Secure Tray Storage With Selective Zone Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems lack secure and precise access control, particularly for items like semiconductor chips, where authorized access and correct retrieval are crucial to prevent confusion and ensure items are fit for purpose.
Innovation Solution
A secure storage unit with movable trays or drawers equipped with a tray selector system and electromechanical locking devices, controlled by a processor unit, allowing selective access and limiting movement to specific zones, ensuring only authorized users can access the correct items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a storage system allows free access to all trays, then ease of operation is improved, but security and access control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage unit is segmented into multiple independently controllable trays, each with its own locking mechanism. This allows selective access to individual trays while maintaining security for others, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security by enabling granular access control rather than all-or-nothing access.
Solution Approach 2:
An electromechanical locking device acts as an intermediary between the user and the tray contents. This intermediary mechanism controls access by requiring authentication or authorization before releasing the tray, thus maintaining security while still allowing convenient access for authorized users.
2Ease of operation
If the entire tray is exposed for access, then ease of operation is improved, but precision of item retrieval deteriorates due to potential confusion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of exposing the entire tray, only the local zone containing the specific item to be retrieved is exposed. The electromechanical locking device releases the tray at a controlled position that exposes only the necessary portion, maintaining retrieval precision while still providing ease of access for the specific item.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by exposing only the minimum necessary portion of the tray required for item retrieval, rather than exposing the entire tray. This prevents confusion and maintains precision while still providing adequate access for the specific retrieval task.
3Ease of operation
If unauthorized access is permitted, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of item specification matching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electromechanical locking device serves as an authentication intermediary that verifies user authorization before allowing tray access. This ensures that only authorized personnel can retrieve items, maintaining reliability of item specification matching while still providing easy access for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through the locking device that verify authorization status before granting access. This feedback loop ensures that access decisions are based on proper authentication, maintaining reliability while enabling convenient access for authorized users.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
According to a first aspect of the invention a secure storage unit comprising a plurality of movable trays (11) within a housing (10) is equipped with a tray selector system for selectively accessing a tray on demand, wherein the selector system is configured to release a selected tray (11) for access by limiting the allowable extent of movement of the tray from a stowed to an accessible position with respect to the storage unit by a pre-determined amount whereby access to selected zones of selected trays is controlled.In an embodiment of the secure storage unit, the selector system comprises a plurality of discrete electromechanical locking devices (14) operably juxtaposed with respect to the trays, and configured to be individually selectable for releasing and limiting the allowable extent of movement of the selected tray with respect to the storage unit. It is envisaged that in such an embodiment, a tray with a lid subdivided into discrete sections by slot division allows sections to be selectively locked or released by electromechanical means, for example whereby upon access to a sub unit, a selected one (or more) of the sections is retained in position within the storage unit as the tray is released to emerge therefrom by a controlled extent. Thus to the user it appears that as the tray (or drawer) is ejected from the storage unit, the cover section for the selected item is retracted.