US 12,762,914 B1Granted

Method and means for wallet support for locks without batteries

AssigneeiLOQ Oy

InventorsJanne Heusala, Harri Ahola, Tomi Karjalainen

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Abstract

The invention relates to power systems and locks (100, 300, 500, 700, 900, 1000). More particularly, the invention relates to mobile phone (101, 301, 501, 701, 901, 1001)-based powering of locks. Wallet (103, 312, 512, 712, 912) based access credentials are fast becoming an industry standard access method in digital access management. This publication discusses strategies to combine virtual key credentials from applications with self-powering in digital locks. The invention allows the use of self-powered locks by all or some consumers, without a dedicated application from the lock manufacturer. The invention is simpler, as the consumer can open the lock from his mobile wallet application, or with a separate mobile Keys application (716, 1012). The invention also reduces the end cost to the consumer, because self-powered locks typically present life-time financial savings to consumers.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A hybrid energy harvesting digital lock openable with a mobile device, wherein:

the digital lock is a self-powered lock without a battery,
the digital lock is opened using a mobile app which sends an NFC signal with a virtual digital key to open the digital lock,
the mobile app originated NFC signal powers the digital lock opening, wherein power is transmitted from the mobile device to the digital lock wirelessly via at least one of near-field communication (NFC) wireless charging (WLC) or Qi,
the mobile app originated NFC signal contains an excess residual energy which is stored in the digital lock, and
the excess residual energy is used in powering the opening of the digital lock when the digital virtual key is sent from a mobile wallet with NFC, wherein power transmission from the mobile wallet is zero or is below a defined threshold of energy sufficient to power the digital lock opening, and energy transmitted from the mobile device to the digital lock is stored in the digital lock with a supercapacitor, and
the digital lock comprises an Ultra Low Power IC, with wake-up power capacitor, optionally made of Tantalum, and a supercapacitor for processing power and/or a Hybrid Layer Capacitor (HLC) and/or Lithium-ion capacitor (LIC).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.