POWER CONTROLLER FOR A DOOR LOCK AND METHOD OF CONSERVING POWER
First Claim
1. A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an electric actuator, said power control system comprising:
- a) a power supply configured to receive power from a voltage source and to selectively output an output voltage to the actuator;
b) a credential device selectively powered by the power supply, said credential device configured to signal the power supply to output the output voltage to said actuator upon receiving an authorized access code;
c) a microcontroller operatively connected to said power supply and said credential device;
wherein said microcontroller is configured to selectively operate in either an access mode or a dog mode;
wherein, when in the access mode, the credential device is in a powered state and the actuator is in an unpowered state until said credential device receives said access code after which the actuator is placed in a powered state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an actuator comprises a power supply to output an output voltage to the actuator. A credential device signals the power supply to output the voltage upon receiving an authorized code. A microcontroller controls the power supply, the credential device, and the actuator and may operate in an Access Mode or a Dog Mode. When in Access Mode, the actuator is unpowered and the credential device is powered until an authorized code is received and the power supply powers the actuator. The Dog Mode has an awake mode where the actuator is powered and the credential device is unpowered after the actuator remains in the powered state for a length of time. A sleep mode has the actuator unpowered and the credential device powered until an authorized code is received and the power supply powers the actuator.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an electric actuator, said power control system comprising:
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a) a power supply configured to receive power from a voltage source and to selectively output an output voltage to the actuator; b) a credential device selectively powered by the power supply, said credential device configured to signal the power supply to output the output voltage to said actuator upon receiving an authorized access code; c) a microcontroller operatively connected to said power supply and said credential device; wherein said microcontroller is configured to selectively operate in either an access mode or a dog mode; wherein, when in the access mode, the credential device is in a powered state and the actuator is in an unpowered state until said credential device receives said access code after which the actuator is placed in a powered state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an electric actuator, said power control system comprising:
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a) a power supply configured to receive power from a voltage source and to selectively output an output voltage to the actuator; b) a credential device selectively powered by the power supply, said credential device configured to signal the power supply to output the output voltage to said actuator upon receiving an authorized access code; c) a microcontroller operatively connected to said power supply and said credential device; wherein said microcontroller is configured to selectively operate in both an access mode and a dog mode, wherein said dog mode includes an awake mode or a sleep mode; wherein, when in the access mode, the credential device is in a powered state and the actuator is in an unpowered state until said credential device receives said access code after which the actuator is placed in a powered state; wherein, when in said awake mode of said dog mode, said credential device is placed in an unpowered state and said actuator is place in a powered state. And wherein, when in said sleep mode of said dog mode, the actuator is in said unpowered state. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A power control system for use with an electric lock mechanism having an actuator, said power control system comprising:
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a) a power supply configured to output an output voltage having a drive current to the actuator; b) a credential device powered by the power supply, said credential device configured to signal said power supply to output the output voltage upon receiving an authorized access code; c) an actuator driver including a multiple-gain current-sensing circuit; and d) a microcontroller configured to monitor and control said power supply, said credential device, said actuator driver, and the actuator, wherein said microcontroller is populated by a look-up table having performance data for a plurality of actuator types such that the microcontroller selects a duty ratio to establish the drive current. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A power control system for use with two or more electric lock mechanisms each having an actuator, said power control system comprising:
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a) a power supply configured to output an output voltage to each respective actuator, b) a respective credential device coupled to each electric lock mechanism and powered by said power supply, each respective credential device configured to signal said power supply to output the output voltage upon receiving a credential code; and c) a microcontroller configured to monitor and control said power supply, each respective credential device, and each respective actuator, wherein, in the event two or more of said credential devices signal said power supply simultaneously, the microcontroller instructs said power supply to sequentially output the output voltage to successive actuators. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of optimizing the magnitude of current being supplied to a provided solenoid during pick or hold or both pick and hold operations of the provided solenoid wherein a microprocessor is provided and populated with a look-up table comprising various solenoid current/time curves and wherein firmware is provided that includes a self-calibration routine that accommodates a variety of solenoid coil impedances, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a switching circuit containing a current-sensor with multiple gain resistors; b) measuring a current through said provided solenoid at a selected measurement time; c) comparing said measured current at said selected measurement time to said solenoid current/time curves in said look-up table; d) selecting a particular current/time curve from said look-up table that best fits said measured current thereby determining a solenoid coil type; e) from the selected current/time curve, determining a required duty ratio to establish an optimum pick or hold, or pick and hold current for the provided solenoid; and f) selecting a combination of two or more gain resisters that results in said pick and hold current measurements.
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16. A method of supplying a pick current and a hold current to a multiple of actuator devices, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a first pick current to a first actuator device of said multiple of actuator devices; b) waiting until said hold current supplied to said first actuator device begins; and c) providing a second pick current to a second actuator device of said multiple of actuator devices.
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17. A method of providing power from a power supply to one or more actuators and one or more credential devices in either a power control system dog mode or a power control system access mode, said method including the steps of:
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a) if in said power control system dog mode; a. during an awake mode; i. supplying power to said one or more actuators; and ii. unpowering said one or more credential devices; b. during a sleep mode; i. unpowering said one or more actuators; and ii. supplying power to said one or more credential devices; and b) if in said power control system access mode; a. in a fail-secure mode; i. unpowering said one or more actuators; and ii. supplying power to said one or more credential devices. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification