Patent Publication Number: US-11643842-B2

Title: Electronic lock without active power source, electronic device having the electronic lock, and method of operating the electronic lock thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/727,003 filed on Sep. 5, 2018. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure is directed to an electronic lock without an active power source, an electronic lock system, and a method of operating the electronic lock thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, an electronic lock can be manipulated by a user when the user is in a close physical proximity. In many cases, the electronic lock would require a battery installed with designs of power saving mode in order to reduce power consumption. The electronic lock could be turned on periodically or by pushing a button on it to detect whether there is any access request. Once an access request has been detected, the electronic lock will be activated to respond to the access request and to process subsequent functions such as unlock or lock. 
     However, the battery of the electronic lock will gradually be drained of its power and has to be replaced or recharged, and it could be inconvenient for users who do not have a spare battery or a battery charger at hand. In some applications, as in the example of a flight luggage disposed with such electronic lock having a lithium battery, the battery could be removed by the airport security resulting in the user being unable to unlock the luggage. Therefore, it would more convenient for the user if the flight luggage which uses an electronic lock does not require any battery or any charger. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Accordingly, the disclosure is directed to an electronic lock without an active power source, an electronic device for remotely controlling the electronic lock, and a method of operating the electronic lock thereof. 
     In one of the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is directed to an electronic lock without an active power source, the electronic lock includes not limited to: a wireless power receiver (WPR) which receives wireless electrical power to provide power for the electronic lock; a circuit board electrically connected to the WPR and including a wireless transceiver which receives a lock command or an unlock command; and a controller configured to generate a lock control signal or an unlock control signal in response to receiving the lock command or an unlock command; and an actuator electrically connected to the circuit board and receives the lock control signal to lock a mechanical lock component or the unlock control signal to unlock the mechanical lock component. 
     In one of the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is directed to an electronic lock system which includes not limited to: an electronic lock without an active power source; and an electronic device for remotely controlling the electronic lock, wherein the electronic lock including a wireless power receiver (WPR) which receives wireless electrical power to provide power for the electronic lock; a circuit board electrically connected to the WPR and including a first wireless transceiver which receives a lock command or an unlock command; and a controller configured to generate a lock control signal or an unlock control signal in response to receiving the lock command or an unlock command; and an actuator electrically connected to the circuit board and receives the lock control signal to lock a mechanical lock component or the unlock control signal to unlock the mechanical lock component. 
     In one of the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a method of operating an electronic lock without an active power source, the method includes not limited to: receiving, through a WPR, wireless electrical power to provide power for the electronic lock comprising a wireless transceiver, a controller, and an actuator; receiving, through the wireless transceiver, a lock command or an unlock command; generating, by the controller, a lock control signal or an unlock control signal in response to receiving the lock command or an unlock command; and locking or unlocking, by the actuator, a mechanical lock component to lock or unlock the electronic lock in response to receiving the lock control signal or the unlock control signal. 
     In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the present disclosure comprehensible, exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the disclosure as claimed. 
     It should be understood, however, that this summary may not contain all of the aspect and embodiments of the present disclosure and is therefore not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner. Also, the disclosure would include improvements and modifications which are obvious to one skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a WPT according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a WPT having a connector for forwarding power according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a WPT which is integrated with, internally built into, or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a WPT of which the communication signal could be mixed or carried over a carrier wave of the wireless electrical power according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an implementation having modulated data mixed into a carrier wave of an electrical power signal which is transmitted wirelessly according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a wireless power receiver that can receive wireless electrical power from a WPT without any conductive connection according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a WPR which receives wireless power from a WPT and provides power to an electrical component according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a circuit for demodulating data from a wireless power carrier wave according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an electronic lock which is to be connected to a WPR according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an electronic lock which has been integrated with a WPR according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates an embodiment of a power source which connects to an external WPT according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  12    illustrates an embodiment of a power source which connects to an internally integrated WPT according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  13    illustrates an electronic device having an external WPT to serve as a controller of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  14    illustrates an electronic device having an integrated WPT to serve as a controller of an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  15    illustrates interactions between an electronic device and an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  16    illustrates interactions between an electronic device and an electronic lock having a built in WPR module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  17    illustrates interactions between an electronic device and an electronic lock by using an internally integrated WPT and an external WPR respectively according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  18    illustrates interactions between an electronic device and an electronic lock by using an internally integrated WPT and an internally integrated WPR respectively according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  19    illustrates interactions among an electronic device, a power source which includes an internally integrated WPT module, and an electronic lock which includes an internally integrated WPT module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  20    illustrates interactions between an electronic lock having an external WPR integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device having an external WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  21    illustrates interactions between an electronic lock having an external WPR integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device having an internal WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  22    illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  20   . 
