Integrated Temperature Sensor Connector for Grounded Power Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical devices in laundry dryers require separate connections for power and ground contact elements, leading to potential errors and complications in manufacturing, and separate temperature sensors are often needed for temperature measurement, complicating the integration process.

Innovation Solution

An electrical device with integrated power and ground contact elements, where the ground contact element is longer than the power contact elements, allowing a single connector to establish both connections and incorporate a temperature sensor, ensuring error-proof installation and improved temperature measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate connections are provided for power contact elements and ground contact element, then proper grounding and power supply are ensured, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproper grounding and power supplyVSAvoidconnection process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ground contact element and power contact elements into a single integrated connector assembly. The ground contact element is integrated directly into the connector housing, eliminating the need for separate grounding connections and reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring proper grounding is always established.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both power supply connection and ground connection through a single component. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall connection process while maintaining all necessary electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a single connector is used for both power and ground contact elements, then the installation process is simplified, but ensuring proper ground potential may become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation processVSAvoidground potential establishment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ground contact element is merged into the connector housing itself, ensuring that grounding is inherently part of the connection process. This integration makes it impossible to overlook the grounding connection while simplifying the overall installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ground contact element is positioned and pre-configured within the connector housing before installation. This preliminary arrangement ensures that proper ground potential is automatically established as part of the single connection action, eliminating concerns about forgetting grounding steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If separate temperature sensor is installed, then temperature measurement is achieved, but the device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurementVSAvoidsensor integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor is integrated directly into the connector housing, combining temperature measurement functionality with the existing connector structure. This eliminates the need for separate sensor installation and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining accurate temperature monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector is enhanced to perform multiple functions: electrical connection (power and ground) and temperature measurement. This multi-functional integration reduces the total number of components needed while providing comprehensive monitoring and connection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution simplifies the installation process by requiring only one connection step, reduces production costs, and provides reliable temperature measurement without a separate sensor, while ensuring safety and easy error diagnosis.

Implementation Method 1

the single connector furthermore contains a temperature sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4343151B1Electrical device including an integrated temperature sensor

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

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Figure 5~7

AI summary

Electrical device (2) comprising a housing (1), a plurality of power contact elements (3) and a ground contact element (4) disposed on the housing (1), the power contact elements (3) and the ground contact element (4) configured for connecting the electrical device (2) to a power supply device (5) and the power contact elements (3) forming a terminal (6) for being connected to the power supply device (5) by a single connector (15). The terminal (6) also includes the ground contact element (4) for contacting the power contact elements (3) and the ground contact element (4) by the single connector (15), and the power contact elements (3) and the ground contact element (4) are formed as respective pins, wherein the power contact elements (3) have equal lengths and the ground contact element (4) is longer than each power contact elements (3); and wherein the single connector (15) contains moreover a temperature sensor (17).