Contactless Cart Charging Layout for Selective Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contactless power feeding devices for shopping carts in retail stores face issues where carts cannot be taken out until charging is completed, especially when parked between uncharged carts, affecting convenience.
Innovation Solution
A contactless power feeding device with a placement portion, power transmitting units, lock units, and a control unit that allows simultaneous charging of multiple carts while maintaining the locked state of some carts, ensuring others can be taken out once charged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contactless power feeding is performed in a parking lot, then charging can be performed without contact, but carts cannot be taken out until charging is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The parking lot is divided into multiple independent charging positions, each with its own power transmitting unit and lock unit. This segmentation allows individual carts to be charged independently and retrieved individually, resolving the contradiction by enabling selective release of charged carts while others continue charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock unit dynamically changes state based on charging status - locked during charging to prevent removal, and unlocked when charging is complete to enable retrieval. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by automatically managing cart availability based on real-time charging status.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple carts are parked for charging, then charging capacity is increased, but cart retrieval becomes difficult when charged carts are sandwiched between uncharged carts
Solution Approach 1:
Each charging position is independently controlled with its own lock unit, allowing individual carts to be released regardless of the status of adjacent carts. This resolves the sandwiching problem by enabling selective retrieval of any charged cart without being blocked by neighboring uncharged carts.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the charging system and cart retrieval. It mediates the conflict between maintaining charging capacity and enabling easy retrieval by controlling access to each cart independently based on its charging status.
3Reliability
If all carts are locked during charging, then charging security is maintained, but convenience of immediate retrieval after charging is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock units dynamically adjust their locking state based on real-time charging status monitored by the control unit. Charged carts are automatically unlocked for immediate retrieval while uncharged carts remain locked, resolving the contradiction by providing both security and convenience through automated state management.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors charging status and provides feedback to the lock units, which automatically adjust their locking state accordingly. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by ensuring charged carts are immediately available for retrieval while maintaining security for carts still charging.
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
Enables efficient and convenient charging of multiple shopping carts without requiring them to remain stationary until completion, enhancing user experience by allowing immediate retrieval after charging is finished.
Implementation Method 1
a power transmitting unit that is provided at each of placement positions at which the cart is placed in the placement portion and transmits power to the power receiving unit by contactless power feeding
Data Source
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AI summary
The contactless power feeding device of the present embodiment includes: a placement portion on which a plurality of carts including a device and a power receiving unit that receives power to be fed to the device is placed in a state of being arranged in one direction; a power transmitting unit that is provided at each of placement positions at which the cart is placed in the placement portion and transmits power to the power receiving unit by contactless power feeding; a lock unit that is provided at each of at least a first placement position at which a first cart in the one direction is placed and a second placement position at which a next cart is placed among the placement positions, and locks movement of the cart; and a control unit that controls an operation of the lock unit, in which the control unit releases a locked state of the lock unit provided at the first placement position while maintaining the locked state of the lock unit provided at the second placement position when receiving supply instruction of the cart.