards while ensuring user accessibility by dynamically adjusting the cable length based on real-time conditions and user behavior.
Implementation Method 1
a motor in the power supply is device is actuated to change the length of the device cable
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed that relate to power supply devices and methods for adjusting a length of a device cable extending from the power supply device. In one example a method comprises, at a power supply device comprising a device cable, determining a cable property of the device cable. Based at least in part on the cable property of the device cable, actuating a motor in the power supply device to change the length of the device cable extending from the power supply device.