Electrical Plug Adapter Thermal Monitoring via Conductive Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical plug adapters lack thermal sensing capabilities, which is crucial for ensuring safe operation when connecting plugs and receptacles with different standards, and may not prevent the use of unauthorized adapters that do not have thermal sensing features.
Innovation Solution
An electrical adapter assembly with a thermally conductive member that conducts heat from the adapter's terminals to a thermal sensor in the plug housing, allowing for accurate temperature monitoring and detection of an authorized adapter, using features like conductive ferrules, magnets, or wireless transmitters to verify adapter presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a plug adapter is used to connect incompatible plug and receptacle standards, then compatibility and versatility are improved, but thermal sensing capability is lost because the plug is separated from the receptacle junction
Solution Approach 1:
A thermally conductive member is introduced as an intermediary element within the adapter housing. This member extends from the receptacle interface toward the plug interface, serving as a thermal pathway that bridges the gap between the adapter/receptacle junction and the plug housing, enabling thermal sensing capability to be transmitted through the adapter structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical wiring for thermal sensing with a thermally conductive physical structure. Instead of using electrical sensors and wiring within the adapter, the solution uses the thermally conductive member to physically conduct heat from the receptacle junction to the plug housing, where temperature can be sensed.
2Reliability
If an adapter includes a thermal sensor, then thermal sensing capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional wiring and terminals required
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal sensing function is extracted from the adapter interior and relocated to the plug housing. Instead of placing a thermal sensor inside the adapter that would require complex wiring and terminals, the patent extracts the sensing element to the plug housing and uses the thermally conductive member to transmit thermal information externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally conductive member acts as an intermediary that transmits thermal energy from the adapter/receptacle junction to the plug housing without requiring direct electrical connections or complex internal wiring within the adapter. This mediator approach simplifies the adapter structure while maintaining thermal sensing capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If home-built adapters are used to connect different standards, then adaptability is improved, but safety decreases due to lack of thermal sensing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter system enables self-service thermal monitoring by using the plug's existing thermal sensor in conjunction with the thermally conductive member. The system leverages the plug's built-in sensing capability and extends its reach to monitor the adapter/receptacle junction, eliminating the need for separate thermal sensors in the adapter while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally conductive member serves as a safety intermediary that connects the plug's thermal sensor to the adapter/receptacle junction, enabling the plug's existing safety mechanisms to monitor temperatures at the adapter interface, thereby extending safety capabilities to previously unmonitored areas.
4Ease of manufacture
If the thermal sensor is placed in the plug, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but measurement precision decreases because the sensor is isolated from the adapter/receptacle junction
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally conductive member acts as a thermal intermediary that bridges the physical gap between the adapter/receptacle junction and the plug housing. It conducts heat from the critical junction area to the location of the thermal sensor in the plug housing, enabling accurate temperature measurement without requiring the sensor to be physically located at the junction itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the thermal sensing location from the thermal event location by using thermal conduction through space. The thermally conductive member creates a thermal pathway that extends the sensing capability from the plug housing (one location) to the adapter/receptacle junction (another location), effectively using thermal field extension to overcome spatial separation.
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
Enables reliable thermal monitoring and prevents unauthorized adapter use by ensuring that only authorized adapters with thermal sensing capabilities are used, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally conductive member distinct from the electrical receptacle and the second electrical plug. The thermally conductive member is disposed within the adapter housing and projects from the first face
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical adapter assembly including an adapter housing, an electrical receptacle defined by a first technical standard that is disposed within a first face of the adapter housing. The receptacle is configured to receive a first electrical plug defined by the first technical standard. The electrical adapter assembly also includes a second electrical plug defined by a second technical standard projecting from a second face of the adapter housing and electrically interconnected to the electrical receptacle and a thermally conductive member disposed within the adapter housing and projecting from the first face of the adapter housing. The electrical adapter assembly also contains features for detecting a connection of the electrical adapter assembly to the first plug.