Vehicle Auto-Locking With Key Location and Occupancy Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In electric and hybrid electric vehicles, the quiet operation can lead to drivers forgetting to shut down the engine and lock the vehicle, resulting in inconvenience and potential security risks.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a control device with a processor and memory, a door lock, a sensor, and a wireless key, which communicates to determine if the vehicle is parked and unoccupied, and if the key is outside, automatically shutting down the engine and locking the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the electric motor runs in low speed or braked mode, then the vehicle provides quieter operation and different driving experience, but the driver may forget to shut down the engine and lock the vehicle before leaving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise levelVSAvoidvehicle security

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when the driver has left the vehicle and performs the locking and engine shutdown actions without requiring manual intervention from the driver, making the system serve itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect driver absence and provides feedback to the control device, which then triggers the locking and shutdown sequence based on the detected conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If the driver leaves the vehicle without shutting down the engine, then the driver can leave quickly, but the vehicle remains unlocked and insecure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to leaveVSAvoidvehicle security

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the locking action automatically when it detects the driver has left, ensuring security is established before the driver completely departs, without requiring the driver to manually lock the vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the driver needs to re-enter the vehicle to shut down the engine, then the vehicle can be properly closed, but this creates inconvenience for the driver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine shutdownVSAvoiddriver convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when the driver has left and performs the engine shutdown and locking actions without requiring the driver to re-enter the vehicle, making the system serve itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical action of the driver physically returning to the vehicle with an automated electronic detection and control system that performs the same function remotely

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12304428B2Method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium for locking automobile

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

A method for locking automobile includes determines if a door locking action is done by a driver. If the automobile is found to be in a status of parking and an engine system is not turned off, a sensor can detect presence of absence of passengers in the automobile. The location of a key being found outside of the automobile or still inside according to wireless communication signals from the key allows the engine system to be shut down and the door lock to be locked, thereby locking and securing the automobile, otherwise the driver is warned that his door locking action is ineffective and his action to apply locking is rejected. An apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium for locking automobile are also disclosed.