ELECTRONIC LOCK SYSTEM HAVING PROXIMITY MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20140157842A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA Abloy Americas Residential Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Kwikset Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: ALMOMANI, NEDAL, NGUYEN, THUAN, GORKOVENKO, ELENA, HSU, WEI, SINGTOROJ, YOS
• Granted Patent: US 10,240,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/277
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

An electronic lock, such as a deadbolt, with a locking device movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lock includes a key fob including a RFID circuit indicative of a valid access code for the locking device. A circuit is provided that is configured to control movement of the locking device between the locked position and the unlocked position. The circuit includes a sensor, such as a contract sensor or a proximity sensor, which detects when a user is within range of a RFID device. When this happens, the sensor is configured to generate an electrical signal, which is used to activate the RFID device for a predetermined period of time. If the RFID device reads a valid access code, the device is unlocked.

Claims

1. An electronic lock for use with a mobile device, the electronic lock comprising:

a locking device movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a key fob including a RFID circuit indicative of a valid access code for the locking device;

a circuit configured to control movement of the locking device between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the circuit includes;

a contact sensor having a contact region, wherein the contact sensor is configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to detecting contact with the contact region;

a RFID device configured to wirelessly receive an access code from a RFID circuit in range of the RFID device; and

a processing unit in electrical communication with the contact sensor and RFID device, wherein the processing unit is configured to selectively activate the RFID device for a predetermined time period responsive to receiving the electrical signal from the contact sensor, wherein the processing unit is configured to actuate movement of the locking device to the unlocked position responsive to the RFID device reading the valid access code.

2. The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the contact sensor is a capacitive sensor.

3. The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the contact sensor is an inductive sensor.

4. The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the contact sensor is a pressure sensor.

5. The electronic lock of claim 1, further comprising an exterior escutcheon operatively associated with the locking device, wherein the contact sensor is incorporated into the exterior escutcheon.

6. The electronic lock of claim 5, further comprising an interior escutcheon operatively associated with the locking device, wherein a second contact sensor is incorporated into the interior escutcheon.

7. The electronic lock of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is between approximately 5 to 20 seconds.

9. The electronic lock of claim 7, wherein the proximity sensor is an infrared sensor.

8. An electronic lock for use with a mobile device, the electronic lock comprising:

a locking device movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a key fob including a RFID circuit indicative of a valid access code for the locking device;

a circuit configured to control movement of the locking device between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the circuit includes;

a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a user within a range of the locking device without any physical contact of the proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to detecting the presence of a user within the range of the locking device;

a RFID device configured to wirelessly read an access code from a mobile device; and

a processing unit in electrical communication with the proximity sensor and RFID device, wherein the processing unit is configured to selectively activate the RFID device for a predetermined time period responsive to receiving the electrical signal from the proximity sensor, wherein the processing unit is configured to actuate movement of the locking device to the unlocked position responsive to the RFID device reading a valid access code.

10. The electronic lock of claim 8, wherein the predetermined time period is between approximately 5 to 20 seconds.

11. The electronic lock of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine whether the key fob is on an exterior side of a door by performing RF triangulation with the RFID device.

12. An electronic lock comprising:

a latch assembly including a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a circuit configured to control movement of the bolt between the extended and retracted positions, wherein the circuit includes;

a sensor configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to detecting either;

(1) the presence of a user within a range of the locking device without any physical contact of the sensor;

or (2) physical contact with a contact region of the sensor;

a RFID device configured to wirelessly read an access code from a mobile device; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a valid access code and a computer program code stored thereon;

a processing unit in communication with the proximity sensor, RFID device, and the computer-readable memory, wherein the processing unit is configured to carry out instructions in accordance with the computer program code, wherein the computer program code, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to perform operations comprising;

receiving an electrical signal from the sensor;

activating the RFID device for a predetermined time period responsive to receiving the electrical signal from the sensor;

receiving an access code from the RFID device;

determining whether the access code received from the RFID device is the valid access code; and

initiating the actuation of the bolt to the retracted position responsive to determining the access code is the valid access code.

13. The electronic lock of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor.

14. The electronic lock of claim 12, wherein the sensor is an inductive sensor.

15. The electronic lock of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

16. The electronic lock of claim 12, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.

17. The electronic lock of claim 12, further comprising an exterior escutcheon operatively associated with the latch assembly, wherein the sensor is incorporated into the exterior escutcheon.

18. The electronic lock of claim 17, further comprising an interior escutcheon operatively associated with the latch assembly, wherein a second sensor is incorporated into the interior escutcheon.

19. The electronic lock of claim 12, wherein the predetermined time period is between approximately 5 to 20 seconds.