Power Supply Control for Fast Surge Protector Reset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surge protectors in lower frequency power systems, such as polarity-switched direct current (DC) power supplies, remain activated for extended periods, leading to potential damage to hardware due to suboptimal resetting thresholds.

Innovation Solution

A power control system monitors current surges and resets surge protectors by altering the polarity frequency of the power supply to quickly transition them from the activated state, preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surge protectors are used in lower frequency power systems (polarity-switched DC), then they can protect hardware from current surges, but they remain activated for extended periods causing potential damage to equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurge protection capabilityVSAvoidhardware damage from extended activated state

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the frequency of polarity switching in the power supply. When a surge protector activates, the controller increases the switching frequency from the normal lower frequency to a higher frequency, which creates more zero-crossing events that reset the surge protector more quickly, preventing extended activation damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter (frequency) of the power supply in response to surge protector activation. By detecting the activated state and switching to a higher frequency mode, the system modifies the electrical characteristics to achieve faster reset conditions for the surge protector

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If AC power supplies operate at higher frequency (60 Hz), then surge protectors can reset more quickly due to frequent zero voltage crossings, but polarity-switched DC power supplies operate at lower frequency which spreads out resetting thresholds over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereset speed of surge protectorVSAvoidpower supply operating frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply transitions from a static lower frequency operation to dynamic frequency adjustment. When surge protection is needed, the system temporarily operates at higher frequency to enable faster reset, then returns to normal lower frequency operation, optimizing both reset speed and overall system productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250323496A1Methods and devices for managing power supply systems

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods described herein relate to managing power systems. A power supply system may include a power control system. The power control system may monitor the power generated for carrying content to end destinations, such as a playback device. When a current surge is detected, the power control system may determine that a surge protector of the power supply system has activated. The power monitoring system may modify the generated power to reset the surge protector prior to a standard resetting event. For example, the power monitoring system may switch the polarity of the generated current at a quicker frequency than the normal frequency of the power supply. The quicker reset of the surge protector may limit any potential damage components of the power supply may experience due to the surge protector being in the active state.