Electrically operated actuator and method

An electrically operated actuator in combination with a dead bolt assembly, the dead bolt assembly comprising a lock having a drive bar and a bolt, the bolt being operably coupled to the drive bar such that rotation of the drive bar extends and retracts the bolt linearly, the actuator comprising:

• means for rotating the drive bar to extend and retract the bolt;
• means for driving said rotating means, said driving means being responsive to an electrical signal;
• wherein said electrical signal is generated by:
• a wireless transmitter that transmits a request to actuate the actuator;
• a wireless receiver that receives the request to actuate the actuator;
• and
• a control circuit, operably connected to said wireless receiver, the control circuit providing said electrical signal to said driving means if the request is valid;
• and
• wherein said rotating means comprises:
• a lever attached to the drive bar, said lever being pivotal about an axis that is coaxial to an axis of rotation of the drive bar;
• and
• said driving means comprises:
• a motor capable of bidirectional rotation of a rod extending from said motor;
• said rod having a first gear with a threaded exterior surface;
• a second gear having teeth, said second gear being oriented to engage the threaded exterior surface of the first gear such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the second gear;
• and
• said second gear having a plurality of protrusions positioned on a surface of said second gear to contact and to rotate said lever.

An electrically operated actuator in combination with a dead bolt assembly, the dead bolt assembly comprising a lock having a drive bar and a bolt, the bolt being operably coupled to the drive bar such that rotation of the drive bar extends and retracts the bolt linearly, the actuator comprising:

• means for rotating the drive bar to extend and retract the bolt;
• means for driving said rotating means, said driving means being responsive to an electrical signal;
• wherein said electrical signal is generated by:
• a wireless transmitter that transmits a request to actuate the actuator;
• a wireless receiver that receives the request to actuate the actuator;
• and
• a control circuit, operably connected to said wireless receiver, the control circuit providing said electrical signal to said driving means if the request is valid;
• and
• wherein said rotating means comprises:
• a lever attached to the drive bar, said lever being pivotal about an axis that is coaxial to an axis of rotation of the drive bar;
• and
• said driving means comprises:
• a first solenoid having a first core that extends and retracts in response to a first solenoid signal, said first core being positioned to pivot said lever from a first position wherein said bolt is completely retracted and a second position, wherein said bolt is completely extended;
• and
• a second solenoid having a second core that extends and retracts in response to a second solenoid signal, said second core being positioned to pivot said lever from said second position to said first position.

A method for controlling power to a receiver that receives a signal indicating a status of a lock controlled by an electrically operated actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) switching on power to the receiver after transmitting a lock or unlock signal;
• and
• (b) switching power off to the receiver upon the first to occur of a predetermined period of time or a receipt of the signal indicating the status of the lock;
• and
• wherein the status includes at least one of lock status, unlock status, rotor current sense, and low battery condition.

A method for controlling power to a receiver that receives a signal that is used to extend or retract a bolt in a lock controlled by an electrically operated actuator, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) periodically switching power on to the receiver;
• (b) switching power to the receiver off after a valid signal is received indicating that the bolt should be extended or retracted;
• and
• (c) switching power to the receiver off after a predetermined period of time, if a valid signal is not received during the predetermined amount of time.

An electrically operated actuator in combination with a dead bolt assembly, the dead bolt assembly comprising a lock having a drive bar and a bolt, the bolt being operably coupled to the drive bar such that rotation of the drive bar extends and retracts the bolt linearly, the actuator comprising:

• a drive bar attachment for rotating the drive bar to extend and retract the bolt;
• a motor operably coupled to the drive bar attachment to rotate the drive bar attachment, the motor being responsive to an electrical signal;
• wherein said electrical signal is generated by:
• a wireless transmitter that transmits a request to actuate the actuator;
• a wireless receiver that receives the request to actuate the actuator;
• a control circuit, operably connected to said wireless receiver, the control circuit providing said electrical signal to said motor if the request is valid;
• and
• wherein the control circuit comprises at least one sensing circuit for sensing a status of the dead bolt assembly.

An electrically operated actuator in combination with a dead bolt assembly, the dead bolt assembly comprising a lock having a drive bar and a bolt, the bolt being operably coupled to the drive bar such that rotation of the drive bar extends and retracts the bolt linearly, the actuator comprising:

• a drive bar attachment for rotating the drive bar to extend and retract the bolt;
• a motor operably coupled to the drive bar attachment to rotate the drive bar attachment, the motor being responsive to an electrical signal;
• wherein said electrical signal is generated by:
• a wireless transmitter that transmits a request to actuate the actuator;
• a wireless receiver that receives the request to actuate the actuator;
• a control circuit, operably connected to said wireless receiver, the control circuit providing said electrical signal to said motor if the request is valid;
• and
• wherein the wireless transmitter is a first transceiver and the wireless receiver is a second transceiver and a status of the dead bolt assembly is transmitted to the first transceiver by the second transceiver.

An electrically operated actuator in combination with a dead bolt assembly, the dead bolt assembly comprising a lock having a drive bar and a bolt, the bolt being operably coupled to the drive bar such that rotation of the drive bar extends and retracts the bolt linearly, the actuator comprising:

• means for rotating the drive bar to extend and retract the bolt;
• means for driving said rotating means, said driving means being responsive to an electrical signal;
• means for disengaging said rotating means from said driving means for manual rotation of the drive bar;
• wherein said electrical signal is generated by:
• a wireless transmitter that transmits a request to actuate the actuator;
• a wireless receiver that receives the request to actuate the actuator;
• and
• a control circuit, operably connected to said wireless receiver, the control circuit providing said electrical signal to said driving means if the request is valid.

An electrically operated actuator in combination with a dead bolt assembly, the dead bolt assembly comprising a lock having a drive bar and a bolt, the bolt being operably coupled to the drive bar such that rotation of the drive bar extends and retracts the bolt linearly, the actuator comprising:

• a drive bar attachment that is coupled to the drive bar to extend and retract the bolt linearly;
• a motor being responsive to an electrical signal;
• a gear assembly operably coupled to the motor to respond to rotation of said motor, the gear assembly being coupled to said drive bar attachment to engage said drive bar attachment to extend or retract the bolt linearly, and the gear assembly being coupled to said drive bar attachment to disengage from said drive bar attachment for manual rotation of the drive bar;
• wherein said electrical signal is generated by a circuit comprising:
• a wireless transmitter that transmits a request to actuate the actuator;
• a wireless receiver that receives the request to actuate the actuator;
• a control circuit operably connected to said receiver, the control circuit providing said electrical signal to said motor if the request is valid.