Reduced power electronic lock system

• US 20060164206A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inncom Intl Inc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Inncom Intl Inc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Roosli, Philipp A., Buckingham, Duane W., Scheurer, Gregory F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,354,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.600
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0057 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0059 by transfer between frame and wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0064 by solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00365 in combination with a wake-up circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An electronic lock system including an electronic lock disposed in a door and a device external to the door disposed for wirelessly providing power to the electronic lock.

Claims

1. An electronic lock system, comprising:

an electronic lock disposed in a door; and

a controller disposed proximate to the door;

wherein the controller includes an access device by which the electronic lock may be accessed; and

wherein the controller is disposed for wirelessly communicating with the electronic lock and wirelessly providing power to the electronic lock.

2. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the controller is disposed for generating a wireless activation signal, wherein the electronic lock is activated in response to the activation signal, and whereby the electronic lock becomes operable.

3. The electronic lock system of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a wake-up signal generator for generating the wireless activation signal and wherein the electronic lock comprises a wake-up circuit for receiving the wireless activation signal and for converting the wireless activation signal into electrical energy used to activate the electronic lock.

4. The electronic lock system of claim 2, wherein the controller is disposed for generating the wireless activation signal upon the controller verifying user data read by the access device.

5. The electronic lock system of claim 4, wherein the access device is configured to read the user data from an access card presented by the user to the access device.

6. The electronic lock system of claim 5, wherein the access card comprises at least one of a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, and a proximity card.

7. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further disposed for generating a wireless power signal and wherein the electronic lock is powered in response to the power signal.

8. The electronic lock system of claim 7, wherein the electronic lock comprises an energy storage device disposed for receiving the power signal and configured to convert the power signal to stored electrical energy.

9. The electronic lock system of claim 8, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

10. The electronic lock system of claim 7, wherein the power signal comprises a pulsed or continuous generation of electromagnetic emissions.

11. The electronic lock system of claim 8, wherein when the electronic lock becomes operable, the electronic lock is powered by the stored electrical energy.

12. The electronic lock system of claim 7, wherein the door comprises a door of a single unit of a multi-unit building and wherein the controller is connected to a network associated with a multi-unit building.

13. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the electronic lock comprises a sensing device disposed for sensing an operation of the door, wherein the electronic lock is activated in response to the sensing of the operation of the door, and whereby the electronic lock becomes operable.

14. The electronic lock system of claim 13, wherein the operation of the door comprises at least one of a touching and a manipulation of an exterior handle of the electronic lock.

15. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the controller provides said power to the electronic lock by selective transmission of a wireless signal to the electronic lock, wherein the electronic lock is configured to receive the wireless signal, to convert the wireless signal into electrical energy, and to use the electrical energy for at least one of activating the electronic lock so the lock becomes operable and operating the electronic lock once operable.

21. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the electronic lock is configured for wireless communication with at least one of a network and a room device.

22. The electronic lock system of claim 8, wherein the energy storage device is configured to detect a variation of the power signal and to activate the lock in response to said variation.

23. The electronic lock system of claim 22, wherein said variation comprises at least one of a termination of the power signal, a temporary suspension of the power signal, and a variation of a modulation of the power signal.

16. An electronic lock system, comprising:

an electronic lock disposed in a door; and

a controller disposed proximate to the door and connected to a power source for providing power to the controller;

wherein the controller includes an access device by which the electronic lock may be accessed;

wherein the controller is disposed for wirelessly communicating with the electronic lock;

wherein the electronic lock includes a dynamo for providing power to the lock.

17. The electronic lock system of claim 16, wherein manipulation of a feature of the door drives the dynamo to provide the power to the electronic lock.

18. The electronic lock system of claim 16, wherein the feature of the door comprises at least one of a door handle and a door hinge.

19. The electronic lock system of claim 16, wherein the electronic lock further comprises an energy storage device disposed for receiving and storing energy provided by the dynamo.

24. The electronic lock system of claim 16, wherein the electronic lock is configured for wireless communication with at least one of a network and a room device.

25. The electronic lock system of claim 19, wherein the energy storage device is configured to detect an extended time period between successive occurrences of the dynamo providing power to the lock and wherein the energy storage device is further configured to activate the lock in response to said extended time period and/or to draw power from an alternate power source in response to said extended time period.

20. A method of operating an electronic lock disposed in a door, the method comprising:

presenting an access card to an access device of a controller disposed proximate to the door, the access card including stored identification data;

processing the identification data at the controller;

generating a wireless activation signal at the controller where the identification data is acceptable;

transmitting the activation signal to the electronic lock; and

activating and rendering operable the electronic lock in response to the activation signal;

wherein when operable the electronic lock is powered by energy from a storage device of the electronic lock which is charged by a wireless signal generated by the controller.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

the storage device detecting a variation of the wireless signal; and

activating and rendering operable the electronic lock in response to said variation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said variation comprises at least one of a termination of the power signal, a temporary suspension of the power signal, and a variation of a modulation of the power signal.

28. An electronic lock system, comprising:

an electronic lock disposed in a door including an access device by which the lock may be accessed; and

a power signal generator disposed external to the door configured for wirelessly providing power to the electronic lock.

29. The electronic lock system of claim 28, wherein the access device is disposed for detecting access credentials of a potential entrant, the electronic lock further including a controller disposed for verifying the access credentials and for locking and unlocking the electronic lock.

30. The electronic lock system of claim 29, wherein the electronic lock further includes an energy storage device disposed for receiving a power signal from the power signal generator and configured to convert the power signal to stored electrical energy.

31. The electronic lock system of claim 30, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor and wherein the power signal comprises a pulsed generation of electromagnetic emissions.

32. The electronic lock system of claim 30, wherein the energy storage device is disposed for activating the electronic lock in response to the access device detecting the access credentials, whereby the electronic lock becomes operable.

33. The electronic lock system of claim 28, wherein the door comprises a door of a single unit of a multi-unit building and wherein the lock is disposed to wirelessly communicate with an item external to the door.

34. The electronic lock system of claim 33, wherein the item external to door comprises at least one of a device disposed adjacent to the door, a device disposed within the single unit, and a network.