SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE STATUS OF A WINDOW OR DOOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20190234110A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 08/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giovanni Laporta
• Original Assignee: Giovanni Laporta
• Inventors: LAPORTA, GIOVANNI
• Granted Patent: US 11,473,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/0615 triggered by movement of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/063 by movement of the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0065 Saving energy E05B2047/0053, E05B2047/0074, E05B2047/0077, E05B2047/0079, E05B2047/0081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0068 Door closed
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• 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 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0038 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 7/00 Handles pivoted about an axis parallel to the wing E05B5/00, E05B85/14 take precedence; combined with bolt movement E05C1/00, E05C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 9/08 Fastening locks or fasteners or parts thereof, e.g. the casings of latch-bolt locks or cylinder locks to the wing on glass wings E05B65/0025
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/02 with one sliding bar for fastening when moved in one direction and unfastening when moved in opposite direction; with two sliding bars moved in the same direction when fastening or unfastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/20 Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements

Abstract

A system for detecting the position of at least one moveable element of a window or door, the system comprising: at least one sensor for sensing a magnetic field, the at least one sensor being configured such that the magnetic field sensed changes as said moveable element moves; and a processor configured to receive output signals associated with the sensed magnetic field and to determine the position of said moveable element; wherein the system is configured to operate in a calibration mode and a normal mode, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register at least an output value from said sensor when said moveable element is at a first predetermined position as a corresponding first reference value and wherein in the normal mode the processor means is configured to use the first reference value in determining the position of the at least one moveable element.

Claims

1-151. -151. (canceled)

152. A system for detecting the position of at least one moveable element of a window or door assembly, the window or door assembly having a leaf and a frame, the leaf being moveable relative to the frame between a closed position and an open position, the window or door assembly having a latch mechanism to allow opening and closing of the leaf, said moveable element moving relative to a reference structure during operation of the latch mechanism, the moveable element being mounted to the leaf such that it moves with the leaf when the leaf is moved between its open and its closed positions, the system comprising:

at least one magnetic field generator;

at least one sensor for sensing a magnetic field, the at least one sensor being configured such that the magnetic field sensed changes as the at least one moveable element moves,

one of said magnetic field generator and sensor being mounted to the moveable element in use and the other being mounted to a reference structure that the moveable element is moveable relative to, the at least one sensor comprising a three axis magnetometer that is able to detect the position of the corresponding magnetic field generator in three coordinate axes;

and the system further comprising

processor means configured to receive output signals associated with the sensed magnetic field from the sensor and to determine the position of the at least one moveable element;

wherein the system is configured to operate in a calibration mode and a normal mode, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register at least an output value from the at least one sensor when the at least one moveable element is at a first predetermined position as a corresponding first reference value and wherein in the normal mode the processor means is configured to use at least the first reference value in determining the position of the at least one moveable element.

153. A system according to claim 152, wherein the system includes memory for storing output values provided by the at least one sensor.

154. A system according to claim 152, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register an output from the at least one sensor when the leaf is at the closed position.

155. A system according to claim 154, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register an output value from the at least one sensor when the leaf is at a slightly open or night vent position.

156. A system according to claim 152, wherein the system further comprises a handle assembly to allow opening and closing of the leaf, the handle assembly comprising a handle casing from which extends a handle grip wherein one of the at least one magnetic field generator and at least one sensor is mounted within the handle casing and the other of the at least one magnetic field generator and at least one sensor is mounted to the reference structure.

157. A system according to claim 152, wherein the at least one moveable element is configured to move upon movement of a handle that is moveable between open and closed positions to allow opening and closing of a leaf of the window or door.

158. A system according to claim 152, wherein the system further comprises a locking mechanism having a lock drive assembly that can be driven between a locked position and an unlocked position, one of said at least one magnetic field generator and at least one sensor being mounted to the lock drive assembly in use and the other being mounted to the reference structure in use.

159. A system according to claim 158, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register an output from the at least one sensor when the lock drive assembly is in a locked position.

160. A system according to claim 158, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register an output from the at least one sensor when the lock drive assembly is in an unlocked position.

161. A system according to claim 152, wherein the moveable element is configured to be moveable in use within three coordinate axes.

162. A system according to claim 152, wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register a first output from the at least one sensor when the leaf is in the closed position and when the latch mechanism is in the unsecured configuration and a second output from the at least one sensor when the leaf is in the closed position and the latch mechanism is in the secured configuration.

163. A system according to claim 162, wherein the latch mechanism is operated using a handle assembly having a handle grip, the handle grip being moveable between a closed position, in which the latch mechanism is in its secured configuration, and an open position, in which the latch mechanism is in its unsecured configuration,

and wherein in the calibration mode the system is configured to register a first output from the at least one sensor when the leaf is in the closed position and the handle is in the open position and a second output from the at least one sensor when the leaf is in the closed position and the handle is in the closed position.

164. A system according claim 152, wherein one of the at least one magnetic field generator and at least one sensor is configured for mounting to the leaf, the processor means being configured to determine a position of the moveable element relative to the reference structure, at least when the leaf is in the closed position, and the processor means also being configured to determine a position of the leaf relative to the frame.

165. A system according to claim 152, wherein the moveable element moves in a first degree of freedom or set of degrees of freedom during operation of the latch mechanism and the moveable element moves in a second degree of freedom or set of degrees of freedom during opening and closing of the leaf, the processor means being configured to detect the position of the moveable element within the first degree of freedom or set of degrees of freedom, at least when the leaf is closed, and also configured to detect the position of the moveable element within the second degree of freedom or set of degrees of freedom.

166. A system according to claim 152, wherein said at least one moveable element which moves during operation of the latch mechanism is a handle for actuating the latch mechanism, the handle having a handle grip which is mountable pivotally via a pivot axis to the leaf or frame such that it can be rotated about the pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, one of said at least one magnetic field generator and sensor being configured for mounting to the handle grip in use.

167. A system according to claim 166, the handle assembly further comprising a spindle connected to the handle grip such that as the handle grip is rotated, the spindle rotates, the handle assembly further comprising a cam and a cam follower, the cam being mounted around the spindle in use such that as the spindle rotates, the cam rotates, wherein the cam follower is moveable due to rotation of the cam, the cam follower comprising or having mounted thereto either said magnetic field generator or said sensor.

168. A system according to claim 152, wherein one of said at least one magnetic field generator and at least one sensor is configured for mounting to a locking drive rail of a locking mechanism that is part of the latch mechanism and the other of said at least one magnetic field generator and at least one sensor is configured for mounting to the reference structure in use.

169. A system according to claim 152, wherein said at least one moveable element which moves during operation of the latch mechanism is a holding means, the holding means being moveable between a secured position and an unsecured position, one of said at least one magnetic field generator and sensor being configured for mounting to the holding means in use.

170. A system according to claim 169, wherein said holding means is adapted for cooperating with a keep in use to secure the leaf to the frame.

171. A system according to claim 169, wherein said holding means is a locking bolt for cooperating with a keep in use to secure the leaf to the frame.