Smart Lock Mechanical Reels and Network Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart locks rely on electronic devices for operation, which are prone to failure, inconvenient, and costly to maintain, especially in environments where devices are unavailable or vulnerable to environmental conditions, and lack flexibility in user access management.
Innovation Solution
A smart lock system that combines mechanical combination reels with a network-enabled controller to allow users to manually configure the lock using a set of combination wheels, with electronic components enclosed to protect them from environmental damage, enabling remote management and dynamic access control through a lock management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional smart locks use electronic devices for operation, then access control convenience is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to device failure and environmental vulnerability
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is divided into two independent subsystems: a mechanical combination reel subsystem and an electronic controller subsystem. The mechanical subsystem provides reliable physical operation independent of electronics, while the electronic subsystem provides convenient remote management. This segmentation allows each subsystem to excel at its specific function without compromising overall system reliability or convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical combination reels serve as an intermediary between the user and the electronic locking mechanism. When the mechanical reels are set to the correct combination, they trigger the electronic controller to actuate the locking components. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between simple mechanical input and electronic control, providing both reliability and convenience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If smart locks rely on external electronic devices, then remote access control is improved, but device complexity and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The critical electronic components are extracted from the external environment and enclosed within a protected housing. The controller, memory, and other sensitive electronics are contained within the lock body itself, shielded from environmental damage. This extraction reduces dependency on external devices while maintaining remote access control capabilities through the network interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic controller serves multiple functions: it manages the locking mechanism, stores combination data in memory, provides network communication for remote management, and processes input from the mechanical reels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate external devices, simplifying the overall system while maintaining versatility.
3Ease of operation
If electronic components are exposed for smart lock operation, then user interaction is improved, but environmental damage resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the lock have different properties tailored to their functions. The mechanical combination reels are exposed and accessible for user interaction, while the electronic components are enclosed in a protected housing with specific environmental resistance properties. This local differentiation allows optimal user interaction where needed while providing environmental protection where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic components are enclosed in a protective housing that shields them from environmental factors such as moisture, dust, and temperature extremes. This housing acts as a barrier while still allowing the mechanical reels to be accessed and operated externally. The housing provides flexible protection without compromising the operational accessibility of the mechanical interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A combination lock including: locking means configured to be moveable between a first position in which the lock is placed in a locking state and a second position in which the lock is placed in an unlocked state; a set of mechanical combination reels operable by a user of the lock to configure the reels in accordance with a selected input combination; and a controller having a network interface and being configured to receive via the network interface one or more unlock input combinations associated with the unlocked state of the lock, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the locking means to place the lock in the unlocked state when an input combination of the mechanical combination reels matches any one of the one or more unlock input combinations.