Wireless Authorization Padlock With Motion-Triggered Wake-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing padlocks require physical keys or tokens for unlocking, leading to potential loss or misplacement issues and increased security risks due to unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A padlock system with a transceiver and motion detector that activates a low-power dormant state, enabling wireless communication for remote authorization and keyless operation, with alarm features for unauthorized attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical keys or tokens are used for unlocking, then the locking mechanism is simple and reliable, but there is potential loss or misplacement and increased security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical key-token system with an electronic wireless communication system. The transceiver enables wireless authorization signals to be transmitted to the locking mechanism, eliminating the need for physical keys or tokens. This substitution resolves the contradiction by improving security (no physical keys to lose or misplace) while maintaining ease of operation (wireless authorization is convenient and contactless).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electronic copies of authorization credentials instead of physical keys. The transceiver can receive and process wireless authorization signals that represent digital copies of access rights, allowing multiple copies to be distributed without risk of physical loss or degradation. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating key management issues while maintaining secure access control.
2Reliability
If wireless communication components are added to enable keyless operation, then security is enhanced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic wake-sleep cycles for the transceiver and controller. The system remains in a low-power sleep state and periodically wakes to check for authorization signals, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction by enabling wireless communication functionality for security enhancement while minimizing power consumption through extended sleep intervals between periodic checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion detector automatically wakes the system from sleep mode when motion is detected, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring. The system serves itself by using environmental motion cues to trigger wake-up events, thereby enabling security functionality only when needed and minimizing overall power consumption during idle periods.
3Speed
If the system remains active to provide real-time authorization and alarm features, then security response is immediate, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic wake-sleep cycles combined with motion-triggered wake-up events. During sleep mode, power consumption is minimized, but when motion is detected, the system quickly wakes and provides immediate authorization or alarm response. This resolves the contradiction by achieving fast response times only when necessary (during wake periods) while maintaining low power consumption during extended sleep intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion detector operates in a ready state to detect motion before the main system needs to respond. This preliminary detection allows the system to wake up proactively in response to potential security events, ensuring immediate response capability while avoiding the need for continuous active monitoring of all system functions, thereby reducing overall power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A padlock is provided with a transceiver to enable authorisation of an unlocking action by an authority. To control power consumption, a motion detector is used to activate the device from a dormant, low power consumption state.