Electronic Cylinder Capacitor Charging Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic lock cylinders powered by keys face challenges in quickly validating access rights and charging capacitors within the 200 ms time frame required for efficient operation, while also conserving key battery energy.
Innovation Solution
The method involves charging a capacitor in the electronic cylinder before evaluating access rights, using a microcontroller to manage energy efficiently, and isolating the capacitor to prevent unnecessary discharge, allowing for rapid unlocking operations without increasing energy consumption or affecting battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the capacitor is charged after access rights evaluation is completed, then the key battery energy is conserved, but the unlocking operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor is charged in advance during key insertion, before access rights evaluation is completed. This preliminary charging action ensures that when unlocking is required, the capacitor is already charged or charging, significantly reducing the total operation time while minimizing key battery energy consumption since charging occurs during the necessary key insertion period.
2Loss of energy
If the capacitor charging is delayed until after key insertion, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor charging process is made continuous and overlaps with the access rights evaluation process. Both operations proceed simultaneously from the moment of key insertion, eliminating idle time and ensuring that when the user needs to unlock, the capacitor is ready or nearly ready, achieving both energy efficiency and fast response.
3Loss of energy
If the capacitor remains connected during unauthorized access attempts, then energy is wasted through unnecessary charging and leakage, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller monitors the access rights evaluation result and provides feedback control for the capacitor charging process. When unauthorized access is detected, the microcontroller stops the charging process and isolates the capacitor, preventing energy waste through unnecessary charging and leakage currents. This feedback mechanism adds minimal complexity while significantly improving energy efficiency.
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
This approach reduces the time taken for operations like unlocking, conserves key battery energy, and extends battery life by preventing unnecessary recharging and leakage currents, while maintaining efficient access control.
Implementation Method 1
charge a capacitor housed inside the electronic cylinder from the energy stored in the battery of the key
Implementation Method 2
energy stored in the battery of the key
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
This process includes: - the start (304) of charging a capacitor of an electronic cylinder systematically as soon as the electrical contacts of the electronic cylinder are mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding electrical contacts of a key and before the activation of a capacitor charging voltage booster, - after the instant when this mechanical and electrical contact (302) has taken place, a microcontroller counts down (306) a predetermined time greater than 15 ms, then - only after this predetermined time has elapsed, the microcontroller - triggers an evaluation (320) of the validity of access rights of the key, and - activates (310) the capacitor charging voltage booster.