         FIG.  23    illustrates interactions between an electronic lock having an external WPR that is integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device such as a mobile phone having an internally integrated WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  24    illustrates interactions between an electronic lock having an internally integrated WPR that is integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device such as a mobile phone having an internally integrated WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  25    illustrates interactions between an electronic lock having an internally integrated WPR that is integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device such as a mobile phone having an internally integrated WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  26    illustrates interactions between an electronic lock having an external WPR integrated or combined with a communication module and a power source having an external WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  27    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  28    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock without assuming power continuity according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  29    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock from the perspective of an electronic device which controls the electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  30    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock from the perspective of an electronic device which controls the electronic lock without assuming power continuity according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  31    is hardware block diagram which illustrates an electronic device and an electronic lock system according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  32    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     In order to resolve the above described challenge, the disclosure proposes an electronic lock without an active power source, an electronic device having the electronic lock, and a method of using the electronic lock by utilizing means of achieving wireless power transmissions. For this disclosure, when an electronic device having a wireless electrical power transmitter, or a wireless power transmitter (WPT), is brought near an electronic lock which is without an active power source, a wireless electrical power receiver, or a wireless power receiver (WPR) of the electronic lock may supply its power to a controller of the electronic lock in order to control the electronic lock such as by locking or unlocking the electronic lock. The above described electronic device could be, for example, a mobile phone or a smart phone having a WPT and an application software (APP) to control the electronic lock. After receiving sufficient power, the WPR would subsequently provide sufficient power to the controller which may receive instructions through a communication module to perform various functions and data communications. 
     Thus, the disclosure provides an electronic lock without an active power source, an electronic device having the electronic lock, and a method of operating the electronic lock thereof. The disclosure provides a mechanism which activates electrical and mechanical operations of a device by wireless power transmissions. The disclosure avoids inconvenience of having to replace or recharge a battery, realizes a battery-less design for an electronic lock and associated devices, and eliminates a need for power cords. 
       FIG.  1    shows a wireless power transmitter (WPT)  101  which could be a device or a module to be plugged into an electronic device to transmit wireless electrical power  111  to a wireless power receiver (WPR) without using any power cables. The WPT  101  is to be plugged in to an electrical power source  112  through conductive wires or a connector  102 . The WPT  101  may also allow the electronic power source  112  to control the power and the operations of the WPT  101 . The WPT  101  may detect if there is an approachable WPR before transmitting any wireless power. 
       FIG.  2    shows an alternative embodiment of the wireless power transmitter (WPT)  101 . The WPT  101  may further include a power outlet  201  which allows a connector  202  to be plugged into. The connector  202  would forward electrical power from the electrical power source  112  to another device. 
       FIG.  3    shows a WPT  301  which is integrated with, internally built into, or combined with a communication module. The WPT  301  having the communication module may transmit a communication signal in a first direction  314  which is from a WPT  301  to a WPR and receive a communication signal in a second direction  315  which is from WPR to the WPT  301 . The WPT  301  may receive power from an electrical power source  311  through conductive wires or a connector and may transmit wireless power  313  to a WPR. The communication signal may contain data  312  which can be processed by an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smart phone. The data  312  could be modulated onto carrier waves from the wireless power  313  which is transmitted through conductive wires or a connector. It is worth noting that the above described ‘first direction’ consistently refers to the direction from a WPT to a WPR throughout this disclosure, and the ‘second direction’ consistently refers to the direction from a WPR to a WPT. The WPT  301  may also support other communication directions communication, such as a third direction and a fourth direction which will be described in other embodiments of the disclosure. 
       FIG.  4    shows a WPT  401  of which the communication signal in the first direction  402  could be mixed or carried over a carrier wave of the wireless electrical power  403  if the WPT  401  contains a data processor, and a mixer. 
       FIG.  5    shows an implementation of having modulated data mixed into a carrier wave of an electrical power signal which is transmitted wirelessly. A WPT may utilize a mixer circuit  511  electrically connected to a wireless transmitter  512 . The mixer circuit  511  would receive power (for example, from electrical power source  112  as shown in  FIG.  1   ) in the form of a carrier wave  501  which is mixed with modulated data  502  to form a modulated power signal  503  which carries data. The modulated power signal  503  could be transmitted in the first direction  504  by the wireless transmitter  512 . The WPT may also be capable of modulating the unmodulated data (e.g. digital signal data) if the WPT contains a data modulator. 
