Replaceable Emergency Power Source for Motor Vehicle Locks

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle locks with electromotive drives face issues of increased weight and cost due to complex mechanical backup solutions and the use of expensive supercapacitors, charging modules, and boost modules for emergency power supply.

Innovation Solution

The emergency power source is designed to be replaceably accommodated in the lock housing, utilizing non-rechargeable lithium batteries or button cells, eliminating the need for electrical connections and additional modules, and allowing laypeople to replace the power source easily.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If supercapacitors with charging modules and boost modules are used for emergency power supply, then emergency power supply functionality is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency power supply functionalityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the charging module, boost module, and equalizer module from the lock housing, leaving only the simple replaceable battery pack. This separation eliminates the complex electrical infrastructure while maintaining emergency power supply functionality through straightforward battery replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable or replaceable battery packs (such as lithium batteries or button cells) that can be easily replaced when depleted. This approach substitutes expensive, complex rechargeable supercapacitor systems with simple, inexpensive battery units that achieve the same emergency power supply function without requiring charging infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If supercapacitors with charging modules and boost modules are used for emergency power supply, then emergency power supply functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency power supply functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable or replaceable battery packs (such as lithium batteries or button cells) that can be easily replaced when depleted. This approach substitutes expensive, complex rechargeable supercapacitor systems with simple, inexpensive battery units that achieve the same emergency power supply function without requiring charging infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the charging module, boost module, and equalizer module from the lock housing, leaving only the simple replaceable battery pack. This separation eliminates the complex electrical infrastructure while maintaining emergency power supply functionality through straightforward battery replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If mechanical backup solutions are provided for power supply disruption, then emergency opening functionality is achieved, but weight and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency opening functionalityVSAvoidlock weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical backup solutions with an electrical system using simple replaceable battery packs. This substitution maintains emergency opening functionality while significantly reducing weight compared to robust mechanical backup mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design reduces weight and cost while ensuring reliable emergency operation by using self-sufficient, non-rechargeable batteries, simplifying maintenance and reducing the need for complex charging infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

The emergency power source is designed to be replaceably accommodated in the lock housing, utilizing non-rechargeable lithium batteries or button cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical energy conversion: Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentUS12421771B2Motor vehicle lock

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, which is equipped with a locking mechanism arranged in a lock housing and made up substantially of a rotary latch and a pawl. Furthermore, an electromotive drive is provided, in particular for the locking mechanism and an emergency power source for emergency electrical power supply of the drive. According to the invention, the emergency power source is arranged in the lock housing in such a way that it can be replaced.