Wireless lockset with integrated antenna, touch activation, and light communication method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10738504-B2
Application number	US-201514689766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

A wireless electromechanical lock with one or more of an internal antenna, touch activation, and/or a light communication device that acts as a user interface. In some embodiments, the lock utilizes an antenna near the exterior face of the lockset, designed inside the metal body of the lockset itself. A light communication device is provided in some embodiments to communicate information, visually, to the user via animations and dynamic displays of light. In some embodiments, the lockset includes a touch activation capability, which can be used to lock/unlock the lock and/or otherwise provide input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lockset comprising:
a latch assembly including a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
a controller configured to electronically control movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position; and
an interior assembly and an exterior assembly, wherein at least one of the interior assembly and the exterior assembly is configured to actuate the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position, and wherein the exterior assembly includes a touch surface, wherein the exterior assembly includes a light communication device with a plurality of adjacent, independently controllable regions in electrical communication with the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to actuate movement of the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position responsive to capacitive touch sensing of the touch surface, and wherein the controller is configured to actuate the plurality of adjacent, independently controllable regions of the light communication device in a pre-determined sequence responsive to capacitive touch sensing of the touch surface,
wherein the controller is configured to sequentially adjust adjacent independently controllable regions in a first order to identify a first condition of the lockset, and
wherein the controller is configured to sequentially adjust adjacent independently controllable regions in a second order to identify a second condition of the lockset, wherein the second order is opposite of the first order.

2. The lockset as recited in claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly includes a cylinder guard cover extending from a mechanical lock assembly, wherein the touch surface comprises an external surface of the cylinder guard cover.

3. The lockset as recited in claim 2 , wherein the touch surface comprises substantially the entire external surface of the cylinder guard cover.

4. The lockset as recited in claim 3 , wherein the cylinder guard cover has a generally frustoconical shape.

5. The lockset as recited in claim 4 , wherein the touch surface comprises substantially an entire side wall of the cylinder guard cover.

6. The lockset as recited in claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly includes a handle with an external surface and wherein the touch surface includes at least a portion of the external surface of the handle.

7. The lockset as recited in claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly includes a rose with an external surface and wherein the touch surface includes at least a portion of the external surface of the rose.

8. The lockset as recited in claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly includes a mechanical lock assembly configured to manually actuate the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the mechanical lock assembly includes an external surface, and wherein the touch surface includes at least a portion of the external surface of the mechanical lock assembly.

9. The lockset as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical circuit configured to identify touching of the touch surface.

10. The lockset as recited in claim 9 , further comprising an insulator separating the touch surface and the electrical circuit.

11. The lockset as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a conductive medium electrically connecting the touch surface and the electrical circuit.

12. The lockset as recited in claim 11 , wherein the conductive medium comprises one or more of a conductive wave washer, a conductive foam, a conductive tap, and/or a conductive grease.

13. The lockset as recited in claim 1 ,
wherein the exterior assembly includes a cylinder guard surrounding a mechanical lock cylinder that is configured to structurally protect the mechanical lock cylinder, wherein the cylinder guard defines an internal cavity;
wherein the lockset further comprises an antenna in electrical communication with the controller; and
wherein the antenna is at least partially disposed in the internal cavity of the cylinder guard.

14. The lockset as recited in claim 13 , wherein the antenna is entirely disposed in the internal cavity.

15. The lockset as recited in claim 14 , wherein the cylinder guard has a front side and a rear side, wherein the internal cavity has an open end on the front side of the cylinder guard.

16. The lockset as recited in claim 15 , wherein the exterior assembly includes a front cover extending from the open end of the internal cavity that is generally coplanar with a front face of the mechanical lock cylinder.

17. The lockset as recited in claim 16 , wherein the front cover is formed from a generally RF transparent material.

18. The lockset as recited in claim 17 , wherein the light communication device extends between the open end of the internal cavity and the front cover.

19. The lockset as recited in claim 18 , wherein the light communication device is formed from a generally RF transparent material.

20. The lockset as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a retainer attached to the rear side of the cylinder guard configured to increase structural reinforcement of the cylinder guard.

21. A lockset comprising:
a latch assembly movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
a controller configured to electronically control movement of the latch assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position;
an interior assembly including a turn piece for manually actuating the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position; and
an exterior assembly including a mechanical lock assembly configured to manually actuate the latch assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the exterior assembly includes a light communication device with a plurality of adjacent, independently controllable regions in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the exterior assembly includes a touch surface;
wherein the controller is configured to process a user request responsive to capacitive touch sensing of the touch surface;
wherein the controller is configured to actuate at least a portion of the independently controllable regions in a pre-determined sequence by adjusting one or more of illumination, intensity, or color of the independently controllable regions responsive to one or more of: (1) an action currently being processed by the controller; or (2) a request for user input by the controller,
wherein the controller is configured to sequentially adjust adjacent independently controllable regions in a first order to identify a first condition of the lockset, and
wherein the controller is configured to sequentially adjust adjacent independently controllable regions in a second order to identify a second condition of the lockset, wherein the second order is opposite of the first order.

22. The lockset as recited in claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the pre-determined sequence by sequentially adjusting independently controllable adjacent regions as to one or more of illumination, intensity or color.

23. The lockset as recited in claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the independently controllable regions in the first order to indicate movement of the latch assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.

24. The lockset as recited in claim 23 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the independently controllable regions in the second order to indicate

Assignees

• Spectrum Brands Inc

Inventors

• Uyeda Alan
• Maridakis Michael
• Czerwinski Jr Jerome F
• Schneider Elliott B
• Brown Troy M
• Kim David Kj

Classifications

• E05B17/10 Primary

  Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; {Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights} · CPC title

• E05B2047/0053

  by operating the handle · CPC title

• E05B17/22 Primary

  Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators {(E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B2047/0054

  using microprocessor, printed circuits, or the like · CPC title

• E05B47/026

  the bolt moving rectilinearly · CPC title