A collection, charging and distribution machine collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, super- or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machine employs electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The machine determines a first number of devices to be rapidly charged, employing charge from a second number of devices identified to sacrifice charge. Thus, some devices may be concurrently charged via current from the electrical service and current from other devices, to achieve rapid charging of some subset of devices. The devices that sacrifice charge may later be charged. Such may ensure availability of devices for end users.

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. By default, each portable electrical energy storage device is disabled from accepting a charge unless it receives authentication information from an authorized collection, charging and distribution machine, other authorized charging device, or other authorized device that transmits the authentication credentials. Also, by default, each portable electrical energy storage device is disabled from releasing energy unless it receives authentication information from an external device to which it will provide power, such as a vehicle or other authorization device.

Provided herein is an inventory management system for dispensing products from an enclosure, methods of securing products within the enclosure, use of the enclosure and for maintaining inventory. The inventory management system may include an enclosure having a self-locking door. The self locking door may include a door, a lock located on the door, a strike plate, wherein the strike plate controls the lock, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of a user and wherein the sensor controls the lock.

Access control electronics for wireless locks comprise one or more battery operated radios that receive access control codes. The wireless accessed locks locate the electronic components, circuits, sensors and antennas and many of the lock components away from the container being secured and closer to the operator/user. The disclosed access control electronics combine a proximity detection circuit comprising sensor pads and a capacitive sensing circuit and one or more short-range radio frequency antennas for reading RFID devices. The proximity sensor pads are in close proximity with the antennas, without the antennas interfering with the proximity sensing process, and the sensor pads to not attenuate the signals between the RFID devices and the antennas after the RFID devices are detected.

An electronic lock, such as a deadbolt, with a locking device movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lock includes a key fob including a RFID circuit indicative of a valid access code for the locking device. A circuit is provided that is configured to control movement of the locking device between the locked position and the unlocked position. The circuit includes a sensor, such as a contract sensor or a proximity sensor, which detects when a user is within range of a RFID device. When this happens, the sensor is configured to generate an electrical signal, which is used to activate the RFID device for a predetermined period of time. If the RFID device reads a valid access code, the device is unlocked.

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Locations of collection, charging and distribution machines having available charged portable electrical energy storage devices are communicated to or acquired by a mobile device of a user or a navigation system of a user's vehicle. The locations are indicated on a graphical user interface on a map relative to the user's current location. The user may select particular locations on the map to reserve an available portable electrical energy storage device at a particular collection, charging and distribution machine location. The collection, charging and distribution machine locations displayed may also be based on a physical distance or driving time from the current location of the user mobile device or vehicle.

An electronic door lock is operable to control access to an access controlled area adjacent the inner side of a door. The door lock includes an outer base, an inner base, a locking mechanism movable between a locked and unlocked position in response to a control signal, and a control circuit disposed within the inner base and operable to generate the control signal in response to the presentation of an input credential. A plurality of different types of credential readers arc each selectively attachable and removable from an attachment interface when the outer base is attached to the door to electrically connect the selected one of the plurality of different types of credential readers to the control circuit. The selected credential reader receives data from a user or credential and generates the input credential. A communication module is operable to communicate with a device separate from the electronic door lock.

A lock assembly is disclosed to lock a moveable structure to a fixed structure. The lock assembly includes an electric actuator operable to move a locking lug between first and second axial positions to correspond with a locked and unlocked configuration of the lock assembly. A resilient member can couple the locking lug to the electric actuator and drive the locking lug between the first and second positions.

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.

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.