Electronic Cylinder Backup Power via NFC and Induction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic lock systems with batteries face issues when the battery fails, as users may not have a backup power source, leading to temporary lockout situations and potential discharge of emergency power batteries.
Innovation Solution
An electronic key with integrated energy recovery and auxiliary power generation capabilities, allowing for wired electrical connections and NFC-based energy transfer to power the lock, eliminating the need for internal batteries and ensuring continuous access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery-powered electronic cylinder is used, then the lock can be unlocked with an electronic key, but when the battery fails the cylinder loses power and cannot be unlocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary action by providing a backup power supply mechanism (electrical connection means) that is prepared in advance within the cylinder. When the battery fails, this pre-positioned electrical connection can immediately receive power from an external key, ensuring continuous unlocking capability without waiting for battery replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a backup power supply system that cushions against the failure risk of the main battery. The electrical connection means and external power reception capability are prepared in advance to compensate for battery failure, ensuring the cylinder remains operable even when the primary power source is depleted.
2Reliability
If a special key with battery is used as backup power supply, then the cylinder can be unlocked even when the main battery fails, but the special key's battery also discharges over time making it temporarily impossible to unlock the cylinder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply function from the key itself and relocates it to the cylinder. Instead of the key containing a battery, the cylinder is equipped with an electrical connection means that can receive power from an external key. This separates the key's function (transmitting access code) from the power supply function, eliminating the need for a backup battery in the key.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electrical connection means within the cylinder that mediates between the external key and the cylinder's internal systems. This electrical connection serves as a bridge, receiving power and access codes from the external key without requiring the key to have its own battery, thus extending the effective duration of the backup power solution.
3Ease of operation
If a special key with electrical contacts is used to power the cylinder, then wired electrical connection can be established, but the key must be physically present and the connection adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the electrical connection means to serve multiple functions: it can receive both power supply and access codes through the same connection interface. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall system by consolidating what would otherwise require separate mechanisms, reducing complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
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 reliable and secure unlocking even without a functioning internal battery, reducing the risk of temporary lockouts and battery discharge issues, leveraging user-provided power sources for emergency access.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic generator (41) capable of producing, from the movement of the key (16) during its insertion into the electronic cylinder (12), an electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
an NFC transceiver (138) configured to generate an electromagnetic field, and an auxiliary generator (43) configured to convert the electromagnetic field generated by the NFC transceiver (138) into electrical energy
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
This method of powering an electronic cylinder of a lock includes a backup power supply phase (302) which includes the following steps when a power transmission link is established with the electronic cylinder: - the placement (352) of a mobile phone equipped with a near-field transceiver within 20 cm of the key, and - the conversion (354) into electrical energy, by an auxiliary generator housed inside the key, of the electromagnetic radiation of the near-field transceiver and the transmission of this electrical energy, as it is produced, to the electronic cylinder via the power transmission link to power the electronic cylinder.