Automobile Door Locking Device Automatic Transmitter Authentication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle door lock systems fail to prevent users from leaving their vehicles with unlocked doors, as they require manual operation by the user, leading to potential security issues and inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle door lock apparatus with a meshing mechanism, a locking and unlocking mechanism, an outside electric operation element, and a control unit that authenticates a transmitter to enable or disable door operation based on the transmitter's location, automatically switching to a locking state when the transmitter is moved out of a predetermined area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual door locking operation is required, then user control over door locking is improved, but risk of user forgetting to lock doors increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoiddoor locking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door locking system performs the locking operation automatically without requiring user intervention. The control unit monitors transmitter position and autonomously activates the locking mechanism when the transmitter moves outside the vehicle, eliminating the need for manual locking while ensuring reliable door security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the position of the transmitter relative to the vehicle and uses this feedback to determine when to lock the doors. When the transmitter exits the predetermined area, the control unit receives feedback and automatically triggers the locking operation, ensuring doors are locked even if the user forgets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If automatic door locking is implemented, then door security is improved, but user convenience in exiting the vehicle may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor securityVSAvoidexiting convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door locking system dynamically adjusts its state based on real-time transmitter position. Doors remain unlocked when the transmitter is inside or near the vehicle for easy exit, and automatically lock when the transmitter moves outside, providing both security and convenience through adaptive behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for locking in advance by continuously monitoring transmitter position. When the transmitter approaches or exits the predetermined area, the control unit initiates the locking sequence automatically, ensuring doors are secured before the user completely leaves the vehicle vicinity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If transmitter authentication is required for door operation, then unauthorized access prevention is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized accessVSAvoidauthentication system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional mechanical key-based authentication with an electronic transmitter-based position monitoring system. The control unit authenticates the transmitter and uses its spatial position relative to the vehicle to control door operations, eliminating the need for physical keys while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3388605B1Automobile door locking device
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 MITSUI KINZOKU ACT
  • EP3388605B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3388605B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3388605B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An automobile door locking device comprises: an engaging mechanism that engages with a striker; a locking and unlocking mechanism that can selectively switch between an unlocked state in which the engaging mechanism can be disengaged and a locked state in which the engaging mechanism cannot be disengaged; a controlling device ECU that authenticates a transmitter SW6 on the basis of a signal issued by the transmitter and that activates operation of an external operation switch SW1, SW3, SW10 when the transmitter has been authenticated when the transmitter is outside the vehicle; and an electric release mechanism that can disengage the engaging mechanism by way of the controlling device driving a release electric motor 22 to unlock on the basis of the operation of the external operation switch when the controlling device has authenticated the transmitter outside of the vehicle. The controlling device switches from an authenticated state to a non-authenticated state when the transmitter outside of the vehicle is removed from an authentication area OA1, OA2 on the outside of the vehicle, and a locking and unlocking motor 14 is driven to lock when switching to the non-authenticated state.