SENSOR CONFIGURATION FOR A LATCH ASSEMBLY

• US 20180259595A1
• Filed: 05/14/2018
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D & D Group Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: D & D Group Pty Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Glenn, Nink, Klaus Peter
• Granted Patent: US 10,598,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/203 not following the movement of the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/0665 Magnetic switches, e.g. reed- or hall-switch
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• 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 47/004 the magnets acting directly on the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/02 Movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means; Adaptation of locks, latches, or parts thereof, for movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means by means in the striker E05B63/248
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/20 released automatically when the wing is closed for panic door locks of the vertical rod type E05B65/1013
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0014 to prevent opening by children E05B13/00 takes precedence; child-proof container closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/163 a movable bolt being held in the striker by a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/168 a movable bolt being electromagnetically held in the striker by electromagnetic attraction
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 11/02 Gates; Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A latch assembly comprising: a latch operable to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition; a magnet imparting a magnetic field; a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field; the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition, wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition and the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. A latch assembly comprising:

a latch operable to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition;

a magnet imparting a magnetic field;

a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field;

the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition,

wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition and the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor.

2. A latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor generates an output that is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor for distinguishing between the latched condition and the unlatched condition.

3. A latch assembly according to claim 2, further comprises a processing unit configured to process the output from the sensor to determine the latch as being in the latched condition or the unlatched condition.

4. A latch assembly according to claim 2, further comprising storage means for storing the output from the sensor and/or information from the processing unit pertaining to the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch assembly.

5. A latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses the magnetic field from the latch member.

6. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch assembly is adapted such that movement of the latch into the latched condition is actuated by the magnetic field imparted by the magnet.

7. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch member is made from a non-permanent magnetically attractable material.

8. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a first component which is arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, the first component and the second component configured to co-operate to hold the movable barrier in a closed position in the latching condition.

9. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first component includes a latch member and the second component includes the magnet, and wherein when in the latched condition, the latch member is closer to the magnet than in the unlatched condition and wherein the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor.

10. A latch assembly according to claim 9, wherein an interfacing or engagement tolerance exists between the first and second components when in the closed position and the latch assembly is able to determine that the latch is in the latched condition through the variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor within the interfacing or engagement tolerance between the first and second components in the closed position.

11. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.

12. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator adapted to warn a user that the latch is in its unlatched condition, the indicator being responsive to the sensor, wherein optionally the indicator may comprise an audible and/or visual alarm.

13. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for communicating information pertaining to the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch assembly.

14. A latch system comprising a latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a base unit for wirelessly receiving the information indicative of the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch assembly, wherein the base unit comprises an indicator adapted to notify the user of the information pertaining to the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch assembly, and a user interface for controlling and/or operating the base unit in response to the indicator, wherein the indicator comprises at least an audible and/or visual alarm.

15. A latch system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the latch assembly is wirelessly connected to the base unit using a first wireless protocol.

16. A latch system claimed in claim 14, wherein the base unit further comprises a signal transmitter for communicating the information pertaining to the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch assembly to at least one remotely located device.

17. A latch system claimed in claim 16, wherein the base unit is capable of receiving additional operating parameters from each remotely located device for operating the base unit.

18. A latch system claimed in claim 16, wherein the signal transmitter is a wireless transmitter for communicating the information pertaining to the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch assembly to the remotely located device, and the signal transmitter may transmit signals using a separate wireless protocol.

19. A method for distinguishing a latched condition and an unlatched condition of a latch assembly, said method comprising:

providing a latch operable to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition;

providing a sensor adapted for sensing a magnetic field imparted by a magnet, wherein the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor;

moving a latch member relatively to a magnet and sensor to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition;

measuring a plurality of readings of the magnetic field in the latched condition and the unlatched condition;

storing the plurality of magnetic field readings in the latched condition and the unlatched condition; and

analysing the variance in the magnetic field and to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising providing a first component arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and providing a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, wherein aligning the first component and the second component such that they are operative to co-operate to hold the movable barrier in a closed position in the latching condition.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein an interfacing or engagement tolerance exists between the first and second components when in the closed position and the latch assembly is able to determine that the latch is in the latched condition through the variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor within the interfacing or engagement tolerance between the first and second components in the closed position.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein locating the sensor on the first component and locating the magnet on the second component.

23. A system for relaying status information of a movable barrier to a user comprising:

a latch assembly associated with the movable barrier, wherein the latch assembly comprises a latch operable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition when the movable barrier is in a closed position, a sensor being able to provide an output to distinguish between the latched and/or unlatched condition of each latch, and a wireless transmitter for communicating information indicative of the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch; and

a base unit for wirelessly receiving the information indicative of the latched and/or unlatched condition of each latch, wherein the base unit further comprises an indicator adapted to notify the user of the information pertaining to the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch, and a user interface for controlling and/or operating the base unit in response to the indicator, wherein the indicator comprises at least an audible and/or visual alarm.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, further comprises a processing unit configured to process the output from the sensor to determine the latch as being in the latched condition or the unlatched condition, wherein the information communicated by the wireless transmitter indicative of the latched and/or unlatched condition of the latch is received from the processing unit.

25. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the base unit is operative to receive the information indicative of the latched and/or unlatched condition of a plurality of said latches, each latch being associated with a respective said moveable barrier, such that the system is operative for relaying status information of the plurality movable barriers to a user.