# US 10,319,163 B2 · Remote control unlocking and locking system

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- Number: US 10,319,163 B2
- Document ID: US10319163B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/327,946
- Filed: 2014-07-10
- Published: 2015-01-15
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-10
- Applicants: Matthew Murphy
- Inventors: Matthew Murphy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10319163B2

## CPC

- G07C 9/30: not involving the use of a pass
- G07C 9/00174: {Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys (mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00)}
- G07C 2009/00746: {by knocking on a surface for inputting the code, e.g. detecting a series of taps on a surface}
- G07C 2009/00841: {by a portable device}
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A portable, temporary removable system for locking and unlocking a door knob, door lever or locking deadbolt without the requirement of using keyed entry. Several manners of automated locking and unlocking are introduced and the instant system is designed for quick installation and removal. Once attached, the system may be remotely controlled from the outside of the door via a pattern of knocks, via electronic communications or a combination of a knock pattern and electronic communication.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, comprising:
a frame comprising a flat platform and aperture for mounting over the door knob;
an electronics container fixed to the frame comprising electronic components;
a servo motor mounted via a slot to a servo tension arm and aligning with a rotational axis of a rotational lock mechanism;
a servo mating coupler connected to the servo motor, configured to turn a finger operated rotational lock and the doorknob;
a microcontroller that controls a behavior of said servo motor and other electronic components;
a piezo knock detector converting vibrations resulting from pressure on a structure;
a knock sensitivity adjustment knob used to filter out background vibrations;
an audio mode switch controlling a generation of audio tones to communicate failed or successful access attempts;
a programming switch allowing user input and storage of new knock patterns into an internal memory;
a rotational direction switch controlling the servo motor's rotation; and
a USB port mounted on a surface of the system to allow for software updates
wherein the device is disposed to control the opening of the door knob or door level upon activation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 1, wherein the electronics container further comprises a power switch, a rotational direction switch, a knock validation mode switch, a programming switch, a programming indicator light, and an audio mode switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 1, wherein a knock sensitivity knob is mounted within the electronics container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door level, or a deadbolt, of claim 1, wherein the servo tension arm is in communication with the electronics container via a hinge mechanism.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 1, wherein the piezo knock detector is attached to a piezo tension arm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 5, wherein a piezo tension arm hinge is mounted to the piezo knock detector ensuring a maximum surface area of the piezo knock detector remains in contact with the door.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt of claim 1, comprising:
a knock validation mode switch comprising:
a memory mode comparing a submitted knock pattern with a knock pattern stored in an internal memory; and
an external mode initiating an HTTP request to an external application determining if access has been authorized within an external application.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 7, wherein matching of the submitted knock pattern with the knock pattern in the internal memory results in a servo motoring turning a servo deadbolt mating coupler.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 7 wherein a microcontroller interprets the HTTP response from the external application to determine authorization of the access.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 8 wherein a confirmation of authorization results in rotation of the servo motor, which rotates the servo mating coupler and turns a finger operated rotational lock and a doorknob.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 7 wherein a network connectivity indicator light indicates a status of the network connection when the system is set to external mode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 7 wherein a user sequential pattern of knocks on the structure creates vibrations detected by a piezo knock detector.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device configured for use with a door knob, a door lever, or a deadbolt, of claim 12 wherein the piezo knock detector converts vibrations to electrical energy and transfers said energy via wires to a microcontroller within an electronics container.

### Claim 14

A control system attached to a locking deadbolt comprising:
a frame comprising a flat platform and aperture for mounting over a doorknob;
a deadbolt thumb turn axle;
a deadbolt thumb turn lever;
a slotted deadbolt mounting aperture comprising a narrow portion; wherein the deadbolt thumb turn lever extends through the narrow portion of the slotted deadbolt mounting aperture so that a top of the narrow portion of the slotted deadbolt mounting aperture rests on the deadbolt thumb turn axle;
a servo deadbolt mating coupler connected to the servo motor, capable of turning a finger operated rotational lock and a doorknob;
a servo tension arm;
a servo tension arm spring; and,
a servo motor; wherein the coupler is tensioned against the deadbolt thumb turn lever via the servo tension arm and servo tension arm spring.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The control system attached to a locking deadbolt of claim 14 wherein the servo deadbolt mating coupler is shaped to conform to a shape of the deadbolt thumb turn lever and to grasp the deadbolt thumb turn lever snugly when tensioned against the deadbolt thumb turn lever via the servo tension arm and servo tension arm spring.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The control system attached to a locking deadbolt of claim 14 wherein the servo deadbolt mating coupler is adjustable in size to accommodate different sized deadbolt thumb turn levers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The control system attached to a locking deadbolt of claim 16 further comprising a clamping mechanism securely attached to the deadbolt thumb turn lever.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The control system attached to a locking deadbolt of claim 14 wherein the servo deadbolt mating coupler is in mechanical communication with servo motor and disposed to transfer a rotational force of the servo motor to rotate the deadbolt thumb turn lever and unlock the deadbolt assembly.