Undersea Power Switching for Temporary Load Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Undersea devices face challenges in suppressing component defects due to continuous current flow to loads, leading to increased operational costs and limitations in design, as existing solutions do not effectively reduce operating time or prevent defects over long periods.
Innovation Solution
An undersea device with temporarily energized units and an energization switching unit that supplies power only during specific operations and terminates it when completed, reducing the operating time of these units and thereby suppressing component defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current always flows to the load when connected, then the load can perform its function continuously, but the operating time of the load increases leading to higher defect occurrence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by controlling the power supply to loads in an on-off manner. The control unit turns on power supply when a predetermined operation is executed and turns it off when the operation completes, creating periodic energization cycles. This reduces cumulative operating time while ensuring loads function when needed, thereby suppressing defect occurrence without completely eliminating operational functionality.
2Reliability
If additional screening and redundant circuits are designed to eliminate initial failures and prevent defects, then reliability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing initial failure elimination through screening before the undersea device is installed on the seabed. The control unit identifies and eliminates initial failures in loads during factory testing, ensuring only reliable components are deployed. This preliminary screening reduces the need for complex redundant circuits and ongoing defect prevention mechanisms, simplifying the overall device design while maintaining high reliability.
3Productivity
If components are operated under overloaded state for long periods, then high functionality is achieved, but component reliability decreases due to derating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the power supply state dynamic rather than static. The control unit adjusts the energization state of loads based on operational requirements, switching between on and off states. This dynamic control allows loads to operate at full capacity when needed while reducing overall operating time, preventing continuous overloaded operation and extending component longevity without sacrificing required functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to reduce the occurrence of component failure, this undersea device is provided with one or more temporarily energized units which are temporarily energized during use, and an energization switching unit which, when a predetermined operation is performed, supplies power to at least one temporarily energized unit, and which, upon completion of the operation, terminates supply of power to the at least one temporarily energized unit.