Electric Motorcycle Key Cylinder Lock Release and Charging Light

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users of electric vehicles face inconvenience when charging their batteries due to the need to reinsert a key into a key cylinder for the charge inlet, which is separate from the main switch, making the charging process more complex.

Innovation Solution

An electric saddled vehicle with a key system that switches the controller between on and off states and releases the lock mechanism for the charge inlet lid, allowing for simpler operation and integration of an illumination device to facilitate charging in dark environments while preventing power waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate key cylinder is provided for the charge inlet lock, then the lock can be securely released, but the operation complexity increases and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock release reliabilityVSAvoidcharging operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the charge inlet lock release function with the main key cylinder (used for vehicle ignition) into a single integrated system. The key cylinder now serves dual purposes: vehicle starting and charge inlet unlocking, eliminating the need for a separate key cylinder and simplifying user operation to a single key insertion point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main key cylinder is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the vehicle ignition switch and as the charge inlet lock release mechanism. This universal design allows a single key to perform multiple functions, reducing operational steps and improving user convenience during charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If an illumination device is added to facilitate charging in dark environments, then visibility and ease of operation improve, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging operation visibilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device operates periodically rather than continuously - it activates automatically when the charge inlet lid is opened and turns off automatically after a predetermined time period. This periodic operation provides necessary lighting during charging operations while minimizing unnecessary power consumption when the charging port is not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination device is designed with automatic control - it turns on automatically when the charge inlet lid is opened and turns off automatically after a set time, without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures the light is available when needed while automatically conserving energy when not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3677466B1Electric saddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3677466B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677466B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3677466B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides an electric saddled vehicle in which charging work of a battery may be made easier. An electric motorcycle (1) has an electric motor (11) that drives a driving wheel (3), a battery (12) that stores power for supply to the electric motor (11), a vehicle controller (20) that controls the electric motor (11), a charge inlet (31) electrically connected to the battery (12), an openable and closable inlet lid (32) provided on the charge inlet (31), and a lock mechanism (33) for locking the inlet lid (32) in a closed position. A key cylinder (40) has a main switch (41) for switching the vehicle controller (20) from an off-state to an on-state according to a first operation by a user and is configured to release lock of the inlet lid (32) by the lock mechanism (33) according to a second operation by the user.