Door Lock State Determination via Elapsed Time Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door lock devices for railway vehicles lack effective malfunction detection, particularly delayed operation issues, which are not addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A state determination device that calculates the elapsed time from when a drive signal is output to when the door lock operation is completed, using a determination section to assess if a malfunction is present based on this elapsed time, without requiring additional components, and calculates a prescribed time based on multiple door lock devices' performance for accurate malfunction detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no malfunction detection mechanism is implemented in the door lock device, then the device complexity remains low, but the reliability of operation is reduced due to undetected delayed operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door lock device performs self-diagnosis by using its existing control unit to calculate elapsed time and determine malfunctions. The control unit serves dual purposes: normal operation control and malfunction detection, eliminating the need for separate detection devices and maintaining low device complexity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If additional components are added to detect malfunction completion, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction detection precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the solenoid operation and simultaneously detects malfunctions by monitoring elapsed time. This multi-functional design allows precise malfunction detection without adding separate detection components, thus improving measurement precision while avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit uses its own existing resources (timing functionality and control signals) to perform self-diagnosis. By leveraging its inherent capabilities rather than adding external detection components, the system achieves accurate malfunction detection while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the elapsed time calculation is used for malfunction determination, then the reliability of malfunction detection improves, but the loss of time for additional calculation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction detection reliabilityVSAvoidcalculation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the operation state and calculates elapsed time in real-time during normal operation. This continuous monitoring approach allows immediate malfunction detection without requiring separate measurement time, as the timing function operates concurrently with the door lock operation itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit starts timing from the moment the drive signal is output, preparing the elapsed time data in advance. This preliminary calculation ensures that when malfunction determination is needed, the data is already available, eliminating additional calculation time and maintaining high detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3816376B1State determination device for door lock device, state determination method for door lock device, and state determination program for door lock device
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 NABTESCO CORP
  • EP3816376B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3816376B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3816376B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A state determination device for a door lock device (30) includes: a calculation section (61) for calculating an elapsed unlock time H from the time when a drive signal for driving a door lock device (30) is output to the time when unlock operation of the door lock device (30) is completed (steps S10, S20, S40, S50); and a determination section (62) for determining whether or not a malfunction is present in the door lock device (30) based on the elapsed unlock time H (steps S70, S80, S110).