Wireless Power Supply Gateway for Appliance Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Personal care appliances often lack the necessary wireless communication circuitry to transmit appliance-related data, limiting their ability to communicate effectively with wide area networks without requiring additional terminal devices for data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A power supply device equipped with a wireless interface circuit that can obtain and transmit appliance-related data over a desired wireless communication standard, such as IEEE 802.11, without needing the appliance to have the specific communication circuitry, allowing for efficient data transmission to a wide area network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the appliance is equipped with wireless communication circuitry to transmit data, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidappliance structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply device serves as an intermediary between the appliance and the wireless network. The appliance connects to the power supply device via a power cable, and the power supply device handles all wireless communication functions. This mediator approach allows data transmission without adding communication circuitry to the appliance itself, resolving the contradiction between data transmission capability and appliance complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the appliance includes communication circuitry for wireless networks, then network connectivity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply device is designed to perform multiple functions: providing power to the appliance and simultaneously serving as a wireless communication gateway. By consolidating communication functions in the power supply device which serves multiple appliances, the per-appliance cost is reduced while maintaining network connectivity capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Extent of automation

If the appliance has built-in communication capabilities, then data transmission autonomy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission autonomyVSAvoidappliance structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into two functional parts: the appliance (which only needs basic power reception and data storage) and the power supply device (which handles all communication and transmission functions). This segmentation allows the appliance to remain simple while still achieving automated data transmission through its connection to the power supply device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4297423A1Power supply device, kit, and operating method

Publication Date: 2023.12.27 BRAUN GMBH

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AI summary

A power supply device (50) for an appliance (20, 30, 32) comprises a circuit (60) comprising a wireless interface circuit (92) and operative to obtain appliance-related data for at least one personal care appliance (20, 30, 32) and transmit the appliance-related data over the wireless interface circuit (92)