Remote Locking System with Proximity Sensor and Timer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toolbox locks lack advanced remote access and power management features, limiting convenience and security, especially with the integration of wireless communication technologies in smartphones.
Innovation Solution
A remote locking system for storage units, such as toolboxes, utilizing a mobile device application for locking and unlocking, with proximity sensing, wireless communication, and a timer to manage power consumption and access, ensuring secure and convenient access through authenticated user devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional lock and key mechanisms are used, then security is maintained, but remote access capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lock and key system with an electromechanical actuator controlled by wireless signals from a mobile device. The actuator receives electronic commands to lock or unlock the storage unit, eliminating the need for physical keys while maintaining security through authenticated digital access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transceiver as an intermediary component that communicates between the mobile device and the lock mechanism. This transceiver enables wireless communication, allowing the user to remotely control the lock without direct physical contact, thus achieving remote access while managing system complexity through a dedicated communication interface.
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication is continuously enabled, then remote access is always available, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by enabling the transceiver to operate in alternating active and sleep states. The system wakes at scheduled intervals to check for incoming commands or to transmit status updates, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation maintains remote access capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates self-service through automatic wake-up triggers based on detected proximity or incoming communication signals. When a mobile device approaches or sends a signal, the transceiver automatically activates without requiring manual user intervention, then manages its own power state transitions to balance accessibility and energy efficiency.
3Extent of automation
If proximity sensing is implemented, then automatic unlocking is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the proximity sensing function with the existing transceiver and control logic. The sensor detects the presence of a mobile device within a predetermined distance and triggers the unlock sequence through the existing wireless communication infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware circuits and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves multi-functionality by using the transceiver to serve multiple purposes: wireless communication for remote locking/unlocking, authentication verification, and triggering automatic unlock based on proximity detection. This universal component handles diverse functions, reducing the need for specialized dedicated components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote locking system for a storage unit that allows a user device including a security token to remotely lock or unlock the storage unit. The user can include software or an application that communicates with the storage unit to provide locking statuses and tamper alerts for the storage unit. The storage unit can include a proximity sensor so the unit is unlocked when an authorized user device is within a certain distance of the storage unit. The system can further include a timer that disables communication between the user device and storage unit after a predetermined inactive period, so as to reduce cross-talk and power consumption.