WIRELESS LOCKING DEVICE

• US 20180018843A1
• Filed: 08/04/2017
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noke, Inc. (Janus International Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Noke, Inc. (Janus International Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gengler, David P., Healey, Arthur, Gibbs, Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 10,176,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/00 Padlocks permutation locks E05B37/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00746 by knocking on a surface for inputting the code, e.g. detecting a series of taps on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

An electronic locking device can be configured to become active from a low power state, receive physical input to unlock, and provide access to a replaceable power supply. An electronic locking device can use a combination of physical input and discovery of an authorized mobile device to enable transition from a locked state to an unlocked state. Authorization can be internally stored or externally obtained through a service. An electronic locking device can match a series of physical interactions to a series of stored interactions to enable transition from a locked state to an unlocked state, when an authorized device is unavailable. An electronic locking device can provide access to a replaceable power supply when a latch is released.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An electronic padlock, comprising:

a lock body;

a shackle;

a locking mechanism to transition between a locked state in which the shackle is at least partially secured within a portion of the lock body and an unlocked state in which the shackle is at least partially released from the lock body;

a sensor for detecting input interactions from an operator;

a digital storage medium to store a series of input interactions, wherein the stored series of input interactions comprises an ordered plurality of distinct input interactions; and

a controller to perform operations, including;

detecting a series of input interactions via the sensor;

comparing the detected series of input interactions with the stored series of input interactions; and

causing the locking mechanism to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state when the detected series of input interactions matches the stored series of input interactions.

22. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the stored series of input interactions comprises an ordered plurality of distinct input interactions that vary in at least one of intensity and duration.

23. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the shackle comprises a U-shaped shackle, one side of which is released from the lock body when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state.

24. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the shackle comprises a pin configured to be secured at two ends when the locking mechanism is in the locked state.

25. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the electronic lock comprises a U-lock padlock.

26. The electronic lock of claim 21, further comprising a power supply module configured to remain in a low power state until a first input interaction is detected via the sensor.

27. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises a light sensor.

28. The electronic lock of claim 27, wherein the stored series of interactions comprises a series of light sensor triggers of varying durations by the operator.

29. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

30. The electronic lock of claim 29, wherein the stored series of interactions comprises a series of movements of varying intensities of at least a portion of the electronic lock by the operator.

31. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises one of a button and a switch, and

wherein the stored series of interactions comprises a series actuations of the sensor for varying durations by the operator.

32. The electronic lock of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises a touch sensor.

33. The electronic lock of claim 32, wherein the touch sensor comprises one of a capacitive touch sensor and a resistive touch sensor.

34. The electronic lock of claim 32, wherein the stored series of interactions comprises a series of touches of varying durations by the operator.

35. A method for unlocking an electronic padlock, comprising:

detecting a series of input interactions via a sensor while a locking mechanism is in a locked state,

wherein the series of input interactions comprises an ordered plurality of distinct input interactions;

comparing the detected series of input interactions with a stored series of input interactions; and

instructing the locking mechanism to transition to an unlocked state based on a determination that the detected series of input interactions matches the stored series of input interactions.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein detecting the series of input interactions via the sensor comprises detecting a series of touches of varying durations or intensities via a touch sensor.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein detecting the series of input interactions via the sensor comprises detecting a series of actuations of varying durations or intensities via of one of a button and switch.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein detecting the series of input interactions via the sensor comprises detecting a series of triggers of a lights sensor of varying durations.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein detecting the series of input interactions via the sensor comprises detecting a series of movements of varying intensities via an accelerometer.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein instructing the locking mechanism to transition to an unlocked state is further based on a determination that a second sensor has been activated.