A device for preventing unwanted opening of a locked enclosure includes a lock bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A face gear is meshable with and rotatable by the worm gear between locking and unlocking positions when the worm gear is driven in the first and second directions, respectively. A blocker member is rotatable between first and second positions. A biasing member is operatively coupled to the face gear and the blocker member to bias the blocker member in a biasing direction. A sliding member selectively disengages the blocker member to allow the blocker member to rotate in the biasing direction. A lever arm is operatively coupled to the sliding member such that the lever arm is in the disengaged and engageable positions when the sliding member engages the blocker member in the first and second positions, respectively.

A method for measuring energy harvested from at least one energy source for use in an access control system, comprising providing an access control device adapted to be at least partially powered by energy harvested from at least one energy source; providing at least one sensor receiving energy from the at least one energy source; providing an energy harvesting manager coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the energy harvesting manager manages the amount of energy received by the at least one sensor; providing a capacitive storage device coupled to the energy harvesting manager, the capacitive storage device for storing energy harvested from the at least one sensor; charging the capacitive storage device to a voltage high threshold, V-HTH; applying a reference load to the capacitive storage device until the capacitive storage device discharges to a predetermined voltage value, Vo/e, the reference load having a predetermined resistance value; determining a time constant, the time constant defined as the length of time required for the capacitive storage device to discharge to the predetermined voltage value, Vo/e; and determining an exact or near exact capacitance of the capacitive storage device by comparing the time constant to the reference load predetermined value, by the expression: C=RC/RL, where C=capacitance (in farads), RC=time constant (in seconds), and RL=reference load resistance (in ohms).

Systems and methods for providing secure locks having redundant access channels are disclosed. In some embodiments of the invention, the smart lock has a hardware processor, a power source, a cylinder, a button that forms a rose knob, and a rose protector. The rose knob and rose protector protect and conceal the hardware processor, the power source, and the cylinder. The rose protector forms an annular groove that slidably interlocks with the rose knob. The rose knob has a plurality of redundant access channels for receiving authentication information. The redundant access channels may include a biometric scanner for receiving biometric information, a passcode keypad for entering a token, or a wireless transceiver for receiving a token from a mobile device and transmitting a response to the mobile device. When the user cannot open the lock through the first redundant access channel, the smart lock is configured to allow access through a second access channel.

It is presented a power converter for transferring electric power provided on an input terminal to an energy storage element. The power converter comprises: an inductor; a switch connected to selectively control a connection between the inductor and the input terminal; and a comparator, wherein an output of the comparator controls the switch, a first input of the comparator is supplied with a voltage being proportional to a voltage of the input terminal, and a second input of the comparator is supplied with a voltage being proportional to a current from the input terminal; wherein the energy storage element is connected to a point between the inductor and the switch.

A device for preventing unwanted opening of a locked enclosure includes a lock bolt moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A face gear is meshable with and rotatable by the worm gear between locking and unlocking positions when the worm gear is driven in the first and second directions, respectively. A blocker member is rotatable between first and second positions. A biasing member is operatively coupled to the face gear and the blocker member to bias the blocker member in a biasing direction. A sliding member selectively disengages the blocker member to allow the blocker member to rotate in the biasing direction. A lever arm is operatively coupled to the sliding member such that the lever arm is in the disengaged and engageable positions when the sliding member engages the blocker member in the first and second positions, respectively.

An actuating device (12) comprising a stationary structure (20); an actuating element (22) rotatable relative to the stationary structure (20); an electric power source (24, 82); a spindle (26) arranged to be rotated by rotation of the actuating element (22); a locking member (28) movable between a locked position (66) and an unlocked position (86); an electromechanical transfer device (30, 84) arranged in the spindle (26), the transfer device (30, 84) being configured to adopt a locked state (68) and an unlocked state (78); a receiver device (34) fixed with respect to the spindle (26), the receiver device (34) being electrically connected 62 to the transfer device (30, 84); and a transmitter device (32) fixed with respect to the stationary structure (20) and arranged to be electrically powered by the power source (24, 82), the transmitter device (32) being configured to wirelessly transmit power to the receiver device (34).

Systems and methods for providing secure locks having redundant access channels are disclosed. In some embodiments, the smart lock has a hardware processor, a power source, a cylinder, a button that forms a rose knob, and a rose protector. The rose knob and rose protector protect and conceal the hardware processor, the power source, and the cylinder. The rose protector forms an annular groove that slidabiy interlocks with the rose knob. The rose knob has a plurality of redundant access channels for receiving authentication information, The redundant access channels may include a biometric scanner for receiving biometric information, a passcode keypad for entering a token, or a wireless transceiver for receiving a token from a mobile device and transmitting a response to the mobile device. When the user cannot open the lock through the first redundant access channel, the smart lock is configured to allow access through a second access channel.

Described are systems for electronic heatsink safety including a system comprising a thermoelectric generator integrated into a heatsink, where the thermoelectric generator includes a first portion exposed to ambient temperature and a second portion contacting the heatsink, and where the thermoelectric generator is configured to produce a current based on a temperature difference between the first portion and the second portion. The system further comprises a first Light Emitting Diode (LED) electrically connected to the thermoelectric generator, where the current is configured to activate the first LED.

A germicidal system includes a handle for opening a door or compartment. An ultra-violet illuminator is mounted proximate the handle for irradiating a surface of the handle to reduce pathogens from the handle between uses. The illuminator can include at least one LED that emits in ultra-violet wavelengths. A sensor can be included proximate the handle. A controller can be operatively connected to the sensor and to the illuminator. The controller can be configured to activate the illuminator based on detection of a user by the sensor. The controller can be configured to activate the illuminator for a predetermined amount of time for each use of the handle.

The lock includes an actuator (130), a generator (160), an engagement mechanism (114) to convey mechanical insertion power to the electric generator (160), and an electronic circuit (120), powered by the electric power (310), to read encrypted data (312) from a memory (102) embedded into the key (100), and, if the encrypted data (312) matches a predetermined criterion, to operate the actuator (130), with the electric power (310), to set (314) the actuator (130) to the unlocked position (300). The engagement mechanism (114) is also configured to engage with an extraction (400) of the key (100) and convey mechanical extraction power to the electric generator (160), and the electronic circuit, powered by the electric power (600), is also configured to operate the actuator (130), with the electric power (600), to reset (602) the actuator (130) to the locked position (140).