Sensor-Controlled Receptacle Fault Protection Without Mechanical Shutters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical receptacles face challenges such as difficulty in use for elderly and special needs individuals due to mechanical tamper resistance mechanisms, false tripping of arc fault circuit interrupters, lack of individual outlet protection, incorrect wiring detection, and inadequate surge protection, among others.
Innovation Solution
An electrical receptacle with integrated sensors and a processor that monitors current and voltage conditions, provides independent outlet control, self-calibration, and surge protection, while detecting incorrect wiring and plug orientation, and offering self-testing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical tamper resistance mechanisms (spring loaded gates, shutters) are employed to prevent insertion of foreign objects, then safety against shock and electrocution is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to excessive force required and difficulty for elderly and special needs individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tamper resistance mechanisms (spring loaded gates, shutters) with an optical sensing system. Optical sensors detect the presence of plug blades through light transmission properties, eliminating the need for mechanical gates that require excessive force to open. This substitution maintains safety by accurately detecting proper plug insertion while dramatically improving ease of operation for all users including elderly and special needs individuals.
2Device complexity
If conventional circuit interrupters monitor only current flow imbalance between hot and neutral conductors, then detection capability is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates because individual current line differences are not monitored leading to inability to distinguish normal arcing from unwanted arcing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function by providing separate optical sensors for the hot and neutral conductors. This segmentation allows individual monitoring of each conductor's current flow characteristics, enabling the processor to detect subtle differences in arc patterns. By treating each conductor separately rather than only monitoring their combined imbalance, the system achieves superior measurement precision in distinguishing normal from unwanted arcing.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical receptacle contains a plug outlet that has a pair of contacts for electrical connection to respective hot and neutral power lines. A controlled switch, such as a TRIAC, is connected in series relationship between the outlet contact and the hot power line. Sensors in the receptacle outputs signals to a processor having an output coupled to the control terminal of the controlled switch. The processor outputs an activation signal or a deactivation signal to the controlled switch in response to received sensor signals that are indicative of conditions relative to the first and second contacts.