       FIG.  6    shows a wireless power receiver (WPR)  601  which is a device or a module that can receive wireless electrical power  602  from a WPT without any conductive connection. The received electrical power can be transmitted to another electrical component  603  or another device  603  through a conductive wire or a connector. The WPR  601  may also allow the connected device  603  to control its power and operation. Similar to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  3   , the WPR  601  may also integrate, internally build, or combine with a communication module. 
       FIG.  7    shows an embodiment of a WPR  706  which receives wireless power  701  from a WPT and provides power to an electrical component  704 . The WPR  706  has been combined or integrated with a communication module which is capable of receiving wireless signal in the first direction  702  and transmitting wireless signal in the second direction  703 . The data  705  transmitted from or to the communication module could be processed by an electronic device which the WPR is connected with or by the communication module itself if the electronic device or the communication module contains the data processing components. The communication module may also support communication in other directions communication such as a ‘third direction’ and a ‘fourth direction’, which are described in latter parts of the disclosure. 
       FIG.  8    shows that a WPR may also receive modulated wireless electrical power  801  from which modulated data carried over a wireless power carrier wave  802  could be obtained. The WPR further contains a power-data splitter and a data processor. The data  805  carried by the wireless power carrier wave  802  could be separated from wireless electrical power  804  by using a duplexer  803  which includes a low pass filter (LPF) and a bandpass filter (BPS). The LPF is for extracting wireless electrical power  804  from the wireless power carrier wave  802  and the BPF is for extracting data  805  from the wireless power carrier wave  802 . 
     The above described WPR could be integrated or connected with an electronic device to provide power for components of the electronic device.  FIG.  9    illustrates an electronic lock  901  which could be a standalone device or a pluggable module and is to be connected to an external WPR  913 . The electronic lock  901  could be powered solely by the WPR  913 . The electronic lock  901  may include a communication module  902  which could be a wireless transceiver for receiving communication signal from an electronic device (i.e. a ‘third direction’  911 ) and for transmitting communication signal to the electronic device (i.e. a ‘fourth direction’  912 ). The electronic device could be, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a laptop having installed an APP to interact the electronic lock  901 . If a WPT also facilitate communications in the third direction and in the fourth direction, the electronic lock may also communicate with the WPT. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates another embodiment of the electronic lock  1001  which is mostly similar to the electronic lock  901  of  FIG.  1    except the electronic lock  1001  contains an integrated or internally built in WPR  1002 . 
     In general, regardless whether the WPR and electronic lock are integrated or separated in different locations, The WPR and the electronic lock would likely be connected with each other via conductive wires or connectors. Upon receiving wireless electrical power, the reception of the wireless electrical power causes the WPR to trigger the functions of the electronic lock with or without an active power source such as a battery, a power supply plugged into a wall outlet. In other words, the electronic lock could be without relying on any electrical power source which has previously stored up energy supply such as a battery or a power source from the wall outlet. The electronic lock may solely rely upon the WPR for its operation. The WPR may also be the source to trigger an on or off operation of the electronic lock. 
       FIG.  11    illustrates an embodiment of a power source  1101  which connects to a WPT. The power source could be, for example, a power supply or a power generator, a power adapter, a battery, or a mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, and etc. The power source  1101  may connect to a WPT via connective wireless or connectors. According to an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  12   , the power source  1201  may have a built-in or integrated WPT  1202 . 
       FIG.  13    illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device  1301  which serves as a controller of an electronic lock. The electronic device  1301  may serve as a controller for controlling the operations of the electronic lock (e.g.  901 ), and the electronic device  1301  could be a mobile phone which contains a wireless transceiver for communicating with the electronic lock (e.g.  901 ) through an application software (APP). The device  1301  may communicate in the third direction  1302  and in the fourth direction  1303 . The ‘third direction’ (e.g.  1302 ) throughout this disclosure is consistently defined as the direction from an electronic device (e.g.  1301 ) to an electronic lock (e.g.  901 ), and the ‘fourth direction’ throughout this disclosure is consistently defined as the direction from an electronic lock (e.g.  901 ) to an electronic device (e.g.  1302 ). 
     In general, the electronic device would be disposed with a WPT and the electronic lock would be disposed with a WPR, and the transceiver of the electronic device may communicate through them assuming that the WPT or WPR also contains a transceiver. For example, as shown in  FIG.  13    and assuming that the electronic device is a mobile phone, the mobile phone may serve as a power source for a WPT  1304  which is externally connected to the mobile phone which may then control the power and the operation of the WPT. 
