Vehicle Door Unlock Mechanism for Backup Power Failure Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Keyless entry systems in vehicles face challenges when the primary unlocking mechanism becomes unavailable due to power supply failures or other issues, such as a dead battery or mechanical failures, leading to unauthorized access risks and complications in access control.
Innovation Solution
A secondary unlocking component powered by an external power source, such as a keyless remote, which activates in a secondary operational mode to unlock the door using a clutch mechanism and actuator, allowing external power transfer to engage shafts and unlock the door even when the primary power supply is insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a keyless entry system is used to provide controlled remote access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates when the primary power supply fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a mechanical connection between the interior and exterior door handle shafts before power failure occurs. The clutch mechanism is pre-configured to engage these shafts, so that when the primary power supply fails, the mechanical connection is already in place and can immediately transfer power from the exterior handle to the locking component, ensuring continuous reliability without requiring complex real-time detection and switching logic.
2Reliability
If a secondary unlocking component powered by external power source is added, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the secondary unlocking function with the existing exterior door handle mechanism. The clutch mechanism integrates the interior door handle shaft and exterior door handle shaft into a single mechanical assembly, allowing the exterior handle to serve dual purposes: normal door opening and backup unlocking function. This merging approach adds reliability through redundancy while minimizing device complexity by reusing existing components rather than adding separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by using the exterior door handle itself as the power source for the secondary unlocking operation. When the primary power supply fails, the user can manually operate the exterior door handle, and the mechanical connection through the clutch mechanism automatically transfers this manual power to unlock the locking component. This eliminates the need for additional power sources, actuators, or control systems, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the mechanical connection is disconnected when locking component is locked, then security is improved, but ease of operation worsens during backup unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic characteristics by making the mechanical connection between the interior and exterior door handle shafts conditional rather than fixed. The clutch mechanism automatically engages or disengages the mechanical connection based on the state of the locking component. When the locking component is locked, the mechanical connection is disconnected to prevent unauthorized access. When the locking component is unlocked, the mechanical connection is established to enable backup unlocking functionality. This dynamic behavior maintains security while enabling ease of operation during backup unlocking scenarios.
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
Provides a reliable and secure backup unlocking method that minimizes power usage and complexity, allowing seamless transition from primary to secondary operational modes, ensuring vehicle access even in power failure scenarios without the need for mechanical keys.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator, configured to receive the control signal from the processing unit and the power from the power controller, and, in response to receiving the control signal, convert the energy from the power controller to actuate a pin or lever to engage a shaft, connected to the interior door handle, to a shaft, connected to the exterior door handle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A method and device for unlatching a door (100) from a frame, using a keyless door latch system (110), is provided. In one embodiment, a secondary unlocking component (118) receives a signal and derives power from the signal to provide a power source for the keyless door latch system. A microcontroller generates a control signal and an actuator, in response to receiving the control signal, actuates the secondary unlocking component, which allows an energy source, from an exterior of the door, to be transferred to the keyless door latch system for the unlatching of the door.