Mechatronic lock system

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to mechatronic locks and more specifically, wireless mechatronic smart lock systems for locking doors which can be activated through a rotational movement of the outer knob. In an aspect, the present disclosure describes a specific user interaction method and technical solution for activating the lock system. The user applies a predetermined or programmable motion pattern of rotational movements or motion pattern of the outer knob. The input movements or motions are detected by a sensor and matched with reference motion pattern descriptions by the intelligent controller in the lock system. Upon a positive match the lock system will be activated.

Claims

1. A mechatronic lock system (100) arranged for actuating a door lock upon activation of said system comprising: an outer knob (010), arranged for inputting a code sequence by a user of said lock system through rotation of said outer knob (010) to activate said system; a sensor (341, 342), arranged for determining a rotational movement of said outer knob (010); and a control module (340) in communicative connection with said sensor (341, 342) and arranged for defining an input motion pattern from said rotational movement, and wherein said control module (340) is arranged for comparing said input motion pattern with a predetermined reference motion pattern and activating said system (100) upon a match between said input motion pattern and said reference motion pattern, and wherein said motion patterns comprise a first and/or higher order time derivative of angular displacement of said outer knob (010).

2. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, said lock system further comprising: an inner knob assembly (030), arranged for control through rotation by a user of said lock system, and comprising said sensor (341, 342) and said control module (340).

3. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control module further comprises a wireless communication module for activating a mechatronic clutch (330) and therewith activating the lock system (100) for actuating said door lock.

4. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control module is configured to define said motion pattern based on any one or more of the group consisting of: angular velocity (ω), angular acceleration (α) and angular jerk (ζ).

5. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a relative motion sensor (341) and/or an inertial sensor (342), and wherein said sensor is configured for determining said first and/or higher order time derivative of the angular position of said outer knob (010).

6. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 5, wherein said relative motion sensor (341) is configured for determining said first and/or higher order time derivative of the angular position of said outer knob (010), said relative motion sensor being selected from the group consisting of: a capacitance sensor, Hall-effect sensor, ultrasonic sensor, opto-electronic sensor, micro cam switch, potentiometer, rotary encoder, magneto/reed switch, electromagnetic sensor, and combinations thereof.

7. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 5, wherein said inertial sensor (342) is configured for determining said first and/or higher order time derivative of the angular position of said outer knob (010), said inertial sensor being selected from the group consisting of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer.

8. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said input motion pattern and/or said reference motion pattern is defined by any one or more of a sequence of directional rotational movement, sequence of time-modulated rotational movement, sequence of velocity modulated rotational movement, sequence of acceleration modulated rotational movement, or sequence of jerk modulated rotational movement.

9. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control module is arranged for programming said reference motion pattern by obtaining a reference motion pattern from said wireless communication module, and/or entering a programming modus wherein said control module is arranged to determine said motion pattern from said code sequence and storing said motion pattern as said reference motion pattern.

10. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, wherein said control module is arranged for applying an expiry time on said reference motion pattern for defining a validity thereof, and wherein said expiry time is defined by a predetermined time period initiated by a predetermined time stamp or first use of said system.

11. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, said system further comprising a biometric sensor for identification of said user by a biometric parameter including a heartbeat rate pattern.

12. The mechatronic lock system (100) according to claim 1, said system further comprising a wireless communication device (510, 510′) for identification of said user, said wireless communication device comprising a key fob or a numeric keypad.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1. shows, in an illustrative manner, a lock system in accordance with the first and second aspect of the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows, in an illustrative manner, an internal view of the lock system in accordance with the first and second aspect of the invention, in a double controlled variant;

(3) FIG. 3 shows, in an illustrative manner, an internal view of the lock system in accordance with the first and second aspect of the invention, in a single controlled variant;

(4) FIG. 4 schematically show four different examples of translating an intellectual code through a specific user actions in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 schematically shows the disclosed lock system (100) with its main interfaces; the outer knob (010), the inner knob assembly (030), the door lock operating cam (020) and two example wireless communication devices (510, 510′). In this case a key fob and a numeric keypad respectively.

