Electric Vehicle Charge Port Anti-Theft Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charging port structures with electric unlocking mechanisms lack effective theft prevention, as manual unlocking can occur unauthorizedly, especially when the electric actuator malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A charging port structure with a port lid lock mechanism that can be unlocked manually from the vehicle body opening, featuring a body opening lid lock mechanism accessible only from inside the passenger compartment, enhancing unauthorized access prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual unlocking structure is provided for the port lid lock mechanism, then reliability is improved by enabling manual operation when electric actuator malfunctions, but theft prevention deteriorates due to unauthorized manual access
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking function is segmented into two separate access paths: electric unlocking accessible from outside the vehicle and manual unlocking accessible only from inside the passenger compartment. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both reliability (through manual backup) and security (by restricting unauthorized access) simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle body opening and body opening lid act as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the manual unlocking mechanism. This intermediary structure ensures that only authorized users who can legally open the vehicle body opening from inside can access the manual unlocking function, thereby preventing theft while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the port lid lock mechanism is made accessible from outside the vehicle, then ease of operation is improved for emergency situations, but theft prevention deteriorates due to unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The manual unlocking function is spatially segmented from the external vehicle environment by placing it inside the passenger compartment. This segmentation ensures that emergency manual unlocking remains accessible to authorized users while being inherently protected from unauthorized external access.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual unlocking access is moved from the external dimension (outside the vehicle) to the internal dimension (inside the passenger compartment). This dimensional transition creates a natural security barrier while preserving ease of operation for authorized users who can access the interior of the vehicle.
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle body opening is made accessible, then ease of operation is improved for manual unlocking, but theft prevention deteriorates due to easier access to the port lid lock mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body opening is segmented as a separate controlled access point that requires authorized operation. This segmentation creates a hierarchical access structure where the body opening lid lock mechanism serves as an additional security layer, ensuring that ease of operation for authorized users does not compromise theft prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The body opening lid lock mechanism is designed to be unlocked by operation from inside the passenger compartment before accessing the manual unlocking structure. This preliminary action requirement ensures that only users who have already authorized access to the vehicle interior can proceed to unlock the port lid, thereby maintaining security while enabling operational convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a charging port structure whereby it is possible to suppress unlocking of a port lid lock mechanism by unauthorized manual operation and enhance theft prevention. The present invention is provided with: a port lid lock mechanism (65) for maintaining a closed state of a port lid (63) for covering a port housing (61) so as to be able to open and close, the port housing (61) housing a charging port (62); a hood locking mechanism (13) for maintaining a closed state of a front hood (12) for covering a compartment opening (12a) so as to be able to open and close, the compartment opening (12a) being provided in an outer panel (1a), and the hood locking mechanism (13) being unlocked by an operation from inside a passenger compartment space (R); an electric unlocking mechanism (66) for unlocking the port lid lock mechanism (65) by an electric actuator (66a); and an access opening (67) for enabling the port lid lock mechanism (65) to be unlocked by a manual operation from the compartment opening (12a).