Method and system for operating key and lock core with wireless charging

An electrical lock-and-key system, comprising:

• an electrical lock and an electrical key capable of locking and unlocking the electrical lock;
• wherein the electrical key comprises:
• an energy-transfer unit comprising a magnetic core and a coil wrapped around the magnetic core;
• a pulse generator configured to generate a first pulse sequence comprising alternating pulse on and pulse off cycles and a second pulse sequence comprising a continuous pulse train;
• a modulator driver configured to modulate a voltage or current on the coil wrapped around the magnetic core using the generated first pulse sequence, and wherein the modulator driver is further configured to modulate the voltage or current on the coil using the second pulse sequence to facilitate transferring of energy from the electrical key to the electrical lock;
• a measurement module configured to measure a current or voltage on the coil excited by the voltage or current modulated using the first pulse sequence;
• a key-position determination module configured to determine a relative position between the electrical key and the electrical lock based on the measured current or voltage;
• and
• a communication interface for communicating with the electrical lock to facilitate the locking and unlocking of the electrical lock;
• and
• wherein the electrical lock comprises:
• a second energy-transfer unit comprising a second magnetic core and a second coil wrapped around the second magnetic core;
• and
• a second communication interface for communicating with the electrical key.

A computer-executed method for locking and unlocking an electrical lock using an electrical key, the method comprising:

• generating, by the electrical key, a first pulse sequence comprising alternating pulse on and pulse off cycles;
• modulating, using the generated first pulse sequence, a voltage or current on a coil wrapped around a magnetic core, wherein the coil and the magnetic core are located within a casing of the electrical key;
• measuring a current or voltage on the coil excited by the modulated voltage or current, respectively;
• in response to determining that the electrical key is substantially close to the electrical lock based on the measured current or voltage, generating a second pulse sequence comprising a continuous pulse train;
• modulating the voltage or current on the coil using the second pulse sequence, thereby facilitating energy being transferred from the electrical key to the electrical lock;
• and
• transmitting, from the electrical key to the electrical lock, a locking or unlocking command, thereby facilitating locking or unlocking, respectively, of the electrical lock.