NON-CONTACT ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS HAVING SPECIALIZED RADIO FREQUENCY BEAM FORMATION

• US 20130241694A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Secureall Corporation
• Original Assignee: Secureall Corporation
• Inventors: Sharma, Arun Kumar, Wurm, Michael, Candee, David Arthur, Schaffzin, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/843,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00333 and the lock having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/086 using weights depending on external parameters, e.g. direction of arrival [DOA], predetermined weights or beamforming

Abstract

An electronic door lock (“EDL”) is adapted to interact with an electronic key unit having a key antenna and a transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (“RF”) signal over the key antenna, the RF signal containing an identification (“ID”) code identifying the electronic key unit. The EDL can include a first antenna adapted to form a first directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit, a second antenna adapted to form a second directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit, and a processing component adapted to use RF signals received by one or both of the first and second antenna to determine whether the presence of an acceptable ID code is detected on the key. The EDL can determine the location of the key, and whether the key is inside or outside of the room.

Claims

1. An electronic door lock adapted to interact with an electronic key unit having a key antenna and a transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (“

RF”

) signal over the key antenna, the RF signal containing an identification (“

ID”

) code identifying the electronic key unit, the electronic door lock comprising;

a first antenna adapted to form a first directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit;

a second antenna adapted to form a second directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit; and

a processing component adapted to use RF signals received by one or both of the first and second antenna to determine whether the presence of an acceptable ID code is detected on the key.

2. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein the processing component is adapted to determine the distance and spatial location of the key unit with respect to the electronic door lock.

3. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein the first directional radiation beam points to the inside of the door and the second directional radiation beam points to the outside of the door.

4. The electronic door lock of claim 1, further including:

a third antenna adapted to form a third directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit.

5. The electronic door lock of claim 4, wherein the first and second directional radiation beams point toward the outside of the door, and wherein the third directional radiation beam points toward the inside of the door.

6. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second antennas form a cavity backed slot antenna.

7. The electronic door lock of claim 1, further including:

a metal escutcheon housing at least one or more of the antennas.

8. The electronic door lock of claim 7, wherein the metal escutcheon housing has two crossing slots formed therein to provide vertical and horizontal polarizations for two slot antennas.

9. The electronic door lock of claim 8, further including:

an exterior radome configured to cover the two crossing slots.

10. The electronic door lock of claim 8, wherein a single cavity is used to realize both horizontal and vertical polarization antennas.

11. The electronic door lock of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas operate such that for the escutcheon having a frontal area A, a width W and a height H, its operating frequency F is the greater of the following possible equation results:

F=0.5×

3e8/sqrt(A)

F=0.5×

3e8/W

or

F=0.5×

3e8/H

12. The electronic door lock of claim 7, wherein the escutcheon includes an aperture that is used for an antenna to perform RF communication with EKeys.

13. The electronic door lock of claim 12, wherein the aperature is also used for an indicator light, a non-contact backup power transfer, or a capacitive touch sensor for user input or interaction.

14. The electronic door lock of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the metal escutcheon surface is used as part of one of said antennas.

15. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second antennas is selected from the group consisting of a patch antenna, a slot antenna, a cavity backed slot antenna, a dipole antenna, a folded dipole antenna, an inverted F antenna, and an L antenna.

16. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein the operating frequency of said first antenna is at least 2 GHz.

17. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein each antenna consists of two radiating elements in close proximity that radiates in two different linear polarizations with respect to each other.

18. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein said first antenna is located on an escutcheon inside of the room and provides coverage through an associated RF transparent door to the door exterior.

19. The electronic door lock of claim 1, wherein the multiple directional radiation beams make it possible to discern whether an associated EKey is entering or leaving a room associated with the electronic door lock while an associated door is at an open or ajar state.

20. An electronic door lock system, comprising:

a plurality of electronic door locks adapted to interact with an electronic key unit having a key antenna and a transmitter configured to transmit a radio frequency (“

RF”

) signal over the key antenna, the RF signal containing an identification (“

ID”

) code identifying the electronic key unit, wherein each of the plurality of electronic door locks includes a first antenna adapted to form a first directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit, a second antenna adapted to form a second directional radiation beam to receive the RF signal from the key unit, a processing component adapted to use RF signals received by one or both of the first and second antenna to determine whether the presence of an acceptable ID code is detected on the key; and

a server in communication with the plurality of electronic door locks, said server being adapted to update information on each of the plurality of electronic door locks regarding ID codes for new or reissued electronic key units.