Vehicle Battery Tracking Control for Mounting Authorization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to effectively track and manage the location of batteries in electric vehicles, leading to inefficiencies in battery recycling and resale, particularly in determining the environmental impact and cost of battery recycling.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method to determine if the battery is connected to a vehicle, it determines if tracking information is registered, and disables functions if not.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If battery tracking information is not registered with the management apparatus, then the battery apparatus can be freely removed and mounted on different vehicles, but the ability to track and manage battery location is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery mobilityVSAvoidtracking information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary registration of tracking information (battery ID, location, owner) with the management apparatus before the battery is removed from the vehicle. This advance recording ensures that when the battery is later mounted on a different vehicle, the tracking information is already available, preventing loss of location data while still allowing battery mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The verification unit checks whether tracking information is registered with the management apparatus before allowing the battery to be mounted on a vehicle. This feedback mechanism ensures that only batteries with registered tracking information can be mounted, thereby maintaining the ability to track battery location while permitting controlled mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If tracking information registration is mandatory, then battery location can be tracked effectively, but the ease of operation is reduced due to additional registration steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking informationVSAvoidbattery mounting process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The verification unit automatically checks whether tracking information is registered with the management apparatus without requiring manual intervention. The system self-verify the registration status and automatically disables mounting when tracking information is missing, eliminating the need for operators to manually verify registration and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The management apparatus serves as an intermediary that stores and verifies tracking information. Instead of requiring direct manual registration at each mounting point, the system uses the centralized management apparatus to automatically verify tracking information, simplifying the mounting process while maintaining effective tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If battery tracking is implemented, then environmental impact and recycling management are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional verification systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidverification system

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management apparatus performs multiple functions: storing tracking information, verifying registration status, and controlling battery mounting permissions. By consolidating these functions into a single system, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving effective battery tracking for environmental management and recycling purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual tracking and verification processes with automated electronic verification. The verification unit automatically checks tracking information registration status through electronic communication with the management apparatus, eliminating the need for manual record-keeping and physical verification methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260004007A1Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus comprises a controller, the controller being configured to execute: determining, for a battery apparatus mountable on a vehicle, whether predetermined information for tracking a location of the battery apparatus is registered with a predetermined management apparatus or not; and disabling at least part of functions provided by the battery apparatus mounted on the vehicle when it is determined that the predetermined information is not registered.