Selective Output Switching in Surge Protectors Under Overcurrent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power distribution devices often disconnect all outputs when an overcurrent condition is detected, leading to undesirable temperature rises and inefficient power management, as they lack the ability to selectively disable only excess loads while maintaining power supply to others.
Innovation Solution
A power distribution device equipped with a controller, switching devices, and a sense circuit that determines overcurrent conditions and selectively disables specific outputs based on priority lists or dynamic determinations, allowing continued power supply to other outputs within safe current limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional power distribution devices disconnect all outputs when overcurrent is detected, then overcurrent protection is achieved, but power continuity to essential loads is lost and temperature rises occur
Solution Approach 1:
The power distribution device segments the outputs into multiple groups and applies different switching control to each group. When overcurrent is detected, only specific outputs are disconnected while others remain active, enabling selective protection that maintains power continuity to essential loads while protecting against overcurrent damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically adjusts the state of switching devices based on real-time current measurements and priority configurations. The controller continuously monitors power information and selectively actuates switching devices to disconnect non-essential loads while maintaining power to critical loads, optimizing both protection and continuity dynamically.
2Reliability
If all outputs are disconnected during overcurrent conditions, then circuit breaker tripping is avoided, but temperature rises and power management efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting outputs into priority groups and selectively disconnecting only non-essential loads, the device reduces overall current draw and associated heat generation while maintaining adequate cooling for essential components. This partial disconnection strategy prevents circuit breaker tripping while minimizing temperature rises compared to complete disconnection.
3Productivity
If selective disabling of outputs is implemented, then power continuity to essential loads is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional switching devices and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it monitors power information from all outputs, determines overcurrent conditions, selects which outputs to disconnect based on priority configurations, and actuates switching devices. This multi-functionality consolidates complex control logic into a single controller, managing device complexity while enabling selective output disabling for power continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device pre-configures priority levels for each output before overcurrent events occur. When overcurrent is detected, the controller refers to these pre-established priorities to quickly determine which outputs to disconnect, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision algorithms and simplifying the control logic while maintaining power continuity to essential loads.
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
Enables the device to mitigate overcurrent conditions without tripping the circuit breaker, ensuring power continuity to essential loads while reducing excessive current draw, thus preventing temperature rises and optimizing power distribution.
Implementation Method 1
the sense circuit is configured to measure a voltage across each shunt resistor of the plurality of shunt resistors, generate, based on the measured voltage across each shunt resistor, the power information
Implementation Method 2
the at least one switching device is a relay. In at least one embodiment, disabling the switching device includes transmitting, by the controller, one or more control signals to the relay to actuate the relay to an open and non-conducting position
Implementation Method 3
the device includes a plurality of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) indicators, each corresponding to an output of the plurality of outputs, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate at least one LED indicator of the plurality of LED indicators corresponding to the at least one switching device
Implementation Method 4
In an embodiment, the method includes a piezoelectric buzzer, wherein the controller is configured to control the piezoelectric buzzer to produce a sound indicative of the at least one selected switching device being disabled
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a power distribution device. The power distribution device includes an input to receive power, a plurality of outputs, each output of the plurality of outputs being configured to provide output power, and being coupled to the input, a plurality of switching devices, each switching device of the plurality of switching devices being coupled to a respective output of the plurality of outputs, and a controller coupled to each of the plurality of switching devices. The controller is configured to receive power information indicative of the output power provided by each output of the plurality of outputs, determine, based on the power information, that an overcurrent condition exists, select, based on the power information and based on the determination that the overcurrent condition exists, at least one of the plurality of switching devices to disable, and disable the at least one switching device.