Surge lock power controller

• US 5,206,782 A
• Filed: 01/18/1991
• Issued: 04/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hirsch Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hirsch Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Morgan, Douglas J., Landmeier, Phillip C., Hammond, Gerald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnan, Aditya
• Application Number:
  US07/642,818
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 307/48, 307/75, 361/154, 361/172, 326/299, 326/303
• US Class Current: 361/154
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• 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 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents

Abstract

A power controller for electric locks which draw large startup current surges which controls and manages the energy of a pair of storage batteries to reliably operate such electric locks and provide steady-state power to auxiliary system components both with AC power present and in the absence thereof, so long as the stored charge in the batteries is able, to thereafter maintain a steady source of power to the system as long as possible, and to be self-starting upon the return of AC power, all without ever placing the electric locks in a partially unlocked or "hung" state. The two storage batteries are normally maintained charged through an AC power source, and both cooperate to provide the surge power. On loss of AC power, both still provide surge power so long as one can maintain the steady state power, and thereafter the other battery alone provides surge power so long as possible. On restart from a batteries discharged condition, surge power demand is tested periodically and immediately terminated when inadequate, thereby having minimal effect on the charging rate of the batteries.

Claims

1. A surge lock power controller for providing electrical power to a lock system requiring steady state power and utilizing surge locks further requiring a short term high power surge to operate the same, comprising:

first and second rechargeable storage batteries;

recharging means coupled to the rechargeable storage batteries and for coupling to a power supply for charging the rechargeable storage batteries, the recharging means having a charging rate greater than the steady state power drain of a lock system and less than the power drain on the rechargeable storage batteries during the high power surge operation of one or more of the surge locks;

the first storage battery being coupled to a steady state power output to provide steady state power for a lock system;

first switch means coupled between the first storage battery and the second storage battery;

second switch means coupled between the second storage battery and a surge lock output to provide the power for the surge locks in a lock system;

first voltage sensitive means coupled to the first switch means responsive to the voltage of the steady state power output to turn off the first switch means for at least a first predetermined time whenever the voltage of the steady state power output drops below a first predetermined value; and

,

second voltage sensitive means coupled to the second switch means and responsive to the voltage of the second rechargeable storage battery to turn off the second switch means for at least a second predetermined time whenever the voltage of the second rechargeable storage battery drops below a second predetermined value;

the second predetermined value being less than the first predetermined value.

2. The surge lock power controller of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined time is substantially longer than the first predetermined time.

3. The surge lock power controller of claim 2 wherein the first predetermined time is longer than the period of the high power surge of a surge lock.

4. The surge lock power controller of claim 2 wherein the first and second voltage sensitive means each have a substantial hysteresis, the first voltage sensitive means, when the first switch means is off, turning the first switch means back on at a third predetermined voltage substantially higher than the first predetermined voltage, and the second voltage sensitive means, when the second switch means is off, turning the second switch means back on at a fourth predetermined voltage substantially higher than the second predetermined voltage.

5. The surge lock power controller of claim 4 wherein the third predetermined voltage is higher than the fourth predetermined voltage.

6. A method of providing electrical power to a lock system requiring steady state power and utilizing surge locks further requiring a short term high power surge to operate the same, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing first and second rechargeable storage batteries;

(b) providing recharging means coupled to the rechargeable storage batteries and to a power supply for charging the rechargeable storage batteries, the recharging means having a charging rate greater than the steady state power drain of a lock system and less than the power drain on the rechargeable storage batteries during the high power surge operation of one or more of the surge locks;

(c) coupling the first storage battery to a steady state power output to provide steady state power for the lock system;

(d) coupling the first storage battery and the second storage battery through a first switch;

(e) coupling the second storage battery and a surge lock output to provide the power for the surge locks in a lock system when both batteries are charged;

(f) sensing the voltage of the steady state power output and turning off the first switch means for at least a first predetermined time whenever the voltage of the steady state power output drops below a first predetermined value; and

,

(g) sensing the voltage of the second rechargeable storage battery and turning off the second switch means for at least a second predetermined time whenever the voltage of the second rechargeable storage battery drops below a second predetermined value, the second predetermined value being less than the first predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second predetermined time is substantially longer than the first predetermined time.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first predetermined time is longer than the period of the high power surge of a surge lock.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensing of the voltage of the steady state power output and the sensing of the voltage of the second rechargeable storage battery each have a substantial hysteresis, so that, when the first switch means is off, the first switch means turns back on at a third predetermined voltage substantially higher than the first predetermined voltage, and when the second switch means is off, the second switch means turns back on at a fourth predetermined voltage substantially higher than the second predetermined voltage.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the third predetermined voltage is higher than the fourth predetermined voltage.