Photoelectric Plug Detection in Vehicle AC Power Sockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle AC sockets have safety concerns and power loss due to conductive terminals being in a charged state when a power plug is not inserted.
Innovation Solution
A power socket with a terminal support base, sliders, elastic components, a circuit board, photoelectric sensors, and a controller that detects the presence of a power plug to control conductive terminals, ensuring they conduct electricity only when the plug is inserted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the conductive terminal is kept in a charged state to ensure readiness for power delivery, then the power delivery readiness is improved, but safety hazards and power loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal is pre-positioned and structurally ready to receive power plugs, but the actual electrical conduction is activated only after detection of plug insertion through the photoelectric sensor and controller system, eliminating continuous charging while maintaining readiness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces continuous electrical conduction with an optical detection system (photoelectric sensor) that triggers electrical activation only when needed, substituting a mechanical/electrical always-on state with an optically-controlled on-demand state
2Duration of action of moving object
If the conductive terminal is kept in a charged state to ensure readiness for power delivery, then the power delivery readiness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous electrical conduction, the system uses periodic activation triggered by plug insertion detection, where the conductive terminal conducts electricity only during the period when a plug is detected and deactivated when no plug is present, reducing energy consumption while maintaining readiness
3Reliability
If the photoelectric sensor and slider mechanism are added to detect power plug insertion, then safety and energy efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into independent functional modules: the photoelectric sensor for detection, the slider mechanism for mechanical response, and the controller for coordination, allowing each component to be simple while achieving complex safety functionality through their interaction
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
Prevents safety concerns and unnecessary power consumption by ensuring conductive terminals are only activated when a power plug is present, enhancing the functionality and safety of vehicle AC sockets.
Implementation Method 1
a photoelectric sensor, configured to detect the extending plate passing through the at least one first through hole and the at least one second through hole, and generate a trigger signal when the extending plate is detected by the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A power socket includes a terminal support base, at least one set of conductive terminals, at least one slider, an elastic component, a circuit board component, a photoelectric sensor, and a controller, wherein the photoelectric sensor is configured to detect the extending plate passing through the through hole to generate a trigger signal, and the controller is electrically connected to the photoelectric sensor and at least one set of conductive terminals, and the controller is configured to control the corresponding conductive terminal to be conducted according to the trigger signal.