Single Switch Electronic Fuse for Multi-Output Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic fuses are costly and may not activate quickly enough to prevent damage from sudden spikes in current, as they require separate electronic switch devices for each power output and primarily detect current rather than power.
Innovation Solution
A single switch electronic fuse with multiple power outputs, utilizing a logic controller and current/power sensors to monitor and control power, activating a single electronic switch device to manage power distribution and limit power to each output based on monitored levels, reducing costs and enabling quicker response to power spikes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate electronic switch devices are used for each power output, then each output can be independently controlled, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electronic switch control functions into a single electronic switch device. The switch receives control signals from a microcontroller and uses a single pole multiple throw (SPMT) configuration to route power from a common input to multiple outputs, eliminating the need for separate switch devices at each output while maintaining independent control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single electronic switch device performs multiple functions by controlling power distribution to multiple different power outputs. The switch can selectively connect the power input to any of the multiple outputs based on control signals, making one component serve the role of multiple separate switches would have played.
2Device complexity
If current detection is used instead of power monitoring, then the detection circuit is simpler, but the response time to power spikes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional current-based detection with power-based monitoring using a non-contact power sensor. This substitution enables faster detection of power spikes because the sensor can directly measure power levels without the delays associated with current detection and calculation, achieving quicker response times while maintaining reasonable circuit complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple electronic switch devices are used for each power output, then each output has dedicated control, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electronic switch devices into a single electronic switch with multi-throw capability. This single switch maintains dedicated control for each output through selective switching controlled by a microcontroller, reducing the total number of electronic components while preserving the reliability benefits of dedicated control paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The single electronic switch is functionally segmented into multiple switching paths, each corresponding to a different power output. The microcontroller independently controls each switching path, creating virtual segmentation that provides dedicated control without requiring physically separate switch devices.
Data Source
AI summary
In example implementations, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of power outputs, a logic controller and a single switch. Each one of the plurality of power outputs is communicatively coupled to a respective current/power sensor. The logic controller is communicatively coupled to the respective current/power sensor of each one of the plurality of power outputs. The single switch is communicatively coupled to the logic controller and the respective current/power sensor of each one of the plurality of power outputs. Power to each one of the plurality of power outputs is controlled by the logic controller via the single switch.