One or more embodiments describe a magnetic actuator including at least two magnets. One magnet is a semi hard magnet and the other magnet is a hard magnet. The hard magnet is configured to open or close the magnetic actuator. The semi hard magnet and the hard magnet are placed adjacent to each other. A change in magnetization polarization of the semi hard magnet is configured to push or pull the hard magnet) to open or close a digital lock realised with the magnetic actuator. The magnetic actuator can also be used to realise a valve.

A lock can include a motor assembly, a gear assembly, and an unlocking assembly. The motor assembly can include a motor and a drive shaft. The gear assembly can include a cam, a pinion gear, and a pinion. The pinion gear can include a plurality of teeth disposed along only a portion of a perimeter of the pinion gear. The pinion gear can be configured to engage the pinion. The pinion can be configured to translate laterally to release a biasing member to unlock a door of a container.

An electric lock device for furniture or storage has an RFID transmitter/receiver for communication with portable data carriers. A controller detects a data carrier nearby, reads a set of data from it, and determines if the data carrier is at least an access requesting or function determining type. If access requesting, the controller retrieves identity information from the read set of data, compares the identity information to stored reference information, and controls an electric activator for a securing member. If function determining, the controller retrieves function determining information from the read set of data and performs any of the following: switching to any of a plurality of operational modes having different principles for access control; reading an operational status; or setting an operational parameter. At least one of these actions is variable controlled and based on a variable value in the function determining information.

A dispenser lock assembly, including a mechanical lock assembly for locking an openable part to a fixed part and an electronic lock assembly. The mechanical lock assembly including a movably mounted part allowing operation of the mechanical lock assembly and a latch connected to the operation part such that upon operation of the operation part the latch is moved from a locked to an unlocked position, the electronic lock assembly including a blocking member movable between a blocking and an unblocking position, an electric actuator for moving the blocking member between blocking and unblocking positions, a receiver for receiving an unlock signal, a control unit that compares the unlock signal to at least one prestored value and upon determining that the unlock signal matches one of the at least one prestored values controlling the electric actuator to move the blocking member from the blocking to the unblocking position.

A method of controlling a lock mechanism of an active door includes transiting an access controller of the lock mechanism to an authorized access mode and transitioning the access controller from the authorized access mode to an entry mode. Transitioning the access controller to the authorized access mode is in response to an authorized user being sensed approaching the active door from an exterior side of the active door or in response to input on a remote device. In the authorized access mode, an exterior handle of the active door is decoupled from a main latch of the lock mechanism. Transitioning the access controller to the entry mode is in response to sensed contact with the exterior handle. In the entry mode, the exterior handle is capable of rotating to transition the access controller to an unlocked mode in which the exterior handle is operably coupled to the main latch.

Systems and methods for providing a wireless lock system include a locking device wherein the locking device comprises a retractable bolt and a wireless communication transceiver. The systems and methods can also include a bolt catch that is configured to couple with the retractable bolt, wherein, when coupled, the bolt and locking device are locked into a static position relative to the bolt catch. A keypad programmable with a plurality of combination buttons and a wireless communication transceiver can be configured to communicate with the bridge wirelessly. The bolt then protrudes from the locking device to couple with the bolt catch and decouples from the bolt catch and recedes into the locking device in response to one or more wireless signals received from a wireless device. A wireless communication bridge device may also be utilized to provide additional wireless communication links to further devices to expand user reach and interoperability.

A lockdown system for use in a building including multiple rooms with doors providing access to the rooms, the lockdown system including: at least one room lockdown component provided in each of a plurality of the rooms, the room lockdown components comprising door-securing devices that are external of the doors and, in a deployed condition of the room lockdown components, are manually positioned inside said rooms to oppose inward movement of the doors and thereby block or secure the doors, the room lockdown components further characterized by a non-deployed condition in which the door-securing devices are positioned at storage locations inside the rooms, and wherein further each room lockdown component is operative to automatically signal initiation of a lockdown event when its door-securing device has been moved from its storage location; and at least one communication device operative to receive the signaled initiation of a lockdown event when any one or more of the door-securing devices have been moved from their storage locations, and to provide an alert notification of the initiation of the lockdown event.

A recreational or utility vehicle system comprising a motorized member that allows for opening of a cargo door utilizing motorized movement to release the cargo door as well as a manual activation device that allows for opening of the cargo door in a manual and mechanical manner. In one arrangement, the recreational or utility vehicle system provides the convenience of opening the cargo door by a simple press of a button which activates the motorized movement. This arrangement also provides for opening of the cargo door when the motorized member fails or when power is unavailable.

An article delivery assembly for unattended, trackable and secure delivery of articles includes a box that defines an internal space. A door is hingedly coupled to the box and is positioned to cover an open face of the box. A locking mechanism, a power module, a microprocessor and a reader are coupled to a back of the door. A keypad and a first antenna are coupled to a front of the door. The locking mechanism is selectively couplable to the box. The microprocessor is operationally coupled to the power module. The reader and the keypad are operationally coupled to the microprocessor. The first antenna is operationally coupled to the reader. A fastener, coupled to the box, is configured to attach the box to a substrate. Each of a plurality of tags, readable by the reader, is configured to couple to an article to be positioned in the internal space.

Systems and methods for controlling a plurality of devices in a home automation system may include providing a device proxy for a device connected to the home automation system and setting a new value in a value box of the device proxy, whereby the value box corresponds to at least one of a sensor, control, and metadata of the device. The systems and methods may further include determining one or more rules associated with the device proxy and running the determined one or more rules, whereby the determined one or more rules are indicative of interactive relationships between the device proxy and one or more other device proxies corresponding to one or more other devices connected to the home automation system.