Electronic lockset with multi-source energy harvesting circuit

• US 9,328,532 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA Abloy Americas Residential Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Kwikset Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thuan, Maridakis, Michael, Brown, Troy, Almomani, Nedal Akram
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US14/197,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20140260459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• 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 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/00 Fastening devices with bolts moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00579 Power supply for the keyless data carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/80 Parts, attachments, accessories and adjuncts

Abstract

An electronic lockset with a radio frequency harvesting circuit. In one embodiment, the electronic lockset includes a mechanical locking portion movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. One or more energy consumption devices are provided that actuate the mechanical locking portion between the locked position and the unlocked position. A rechargeable battery provides electrical power to the energy consumption devices. A radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter and RF energy harvesting circuit are used to wirelessly recharge the battery. Typically, the RF transmitter is configured to transmit at a predetermined frequency. The RF energy harvesting circuit is tuned to the predetermined frequency and is electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery to recharge the battery.

Claims

1. An electronic lockset for use with a radio frequency (“

RF”

) transmitter configured to transmit at one or more predetermined frequencies, the electronic locket comprising;

a locking device moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

one or more energy consumption devices configured to actuate the locking device between the locked position and the unlocked position;

at least one rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the one or more energy consumption devices;

a RF energy harvesting circuit configured to be electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery, wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is configured to convert RF energy to a direct current (“

DC”

) power source for recharging the rechargeable battery;

wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is operably associated with a selector configured to tune a RF receiver to a selected frequency from a plurality of predetermined frequencies, wherein the selector is configured to change the selected frequency by cycling through the plurality of predetermined frequencies; and

wherein the selector comprises a manually-actuated switch configured to change the selected frequency by user actuation of the switch.

2. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined frequencies includes one or more of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz.

3. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic lockset includes a cavity dimensioned to detachably receive a battery holder, wherein the battery holder is configured to carry the at least one rechargeable battery such that the rechargeable battery is electrically coupled with the one or more of the energy consumption devices, and wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is integral with the battery holder.

4. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 3, wherein the battery holder includes a body with a plurality of recesses that are each dimensioned to receive a battery.

19. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 1, wherein the selector is one or more of a knob switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a push button switch or a DIP switch.

5. An electronic lockset comprising:

a mechanical locking portion moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

one or more energy consumption devices configured to actuate the mechanical locking portion between the locked position and the unlocked position;

at least one rechargeable battery configured to provide electrical power to the energy consumption devices;

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) transmitter configured to plug into an AC power outlet, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to transmit at a user-selectable predetermined frequency;

an RF energy harvesting circuit configured to be electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery, wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is configured to convert RF energy received from the RF transmitter to a direct current (“

DC”

) power source for recharging the rechargeable battery; and

wherein the energy harvesting circuit includes an RF receiver tunable to the predetermined frequency of the RF transmitter by a user-selectable switch.

6. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 5, wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is operably associated with a selector configured to tune the RF receiver to a selected frequency.

7. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 5, wherein the RF receiver is tunable to a selected frequency from a plurality of predetermined frequencies.

8. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of predetermined frequencies includes one or more of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz.

9. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 5, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to transmit RF energy at the predetermined frequency substantially continuously.

10. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 5, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to periodically transmit RF energy at the predetermined frequency.

11. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 5, wherein the electronic lockset includes a cavity dimensioned to detachably receive a battery holder, wherein the battery holder is configured to carry the one or more rechargeable batteries such that the one or more rechargeable batteries is electrically coupled with the one or more of the energy consumption devices, and wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is integral with the battery holder.

12. The electronic lockset as recited in claim 5, wherein the RF transmitter includes a plurality of electrical prongs configured to plug into an AC power outlet.

13. A battery holder for use with an electronic lockset, the battery holder comprising:

a body including a cavity for receiving one or more batteries, wherein the body is dimensioned to be detachably received by an electronic lockset to supply electrical power thereto; and

a radio frequency (“

RF”

) energy harvesting circuit including a RF receiver carried by the body, wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is configured to recharge one or more batteries received in the body, wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is operably associated with a selector configured to tune the RF receiver to a selected frequency and the selector comprises a manually-actuated switch configured to change the selected frequency by user actuation of the switch.

14. The battery holder as recited in claim 13, wherein the RF energy harvesting circuit is integrated into the body.

15. The battery holder as recited in claim 13, wherein the battery holder includes a body with a plurality of recesses that are each dimensioned to receive a battery.

16. The battery holder as recited in claim 13, wherein the RF receiver is tunable to a selected frequency from a plurality of predetermined frequencies.

17. The battery holder as recited in claim 16, wherein the plurality of predetermined frequencies includes one or more of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz.

18. The battery holder as recited in claim 13, wherein the body includes surface ornamentation for gripping the battery holder for removal from the electronic lockset.