G01P15/005

Using thermal energy, kinetic energy, or both to charge a device

In some examples, a device includes a charging circuit with a thermoelectric generator and a kinetic energy generator. An embedded controller (EC) monitors a level of a battery in the device. If the level falls below a threshold, the EC may determine, using an accelerometer, whether the device is in motion. If the device is in motion, the EC may use the kinetic energy generator to charge the battery. If the device is not in motion, the EC may determine, using a temperature sensor, whether there is a temperature difference between two portions of the device. If there is a temperature difference, then the EC may use the thermoelectric generator to charge the battery. If the EC determines that the device is not in motion and there is no temperature difference between the two portions, then the EC may instruct the user to charge the device.

Electro-mechanical deadbolt connection to main housing

Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for electrically and mechanically connecting a deadbolt to a main housing of a lock. The main housing can be configured to extend a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door while receiving electrical energy from an energy storage device disposed in the deadbolt. The energy storage device disposed in the deadbolt can be proximate to one or more electrical contacts electrically connected to one or more components in the main housing via conductive components of a bolt carriage. The bolt carriage includes a groove attachable to a male detent connector attached to the deadbolt. The groove in the bolt carriage provides a mechanical connection to the deadbolt and also aligns pogo pins with electrical components of the bolt carriage to enable electrical transmission from the deadbolt to the main housing.

CONTEXT AWARENESS OF A SMART DEVICE THROUGH SENSING TRANSIENT AND CONTINUOUS EVENTS
20190227096 · 2019-07-25 ·

A distributed computing system for artificial intelligence in autonomously appreciating a circumstance context of a smart device. Raw context data is detected by sensors associated with the smart device. The raw context data is pre-processed by the smart device and then provided to a cloud based server for further processing. At the cloud based server, various sets of feature data are obtained from the pre-processed context data. The various sets of feature data are compared with corresponding classification parameters to determine a classification of a continuous event and/or a classification of transient event, if any, which occur in the context. The determined classification of the continuous event and the transient event will be used to autonomously configure the smart device or another related smart device to fit the context.

Deadbolt position sensing

Determining a position of a deadbolt used to lock and unlock a door is disclosed. An electromechanical lock can include a deadbolt that can retract or extend along a linear path as the door is to be locked and unlocked. A sensor such as an accelerometer can rotate along a non-linear path as the deadbolt moves along a linear path. The accelerometer can determine a gravity vector that can be indicative of a position of the accelerometer along the non-linear path. A controller can then determine a position of the deadbolt based on the gravity vector.

Automotive powered door activation using accelerometer

Voice control is extended outside of an automotive vehicle by an access system associated with a door and window. An accelerometer is mounted on the window to generate a vibration signal. A passive entry system generates an unlock standby signal when an authorized user carrying a wireless fob is detected proximate the door. A voice recognizer in the vehicle is activated by the standby signal to scan the vibration signal for a spoken command for opening the door. A door actuator is activated by the voice recognizer when the command is detected.

Athermal hung mass accelerometer with reduced sensitivity to longitudinal temperature gradients
10024880 · 2018-07-17 · ·

An athermal open-loop hung mass accelerometer configures the CTE of the sensor heads such that any growth by the body in response to a body temperature gradient along the longitudinal axis is offset by the growth of the sensor heads in the equal and opposite direction to null the effects of the temperature gradient. In many configurations, the sensor head CTE is strictly less than the body CTE and typically between 60-80% of the body CTE to null the effects of the predicted body temperature gradient.

LOCKING MECHANISM INCLUDING ENERGY STORAGE

Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for storing energy in a electromechanical lock. The electromechanical lock can include a main housing and a deadbolt. The main housing can be configured to extend a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door. The deadbolt can have a hollow inner region configured to receive an energy storage device. The energy storage device within the deadbolt can be electrically connected to the main housing. The energy storage device can be used to power an actuator and/or accelerometer in the main housing.

DEADBOLT EXTENSION DEVICE FOR AN ELECTROMECHANICAL LOCK

Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for a extending a deadbolt. The electromechanical lock can include a deadbolt extending device disposed between a main housing and a deadbolt. The deadbolt extension device can be used to adapt the electromechanical lock to doors of various sizes. The deadbolt extension device can include another electrical connection and another attachment mechanism for the deadbolt. The another electrical connection can be configured to electrically connect the deadbolt with the main housing. The another attachment mechanism can be configured to attach the deadbolt a pre-defined distance apart from the main housing.

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DEADBOLT CONNECTION TO MAIN HOUSING

Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for electrically and mechanically connecting a deadbolt to a main housing of a lock. The main housing can be configured to extend a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door while receiving electrical energy from an energy storage device disposed in the deadbolt. The energy storage device disposed in the deadbolt can be proximate to one or more electrical contacts electrically connected to one or more components in the main housing via conductive components of a bolt carriage. The bolt carriage includes a groove attachable to a male detent connector attached to the deadbolt. The groove in the bolt carriage provides a mechanical connection to the deadbolt and also aligns pogo pins with electrical components of the bolt carriage to enable electrical transmission from the deadbolt to the main housing.

MOTOR GEAR DRIVE RELEASE

Mechanically or electromechanically positioning a deadbolt used to lock or unlock a door is disclosed. An electromechanical lock can include a deadbolt to be positioned to lock or unlock a door. The deadbolt can be mechanically positioned based on the rotation of a paddle of the electromechanical lock or electromechanically positioned via a motor being turned on to position the deadbolt. A disengagement mechanism can disengage an engagement cog from a worm gear hub of a gear train of the motor upon the mechanical positioning, but remain engaged upon the electromechanical positioning.