Systems and methods for operating a locking device. The methods comprising: performing operations by at least one sensor of the locking device to generate sensor data indicating at least one of a size of an animal and a shape of an animal; comparing, by a processing unit of the locking device, the size of the animal to at least one threshold value and/or the shape of the animal to a reference shape; classifying, by the processing unit, the animal as an authorized animal or an unauthorized animal based on the comparing; and granting or denying access to an internal area of a compartment based on the classifying. The granting comprises actuating a lock of the locking device such that the lock transitions from a locked position to an unlocked position.

Locks, systems and methods of monitoring a lock, the lock having a hub with a slot rotatable by a handle to open and close a latchbolt. A locking member is moveable into and out of engagement with the hub slot to prevent and permit movement of the hub and latchbolt. A sensor on the lock, adjacent the hub and locking member, monitors a moving lock component. The sensor may sense the position of the locking member in or out of engagement with the hub slot. The sensor may be a reed switch actuated by a magnet on the moving lock component. The lock may further include a magnet mounted on the hub and the sensor may comprise a reed switch capable of being actuated by the magnet on the hub. The lock and system may include an external control unit having an alarm for controlling operation of the lock.

An apparatus comprising a power providing arrangement for a field powered device having a coil antenna for receiving a wireless signal, the power providing arrangement comprising: a first capacitor configured to be coupled to the coil antenna, the first capacitor configured to store energy obtained from the wireless signal received by the coil antenna, up to a first stored energy level, and configured to provide said energy to power the field powered device; a second capacitor arranged in parallel with the first capacitor via a switch; the switch providing at least a connected state in which the first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel and configured to both store the energy obtained from the wireless signal up to a second stored energy level, greater than the first stored energy level, and configured to provide said energy to power the field powered device and a disconnected state in which the second capacitor is disconnected from the first capacitor; the switch configured to transition from the disconnected state to the connected state based on particular signalling received from a remote device.

Locks, systems and methods of monitoring a lock, the lock having a hub with a slot rotatable by a handle to open and close a latchbolt. A locking member is moveable into and out of engagement with the hub slot to prevent and permit movement of the hub and latchbolt. A sensor on the lock, adjacent the hub and locking member, monitors a moving lock component. The sensor may sense the position of the locking member in or out of engagement with the hub slot. The sensor may be a reed switch actuated by a magnet on the moving lock component. The lock may further include a magnet mounted on the hub and the sensor may comprise a reed switch capable of being actuated by the magnet on the hub. The lock and system may include an external control unit having an alarm for controlling operation of the lock.

A vehicle opening-and-closing member locking-and-unlocking apparatus includes: an antenna including a series resonance circuit having a resonance capacitor and an antenna coil connected in series and an impedance regulating resistance connected in parallel to the antenna coil, the resonance capacitor side being connected in parallel to a first connecting line, the antenna coil side being connected to a second connecting line, and the antenna transmitting authentication information for locking and unlocking a vehicle opening-and-closing member to a portable device by resonance with an antenna drive signal output from an ECU via the first and second connecting lines; a human detection IC detecting contact to a human detecting area on the vehicle opening-and-closing member by the user; and a rectifier circuit configured to AC/DC convert the antenna drive signal and supply the converted signal to the human detection IC.

A capacitive keypad is designed to equip a vehicle, having several capacitive keys and configured to activate particular functions. The particular functions include: a primary lock function, consisting in locking or unlocking at least one vehicle opening; a secondary lock function, consisting in locking the at least one vehicle opening by a user equipped with a passive entry device; and an antiswipe function, consisting in deactivating one of the lock functions among the primary lock function and the secondary lock function, upon droplet detection or finger slippage detection. Furthermore, a single specific key among the capacitive keys is configured to selectively activate either the secondary lock function or the antiswipe function of the capacitive keypad.

An aspect of the disclosure includes a security system and method having a key with nanoscale features. The key includes a body. At least one pattern member disposed on the body, the pattern member formed using a directed self-assembly polymer to define a pattern of random feature structures thereon, the feature structures having a width of less than 100 nanometers.

An inductive coded lock system includes an inductive lock mechanism, and a conductive key/target. The inductive lock mechanism includes multiple inductor coils and sensor circuitry. Each inductor coil is operable to project a magnetic field defining a sensing area proximate to the inductor/coil, the inductor coils being spatially arranged to define a key/target sensing area incorporating each inductor coil sensing area. The sensor circuitry drives inductor coils, and measures sensor response (such as with an inductance comparator) to a key/target inserted within the key/target sensing area, including detecting an unlock condition corresponding to a pre-defined coded lock pattern. The key/target includes active and inactive areas (such as conductive/nonconductive) corresponding spatially to the sensing areas in the key target sensing area, the active and inactive areas arranged in a pre-defined coded key pattern corresponding to the pre-defined coded lock pattern. The coded lock and key patterns can be binary coded.

A device for a vehicle access control system, includes: a main electrode for carrying out a capacitive-type approach detection; and a transmitting and receiving antenna which is formed by a coil and is configured to transmit and receive a radiofrequency signal in order to identify a user. One turn of the coil includes: a first portion which delimits a region inside of which the main electrode is located; a second portion is offset relative to the main electrode, and at least one notch extends along one edge of the main electrode and connects the first portion and the second portion together. Each notch including two sections which are parallel to one another and connected together by a portion of the turn located at the bottom of the notch. It is thus possible to obtain a large antenna, which at the same time effectively performs a guard ring function for the main electrode.

Locks, systems and methods of monitoring a lock, the lock having a hub with a slot rotatable by a handle to open and close a latchbolt. A locking member is moveable into and out of engagement with the hub slot to prevent and permit movement of the hub and latchbolt. A sensor on the lock, adjacent the hub and locking member, monitors a moving lock component. The sensor may sense the position of the locking member in or out of engagement with the hub slot. The sensor may be a reed switch actuated by a magnet on the moving lock component. The lock may further include a magnet mounted on the hub and the sensor may comprise a reed switch capable of being actuated by the magnet on the hub. The lock and system may include an external control unit having an alarm for controlling operation of the lock.