Circuit Breaker Panel Illumination Unit with Sensor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circuit breaker panel boards lack independent lighting, causing inconvenience and safety hazards during power outages or when circuit breakers trip, as the area around the breakers becomes dark, requiring residents to use external light sources for inspection.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker panel board with an integrated illumination unit oriented towards the circuit breaker receiving area, equipped with motion sensors, photo sensors, and a power storage unit to provide continuous lighting, ensuring adequate illumination and safety during power outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lighting is associated with a circuit breaker in the panel board, then the lighting can be controlled by the circuit breaker, but when the circuit breaker trips, power to the lighting is cut off, causing the area around the circuit breaker to become dark
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the lighting control function from the circuit breaker operation. The illumination unit is controlled independently through a sensor (motion or ambient light) that detects when someone needs to view the panel, rather than being tied to the circuit breaker's on/off state. This allows the lighting to remain available even when circuit breakers trip.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary between the circuit breaker state and the lighting control. The sensor detects ambient light levels or motion and activates the illumination unit accordingly, independent of the circuit breaker's operational state. This intermediary ensures lighting availability based on user needs rather than electrical load status.
2Reliability
If power is cut during a power outage or circuit breaker trip, then the electrical system is protected, but the area around the circuit breaker becomes dark, requiring external light sources and creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination unit is powered by a dedicated power source (separate from the circuit breakers it illuminates) and automatically activates when needed through sensor detection. The system serves itself by detecting darkness or motion and providing illumination without requiring external intervention or manual activation, ensuring safety during power outages.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination unit is pre-configured with its own power source and control circuitry, ready to activate automatically when ambient light levels drop or motion is detected. This preliminary preparation ensures immediate illumination availability when safety is needed, without requiring external light sources or manual setup.
3Device complexity
If lighting is integrated into the circuit breaker system, then the system remains simple, but the lighting cannot operate independently when needed for inspection during power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination unit serves multiple functions: it provides general illumination for panel inspection, works during power outages, and can be triggered by either ambient light sensors or motion sensors. This multi-functionality is achieved through a dedicated power source and sensor-based control that operates independently of the circuit breaker system, adding capability without significantly increasing complexity.
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 provides safe and convenient access to circuit breaker status by ensuring consistent lighting, reducing hazards and eliminating the need for external light sources during power disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a power storage unit structured to store power and provide the power to the illumination unit
Implementation Method 2
The illumination unit may include a number of light emitting diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit breaker panel board includes a housing including a door structured to open, a circuit breaker receiving area disposed in an interior area of the housing, and at least one illumination unit disposed outside the circuit breaker receiving area and including at least one light oriented to provide light in a direction of the circuit breaker receiving area.