Optical Projection System Waste Heat Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional designs for thermoelectric energy recycling from electronic devices fail to manage and allocate electrical energy efficiently, leading to low utilization due to direct transmission to energy-consuming devices without proper management.
Innovation Solution
An optical projection system incorporating a light source module, thermoelectric generator, storage unit, and selection unit that converts heat into electrical energy and selectively turns on electronic devices based on the storage unit's state of charge, allowing for efficient energy management and utilization by varying the power consumption levels of devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermoelectric generator converts heat into electrical energy and directly transmits to energy-consuming device, then energy recycling is achieved, but energy utilization efficiency is low due to lack of management and allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage unit (capacitor or rechargeable battery) as an intermediary between the thermoelectric generator and energy-consuming devices. This storage unit accumulates electrical energy from the thermoelectric generator and releases it when needed, enabling proper energy management and allocation. The control unit manages the charging and discharging processes, ensuring that energy is used efficiently rather than being directly transmitted without management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors the state of charge in the storage unit and the power consumption levels of various electronic devices. Based on this feedback information, the control unit intelligently selects which devices to power on or off, optimizing energy allocation. This feedback mechanism ensures that the limited electrical energy generated from waste heat is utilized most effectively.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electronic devices with different threshold voltages are connected to storage unit, then energy allocation flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for selection unit and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the configuration of electronic devices based on real-time conditions. It can selectively connect different devices to the storage unit depending on their power consumption levels and threshold voltages, and the current charge level of the storage unit. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt to varying energy availability and device requirements without requiring a fixed complex wiring arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the electronic devices into different groups based on their power consumption levels (first power consumption level, second power consumption level, etc.). The control unit manages these segmented groups differently, connecting devices with lower threshold voltages first when energy is limited, and adding devices with higher power consumption levels as energy becomes available. This segmentation simplifies the control logic compared to managing all devices uniformly.
3Power
If thermoelectric generator is enabled at higher temperatures, then electrical energy generation is improved, but risk of overheating and system reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit periodically monitors the temperature of the thermoelectric generator and other system components. Based on these periodic temperature readings, the control unit adjusts the operation of the thermoelectric generator, enabling it to operate at higher temperatures when conditions are favorable for energy generation, and reducing its operation or shutting it down when temperature thresholds are approached. This periodic monitoring and adaptive control balances energy generation with thermal safety.
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 approach optimizes the utilization and allocation of electrical energy by enabling the powering of devices with low threshold voltages or power consumption during insufficient heat generation, such as displaying information with a microcontroller, while shutting down or managing power for higher consumption devices like cooling fans and UPS.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric generator, configured to absorb heat in the optical projection system and convert the heat into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
An optical projection system includes a light source module, an optical engine, a thermoelectric generator, a storage unit, a plurality of electronic devices, and a selection unit. The light source module is capable of emitting at least one light beam, and the optical engine receives the light beam and modulates the light beam according to at least one image signal to form an image beam. The thermoelectric generator absorbs heat in the optical projection system and converts the heat into electrical energy, and the storage unit stores the electrical energy. The electronic devices receive the electrical energy stored in the storage unit and have at least two different threshold voltages. The selection unit selectively turns on at least one of electronic devices according to a state of charge of the storage unit.