       FIG.  14    illustrates another embodiment of an electronic device  1401  which serves as a controller of an electronic lock. Similar to the embodiment of  FIG.  13   , the electronic device  1401  could be a mobile phone which contains a wireless transceiver for communicating in the third direction  1402  and in the fourth direction  1403 . The electronic device  1404  contains an integrated WPT module which is a built-in or an embedded WPT module as shown in  FIG.  14   . If the WPT module  1404  contains a transceiver, the electronic device  1401  may also control the transceiver of the WPT module  1404  to transmit data to or receive data from the WPT module  1404 . 
       FIG.  15    shows an example of interactions between an electronic device  1502  and an electronic lock  1501  by using an external WPT  1503  and an external WPR  1504  respectively. In this example, the electronic device  1502  is assumed to be a mobile phone which provides power to an external WPT  1503 . The external WPT  1503  would provide wireless electrical power  1505  to an external WPR  1504  which is plugged into the electronic lock  1501 . After WPR  1504  receives sufficient wireless electrical power  1505 , the WPR  1504  would be able to provide power needed by the electronic lock  1501  for its functions. The electronic device  1502  may also communicate modulated data onto the wireless electrical power  1505  between the WPT  1503  and the WPR  1504 . Each of the electronic lock  1501  and the electronic device  1502  may include a transceiver for supporting communications in the third direction  1506  and in the fourth direction  1507 . 
     The electronic device  1502  may interact with the electronic lock  1501  by first checking and enabling the communication functions of the electronic device  1502 , and the checking and enabling of the communication functions may include checking and enabling necessary hardware and/or software in order to be able to communicate with the electronic lock  1501  assuming that the communication functions of the electronic device  1502  have not been enabled. The electronic device may enable and control the WPT  1503  through an APP or a plug-and-play function. The WPT  1503  may detect for the presence of a WPR. If the WPR  1504  has been detected by an approaching WPT  1503 , the WPT  1503  may allow the wireless electrical power  1505  to be transmitted from the WPT  1503  to the WPR  1504 . Alternatively, if the WPT  1503  is controlled by electronic device  1502 , then when the WPT  1503  approaches and detects the WPR  1504 , the WPT  1503  would send signals about the detected WPR  1504  to the electronic device  1502 . Then, the electronic device  1502  may direct its electrical power to the WPT  1503  device for wireless transmission. On the other hand, the electronic lock  1501  is configured to be turned-on when the WPR  1504  receives wireless electrical power within a specific range of wattage and may use the wireless electrical power from the WPR  1504  alone or in conjunction with another power source such as an internal battery as its operating power. After the electronic lock  1501  is turned-on, the electronic device may enable its communication function, including hardware and/or software, and then engage in communications with electronic device  1502 . 
       FIG.  16    shows an example of interactions between an electronic device  1602  and an electronic lock  1601  by using an external WPT  1604  and an internally integrated WPR respectively. In this example, the electronic device  1602  is assumed to be a mobile phone which provides power to an external WPT  1604 . The external WPT  1604  would provide wireless electrical power  1603  to an internally integrated WPR module  1605  which is plugged into the electronic lock  1601 . After WPR module  1605  receives sufficient wireless electrical power  1603 , the WPR module  1605  would be able to provide power needed by the electronic lock  1601  for its functions. The rest of the operations are similar to the example of  FIG.  15   . 
       FIG.  17    shows an example of interactions between an electronic device  1702  and an electronic lock  1701  by using an internally integrated WPT and an external WPR  1705  respectively. In this example, the electronic device  1702  is assumed to be a mobile phone which provides power to an internally integrated WPT module  1703 . The WPT module  1703  would provide wireless electrical power  1704  to an external WPR  1705  which is plugged into the electronic lock  1701 . After the WPR  1705  receives sufficient wireless electrical power  1704 , the WPR  1705  would be able to provide power needed by the electronic lock  1701  for its functions. The rest of the operations are similar to the example of  FIG.  15   . 
       FIG.  18    shows an example of interactions between an electronic device  1802  and an electronic lock  1801  by using an internally integrated WPT and an internally integrated WPR respectively. In this example, the electronic device  1802  is assumed to be a mobile phone which provides power to an internally integrated WPT module  1803 . The WPT module  1803  would provide wireless electrical power  1804  to an internally integrated WPR  1805  which is plugged into the electronic lock  1801 . After the WPR  1805  receives sufficient wireless electrical power  1804 , the WPR  1805  would be able to provide power needed by the electronic lock  1801  for its functions. The rest of the operations are similar to the example of  FIG.  15   . 
