SENSING SYSTEM FOR VERIFYING DEADBOLT ENGAGEMENT

• US 20170226774A1
• Filed: 04/24/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldenson, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,280,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/0665 Magnetic switches, e.g. reed- or hall-switch
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0068 Door closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/083 with contact making either in the striking plate or by movement of the bolt relative to the striking plate
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0038 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/14 influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0206 Three-component magnetometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0286 comprising microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] MEMS devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A door lock detection system is disclosed. The system includes a magnet flexibly attached to a strike plate. The strike plate includes an opening. The magnet extends across the opening of the strike plate in a first orientation when a bolt does not extend into the opening of the strike plate. The magnet is configured to be deflected from the first orientation to a second orientation, distinct from the first orientation, in response to the bolt being extended into the opening of the strike plate. The system includes a magnetometer configured to detect one or more magnetic fields of the magnet that is flexibly attached to the strike plate in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

Claims

1. A door lock detection system, comprising:

a magnetic field system configured to emit one or more magnetic fields, wherein;

the magnetic field system comprises a strike plate and a bolt;

the strike plate comprises an opening through which the bolt is configured to extend;

the magnetic field system emits a first magnetic field in accordance with the bolt having a first position with respect to the opening of the strike plate; and

the magnetic field system emits a second magnetic field, distinct from the first magnetic field, in accordance with the bolt having a second position with respect to the opening of the strike plate, wherein the bolt in the first position does not extend through the opening by more than a threshold amount, and the bolt in the second position extends through the opening by more than the threshold amount; and

a magnetometer system configured to detect, and to discern differences between, the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field.

2. The door lock detection system of claim 1, including a controller that relays to at least one other system information that indicates whether the bolt is engaged in the strike plate, wherein the information that indicates whether the bolt is engaged in the strike plate is derived at least in part from the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, detected by the magnetometer system, of the magnetic field system.

3. The door lock detection system of claim 2, wherein the at least one other system is a security system, a notification alarm, a notification light, and/or a control panel.

4. The door lock detection system of claim 1, wherein the second magnetic field is equivalent, within a tolerance, to one or more magnetic fields measured, in a prior calibration step, by the magnetometer system when the bolt is engaged in the strike plate.

5. The door lock detection system of claim 1, including a bolt extension detector configured to detect whether the bolt is extended.

6. The door lock detection system of claim 1 including a door orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of a door to which the bolt is coupled.

7. The door lock detection system of claim 6, wherein the door orientation sensor is a microelectromechanical system (MEMs) magnetometer.

8. The door lock detection system of claim 7, wherein the MEMs magnetometer is the same as the magnetometer system.

9. The door lock detection system of claim 6, wherein the door orientation sensor is a microelectromechanical system (MEMs) gyroscope.

10. The door lock detection system of claim 1, wherein the magnetometer system comprises a 3-axis magnetometer.

11. The door lock detection system of claim 1, wherein the strike plate is affixed to a door jamb, and wherein the bolt and the magnetometer system are coupled to the door.

12. A method, comprising:

at a door lock detection system having;

a magnetic field system configured to emit one or more magnetic fields, wherein;

the magnetic field system comprises a strike plate and a bolt;

the strike plate comprises an opening through which the bolt is configured to extend;

the magnetic field system emits a first magnetic field in accordance with the bolt having a first position with respect to the opening of the strike plate; and

the magnetic field system emits a second magnetic field, distinct from the first magnetic field, in accordance with the bolt having a second position with respect to the opening of the strike plate, wherein the bolt in the first position does not extend through the opening by more than a threshold amount, and the bolt in the second position extends through the opening by more than the threshold amount; and

a magnetometer system configured to detect, and to discern differences between, the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field;

detecting, with the magnetometer system, one or more magnetic fields of the magnetic field system;

determining whether the detected one or more magnetic fields correspond to the bolt having the second position with respect to the opening of the strike plate; and

based at least in part on determining that the detected one or more magnetic fields correspond to the bolt having the second position with respect to the opening of the strike plate, relaying to at least one other system information that indicates that the bolt is engaged in the strike plate.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one other system is a security system, a notification alarm, a notification light, and/or a control panel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second magnetic field is equivalent, within a tolerance, to one or more magnetic fields measured, in a prior calibration step, by the magnetometer system when the bolt is engaged in the strike plate.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the door lock detection system includes a bolt extension detector configured to detect whether the bolt is extended, the method including:

detecting, with the bolt extension detector, whether the bolt is extended;

based at least in part on determining that the detected one or more magnetic fields correspond to the bolt having the second position with respect to the opening of the strike plate and detecting that the bolt is extended, relaying, with the controller, to at least one other system information that indicates that the bolt is engaged in the strike plate.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the door lock detection system includes a door orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of a door to which the bolt is coupled, the method including:

detecting, with the door orientation sensor, whether the door is closed; and

in response to detecting that the door is closed, sending an indication that the door is closed to at least one electronic device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the door lock detection system includes a door orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of a door to which the bolt is coupled, the method including:

detecting, with the door orientation sensor, whether the door is closed; and

based at least in part on determining that the one or more detected magnetic fields correspond to the bolt having the second position with respect to the opening of the strike plate and detecting that the door is closed, relaying, with the controller, to at least one other system information that indicates that the bolt is engaged in the strike plate.