Emergency-Powered Vehicle Unlocking Control for Low-Battery Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

When a vehicle's battery level is low or exhausted, electronic key systems fail to unlock the doors, preventing access to the cabin and power restoration.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle unlocking control device with a control module, first and second domain controllers, and an external emergency power supply to power these controllers, allowing the first controller to unlock the front hood and the second controller to determine door unlocking based on signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic key systems are used to unlock vehicle doors, then vehicle security and convenience are improved, but the system becomes unreliable when battery voltage is low or exhausted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlocking reliabilityVSAvoidbattery voltage dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary power supply system that includes a high-voltage battery, DC-DC converter, and low-voltage battery. This intermediary power conversion system allows the electronic key to operate reliably by ensuring sufficient voltage supply through the DC-DC converter, which converts high-voltage battery power to low-voltage power, thus resolving the voltage dependency issue while maintaining electronic unlocking reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing a dual-power supply architecture with both high-voltage and low-voltage batteries. The system proactively prepares for voltage insufficiency by having the DC-DC converter ready to convert power when needed, ensuring the electronic key system can always operate without being affected by low-voltage conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical keys and door handles are eliminated in favor of electronic systems, then vehicle modernization and security are improved, but the ability to manually access the vehicle for battery restoration is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle modernizationVSAvoidmanual access capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating the unlocking functions into two independent systems: the electronic key system for normal operation and the emergency manual access system for battery restoration. The emergency system includes a separate power supply and control mechanism that can operate independently of the electronic system, allowing users to open the driver's door or hood even when the battery is depleted, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving vehicle modernization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the vehicle relies entirely on electronic systems for door unlocking, then mechanical simplicity is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to power failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical component reductionVSAvoidsystem vulnerability to power failure
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different quality zones within the vehicle's locking system. The main door locking system is fully electronic with high integration, while the emergency access system maintains simpler, more robust characteristics with separate power supply and control. This local differentiation allows the vehicle to achieve overall mechanical simplicity while ensuring reliability through the resilient emergency system that is specifically designed to function during power failures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4589100A1Vehicle unlocking control device, vehicle, and vehicle unlocking control method
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4589100A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4589100A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4589100A1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A vehicle unlocking control device, a vehicle, and a vehicle unlocking control method are provided, the vehicle unlocking control device includes a control module, a first domain controller, and a second domain controller; the control module supplies power to the first domain controller and the second domain controller by an external emergency power supply when the control module is electrically connected with the external emergency power supply, when the vehicle is in a low battery state; the first domain controller controls a cover lock motor of a front hood to unlock when the first domain controller receives the power from the control module; and the second domain controller determines whether to control a door lock motor to unlock according to a door unlocking signal when the second domain controller receives the door unlocking signal, and receives the power from the control module.