Power Cord Blade Thermal Sensor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power cords with a single thermal sensor may experience delayed response and reduced safety due to low correlation between the sensor and the blade furthest from it, leading to potential overheating issues.
Innovation Solution
A power cord design featuring multiple thermal sensors strategically placed on each blade of the plug, with a cut-off mechanism that stops power supply when any sensor detects a temperature above a threshold, enhancing safety by improving temperature detection correlation and response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only one thermal sensor is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and response time deteriorate due to low correlation between the sensor and the blade furthest from it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature monitoring function into multiple independent thermal sensors, with each sensor assigned to monitor a specific blade. This segmentation allows each sensor to closely correlate with its corresponding blade's temperature, eliminating the measurement precision deterioration that would occur with a single distant sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent places thermal sensors in close proximity to each blade they monitor, creating localized temperature detection zones. This local quality approach ensures that each sensor accurately captures the temperature characteristics of its specific blade, improving overall measurement precision without requiring complex centralized monitoring.
2Ease of manufacture
If only one thermal sensor is provided, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but safety deteriorates due to delayed response to temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the temperature monitoring into multiple blade-specific sensors, the system achieves faster and more reliable safety responses. Each sensor can independently detect temperature rises on its assigned blade, enabling immediate cut-off action without the delays inherent in a single centralized sensor monitoring multiple blades.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary temperature monitoring by placing sensors in close proximity to each blade before abnormal heating occurs. This preliminary action allows the system to detect and respond to temperature rises at their earliest stages, improving safety response time and preventing overheating incidents.
3Measurement precision
If thermal sensors are placed close to blades, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the overall system architecture by segmenting temperature monitoring into independent blade-sensor pairs. This segmentation reduces the complexity of signal processing and control logic compared to a centralized sensor system, as each sensor independently monitors its assigned blade without requiring complex coordination with other sensors.
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 implementation of multiple thermal sensors on each blade of the power cord plug improves safety by ensuring timely power cutoff in case of abnormal heat generation, reducing the risk of overheating and enhancing correlation between sensor output and blade temperature.
Implementation Method 1
thermal sensors (5) provided for the blades (11) at least one each. Each of the thermal sensors (5) is configured to detect (measure) a temperature of a corresponding blade (11)
Data Source
AI summary
A power cord includes a plug having blades configured to be inserted into blade insertion holes of an electrical outlet, respectively. The power cord further includes thermal sensors provided for the blades one each. When a temperature detected with any of the thermal sensors is higher than a prescribed temperature, electric power is stopped from being supplied to a load from the blades.