System for providing power and data transmission between a door and a frame

• US 8,294,302 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanchett Entry Systems Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Hanchett Entry Systems Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Peabody, Joshua Todd, Hanchett, Leland J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/778,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20100290542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 307/1, 307/104, 375/258
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 2047/0061 using induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A system for providing wire-free and contact free electric power and communication connection in a security installation between a door and a frame. The cores, windings, and control circuits of first and second portions of a split core transformer are disposed in the frame and the door, respectively. Power applied to the first portion induces a voltage and current in the second portion when the door is in a closed position. Modulation of the voltage amplitude in either the first or second portion defines a communication signal between the door and the frame. Status and data are transmitted at data rates that are essentially twice the frequency of the voltage applied to the split core transformer. In a second embodiment, voltage transfer occurs at 20 KHz and data transfer is in the range of 100K baud.

Claims

1. A system for providing electric power and communication from a first object to a second object wherein at least one of said first and second objects is moveable with respect to the other, comprising:

a) a split core transformer wherein a first transformer portion is disposed on said first object adjacent said second object, and a second transformer portion is disposed on said second object adjacent said first object, and said first transformer portion having a first core, a primary coil winding, a primary coil rectifier, a sensing coil rectifier, and a sensing coil winding, and said second transformer portion having a second core, a secondary coil winding, and a secondary coil rectifier;

b) first circuitry connected to said first transformer portion; and

c) second circuitry connected to said second transformer portion;

wherein application of a first alternating electric current through said first transformer portion induces a second alternating current in said second transformer portion, and

wherein amplitude modulation of said second alternating electric current defines a communications signal between said first object and said second object.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first object is a door frame and said second object is a door hinged in said door frame.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second transformer portion is positioned in said door to directly oppose said first transformer portion in close proximity thereto only when said door is in a closed position with respect to said frame.

4. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein a current is induced in said sensing coil winding from a modulated alternating signal of said primary coil winding, each of said coil windings being connected in parallel to said respective rectifier,

said secondary coil rectifier output being edge detected and applied as a negative going trigger for a first timer and a second timer,

said first timer output providing a first clocking signal utilized for data exchange with said second circuitry;

and

said second timer output providing a second clocking signal utilized for data exchange with said first circuitry.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said data exchange between said first and second circuits occurs at a frequency that is essentially twice the frequency of the alternating voltage signal transferred between said frame and said door.

6. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein output of said secondary rectifier is applied to a voltage regulator to charge an internal battery in said door.

7. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said secondary coil rectifier output is inverted and OR'"'"'ed with an outgoing data stream to lower the amplitude of individual half cycles of said secondary coil rectified signal to lower the impedance seen by said secondary coil winding.

8. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the output of said sensing coil rectifier is inverted and OR'"'"'ed with an outgoing data stream to lower the amplitude of individual half cycles of the rectified signal of said sensing coil.

9. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second transformer portions are arranged in said door and frame respectively to minimize a gap between said first and second transformer portions when said door is in a closed position in said frame.

20. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a first receiver element configured for receiving said first transformer portion on said first object, said first receiver element including a first contact surface;

a second receiver element configured for being slidably disposed in said second object and for receiving said second transformer portion, said second receiver element including a second contact surface; and

a biasing member configured for being positioned between said second object and said second contact surface,

wherein said biasing member biases said second contact surface toward said first contact surface so that said first contact surface engages said second contact surface to define a predetermined gap between said first transformer portion and said second transformer portion.

10. A system for providing electric power and data communication from a first object to a second object wherein at least one of said first and second objects is moveable with respect to the other, the system comprising:

a first circuit located in said first object and a second circuit located in said second object; and

a split core transformer wherein a first transformer portion is disposed in said first object adjacent said second object, and a second transformer portion is disposed in said second object adjacent said first object;

wherein each of said first and second transformer portions comprise a power winding having a primary and a secondary coil, a first and a second data winding each having a transmitting and a receiving coil;

wherein a power source is connected to said primary coil of said power winding to induce current into said secondary coil, which is connected to provide power to said second circuit;

wherein said first circuit provides a carrier signal that is applied to said transmitting coil of said first data winding to transmit data items from said first object to said second object;

wherein said second circuit receives said data via said receiving coil of said first data winding, for use in said second object;

wherein said second circuit provides a carrier signal that is applied to said transmitting coil of said second data winding to transmit data items from said second object to said first object;

wherein said first circuit receives said data items via said receiving coil of said second data winding, for use in said first object.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said secondary coil of said power winding is connected to charge a battery, said battery providing power to said second circuit when said first and second objects are not positioned to allow current to be induced from said primary coil to said secondary coil.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first object is a door frame and said second object is a door hinged in said door frame.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said second transformer portion is positioned in said door to directly oppose said first transformer portion in close proximity thereto only when said door is in a closed position with respect to said frame.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said carrier signal is modulated by an amplitude shift keying (ASK) signal, said modulated signal applied to said transmitting coil, said modulated signal being picked up on said receiving coil and passed through a third order high pass filter to provide an output signal, said output signal being applied to a rectifier diode and a filter capacitor to provide positive pulses, said positive pulses applied to a comparator to provide a serial stream of said data items.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said data items are communicated between said first and second objects up to a rate that is approximately 100 KB.

16. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first and second transformer portions are arranged in said door and frame respectively to minimize a gap between said first and second transformer portions when said door is in a closed position in said frame.

17. A system in accordance with the system of claim 14, wherein said carrier signals for transmitting data in both directions between said first and second objects are at the same frequency.

18. A system in accordance with the system of claim 14, wherein said carrier signals for transmitting data in both directions between said first and second objects are at different frequencies, whereby a band pass filter may be utilized to distinguish between power frequency and door or frame transmitters.

19. A system for providing electric power and data communication from a first object to a second object wherein at least one of said first and second objects is moveable with respect to the other, the system comprising:

a first circuit located in said first object and a second circuit located in said second object; and

a split core transformer wherein a first transformer portion is disposed in said first object adjacent said second object, and a second transformer portion is disposed in said second object adjacent said first object;

wherein each of said first and second transformer portions comprise a power winding, a first and a second data winding, each having a primary and a secondary coil portion;

wherein a power source is connected to said primary coil portion of said power winding to induce current in the secondary coil portion of said power winding, said secondary coil portion being connected to provide power to said second circuit;

wherein said first circuit includes an oscillator and modulator to provide a carrier signal for encapsulating data items for transmission from the primary side of said first data winding, to the secondary side of said first data winding i.e. from said first object to said second object;

wherein said second circuit includes a third order high pass filter for filtering said carrier signal received on said secondary side of said first data winding, said third order filter connected to a comparator to extract said data items for use in said second object;

wherein said second circuit includes an oscillator and modulator to provide a carrier signal for encapsulating data items for transmission from the primary side of said second data winding, to the secondary side of said second data winding i.e. from said second object to said first object;

wherein said first circuit includes a third order high pass filter for filtering said carrier signal received on said secondary side of said second data winding, said third order filter connected to a comparator to extract said data items for use in said first object.

21. A system for providing electric power and communication from a first object to a second object wherein at least one of said first and second objects is moveable with respect to the other, said system comprising:

a split core transformer including a first transformer portion and a second transformer portion, wherein said first transformer portion is configured for being disposed in said first object and wherein said second transformer portion is configured for being disposed in said second object;

a first receiver element configured for receiving said first transformer portion on said first object, said first receiver element including a first contact surface;

a second receiver element configured for being slidably disposed in said second object and for receiving said second transformer portion, said second receiver element including a second contact surface; and

a biasing member configured for being positioned between said second object and said second contact surface,

wherein said biasing member biases said second contact surface toward said first contact surface so that said first contact surface engages said second contact surface to define a predetermined gap between said first transformer portion and said second transformer portion.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said first object is a door frame and said second object is a door hinged in said door frame.

23. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said first transformer portion is U-shaped and includes two legs, and wherein said first contact surface is disposed between said two legs of said first transformer portion.

24. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said first receiver element has two openings defined therein, and wherein said two legs of said first transformer portion are disposed in said two openings.

25. A system in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a first receiver housing configured for being coupled with said first receiver element, wherein said first transformer portion is disposed between said first receiver element and said first receiver housing.

26. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said second transformer portion is U-shaped and includes two legs, and wherein said second contact surface is disposed between said two legs of said second transformer portion.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said second receiver element has two openings defined therein, and wherein said two legs of said second transformer portion are disposed in said two openings.

28. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said second contact surface protrudes outwardly from said second receiver element a first distance from said second receiver element, wherein an end surface of said second transformer portion protrudes outwardly a second distance from said second receiver element, and wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance.

29. A system in accordance with claim 28 wherein said second contact surface is formed in the shape of a ramp.

30. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said second receiver element includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said second contact surface is formed in said upper portion, and wherein a spring retaining feature is formed in said lower portion and is configured for receiving said biasing member.

31. A system in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a second receiver housing configured for being disposed in said second object, said second receiver housing having an aperture defined therein configured for receiving said second transformer portion and said second contact surface, said second receiver housing including a flange surrounding at least a portion of said aperture, said flange being configured for engaging said second receiver element.

32. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said first transformer portion includes a first core, a primary coil winding, a primary coil rectifier, a sensing coil rectifier, and a sensing coil winding, and wherein said second transformer portion includes a second core, a secondary coil winding, and a secondary coil rectifier.

33. A system in accordance with claim 32, further comprising first circuitry connected to said first transformer portion, and second circuitry connected to said second transformer portion, wherein application of a first alternating electric current through said first transformer portion induces a second alternating current in said second transformer portion, and wherein amplitude modulation of said second alternating electric current defines a communications signal between said first object and said second object.