Work Vehicle Input Circuit Transient Current Corrosion Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control devices in work vehicles face increased power losses due to the need for high currents to remove corrosion by-products from switch contacts, leading to heat generation and higher costs, and are prone to erroneous switch state detection and synchronization issues with multiplexers.
Innovation Solution
An input circuit with a simple configuration that includes a resistor and a transient current circuit allows a transient current to flow through the switch, removing corrosion by-products while reducing power losses, and includes a conversion circuit to prevent erroneous switch state detection, enabling asynchronous operation with multiplexers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high current (e.g., 10 mA or more) is flowed through the switch to remove corrosion by-products, then the corrosion removal effect is improved, but the power loss in the electric circuit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a transient current circuit that generates a high current pulse only during the switch transition period (when the switch moves from OFF to ON state). This transient current occurs periodically only at transition moments rather than continuously, allowing corrosion removal at critical moments while avoiding continuous power loss. The circuit uses a capacitor charged during the OFF state and discharged as a transient current during the ON state transition, creating a periodic high-current pulse that removes corrosion without sustained energy consumption.
2Reliability
If a high current is used to remove corrosion, then the corrosion removal effect is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transient current circuit generates high current pulses only during brief transition periods rather than continuously. This periodic, transient nature of the current flow limits the total energy converted to heat, as the high current exists only momentarily during switch transitions. The capacitor charges and discharges in periodic cycles, creating transient current pulses that remove corrosion while minimizing cumulative heat generation compared to continuous high current flow.
3Device complexity
If a simple circuit configuration is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to remove corrosion and reduce power loss may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the corrosion removal function with the existing switch operation by integrating a transient current circuit that uses the switch's own transition from OFF to ON state to generate the transient current. Rather than adding a separate corrosion removal mechanism, the circuit combines the switch operation with corrosion removal by using the switch transition itself to trigger capacitor discharge through the switch contacts. This merging approach maintains simple circuit configuration while achieving effective corrosion removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The transient current circuit is designed to automatically generate corrosion-removing current pulses during the switch transition without requiring external control signals or additional active components. The circuit uses the natural transition of the switch from OFF to ON state to trigger the capacitor discharge, making the corrosion removal process self-service and eliminating the need for complex control circuitry. This self-service mechanism maintains simplicity while ensuring corrosion removal occurs at the appropriate moment.
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 reduces power losses, prevents erroneous switch state detection, and allows for the use of resin sealing instead of metal housing, enhancing heat dissipation and reducing costs while maintaining reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a transient current circuit connected to the supply voltage or ground and to the signal line, the transient current circuit including a second resistor to allow a transient current to flow through the switch when the switch transitions from the electrically non-conducting state to the electrically conducting state
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control device includes an input terminal connected to a second terminal of a switch via an electrically conductive lead, an input circuit connected to the input terminal via a signal line, and a microcontroller to detect whether the switch is in an electrically conducting state or an electrically non-conducting state based on an output signal from the input circuit, and to perform at least one process in accordance with a detected result. The input circuit includes a first resistor connected to a supply voltage or ground and to the signal line, and a transient current circuit connected to the supply voltage or ground and to the signal line, the transient current circuit including a second resistor that allows a transient current to flow through the switch when the switch transitions from the electrically non-conducting state to the electrically conducting state.