Intelligent door lock system with friction detection and deformed door mode operation

• US 9,470,018 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: August Home, Inc. (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: August Home, Inc. (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Shih Yu Thomas, Johnson, Jason, Kim, Christopher, Aranda, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai
• Application Number:
  US14/206,536
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 340/146.2, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/540, 340/541, 340/542, 292/57, 292/58, 292/144, 292/341.16, 318/272, 318/293
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/069 Timers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0022 Planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0048 Circuits, feeding, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• 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 2047/0095 Mechanical aspects of locks controlled by telephone signals, e.g. by mobile phones electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• 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 47/0001 with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 55/12 the bolt being secured by the operation of a hidden parallel member ; Automatic latch bolt deadlocking mechanisms, e.g. using a trigger or a feeler
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/004 parallel to the surface on which the fastener is mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 : where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 : Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 : involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 : in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 : in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 : Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/185 : Signal analysis techniques for reducing or preventing false alarms or for enhancing the reliability of the system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 : Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 : Motor

Abstract

An intelligent door lock system includes a position sensing device configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of a lock device. The position sensing device senses position of the drive shaft to assist in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device. An engine with a memory is coupled to the positioning sensing device. The engine in operation processes information regarding an amount of friction experienced by a door or lock device when being opened and/or closed. A circuit is coupled to the engine and an energy source. A device converts energy into mechanical energy is coupled to the circuit, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft. The device that converts energy is coupled to the energy source to receive energy from the energy source.

Claims

1. An intelligent door lock system at a dwelling, comprising:

a position sensing device to couple to a drive shaft of a lock device, the position sensing device sensing position of the drive shaft to assist in locking and unlocking a lock of the lock device;

an engine coupled to a processor with a memory, the engine being coupled to the positioning sensing device, the engine in operation processing information regarding an indication of friction experienced by a door or lock device when being opened and/or closed, an amount of current going to the engine used to determine an amount of friction experienced by the door and/or the lock device in opening and/or closing;

a circuit coupled to the engine;

an energy source coupled to the circuit that couples the energy source to the engine;

a device that converts energy into mechanical energy coupled to the circuit, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft, the device that converts energy being coupled to the energy source to receive energy from the energy source; and

wherein a mobile device at an interior or exterior of the dwelling is configured to provide locking or unlocking of the lock, the intelligent door lock system configured to allow controlled access to the dwelling that includes an occupant of the dwelling as well as a designated third person granted access rights by the occupant.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a current sensor coupled to the engine, the current sensor monitoring an amount of current that goes to the device that converts energy.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the amount of current that goes to the device that converts energy is received and processed by the engine.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the amount of current going to the device that converts energy is used to determine the amount of friction experienced by the door or lock in opening and/or closing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit and engine provide for adjustment of applied current.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the engine provides information regarding the door and an amount of friction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein an amount of torque required to move a bolt of the lock device is measured.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the intelligent door lock system increases the applied torque until the bolt moves into a desired position, and the applied torque is a minimum amount of torque required to move the bolt which is related to how deformed the door is.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent door lock system is installed to a door with a pre-existing lock.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor, wherein the intelligent door lock system unlocks the lock 24 when an elevated temperature is sensed by the temperature sensor.

12. The system of claim 1,

wherein an amount of torque applied is related to the door deformity of the door.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a high-friction mode of door operation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the high friction is greater than 3 inch lbs.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein during the high-friction door operation the bolt is driven while the user performs on a door at least one of, pushing, lifting, torquing the door, pulling, performs a visual inspections of rust, blockage and other conditions that can compromise the door.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein during in the high friction mode of door operation, a confirmation is provided of a door closing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein following the confirmation of the door closing the bolt is driven.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server activates a deformed operation mode.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the position sensing device in operation determines if a door is fully closed.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

firmware elements that drive the bolt after a first time drive fails.

21. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a deformed operation mode.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the deformed operation mode is activated after a selected amount of time.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the intelligent door lock system activates the deformed operation mode.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to detection of a door deformity a server in communication with the intelligent door lock sends a message wirelessly to advise of the door deformity.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the server performs a comparison between a measured torque applied to the door and a torque retrieved from a database of torque values.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein in operation the server tracks performance of the door and friction level of the door.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein a door deformation is detected when torque applied to the door is too high.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein a door deformation is detected when 2-15 in lbs of torque is applied and detected.

10. The system of wherein the intelligent door lock system is installed at a door without a pre-existing lock device.

29. A method of using an intelligent door lock system at a dwelling, comprising:

coupling a position sensing device to a drive shaft of a lock device;

sensing position of the drive shaft to assist in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device;

processing information using an engine regarding an indication of friction experienced by a door or lock device when being opened and/or closed, an amount of current going to the engine used to determine an amount of friction experienced by the door and/or the lock device in opening and/or closing;

using a device that converts energy into mechanical energy, the device that converts energy coupled to the drive shaft;

rotating the drive shaft to lock and unlock the lock device; and

using a mobile device at an interior or exterior of the dwelling configured to provide locking or unlocking of the lock, the intelligent door lock system configured to allow controlled access to the dwelling that includes an occupant of the dwelling as well as a designated third person granted access rights by the occupant.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

monitoring an amount of current that goes to the device that converts energy.

31. The method of claim 29, determining the amount of friction experienced by the door or lock in opening or closing the door using the amount of current going to the device that converts energy.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

adjusting an amount of applied current.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

measuring an amount of torque required to move a bolt of the lock device.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

increasing applied torque until the bolt moves into a desired position.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

sending a communication to rotate the drive shaft and unlock the bolt when a certain temperature is reached.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

applying a minimum amount of torque required to move a bolt of the lock device, wherein the amount of torque applied is related to a door deformity of the door.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

operating in a high-friction mode of door operation.

38. An intelligent door lock system at a dwelling, comprising:

a position sensing device means configured to be coupled to a drive shaft means of a lock device means, the position sensing device means sensing position of the drive shaft means to assist in locking and unlocking a lock means of a lock device means;

an engine means with a memory, the engine means being coupled to the positioning sensing device means, the engine means in operation processing information regarding an indication of friction experienced by a door or lock device means when being opened and/or closed;

a circuit means coupled to the engine means;

an energy source means coupled to the circuit means;

a device means that converts energy into mechanical energy coupled to the circuit means, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft means, the device means that converts energy being coupled to the energy source means to receive energy from the energy source means; and

wherein a mobile device at an interior or exterior of the dwelling is configured to provide locking or unlocking of the lock means, the intelligent door lock system configured to allow controlled access to the dwelling that includes an occupant of the dwelling as well as a designated third person granted access rights by the occupant.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

a current sensor means coupled to the engine means, the current sensor means monitoring an amount of current that goes to the device means that converts energy.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the amount of current that goes to the device means that converts energy is received and processed by the engine means.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the amount of current going to the device means that converts energy is used to determine the amount of friction experienced by the door or lock means in opening and/or closing.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the circuit means and engine means can provide for an adjustment of applied current.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the engine means can provide information regarding the door and an amount of friction.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein an amount of torque required to move a bolt means of the lock device means is measured.