       FIG.  19    shows an example of interactions among an electronic device, a power source which includes an internally integrated WPT module, and an electronic lock which includes an internally integrated WPT module. As shown in  FIG.  19   , the power source  1902  includes the internally integrated WPT module  1903  which provides wireless electrical power  1904  to the WPR module  1905 . The WPR module  1905  is internally integrated within and provides power to the electronic lock  1901 . The electronic device  1911  which could be a mobile phone may use its transceiver to control the electronic lock  1901  such as by locking or unlocking the electronic lock  1901  through an APP. Thus, a user of the electronic device  1911  may use the installed APP to use the transceiver to control the electronic lock  1901  by transmitting and receiving communication signals through the third direction  1906  and the fourth direction  1907 . 
     Also, in this example, the electronic device  1911  may check and enables its communication function which includes the hardware and/or software, to be able to communicate with the electronic lock  1901  assuming that the communication function has not been enabled. The functions of WPT module  1903  in the power source  1902  may be enabled through a button or a switch on the power source  1902 . Once the WPT module  1903  has been enabled, the WPT module  1903  would detect the WPR module  1905 . If the WPR module  1905  has been detected by the WPT module  1903  as one approaches the other, the WPT module  1903  would direct the electrical power from the power source  1902  to transmit wireless electrical power  1904  to the WPR module  1905 . On the other hand, the electronic lock  1901  is configured to be turned-on when the WPR module  1905  receives sufficient electrical power or electrical power within a specific range so as to power the functions of the electronic lock  1901 . After the electronic lock  1901  has been turned-on, the electronic lock  1901  may enable its communication function including hardware and/or software and communicate with the electronic device  1911 . Alternatively, the electronic lock  1901  may also be the electronic lock  901  with an external WPR in  FIG.  9   , and the power source  1902  may also be the power source  1101  with an external WPT in  FIG.  11   . 
       FIG.  20    shows interactions between an electronic lock  2001  having an external WPR integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device  2002  such as a mobile phone having an external WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module. Similarly, the electronic lock  2001  is also connected to an external WPR device which is also integrated or combined with a communication module. The WPT  2004  could be controlled through an APP installed in the electronic device  2002  or a plug-and-play driver to implement the functions of the WPT  2004 . The WPT  2004  may attempt to detect a WPR  2003 . If the WPT  2004  and the WPR  2003  approach each other, the WPR  2003  could be detected by the WPT  2004 . The electrical power would be allowed either by the electronic device  2002  or by the WPT  2004  to be directed from the electronic device  2002  to the WPT  2004  for transmitting to the WPR  2003  in the form of wireless electrical power  2005 . 
     Alternatively, if the WPT  2004  is controlled by the electronic device  2002  and when the WPT  2004  detects the approving WPR  2003 , the WPT  2004  may send a signal which indicates that the WPR has been detected to the electronic device  2002 . Next, the electronic device  2002  may direct its electrical power and data links to the WPT device  2004  which has been integrated or combined with a communication module for wireless power transmission and communications. On the other hand, the electronic lock  2001  is configured to be turned-on when the WPR  2003  has received sufficient electrical power which is within a specific range to enable the WPR  2003  to solely, or in conjunction with an internal battery of the electronic lock  2001 , provide electrical power to support the operation of the electronic lock  2001 . After the operation of the electronic lock  2001  has been turned-on, the electronic lock  2001  would enable the data links with the communication module of the WPR  2003  so that the end-to-end data link between the electronic device  2002  and the electronic lock  2001  could be established. 
     If the communication module of the WPT  2004  is capable for communication in the third direction or in the fourth direction, the WPT  2004  may communicate with the electronic lock  2001  directly. If the communication module of the WPR  2003  communication module is capable for communications in the third direction and in the fourth direction, the WPR  2003  may communicate with the electronic device  2003  directly. Assuming that the WPT  2004  and the WPR  2003  can communication with each other in the first direction  2006  and the second direction  2007 , the communication in the first direction  2006  could be mixed or carried over the wireless electrical power  2005  between the WPT  2004  and the WPR  2003 . 
