Door lock with protected biometric sensor

• US 20070080778A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chong, Gerald, Bloom, Mark, Strader, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.530
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/02 Striking-plates; Keepers; Bolt staples; Escutcheons keyhole finders E05B15/08; escutcheons made of hard materials E05B15/1614; finger-plates E06B7/285
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0611 Cylinder locks with electromagnetic control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys

Abstract

A door lock is provided with a biometric sensor and a key cylinder. The biometric sensor is protected by being positioned on a shield, and such that the sensor is not exposed to damage by being on the front face of the door lock. The shield extends vertically downwardly from the remainder of the front face of the door lock, and the sensor is mounted to an inner face of the shield. Thus, the sensor is spaced away from a door when the door lock is mounted on a door. A finger may be inserted into a space between the sensor and the door, and the sensor can then capture information about the fingerprint. This information can be compared to expected fingerprints, and entry into a building can be granted based upon a recognition of this fingerprint.

Claims

1. A door lock comprising:

a key cylinder for receiving a mechanical key for actuating a lock mechanism;

a biometric sensor, said biometric sensor communicating with a control, said biometric sensor being operable to capture information and convey said captured information to said control, said captured information being compared to expected information at said control, and if said captured information and said expected information match, said control actuating said lock mechanism; and

wherein a plate for mounting said key cylinder and said sensor to a door includes a shield, said shield extending away from a plate body to provide a protected mount surface for said biometric sensor, and said biometric sensor being mounted on an outer surface of said shield, and between said shield and the door when said door lock is mounted onto the door.

2. The door lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shield is spaced away from the door by a space such that said biometric sensor is spaced from the door by a space to provide access for a user.

3. The door lock as set forth in claim 2, wherein said shield extends vertically downwardly from said plate body.

4. The door lock as set forth in claim 2, wherein said biometric sensor is a fingerprint recognition sensor.

5. The door lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein a mount plate selectively mounts said biometric sensor to said shield.

6. The door lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biometric sensor extends to a wire harness, said wire harness communicating information from said sensor to said control.

7. The door lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shield extends from an outer periphery of said plate.

8. A door lock comprising:

a key cylinder for receiving a mechanical key for actuating a lock mechanism;

a biometric sensor, said biometric sensor communicating with a control, said biometric sensor being operable to capture fingerprint information about an individual attempting access to the door lock, and convey said captured information to said control, said captured information being compared to expected information at said control, and if said captured information and said expected information match, said control actuating said lock mechanism, and wherein a plate for mounting said key cylinder and said biometric sensor to a door includes a shield, said shield extending away from a plate to provide a protected mount surface for said biometric sensor, and said biometric sensor being mounted between said shield and the door when said door lock is mounted onto the door;

said shield being spaced away from the door by a space, and said biometric sensor mounted on an outer surface of said shield, such that said biometric sensor is mounted in a protected position; and

said biometric sensor having a sensing face positioned to generally face an outer surface of the door when said door lock is mounted on the door.

9. The door lock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said shield extends vertically downwardly from a main body of said plate, such that said biometric sensor is accessible from a lower portion of the door lock.

10. The door lock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said shield extends from an outer periphery of said plate.

11. A method of actuating a door lock comprising the steps of:

providing a door lock having a plate receiving a key cylinder for receiving a key, and having a shield extending from said plate, and providing a biometric surface on an outer surface of said shield, such that said biometric sensor faces an outer surface of a door, and defines a space between said biometric sensor and said outer surface of the door;

inserting a user'"'"'s finger into the space, and allowing said biometric sensor to read the finger, to determine whether the user is an approved user; and

unlocking said door lock should said user be identified as an approved user.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the user'"'"'s finger is curled towards himself when being read by said biometric sensor.