ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT TO CAPTURE LOCK CONTROLLER PULSES

• US 20160054714A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sargent Mfg Co (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Sargent Mfg Co (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Lowder, Scott B., Hulse, Jon, O'Day, Adam, Limoncelli, Arthur, Arcaria, Angelo
• Granted Patent: US 9,977,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0048 Circuits, feeding, monitoring
• 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: E05B 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

An electronic circuit to capture legacy lock controller pulses and reduce the energy consumed. The legacy pulse is captured, converted to power to power the circuit and the direction of the pulse—polarity—is determined. A substitute pulse is created at lower power and sent to a motor actuator in the lock. The total power consumed is substantially reduced by reducing the duration and voltage of the pulse. In the preferred design, the circuit also detects control voltages for solenoid locks and produces suitable control signals for a motor actuator.

Claims

1. An electronic lock controller circuit comprising:

an input for receiving a legacy pulse;

a power circuit for extracting power from the legacy pulse to power the electronic lock controller circuit;

a detector circuit for detecting a polarity of the legacy pulse; and

a microcontroller having an output for connection to a lock actuator, the microcontroller sending an output pulse via the output to control the lock actuator and the output pulse having reduced power as compared to the legacy pulse at the input.

2. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 1 wherein the output pulse has a reduced voltage as compared to a voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

3. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 1 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration as compared to a duration of the legacy pulse at the input.

4. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 1 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration and a reduced voltage as compared to a duration and voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

5. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 1 further including a solenoid input for receiving an off and on solenoid power signal and a power storage circuit for storing power, the microcontroller using power from the solenoid power signal when the solenoid power signal is on to operate the circuit and the microcontroller using stored power when the solenoid power signal is off to operate the circuit and drive the lock actuator.

6. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 5 wherein the output pulse has a reduced voltage as compared to a voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

7. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 5 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration as compared to a duration of the legacy pulse at the input.

8. The electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 5 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration and a reduced voltage as compared to a duration and voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

17. A method of modifying a legacy pulse signal to control a lock motor actuator in an electronic door lock comprising:

providing an electronic lock controller circuit according to claim 1;

receiving a legacy pulse at the input;

using the power circuit to extract power from the legacy pulse to power the electronic lock controller circuit;

using the detector circuit to detecting polarity of the legacy pulse; and

using the microcontroller to send an output pulse via the microcontroller output to control the lock actuator, the output pulse having reduced power as compared to the legacy pulse at the input.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the output pulse has a reduced voltage as compared to a voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration as compared to a duration of the legacy pulse at the input.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration and a reduced voltage as compared to a duration and voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

9. An electronic lock comprising:

a legacy pulse generator for sending a legacy pulse signal to lock or unlock a door;

a lock actuator for driving a lock between locked and unlocked states; and

an electronic controller circuit having an input for receiving the legacy pulse, a power circuit for extracting power from the legacy pulse to power the electronic lock controller circuit, a detector circuit for detecting a polarity of the legacy pulse, and a microcontroller having an output connected to the lock actuator,

the microcontroller sending an output pulse via the output to control the lock actuator

and the output pulse having reduced power as compared to the legacy pulse at the input.

10. The electronic lock according to claim 9 wherein the output pulse has a reduced voltage as compared to a voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

11. The electronic lock according to claim 9 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration as compared to a duration of the legacy pulse at the input.

12. The electronic lock according to claim 9 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration and a reduced voltage as compared to a duration and voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

13. The electronic lock according to claim 9 further including:

a solenoid power signal generator;

a solenoid input for receiving an off and on solenoid power signal from the solenoid power signal generator; and

a power storage circuit for storing power,

the microcontroller using power from the solenoid power signal when the solenoid power signal is on to operate the circuit and the microcontroller using stored power when the solenoid power signal is off to operate the circuit and drive the lock actuator.

14. The electronic lock according to claim 13 wherein the output pulse has a reduced voltage as compared to a voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.

15. The electronic lock according to claim 13 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration as compared to a duration of the legacy pulse at the input.

16. The electronic lock according to claim 13 wherein the output pulse has a reduced duration and a reduced voltage as compared to a duration and voltage of the legacy pulse at the input.