(6) FIG. 2 schematically shows the disclosed lock system (100) as a double controlled variant (001); the outer knob (010) and inner knob assembly (030) are mechanically connected to the first shaft (110). The door lock operating cam (020) is mechanically connected to the second shaft (210).

(7) Both knobs (010, 030) are freely rotating relative to the cylinder housing (410) and the second shaft (210). The inner knob assembly (030) consists of an inner knob housing (310), a mechatronic clutch unit (330), a wireless control unit (340) and an energy accumulator (350). An inertial sensor (342) is depicted as part of the wireless control unit (340) electronics assembly. A predetermined or programmable motion pattern of the outer knob will be detected by the inertial sensor (342). After sensing and matching the motion pattern the wireless control unit (340) will activate the mechatronic clutch (330) coupling both shafts (110, 210) and therewith activate the lock system (100).

(8) FIG. 3 schematically shows the disclosed lock system (100) in a single controlled variant (002); the outer knob (010) is mechanically connected to the first shaft (110). The door lock operating cam (020) and inner knob assembly (030) are mechanically connected to the second shaft (210). The outer knob (010) is freely rotating relative to the cylinder housing (410) and the inner knob assembly (030). The inner knob assembly (030) consists of a inner knob housing (310), a mechatronic clutch unit (330), a wireless control unit (340) and an energy accumulator (350). A relative motion sensor (341) is depicted wired to the wireless control unit (340) electronics assembly. A predetermined or programmable rotational motion pattern of the outer knob will be detected by the relative motion sensor (341). After sensing and matching the motion pattern the wireless control unit (340) will activate the mechatronic clutch (330) coupling both shafts (110, 210) and therewith activating the lock system (100).

(9) FIG. 4a-d schematically show four different examples of translating the same intellectual code ‘1234’ in specific user actions and therewith a specific motion pattern. As described it is technically not necessary to determine the absolute angular position or displacement (θ) of the outer knob (030) at any instance to sense and match the motion pattern.

(10) FIG. 4a schematically shows a user interaction using discrete movements of the outer knob in a specific angular direction. As time (t) passes the user turns the outer knob one time clockwise, two times counterclockwise, three times clockwise and finally four times counter clockwise. Every change of rotational/angular direction initiates a next number in the intellectual code.

(11) FIG. 4b schematically shows a user interaction using time duration of discrete rotational movements of the outer knob. As time (t) passes the user gives a short turn followed by two long turns, three short turns and four long turns. The relative duration of different discrete turns is used to differentiate short and long turns and therewith derive the number inputs and numbers of the code itself.

(12) FIG. 4c schematically shows a user interaction using the intensity of the discrete rotational movements of the outer knob. One soft turn is followed by two hard turns, three soft turns and four hard turns. Intensity can be determined as the measured value of, or a combination of; angular velocity (ω), angular acceleration (α) and angular jerk (ζ). Turns with higher intensity are depicted as arrows with a variable line thickness.

(13) FIG. 4d schematically shows a user interaction using a waiting time (tw) and feedback (f) from the lock system. The feedback can for example be audible visible or haptic. The process starts with one turn; user waits for feedback (f), two turns, (f), three turns, (f), four turns and acknowledgment feedback (fa).

(14) While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein.
More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein.

(15) It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed.

(16) Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

(17) All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

(18) The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

(19) The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.

(20) Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

(21) Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

(22) As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items.

(23) Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

(24) As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements.

(25) This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

(26) Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

(27) It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

(28) In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

(29) The present disclosed invention is applicable to new lock designs as well as retrofitting conventional cylinder locks, deadbolt locks or rim locks. The present disclosed lock system is applicable in consumer home applications as well as professional applications including escape route use cases.

(30) In the drawings, the following references are used: 001 Double Controlled Variant 002 Single Controlled Variant 010 Outer Knob 020 Door Lock Operating Cam 030 Inner Knob Assembly 100 Lock System 110 First Shaft 210 Second Shaft 310 Inner Knob Housing 330 Mechatronic Clutch 340 Wireless Control Unit 341 Relative Motion Sensor 342 Inertial Sensor 350 Energy Accumulator 410 Cylinder Housing 510 Wireless Communication Device