Power management lock system and method

• US 20070146115A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• 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, Larson, Eric, Sagar, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,151 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 2047/0065 Saving energy E05B2047/0053, E05B2047/0074, E05B2047/0077, E05B2047/0079, E05B2047/0081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0068 Door closed
• 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 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A power management lock system including an electronic lock unit configured to lock and unlock a door and further including at least one sensor in communication with the electronic lock unit, the sensor configured to sense an open condition of the door and a closed condition of the door, wherein the electronic lock unit is configured to receive door data pertaining to the open condition and the closed condition from the at least one sensor, and where the electronic lock unit is further configured to manage the provision of power within the electronic unit based upon the door data.

Claims

1. A power management lock system comprising:

an electronic lock unit, said unit being configured to lock and unlock a door; and

at least one sensor in communication with said electronic lock unit, said sensor configured to sense an open condition of said door and a closed condition of said door,

wherein said electronic lock unit is configured to receive door data pertaining to said open condition and said closed condition from said at least one sensor; and

wherein said electronic lock unit is further configured to manage the provision of power within the electronic unit based upon the door data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic lock unit is configured to operate in an open power save mode when said door data indicates said door to be in said open condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said electronic lock unit includes a control assembly configured to receive said door data pertaining to said open condition and said closed condition of said door, wherein said control assembly is configured to initiate at least a partial disablement of said electronic lock unit when in said open power save mode.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said control assembly is configured to control a credential sensing mechanism of said electronic lock unit, and said at least partial disablement of said control assembly includes disablement of said credential sensing mechanism.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said credential sensing mechanism is configured to sense at least one of a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, and a proximity card.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least partial disablement of said electronic lock unit includes a complete power shut down of said control assembly and any component of said electronic lock unit that is controlled by said control assembly.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising a power signal generator, wherein said electronic lock unit includes an energy storage device, said power signal generator being configured to provide power to said energy storage device via a power signal transmitted from said power signal generator to said energy storage device, wherein at least a portion of said control assembly receives power from said energy storage device, and wherein said at least one sensor is configured to sense at least one of presence and a strength of said power signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one sensor transmits power data pertaining to said presence or said strength of said power signal to said control assembly when said at least one sensor senses that said door is in said closed position.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said control assembly is configured to accept power from an emergency battery when said control assembly receives said power data from said at least one sensor that indicates at least one of an absence and a weakness of said power signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said control assembly is configured to initiate a slowing in operation of at least one function or performance reduction such as distance for reading credentials of said electronic door lock system when said power data from said at least one sensor indicates at least one of said absence and said weakness of said power signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said electronic lock unit includes a real time clock that allows said control assembly to initiate said slowing, and wherein said real time clock is powered by said emergency battery when said power data from said sensor indicates at least one of said absence and said weakness of said power signal.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said power signal generator is disposed remotely to said door and said control assembly.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said power signal generator is configured to wirelessly transmit said power signal to said energy storage device.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein said power signal is an electromagnetic signal and said at least one sensor is a magnetic field sensor configured to sense said electromagnetic signal.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is a plunger associated with said door, said plunger sensing said closed condition when said plunger is depressed, and said plunger sensing said open condition when said plunger is extended.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said door comprises a single unit of a multi-unit building, wherein said control assembly is connected to a network associated with said multi-unit building, and wherein said control assembly is configured to transmit said door data, said power data, and battery data pertaining to power levels of said emergency battery over said network.

17. A power management lock system comprising:

a power signal generator configured to generate a wireless power signal;

an electronic lock unit configured to lock and unlock a door, said electronic lock unit including a control assembly, and an energy storage device, said power signal generator being configured to provide power to said energy storage device via the wireless power signal transmitted from said power signal generator to said energy storage device;

a plunger associated with said door, said plunger sensing a closed condition of said door when said plunger is depressed, and said plunger sensing an open condition of said door when said plunger is extended; and

a power sensor configured to sense at least one of a presence and strength of said wireless power signal;

wherein said control assembly of said electronic lock unit is configured to receive door data pertaining to said open condition and said closed condition from said plunger, and wherein said electronic lock unit is configured to operate in an open power save mode when said door data indicates said door to be in said open condition, and

wherein said power sensor is configured to transmit power data pertaining to at least one of said presence and said strength of said wireless power signal to said control assembly when said power sensor senses that said door is in said closed position, and wherein at least a portion of said control assembly receives power from said energy storage device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said open power save mode includes at least partial disablement of said electronic lock unit and wherein said control assembly is configured to accept power from an emergency battery when said control assembly receives said power data from said power sensor that indicates at least one of an absence and a weakness of said wireless power signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said control assembly is configured to initiate a slowing in operation of at least one function of said electronic door lock system when said power data from said power sensor indicates at least one of said absence and said weakness of said wireless power signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said electronic lock unit includes a real time clock that allows said control assembly to initiate said slowing, and wherein said real time clock is powered by at least one of said emergency battery and said power source when said power data from said power sensor indicates at least one of said absence and said weakness of said power signal.

21. A method for managing power consumption in an electronic lock system, the method comprising:

sensing an open condition of a door;

transmitting open door data pertaining to said open door condition to a control assembly of an electronic lock unit; and

at least partially disabling said electronic lock unit when said open door data is transmitted to said control assembly.

22. The method o claim 21, further comprising:

sensing a closed condition of a door;

sensing at least one of a presence and a strength of a wireless power signal generated by a power signal generator and transmitted to an energy storage device;

transmitting closed door data pertaining to said closed door condition to a control assembly of an electronic lock unit, said control assembly being at least partially powered by said energy storage device;

transmitting power data pertaining to at least one of said presence and said strength of said power signal to said control assembly; and

regulating a power consumption of said electronic lock unit based upon said power data.

23. The method of claim 22, further including powering said power signal generator via a power source, said power signal generator and said power source being disposed remotely of said control assembly and said door.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said regulating comprises accepting power from an emergency battery and/or slowing operation of at least one function of said electronic door lock system when said control assembly receives said power data from said at least one sensor that indicates at least one of an absence and a weakness of said power signal.