Easy-to retrofit, electronically controlled door lock system

• US 8,035,478 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRevo, Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: iRevo, Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Lee, Yong-Jong
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherwin; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US10/592,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,400 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.2, 340/5.1, 340/825, 340/426.28, 340/542, 340/572.9, 702/71, 701/63, 702/77, 70280-282
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0091 Retrofittable electric locks, e.g. an electric module can be attached to an existing manual lock electrically driven keys E05B2047/0083
• 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: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5562 Removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7028 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

Disclosed is an easy-to-retrofit, electronically controlled door lock system designed to change or expand functions of a door lock without having to replace the door lock as a whole. The door lock system includes a door lock 100 for locking and unlocking a door in response to an input signal from a key means, the door lock having predetermined inherent functions, and a function expanding device 200 having additional functions other than the predetermined inherent functions of the door lock, the function expanding device being replaceably attached to the door lock.

Claims

1. An easy-to-retrofit, electronically controlled door lock system, comprising:

a door lock configured to be mounted to a door for locking and unlocking the door in response to an input signal from a key means, the door lock having predetermined inherent functions; and

a function expanding device selected from a plurality of function expanding devices each having additional functions other than the predetermined inherent functions of the door lock and each configured to be removably attached to the door lock at the door;

wherein the door lock configured to be mounted to the door comprises an authentication unit for authenticating the key means of the door lock, a multi-purpose interface device for removably connecting the function expanding device to the door lock, a multi-purpose interface device control unit for identifying and controlling an operation of the function expanding device, a controller unit for controlling the door lock, and a driving unit for causing the door lock to perform the locking and unlocking under the control of the controller unit; and

wherein the multi-purpose interface device control unit identifies the function expanding device connected to the multi-purpose interface device by use of electric characteristics including at least one of a voltage, a frequency and a timing of signals, mechanical characteristics of connector pins, and logical characteristics including a command response.

2. The door lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-purpose interface device control unit includes an algorithm for controlling the function expanding device connected to the multi-purpose interface device, a protocol for performing a data communication with the controller unit and the function expanding device, an encoder and a decoder each for processing signals for the data communication.

3. The door lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function expanding device comprises:

a multi-purpose interface device connection unit separably connected to the multi-purpose interface device of the door lock;

a subset module for implementing the additional functions other than the inherent functions of the door lock; and

a multi-purpose interface device signal processing unit for processing signals inputted and outputted from the subset module to the multi-purpose interface device.

4. The door lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein the additional functions of the function expanding device include functions of camera, fingerprint authentication, fire monitoring and home network interaction.

5. The door lock system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function expanding device includes a subset module for implementing a camera function, and the subset module comprises a camera module, an input/output port, a memory and a camera control processor.

6. An easy-to-retrofit, electronically controlled door lock system comprising:

an electronic door lock configured to be mounted to a door and operable to unlock the door in response to detection of an authorized key; and

a function expanding device selected from a plurality of function expanding devices each configured to be removably connected to the electronic door lock at the door to provide the door lock with enhanced features in addition to locking and unlocking the door;

the door lock comprises;

an authentication unit configured to detect the key;

an interface device configured to removably connect any one of the plurality of function expanding devices to the door lock; and

a controller unit configured to control the electronic door lock; and

a multi-purpose interface device control unit configured to control the function expanding device, and identify any one of the plurality of function expanding devices removably connected to the interface device by use of electric characteristics including at least one of a voltage, a frequency and a timing of signals, mechanical characteristics of connector pins, and logical characteristics including a command response;

the function expanding device comprises;

a connection unit configured to cooperate with the interface device to connect the function expanding device to the door lock; and

a subset module that includes the enhanced features.

7. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the door lock further comprises a power supply unit configured to supply power to both the door lock and the function expanding device.

8. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the door lock further comprises a driving unit operable to mechanically lock and unlock the door.

9. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the subset module includes a camera.

10. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the subset module includes a fingerprint authentication device.

11. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the subset module includes a fire detection device.

12. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the subset module includes a home network connection device.

13. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the function expanding device includes a signal processing unit configured to decode signals received from the door lock and encode signals transmitted to the door lock.

14. The door lock system of claim 6, wherein the door lock further comprises an interface device control unit, the controller is configured to control the function expanding device through the interface device control unit.

15. An easy-to-retrofit, electronically controlled door lock system comprising:

an electronic door lock configured to be mounted to a door, the door lock including;

an authentication unit configured to read first authentication information from a key means;

a driving unit configured to mechanically lock and unlock the door;

a multi-purpose interface device;

a multi-purpose interface device control unit including an encoder and decoder configured to process data communication signals;

a controller unit that controls the door lock, the controller unit includes a microprocessor and a memory unit, the controller unit is connected to each of the authentication unit,

the multi-purpose interface device, the multi-purpose interface device control unit, and the driving unit;

wherein the controller unit determines whether the key means is authorized by comparing the first authentication information of the key means read by the authentication unit with second authentication information stored in the memory unit, the controller unit generates and transmits a driving signal to the driving unit upon determining that the key means is authorized;

a power supply unit connected to the controller unit, the power supply unit includes an internal power supply and an external power supply that are configured to supply power to the authentication unit, the controller unit, and the driving unit;

a function expanding device selected from a plurality of function expanding devices each configured to provide the door lock with enhanced features in addition to locking and unlocking the door, the function expanding device includes;

a multi-purpose interface device connection unit configured to be connected to the multi-purpose interface device of the door lock to connect the door lock to the function expanding device;

a multi-purpose interface device signal processing unit that at least one of decodes signals received from the door lock and encodes signals transmitted to the door lock; and

a subset module including at least one of hardware and software, the subset module controls the function expanding device based on signals received from the controller unit and decoded by the multi-purpose interface device signal processing unit;

wherein the multi-purpose interface device is configured to removably connect any one of the plurality of function expanding devices thereto;

wherein the controller unit of the door lock is configured to control operation of any one of the plurality of function expanding devices connected to the multi-purpose interface device through the multi-purpose interface device control unit;

wherein the multi-purpose interface device control unit of the door lock is configured to control and identify any one of the plurality of function expanding devices connected to the multipurpose interface device by use of electric characteristics including at least one of a voltage, a frequency and a timing of signals, mechanical characteristics of connector pins and logical characteristics including a command response, and determine whether a first communication protocol of the multi-purpose interface device control unit coincides with a second communication protocol of the function expanding device connected to the multi-purpose interface device; and

wherein the power supply of the door lock supplies power to both the door lock and the function expanding device.

16. The door lock system of claim 15, wherein the subset module includes a camera.

17. The door lock system of claim 15, wherein the subset module includes a home network interface.

18. The door lock system of claim 15, wherein the subset module includes a fire detection device.

19. The door lock system of claim 15, wherein the subset module includes a device for monitoring an environment surrounding the door lock.