Electric Shock-Preventing Contactor for Leakage Current Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face issues with electric shock protection due to leakage currents from power sources, which can flow through conductive gaskets or contactors, potentially causing user discomfort or injury, and also experience signal attenuation due to low capacitance, affecting RF signal transmission.

Innovation Solution

An electric shock protection contactor with a conductive connection unit and an electric shock protection element, including a capacitor layer and varistor material layers, is designed to block leakage currents while maintaining high capacitance to minimize signal attenuation, using a conductive gasket or silicon rubber pad with a groove and conductive adhesive layer for effective signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conductive gasket or conductive contactor is used to connect the metal housing and circuit board, then electrical contact and signal transmission are achieved, but leakage current from the power source can flow through the conductor to the housing, causing electric shock hazard

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contact reliabilityVSAvoidelectric shock hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An electric shock protection element is introduced as an intermediary component between the conductor and the circuit board. This element selectively blocks leakage current from flowing to the housing while allowing RF signals and static electricity to pass through, thus mediating between safety requirements and functional requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric shock protection element exhibits parameter changes based on the type of electrical signal: it has high impedance to block leakage current (AC power frequency), low impedance to pass RF signals (high frequency), and controlled breakdown characteristics for static electricity discharge, thus adapting its electrical parameters to different signal types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the capacitance of the conductive gasket or contactor is increased to reduce signal attenuation, then RF signal transmission is improved, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRF signal transmission qualityVSAvoidcontactor structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single electric shock protection element: RF signal transmission, leakage current blocking, and static electricity protection. This integration eliminates the need for separate components and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining signal quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric shock protection element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a capacitor for RF signal coupling, a high-impedance block for leakage current, and a voltage-dependent switch for static electricity discharge, thus providing universal protection and signal transmission capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional protection components are added to block leakage current and protect the circuit, then user safety is improved, but the circuit board space increases, adversely affecting miniaturization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser safety from leakage currentVSAvoidcircuit board area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protection function is merged into the existing contactor structure by integrating the electric shock protection element directly into the signal path between the conductor and circuit board, eliminating the need for separate protection components and saving circuit board space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively protects users from electric shocks and internal circuits from static electricity while ensuring high capacitance for clear RF signal transmission, integrating the protection element within the contactor to minimize device size and eliminate the need for additional components.

Implementation Method 1

including a capacitor layer and varistor material layers, is designed to block leakage currents while maintaining high capacitance to minimize signal attenuation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

An electric shock protection contactor with a conductive connection unit and an electric shock protection element, including a capacitor layer and varistor material layers, is designed to block leakage currents

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 3

using a conductive gasket or silicon rubber pad with a groove and conductive adhesive layer for effective signal transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3128620B1Electric shock-preventing contactor
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 AMOTECH CO LTD
  • EP3128620B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3128620B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3128620B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Provided are an electric shock protection contactor and a portable electronic device including the same. The electric shock protection contactor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a conductive connection unit electrically in contact with a conductor of an electronic device and an electric shock protection element connected to the conductive connection unit in series and blocking a leakage current of an external power source that is introduced from the ground of a circuit board of the electronic device.