       FIG.  21    shows interactions between an electronic lock  2101  and an electronic device  2102 . The electronic lock  2101  has an internally integrated WPR  2104  which includes a communication module, and the electronic device  2102  could be a mobile phone having an external WPT  2103  which also includes a communication module. The WPT  2103  transmit wireless electrical power  2105  to the WPR  2104  when the WPT  2103  has detected the presence of the WPR  2014  as the WPT  2103  approaches the WPR  2014  or vice versa. The communication module of the WPT  2103  and the communication module of the WPR  2014  would support wireless communications between the WPT  2103  and the WPR  2014  in the first direction  2106  and in the second direction  2107 . The principle of operation of  FIG.  21    is similar to the principle of operation of  FIG.  20   . 
       FIG.  22    shows a different example of interactions between an electronic lock  2201  having an external WPR  2203  integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device  2202  such as a mobile phone having an external WPT  2204  that is integrated or combined with a communication module. In this example, the wireless electrical power  2205  may carry modulated data transmitted in the first direction whereas the communication modules of the WPT  2204  and the WPR  2203  are used to implement data transmission in the second direction  2206 . In this way, the mobile phone may control the electronic lock by sending data in the first direction over the wireless electrical power  2205  and receiving data in the second direction  2206  through the communication modules of the WPR and WPT. 
       FIG.  23    shows interactions between an electronic lock  2301  having an external WPR  2303  that is integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device  2302  such as a mobile phone having an internally integrated WPT  2306  that is integrated or combined with a communication module. The WPT  2306  could be controlled through an APP installed within the electronic device  2302  or a plug-and-play driver to enable the functions of the WPT  2306 . The WPT  2306  may detect the WPR  2302  as one approaches the other. If the WPR  2303  is detected by the WPT  2306 , the electronic device  2306  may allow the electrical power directed from the WPT  2303  to transmit wirelessly to the WPR  2302 . Alternatively, if the WPT  2306  is controlled by the electronic device  2302 , and when the WPT  2306  detects the WPR  2303 , the WPT  2306  may send a signal to indicate that the WPR  2303  has been detected to the electronic device  2302  which would then direct its electrical power and data links to the WPT module  2306  for wireless power transmission and communications. On the other hand, the electronic lock  2301  is configured to be turned on when the external WPR  2303  has received sufficient electrical power which is within a specific range and may use the electrical power from WPR  2303  or another power source such as the internal battery as its operation power. After the electronic lock  2301  has been turned on, the electronic may enable the data links with the communication module of the WPR  2303  so that the end-to-end data link between the electronic lock  2301  and the electronic device  2302  can be established. If the communication module of the WPT  2306  is capable for communications in the third direction  2310  and in the fourth direction  2311 , then the WPT  2306  would be able to communicate with the electronic lock  2301  directly. If communication module of the WPR  2303  is capable for communications in the third direction  2310  and in the fourth direction  2311 , then the WPR  2303  would be able to communicate with the electronic device  2302  directly. Alternatively, communications in the first direction could be mixed or carried over the wireless electrical power  2304  from the WPT  2306  to the WPR  2303 . If only the communication in first direction communication is required (one-way communication), then the communication in the second direction may not be implemented. 
       FIG.  24    shows interactions between an electronic lock having an internally integrated WPR that is integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device such as a mobile phone having an internally integrated WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module. This exemplary embodiment is similar to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  18   , but the internally integrated WPT module  2402  also includes a communication module, and the internally integrated WPR module  2401  also includes a communication module. The communication modules of the WPT module  2402  and the WPR module  2401  may facilitate communications in the first direction and in the second direction, and the wireless electrical power is transmitted from the WPT module  2402  to the WPR module  2401 . 
       FIG.  25    shows another example of interactions between an electronic lock having an internally integrated WPR that is integrated or combined with a communication module and an electronic device such as a mobile phone having an internally integrated WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module. In this example, the principle operation is similar to  FIG.  24   , but the communication in the first direction  2501  is implemented by having the modulated data carried by the wireless electrical power transmitted from the WPT to the WPR, and the communication in the second direction  2502  is implemented by having the communication module of the WPR transmitting to the communication module of the WPT. 
