A smart electrical plug supports one or more electrical outlets and one or more universal serial bus (USB) outlets for charging electrical devices. Electrical power consumed through the one or more electrical outlets may be measured individually or in combination and reported via a wireless communication channel. The smart electrical plug may be implemented by a plurality of printed circuit board assemblies and distributed within a housing to reduce the effects of heat dissipation. The smart electrical plug may further reduce heat dissipation by utilizing one or more electrical circuit approaches.

A conducting strip overheating power off structure, comprises a first conducting strip, a second conducting strip, and an overheating destructive member. A first limiting strip and the second limiting strip of the overheating destructive member astride the first conducting strip and the second conducting strip. The first limiting strip or/and the second limiting strip is/are provided with a limiting portion, which enables the first conducting strip and the second conducting strip to be in contact with each other and form a closed circuit. The connecting portion connects the first limiting strip to the second limiting strip, and the supporting member is disposed between the first limiting strip and the second limiting strip. Accordingly, overheating of the supporting member causes the limiting portions to no longer capable to force the first conducting strip and the second conducting strip to be in contact with each other, thus forming an open circuit.

The present invention discloses a method using a bismuth based alloy as power-off element, comprising: a bismuth based alloy is used as the power-off element and a melting point of the bismuth based alloy is between 100 C. to 380 C.; when the power-off element is in an environment below the melting point, two conductive elements are mutually contacted and capable of conducting currents, whereas the power-off element is only receptive of the currents but does not serve as a medium for conducting the currents; when a working temperature of a switch or the socket is close to or exceeds the melting point, the power-off element loses rigidity and enables the two conductive elements to be separated from each other, thereby forming an electrically disconnected state.

A temperature-sensitive battery connector is disclosed. The connector can include a connector body and at least one conductor mounted to the connector body and configured to convey a current signal used to measure voltage from a battery pack or battery cell to a battery management system (BMS). The connector can include a thermal switching device mounted to the connector body and thermally coupled to a terminal of a battery pack or a battery cell. The thermal switching device can be configured to provide an overtemperature signal to the BMS by changing or interrupting a current conducted by at least one conductor when a temperature of the battery pack or battery cell exceeds a threshold temperature.

A safety socket (100) for protecting against a series fault comprises a thermal switch (30; 31) mounted in the socket (100) and configured to interrupt the supply current when a detected temperature exceeds a threshold temperature. The safety socket (100) further comprises an indicator (8; 10; 80) for indicating the socket (100) when the detected temperature exceeds the threshold temperature.

A plug with a cable includes a plug and a cable. The plug is connected to a receptacle to which a secondary cell is connected. The plug includes a housing and a substrate therein. The cable includes a power supply line and a grounding line. The cable has one end connected to the plug and the other end connected to a power supply unit. A switch is mounted on the substrate and provided in series in a power supply interconnection connected to the power supply line. A temperature sensor is mounted on the substrate and disposed near a power supply terminal or a grounding terminal of the plug. A control circuit is mounted on the substrate and configured to interrupt the power supply interconnection by turning off the switch when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined value.

A vehicle includes a generator, an outlet, and a controller. The generator is electrically connected to the outlet. The controller is programmed to, responsive to outlet temperature being less than a threshold, deliver an electric current from the generator to an external device that is connected to the outlet. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the outlet temperature exceeding the threshold, inhibit delivering the current from the electric machine to the external device.

An electrical connector including a housing having a terminal channel with a power terminal in the terminal channel. The electrical connector includes a temperature sensor assembly positioned in the chamber. The temperature sensor assembly includes a sealing pad holding the power terminal and a thermal shunt held by the sealing pad. A temperature sensor is coupled to the thermal shunt. The sealing pad is electrically insulative and has a terminal opening receiving the power terminal. The sealing pad is thermally coupled to the power terminal and thermally coupled to the thermal shunt. The thermal shunt has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the sealing pad. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the power terminal through a thermal path defined by the sealing pad and the thermal shunt.

A system for a vehicle includes an electrical port that charges a vehicle battery via a connection to a power source, and a controller configured to interrupt charging and to display an alert responsive to temperature at the connection being greater than a threshold and voltage of a control pilot terminal of the port being at an overtemperature state voltage that is different from each of disconnected, connected, ready, and fault state voltages.

A universal serial bus (USB) cable including a power conductor configured to transmit power between a first device and a second device, a configuration channel (CC) conductor configured to allow the first device and the second device to determine whether a connection has been established via the USB cable, and a first positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element coupled to the CC conductor and configured to mitigate current flowing through the CC conductor if a temperature of the first PTC element rises above a predefined trip temperature.