Passive RFID Lock Wireless Energy Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lock devices require battery power or fixed line power for electronic access control, which complicates maintenance and installation.

Innovation Solution

A lock device that uses a passive RFID transceiver to receive energy wirelessly from a key device, eliminating the need for batteries or fixed line power, and incorporates energy harvesting to supplement energy storage for operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery power is used to power the lock device, then the lock can perform electronic access control, but maintenance requirements increase due to battery replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectronic access control functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the battery component from the lock device system. Instead of using a battery-powered lock, the system uses a passive RFID lock that derives power from the RFID reader through electromagnetic coupling, completely eliminating the need for replaceable batteries and associated maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lock device serves itself by harvesting energy from the RFID communication field. The passive RFID transceiver in the lock automatically receives power from the RFID reader during normal communication operations, eliminating the need for external power sources or maintenance interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If fixed line power is used to power the lock device, then the lock can perform electronic access control, but installation complexity increases due to electrical wiring requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectronic access control functionalityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the fixed line power infrastructure from the lock installation. The passive RFID lock operates without electrical wiring by receiving power wirelessly through electromagnetic coupling from the RFID reader, simplifying installation to only require mounting the lock and integrating it with the RFID access control system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical/electrical power delivery system (wires and connections) with an electromagnetic field-based power transfer system. The RFID reader generates an electromagnetic field that inductively powers the passive RFID transceiver in the lock, eliminating the need for physical electrical connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If wireless energy transfer is used to power the lock device, then maintenance and installation are simplified, but energy storage capacity must be sufficient for operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance and installation simplicityVSAvoidenergy storage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic energy transfer through RFID communication cycles. The RFID reader continuously or periodically transmits electromagnetic energy, and the passive RFID transceiver in the lock harvests energy during these periodic communication intervals, accumulating sufficient power for operation without requiring large energy storage capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The lock device automatically manages its energy needs by harvesting power during normal RFID communication operations. The system self-regulates by drawing energy from the RFID field during active communication periods, eliminating the need for separate power management infrastructure or large energy storage components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 battery-free and line-power-free operation, simplifying maintenance and installation while ensuring reliable access control through wireless energy transfer and energy harvesting.

Implementation Method 1

The lock device (1) uses a passive RFID transceiver (2) to receive energy wirelessly from a key device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

incorporates energy harvesting to supplement energy storage for operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy harvesting:

Data Source

PatentEP2919202B1RFID powered lock device
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 ASSA ABLOY AB
  • EP2919202B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2919202B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP2919202B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

It is presented a method performed in a lock device. The method comprises the steps of: receiving, in a passive Radio-frequency Identification, RFID, transceiver, energy from a key device using wireless energy transfer; entering an active state from an idle state; exchanging RFID data with the RFID reader; obtaining an access decision based on the RFID data; and mechanically unlocking the lock device when access is granted and wireless energy more than a threshold amount has been received.