Power Strip Night Light Integration for Dark Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power strips are difficult to find and use in dark environments due to their flexible design, making it challenging to accurately insert plugs into corresponding jacks.
Innovation Solution
A power strip with a night light function, incorporating an LED light group, power supply unit, control unit, and mode switching switch, which allows for automatic, normally open, and normally closed control modes to facilitate plug insertion and use in low light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the power strip is designed with flexible movement and multi-jack expansion, then the adaptability and application range are improved, but the difficulty of locating and operating the power strip in dark environments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power strip function with a night light function into a single integrated device. The LED light group is mounted on the power strip body, and the control unit integrates both power distribution and lighting control. This merging allows the power strip to serve dual purposes: electrical power distribution and illumination in dark environments, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically turning on the LED light group when ambient light intensity drops below a threshold level. The control unit continuously monitors light intensity and proactively activates the lighting function before the user needs to locate or operate the power strip in darkness. This preliminary illumination action makes the power strip easily locatable and operable in dark environments without requiring separate lighting devices.
2Ease of operation
If the power strip is made flexible and movable, then the convenience and adaptability are improved, but the ability to be found in dark environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power strip with a night light device, integrating the LED light group and control unit into the power strip structure. This combination ensures that the power strip itself becomes the light source, eliminating the need for separate lighting devices and making the movable power strip easily detectable in dark environments through its built-in illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the LED light group to emit light that illuminates the power strip and surrounding area, creating visual contrast that makes the power strip detectable in dark environments. The light emission changes the visual appearance of the power strip from invisible/difficult to locate to clearly visible, directly addressing the detectability issue while maintaining flexibility and movability.
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 power strip with a night light function enhances usability in dark environments by providing a convenient means to locate and use the power strip, with the LED light group being controlled based on ambient light intensity, ensuring easy operation and serving as a night light.
Implementation Method 1
the night light function module includes an LED light group
Implementation Method 2
the automatic mode is to automatically control the LED light group to be turned on/off according to a current light intensity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a power strip with a night light function. An LED light group is arranged based on a traditional power strip, powered by a power supply unit led out between a live wire and a neutral wire in a plug/socket, and controlled by a control unit for work. As arranged on the plug and/or socket, the LED light group can be controlled to be turned on when light is dark. The power strip is convenient to find, plug and use, and can serve as a night light for lighting at night. The control unit respectively has automatic, normally open and normally closed control modes which can be switched by a user toggling a mode switching switch as required. The design of the power strip facilitates use in dark environments and adds a new function, thereby having the advantages of simple structure, reasonable design, convenient use and diversified functions.