       FIG.  26    shows interactions between an electronic lock having an external WPR integrated or combined with a communication module and a power source having an external WPT that is integrated or combined with a communication module. As shown in  FIG.  26   , both the WPT  2604  and the WPR  2603  contain their own communication modules and data processors, so that the WPT  2604  and the WPR  2603  may establish data communication links with other devices without any controller device. Once the power source  2602  is connected and the electrical power is available, the WPT  2604  could be enabled by a plug-and-play driver. After the WPT  2604  has detected the WPR  2603  when one approaches the other, the WPT  2604  may allow the electrical power to be directed from the power source  2602  to transmit wirelessly to the WPR  2603  and establish communications in the first direction and the second direction. On the other hand, the electronic lock  2601  is configured to be turned on when an external WPR device  2603  (or a built-in WPR module) receives sufficient electrical power which is within a specific range and may use the electrical power from WPR  2603  solely or in conjunction with another power source such as an internal battery as its operation power. After the data communication links between the electronic lock and communication module of the WPR  2603  is established, the end-to-end data link between the data processor of the WPT  2604  and the data processor of the electronic lock device  2601  could be established. Alternatively, data communication in the first direction  2605  can be mixed/carried over the wireless power signal from the WPT  2604  to the WPR  2603 . In additions, if only the communication in the first direction  2605  is required (one-way communication), then the communication in the second direction  2606  may not be implemented. 
       FIG.  27    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In step S 2701 , the electronic lock is assumed to be in a no-power state under which the electronic lock has not been powered up by an active power source and does not possess any active power source including a battery, a power supply, a power cord, and etc. In step S 2702 , the electronic lock passively receives wireless electrical power. In step S 2703 , the electronic lock determines whether sufficient wireless electrical power has been received in order to operate the functions of the electronic lock. If not, then step S 2702  is repeated. If yes, step S 2704  is performed. In step S 2704 , the electronic lock uses the received wireless electrical power to operate circuit board. In step S 2705 , the electronic lock enables functions of a transceiver of the circuit board of the electronic lock after the circuit board has been activated. In step S 2706 , the transceiver of the electronic lock would communicate with another electronic device or with an external module. 
       FIG.  28    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock, but power continuity of the electronic lock is not assumed for this embodiment. In step S 2801 , the electronic lock passively receives wireless electrical power via a WPR. In step S 2802 , the electronic lock determines whether sufficient wireless electrical power has been received in order to operate the functions of the electronic lock. If not, then step S 2801  is repeated. If yes, step S 2803  is performed. In step S 2803 , the electronic lock uses the received wireless electrical power to operate circuit board. Moreover, in step S 2806 , the electronic lock determines whether sufficient wireless electrical power has been received in order to operate the functions of the electronic lock. If not, then step S 2801  is repeated. If yes, step S 2804  is performed. In step S 2804 , the electronic lock enables functions of a transceiver of the circuit board of the electronic lock after the circuit board has been activated. In step S 2807 , the electronic lock determines whether sufficient wireless electrical power has been received in order to operate the functions of the electronic lock. If not, then step S 2801  is repeated. If yes, step S 2805  is performed. In step S 2805 , the transceiver of the electronic lock would communicate with another electronic device or with an external module. 
       FIG.  29    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock from the perspective of an electronic device which controls the electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The electronic device could be any mobile electronic device described previously and serves as a controller for the electronic lock. In step S 2901 , the electronic device would detect the presence of a WPT which could be externally connected or internally integrated. In step S 2902 , if the WPT has been detected, step S 2903  would proceed. If the WPT has not been detected, then step S 2901  would repeat. In step S 2903 , the electronic device would power up the WPT. In step S 2904 , the electronic device would detect whether WPR is detected when the WPT and the WPR approaches one another or each other. In step S 2905 , if the WPR has been detected, step S 2906  would proceed. If the WPR has not been detected, then step S 2904  would repeat. In step S 2906 , the WPR would wirelessly transmit electrical power to the detected WPR. In step S 2907 , the electronic device would communicate with the electronic lock which is powered through the WPR. 
       FIG.  30    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock from the perspective of an electronic device which controls the electronic lock, but the power continuity is not assumed. In step S 3001 , the electronic device would detect the presence of a WPT which could be externally connected or internally integrated. In step S 3002 , if the WPT has been detected, step S 3003  would proceed. If the WPT has not been detected, then step S 3001  would repeat. In step S 3003 , the electronic device would power up the WPT. In step S 3004 , the electronic device would detect whether WPR is detected when the WPT and the WPR approaches each other. In step S 3005 , if the WPR has been detected, step S 3006  would proceed. If the WPR has not been detected, then step S 3004  would repeat. In step S 3006 , the WPR would wirelessly transmit electrical power to the detected WPR. In step S 3007 , the electronic device would detect whether WPR is still detected. If the WPR is still detected, step S 3008  would proceed. If the WPR is no longer detected, step S 3004  would repeat. In step S 3008 , the electronic device would communicate with the electronic lock which is powered through the WPR. In step S 3009 , the electronic device would detect whether WPR is still detected. If the WPR is still detected, step S 3008  would repeat. If the WPR is no longer detected, step S 3004  would repeat. 
