Back to results
US 12,211,328 B2Granted
Contactless electronic access control system
AssigneeLockFOB, LLC
InventorGregory Paul Kirkjan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of an electronic access control system includes an electronic access apparatus, an electronic lock, and an access control administration program. The electronic access apparatus provides a wireless power signal and a wireless digital data signal to the electronic lock. The wireless power signal can be the only source of power used by the electronic lock to actuate an electronic lock mechanism. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes a piezoelectric latch.
Claims24
A handheld electronic apparatus for use with an electronic lock, the handheld electronic apparatus comprising:
- a battery configured to supply energy to components of the electronic apparatus;
- a physical storage medium storing at least one identifier;
- an electromagnetic radiation source;
- a signal processing circuit connected to the electromagnetic radiation source;
- at least one processor configured with computer executable instructions to cause the electromagnetic radiation source to:
- transmit a wireless digital data signal to an electromagnetic radiation receiver, the digital data signal comprising the at least one identifier,
- transmit a wireless power signal to the electronic lock to provide power to the electronic lock sufficient to actuate a lock mechanism within the electronic lock between a locked state and an unlocked state, and
- wherein the wireless power signal delivers electric power to the electronic lock during a lock access time period of less than or equal to six seconds;
- wherein a lock controller is configured to control operation of the lock mechanism based at least in part on the wireless digital data signal received from the electronic apparatus,
- wherein the lock mechanism is capable of actuating between the locked state and the unlocked state using the electric power supplied by the wireless power signal, and
- wherein the handheld electronic apparatus can be less than 10 cm from the electronic lock when transmitting the wireless digital data signal and the wireless power signal to actuate the lock mechanism.
8 more elements
An electronic lock comprising:
- a lock mechanism electrically connected to a lock controller, the lock mechanism configured to actuate between a locked state and an unlocked state;
- an electromagnetic radiation receiver configured to:
- receive an electromagnetic wireless digital data signal from an electronic apparatus, and
- receive an electromagnetic wireless power signal from the electronic apparatus;
- the lock controller configured to control operation of the lock mechanism based on the electromagnetic wireless digital data signal from the electronic apparatus;
- a power management circuitry configured to actuate the lock mechanism based on input received from the lock controller;
- wherein the lock mechanism is capable of actuating between the locked state and the unlocked state using electric power supplied by the wireless power signal;
- wherein the wireless power signal delivers the electric power to the electronic lock over a lock access time period of less than or equal to six seconds;
- and
- wherein the lock mechanism is configured to actuate using the electric power received from the wireless power signal during transmission of the wireless power signal.
7 more elements
A method of locking or unlocking an electronic lock using a handheld electronic apparatus, the method comprising:
- receiving, by an electromagnetic radiation receiver, electromagnetic radiation from the handheld electronic apparatus, wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises a power signal configured to provide electric energy to the electronic lock;
- receiving, by the electromagnetic radiation receiver, electromagnetic radiation comprising a digital data signal from the electronic apparatus;
- supplying, by power management circuitry, the electric energy to a lock mechanism, wherein the power management circuitry receives the electric energy from the power signal over a lock access time period of up to six seconds;
- and
- actuating the lock mechanism based on a lock actuation instruction received from the handheld electronic apparatus, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to actuate using the electric energy received only from the power signal during transmission of the power signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.