Power Plug Parallel Protection Circuit for Overheat Power Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power plugs often directly disconnect when overheated, preventing the continuation of power supply to low-current electrical appliances, which hinders subsequent safety measures such as alerting or continued operation of milliampere-rated devices.
Innovation Solution
A power plug design featuring an overheating protection module with a thermal circuit breaker and protective resistor connected in parallel, allowing the thermal circuit breaker to disconnect while the protective resistor continues to supply power, ensuring low-current appliances like alarms can operate even when the plug overheats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermal circuit breaker is used for overheating protection, then safety is improved, but power supply continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is segmented into two parallel paths: one through the thermal circuit breaker for high-current protection, and another through the protective resistor for low-current continuity. This segmentation allows different protection strategies for different current levels, resolving the contradiction between safety and continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective resistor changes the electrical parameter configuration by providing an alternative current path with different resistance characteristics. When the thermal circuit breaker opens, the parameter change allows current to flow through the resistor, maintaining power supply for low-current devices while still providing protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the thermal circuit breaker disconnects the circuit, then overheating damage is prevented, but alerting function deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective resistor acts as an intermediary element that maintains circuit continuity for signaling purposes even when the main protection path is interrupted. It mediates between the need to prevent overheating damage and the need to maintain fault alerting capability by allowing minimal current flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective resistor provides beforehand cushioning by ensuring that even when the thermal circuit breaker activates, there is still an alternative path for current flow that can support alerting functions. This pre-established backup path prevents total loss of information.
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 the continued supply of power to low-current appliances, such as alarms, by using the protective resistor to maintain power delivery when the thermal circuit breaker disconnects due to excessive temperature, thus facilitating timely fault notification and preventing unnecessary power loss.
Implementation Method 1
heat conduction component, the heat conduction component is respectively connected to the first pin, the second pin, and the thermal circuit breaker
Implementation Method 2
The thermal circuit breaker and the protective resistor are connected in parallel. A first end of the protective resistor is connected to one of the first pin or the second pin, and a second end of the protective resistor is connected to one of the first wire or the second wire
Data Source
AI summary
A power plug includes a shell, an overheating protection module, a first wire, and a second wire. The overheating protection module includes a first pin, a second pin, a thermal circuit breaker, and a protective resistor. The thermal circuit breaker and the protective resistor are connected in parallel. A first end of the protective resistor is connected to one of the first pin or the second pin, and a second end of the protective resistor is connected to one of the first wire or the second wire. When temperature of the thermal circuit breaker is excessive, the thermal circuit breaker is disconnected, current continues to supply power to low-current electrical appliances through the protective resistor.