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US 10,704,292 B2Granted
Locking mechanism including energy storage
AssigneeLevel Home, Inc.
InventorsJohn H. Martin, Kenneth D. Goto, Thomas E. King, Jordan R. Fountain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for storing energy in a electromechanical lock. The electromechanical lock can include a main housing and a deadbolt. The main housing can be configured to extend a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door. The deadbolt can have a hollow inner region configured to receive an energy storage device. The energy storage device within the deadbolt can be electrically connected to the main housing. The energy storage device can be used to power an actuator and/or accelerometer in the main housing.
Claims57
An electromechanical lock configured for installation in a door, the electromechanical lock comprising:
- a main housing electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the main housing is configured to extend the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- and
- the deadbolt having a hollow inner region, wherein the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device in the hollow inner region;
- wherein the energy storage device includes an electrochemical cell.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a main housing configured to position a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- a bolt housing attached to the main housing;
- an actuator configured to position the deadbolt along the path, wherein the energy storage device provides electric power to the actuator;
- and
- the deadbolt within the bolt housing and connected to a bolt carriage within the main housing, wherein the deadbolt includes a hollow inner region configured to receive an energy storage device.
2 more elements
An electromechanical locking system, comprising:
- a main housing connected to a deadbolt;
- the deadbolt having an energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device provides electric power to the actuator;
- and
- a control unit electrically connect to the energy storage device, wherein the control unit is configured to:
- receive a message indicative of locking or unlocking;
- and
- cause an actuator to extend or retract the deadbolt along a path in response to receiving the message.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- disposing an actuator in a main housing of an electromechanical lock, the actuator including an electrical and mechanical connection, the electrical and mechanical connection configured to electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the actuator is configured to extend and/or retract the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- disposing a hollow inner region in the deadbolt, wherein the inner hollow region of the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device electrically connected to the main housing;
- disposing an accelerometer along a non-linear path coupled with the path of the deadbolt, wherein the accelerometer traverses the non-linear path as the deadbolt traverses the path;
- and
- receiving, by a control unit, vector information from the accelerometer indicative of a position of the deadbolt along the path, wherein the energy storage device provides power to the accelerometer and the control unit.
2 more elements
An electromechanical lock configured for installation in a door, the electromechanical lock comprising:
- a main housing electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the main housing is configured to extend the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- and
- the deadbolt having a hollow inner region, wherein the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device in the hollow inner region;
- wherein the deadbolt is mechanically connected to the main chassis via a male detent connector secured into a female groove of a bolt carriage;
- and
- wherein the deadbolt is electrically connected to the main chassis via one or more pogo pins connected to electrical receiver elements of the bolt carriage.
3 more elements
An electromechanical lock configured for installation in a door, the electromechanical lock comprising:
- a main housing electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the main housing is configured to extend the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- and
- the deadbolt having a hollow inner region, wherein the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device in the hollow inner region;
- wherein the deadbolt is mechanically connected to the main chassis via a male detent connector secured into a female groove of a bolt carriage;
- wherein the deadbolt is electrically connected to the main chassis via one or more pogo pins connected to electrical receiver elements of the bolt carriage;
- and
- wherein the male detent connector aligns the one or more pogo pins with the electrical receiver elements of the bolt carriage.
4 more elements
An electromechanical lock configured for installation in a door, the electromechanical lock comprising:
- a main housing electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the main housing is configured to extend the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- and
- a bolt carriage including an electrical connection and attachment mechanism for the deadbolt;
- the deadbolt having a hollow inner region, wherein the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device in the hollow inner region;
- and
- wherein the electrical connection is configured to direct an electric current from the energy storage device to the main housing.
3 more elements
An electromechanical lock configured for installation in a door, the electromechanical lock comprising:
- a main housing electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the main housing is configured to extend the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- and
- the deadbolt having a hollow inner region, wherein the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device in the hollow inner region;
- wherein the main housing includes an actuator configured to retract the deadbolt to operate in an unlocked state, and configured to extend the deadbolt into a deadbolt slot in a locked state;
- and
- wherein the actuator is powered by the energy storage device within the hollow inner region of the deadbolt.
3 more elements
An electromechanical lock configured for installation in a door, the electromechanical lock comprising:
- a main housing electrically and mechanically connected to a deadbolt, wherein the main housing is configured to extend the deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- and
- the deadbolt having a hollow inner region, wherein the deadbolt is configured to receive an energy storage device in the hollow inner region;
- wherein the main housing includes an accelerometer configured to rotate along a non-linear path as the electromechanical lock transitions between an unlocked state and a locked state;
- wherein the accelerometer is configured to determine a gravity vector representing an inclination of the accelerometer along the non-linear path;
- and
- wherein the accelerometer is powered by the energy storage device within the hollow inner region of the deadbolt.
4 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a main housing configured to position a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- a bolt housing attached to the main housing;
- and
- an accelerometer configured to monitor the position of the deadbolt along the path, wherein the energy storage device provides electric power to the accelerometer;
- and
- the deadbolt within the bolt housing and connected to a bolt carriage within the main housing, wherein the deadbolt includes a hollow inner region configured to receive an energy storage device.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a main housing configured to position a deadbolt along a path to lock and/or unlock a door;
- a bolt housing attached to the main housing;
- and
- a control unit configured to manage an actuator, an accelerometer, an antenna, or any combination thereof, wherein the energy storage device provides electric power to the control unit;
- and
- the deadbolt within the bolt housing and connected to a bolt carriage within the main housing, wherein the deadbolt includes a hollow inner region configured to receive an energy storage device.
3 more elements
An electromechanical locking system, comprising:
- a main housing connected to a deadbolt;
- the deadbolt having an energy storage device;
- and
- a control unit electrically connect to the energy storage device, wherein the control unit is configured to:
- receive a message indicative of locking or unlocking;
- cause an actuator to extend or retract the deadbolt along a path in response to receiving the message;
- and
- receive vector information from an accelerometer indicative of a position of the deadbolt along the path, wherein the energy storage device provides power to the accelerometer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.