       FIG.  31    is hardware block diagram which illustrates an electronic device and an electronic lock system according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The electronic lock system  3100  includes (but not limited to) an electronic lock  3101  and an electronic device  3102 . The electronic lock  3101  includes a WPR  3111  which receives wireless electrical power to provide power for the electronic lock  3101 , a circuit board  3112 , and an actuator  3115 . The circuit board  3112  is electrically connected to the WPR  3111  and includes a first wireless transceiver  3114  which receives a lock command or an unlock command transmitted wirelessly from the electronic device  3102  and a controller  3113  which is configured to generate a lock signal or an unlock signal in response to receiving the lock command or the unlock command. The actuator  3115  is electrically connected to the circuit board  3112  and receives the lock control signal to lock the mechanical lock component  3116  or receives the unlock control signal to unlock the mechanical lock component  3116 . 
     The electronic device  3102  includes (but not limited to) a power source, a WPT  3121 , and a circuit board  3122 . The WPT  3121  is connected to the power source and configured to provide wireless electrical power. The circuit board  3122  includes a processor  3123  and a second wireless transceiver  3124 . The processor  3123  is configured to enable the WPT  3121  to transmit wireless electrical power to the WPR  3111  of the electronic lock  3101  and to transmit the lock command or the unlock command through the second wireless transceiver  3124  to lock or unlock the electronic lock  3101 . 
     The electronic device  3102  further includes a non-transitory storage medium  3125  and a user interface  3127 . The non-transitory storage medium  3125  could be a non-volatile memory such as a flash drive, a hard disk drive (HDD), and etc. The user interface could be a hard keyboard, a touch screen, buttons, and etc. The storage medium  3125  stores programming codes of an APP  3126  which is to be loaded into the processor  3123  to implement functions associated with controlling the electronic lock  3101 . Through the APP  3126 , a user may input a lock command or unlock command into the user interface  3127 . Assuming that the WPR  3111  has received sufficient power, as the electronic device  3102  approaches the electronic lock  3101 , the user may lock or unlock the mechanical lock  3116  by inputting commands through the user interface  3127 . The lock or unlock command could be transmitted from the second wireless transceiver  3124  to the first wireless transceiver  3114  or could be transmitted as a modulated data transmitted from the WPT  3121  to the WPR  3111 . 
       FIG.  32    illustrates a method of operating an electronic lock according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In step S 3201 , the electronic lock receives, through a wireless power receiver (WPR), wireless electrical power to provide power for the electronic lock which includes a wireless transceiver, a controller, and an actuator. In order to receive sufficient power to operate the electronic lock, the WPR may apply some wireless power transfer technologies such as inductive coupling, resonant, inductive coupling, or capacitive coupling, which can be used in the wireless charging systems for smart phones, tablet personal computer, laptop personal computer, or electric vehicles. In step S 3202 , the electronic lock receives, through the wireless transceiver, a lock command or an unlock command. In step S 3203 , the electronic lock generates, by using the controller, a lock control signal or an unlock control signal in response to receiving the lock command or an unlock command. In step S 3204 , the electronic lock locks or unlocks, by using the actuator, a mechanical lock component to lock or unlock the electronic lock in response to receiving the lock control signal or the unlock control signal. 
     In view of the aforementioned descriptions, the disclosure is suitable for being used by an electronic lock or an electronic device having the electronic lock to avoid the inconvenience of having to require a battery or to charge a battery so as to realize a true battery-less design of a smart lock or an electronic device. Moreover, the electronic lock and the electronic device of the disclosure do not require any power cord so as to eliminate the inconvenience of having to carry a power cord. 
     No element, act, or instruction used in the detailed description of disclosed embodiments of the present application should be construed as absolutely critical or essential to the present disclosure unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, each of the indefinite articles “a” and “an” could include more than one item. If only one item is intended, the terms “a single” or similar languages would be used. Furthermore, the terms “any of” followed by a listing of a plurality of items and/or a plurality of categories of items, as used herein, are intended to include “any of”, “any combination of”, “any multiple of”, and/or “any combination of multiples of the items and/or the categories of items, individually or in conjunction with other items and/or other categories of items. Further, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include any number of items, including zero. Further, as used herein, the term “number” is intended to include any number, including zero. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.