Vehicle Battery Unlock Control for Registered Location Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of tracking the location of vehicle batteries after removal, which can lead to unknown sources and potential damage or misuse, complicating failure identification and proper disposal.

Innovation Solution

A system that registers battery location tracking information, allowing removal only when the information is registered, using a control unit to output an unlock permission signal to a lock mechanism between the battery and vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery location tracking registration is required before removal, then battery tracking reliability is improved, but removal operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery tracking reliabilityVSAvoidbattery removal operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary registration of battery location tracking information in the management device before the actual battery removal operation. The control unit checks whether the battery ID is registered in advance, and only permits removal when registration is confirmed. This preliminary action ensures tracking reliability is established before removal occurs, while the automated check minimizes operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit provides feedback by notifying the user when battery location tracking information is not registered, preventing removal until proper registration occurs. This feedback mechanism ensures that batteries are always tracked before removal, maintaining reliability while guiding users through the proper procedure, thereby managing operational complexity through clear system guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If lock mechanism control is implemented through management device, then battery security against misuse is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery misuse riskVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management device serves as an intermediary between the battery device and the lock mechanism. The control unit communicates with the lock mechanism through the management device, which stores battery location tracking information and provides unlock permissions. This intermediary approach enhances security by centralizing control while managing system complexity through a dedicated management layer that handles authentication and authorization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical locking control with an automated electronic control system. The control unit uses electronic communication to interact with the lock mechanism based on registered battery information, substituting physical key-based or manual locking mechanisms with an automated digital authorization system. This improves security against misuse while the electronic system manages complexity through software-based control protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260004257A1Information processing device, battery device, and information processing system

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A control unit of an information processing device determines whether registration information for tracking the location of a battery mounted on a vehicle is registered in a predetermined management device. When the registration information is registered, the control unit of the information processing device outputs data that permits removal of the battery from the vehicle.