Electromechanical locks and related methods
AssigneeLock II, LLC
InventorsJ. CLAYTON MILLER, MICHAEL P. HARVEY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dial ring assembly for an electromechanical combination lock. The dial ring assembly includes a housing configured to be mounted on an exterior of a securable enclosure. A dial is rotatably disposed on the housing, the dial being rotatable about a dial axis for use in connection with entry of a combination and a sensor configured to detect a rotation of the dial. The sensor provides an output signal based at least in part on the rotation of the dial and wherein the sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the dial over a range of dial rotational speeds.
Claims42
An electromechanical combination lock comprising:
- a dial ring assembly including:
- a housing configured to be mounted on an exterior of a securable enclosure, and
- a dial rotatably disposed on the housing, the dial being rotatable about a dial axis for use in connection with entry of a combination;
- and
- a lock assembly including:
- a bolt, the bolt being selectively extendable and retractable,
- an internal generator configured to generate electrical energy, operatively coupled to the dial such that rotation of the dial causes the internal generator to produce electrical energy, and
- a sensor integrated into the internal generator and configured to detect a rotation of the dial;
- wherein the sensor provides an output signal based at least in part on the rotation of the dial;
- and
- wherein the sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the dial over a range of dial rotational speeds.
A dial ring assembly for an electromechanical combination lock, the dial ring assembly comprising:
- a housing configured to be mounted on an exterior of a securable enclosure;
- a dial rotatably disposed on the housing, the dial being rotatable about a dial axis for use in connection with entry of a combination;
- an external generator disposed in the housing and configured to generate electrical energy;
- and
- a sensor integrated into the external generator and configured to detect a rotation of the dial;
- wherein the external generator is operatively coupled to the dial such that rotation of the dial causes the external generator to produce electrical energy;
- wherein the sensor provides an output signal based at least in part on the rotation of the dial;
- and
- wherein the sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the dial over a range of dial rotational speeds.
A dial ring assembly for an electromechanical combination lock, the dial ring assembly comprising:
- a housing configured to be mounted on an exterior of a securable enclosure;
- a dial rotatably disposed on the housing, the dial being rotatable about a dial axis for use in connection with entry of a combination;
- an external generator disposed in the housing and configured to generate electrical energy;
- and
- a sensor integrated into the external generator and configured to detect a rotation of the dial;
- wherein the external generator is operatively coupled to the dial such that rotation of the dial causes the external generator to produce electrical energy;
- wherein the sensor provides an output signal based at least in part on the rotation of the dial;
- wherein the sensor is configured to detect the rotation of the dial over a range of dial rotational speeds;
- and
- wherein a resolution of the output signal of the sensor dynamically changes based on a rotation speed of the dial.
A method of manufacturing a security device, the method comprising:
- assembling a dial ring assembly, comprising
- providing a housing configured to be mounted on an exterior of a securable enclosure;
- disposing an external generator, with an integral sensor configured to detect a rotation and produce an output signal, in the housing, the external generator being configured to generate electrical energy through rotation of an external generator shaft of the external generator;
- rotatably disposing a dial on the housing, the dial being rotatable about a dial axis for use in connection with entry of a combination;
- and
- operatively connecting the dial and the external generator shaft such that rotation of the dial rotates the external generator shaft to produce electrical energy and an output signal from the sensor.
A method of operating an electromechanical combination lock, the method comprising:
- entering a combination by rotating a dial disposed on a dial ring assembly about a dial axis, wherein rotating the dial comprises producing electrical energy by rotating an external generator shaft of an external generator disposed in a housing of the dial ring assembly and generating an output signal based at least partly on the rotation of the dial;
- and
- viewing at least one indicium associated with the combination on an electronic display disposed on the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.