Sensor configuration for a latch assembly
AssigneeD & D Group Pty Ltd
InventorsGlenn Smith, Klaus Peter Nink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A latch assembly comprising: a latch operable to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition; a magnet imparting a magnetic field; a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field; the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition, wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition and the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor.
Claims18
A method for distinguishing a latched condition and an unlatched condition of a latch assembly, said method comprising:
- providing a latch as part of the latch assembly operable to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition, the latch comprising a magnet and a latch member;
- providing the latch with a first component arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, the first and second components being required to be in an aligned condition to enable the latch assembly to adopt the latched and unlatched condition;
- aligning the first component and the second component in the aligned condition, wherein an interfacing or engagement tolerance exists between the first and second components to allow the relative position between the first and second components to vary within the tolerance when in the aligned condition;
- providing a sensor adapted for sensing a magnetic field imparted by the magnet, wherein the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor;
- moving the latch member relative to the magnet and sensor to enable the latch assembly to adopt the latched condition and the unlatched condition;
- determining that the latch is in the latched condition through the variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor within the interfacing or engagement tolerance between the first and second components in the closed position
- using the sensor to measure a plurality of readings of the magnetic field in the latched condition and the unlatched condition, the readings being indicative of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor when the first and second components are in different positions within the interfacing or engagement tolerance;
- storing the plurality of magnetic field readings in the latched condition and the unlatched condition;
- and
- using the stored readings to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition.
A latch assembly comprising:
- a latch comprises a first component which is arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, the first component and the second component configured to co-operate when the movable barrier is in a closed position;
- the latch being operative to adopt a latched condition or an unlatched condition when in the closed position;
- the first and second components being configured such that an interfacing or engagement tolerance exists to allow the relative position between the first and second components to vary within the tolerance when in the closed position,
- a magnet imparting a magnetic field, the magnet being disposed in the second component;
- a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field;
- the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition when the movable barrier is in the closed position;
- a processing unit configured to process the output from the sensor to determine the latch as being in the latched condition or the unlatched condition;
- the processing unit operative to use stored data in determining whether the latch is in the latched condition or the unlatched condition, the stored data being indicative of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor when the first and second components are in different positions within the interfacing or engagement tolerance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.