Door unlock mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11613918-B2
Application number	US-201916375577-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Apr 4, 2019
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

A method and device for unlatching a door from a frame, using a keyless door latch system, is provided. In one embodiment, a secondary unlocking component receives a signal and derives power from the signal to provide a power source for the keyless door latch system. A microcontroller generates a control signal and an actuator, in response to receiving the control signal, actuates the secondary unlocking component, which allows an energy source, from an exterior of the door, to be transferred to the keyless door latch system for the unlatching of the door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyless door latch system for a door, the keyless door latch system comprising:
a wireless receiver configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal;
a power controller having a circuit configured to harvest energy from the RF signal and to provide a power source for the keyless door latch system using the harvested energy;
a microcontroller configured to generate a control signal for unlocking the door; and
an actuator coupled to the microcontroller and the power controller, wherein the actuator is configured to receive the control signal from the microcontroller and receive the harvested energy from the power controller, and based on the control signal, actuate a secondary unlocking component of the door using the harvested energy, the actuating of the secondary unlocking component permitting an external force, exerted from an exterior of the door, to be transferred to the keyless door latch system to unlatch the door, wherein the secondary unlocking component is a backup for a primary unlocking component of the door.

2. The keyless door latch system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver is a near-field communication (NFC) antenna capable of operating within NFC communication protocols.

3. The keyless door latch system of claim 1 , wherein the RF signal is received from a keyless remote in a vicinity of the keyless door latch system.

4. The keyless door latch system of claim 1 , further comprising a non-transitory memory storage configured to store an authorization verification key, the RF signal further comprising an authorization signal, the microcontroller further configured to verify an authenticity of the authorization signal in accordance with the authorization verification key, and based thereon, generate the control signal.

5. The keyless door latch system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary unlocking component comprises a clutch component configured to receive the external force, exerted from the exterior of the door, to unlatch the door.

6. The keyless door latch system of claim 5 , wherein the clutch component comprises:
an inner cone connected to a shaft connected to an interior door handle, the inner cone having a first guidance slot;
an outer cone connected to a shaft connected to an exterior door handle, the outer cone having a second guidance slot, the first and second guidance slots aligned with each other; and
a spike located within the first and second guidance slots, the spike configured to move the inner cone towards the outer cone based on an actuation of a pin in the secondary unlocking component and to mechanically connect the inner cone and the outer cone.

7. The keyless door latch system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid, a micro-solenoid, an electrical motor, or a stepper motor.

8. The keyless door latch system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate the control signal in response to determining a failure in the primary unlocking component of the door or in response to determining an occurrence of an event.

9. A keyless door latch system for a door, the keyless door latch system comprising:
an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal;
a power controller configured to harvest energy from the RF signal and to provide a power source for the keyless door latch system using the harvested energy;
a microcontroller configured to generate a control signal for unlocking the door; and
an actuator coupled to the microcontroller and the power controller, wherein the actuator is configured to receive the control signal, and based thereon, actuate a secondary unlocking component of the door using the harvested energy, the actuating of the secondary unlocking component causes the door to be unlatched, wherein the secondary unlocking component is a backup for a primary unlocking component of the door.

10. The keyless door latch system of claim 9 , wherein the antenna is a near-field communication (NFC) antenna capable of operating within NFC communication protocols.

11. The keyless door latch system of claim 9 , wherein the RF signal is received from a keyless remote in a vicinity of the keyless door latch system.

12. The keyless door latch system of claim 9 , wherein the secondary unlocking component comprises a clutch component configured to receive the harvested energy to unlatch the door.

13. The keyless door latch system of claim 12 , wherein the clutch component comprises:
an inner cone connected to a shaft connected to an interior door handle;
a clutch actuator connected to the inner cone;
an outer cone connected to a shaft connected to an exterior door handle; and
an actuation shaft configured to engage the clutch actuator causing the inner cone to move towards the outer cone and mechanically connect the inner cone to the outer cone.

14. The keyless door latch system of claim 9 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate the control signal in response to determining a failure in the primary unlocking component of the door or in response to determining an occurrence of an event.

15. A keyless door latch system for a door, the keyless door latch system comprising:
a microcontroller configured to generate a control signal in response to the microcontroller determining a failure in a primary unlocking component of the door, wherein the control signal is for unlocking the door; and
an actuator coupled to the microcontroller and configured to receive the control signal, and based thereon, actuate a secondary unlocking component of the door, the secondary unlocking component comprising a clutch component, the actuating of the secondary unlocking component permitting an external force, exerted from an exterior of the door, to be transferred to the keyless door latch system through the clutch component to unlatch the door, wherein the secondary unlocking component is a backup for the primary unlocking component, wherein the clutch component comprises:
an inner cone connected to a shaft connected to an interior door handle, the inner cone having a first guidance slot;
an outer cone connected to a shaft connected to an exterior door handle, the outer cone having a second guidance slot, the first and second guidance slots aligned with each other; and
a spike located within the first and second guidance slots, the spike configured to move the inner cone towards the outer cone based on an actuation of a pin in the secondary unlocking component and to mechanically connect the inner cone and the outer cone.

16. The keyless door latch system of claim 15 , wherein the actuator is a solenoid, a micro-solenoid, an electrical motor, or a stepper motor.

17. A keyless door latch system for a door, the keyless door latch system comprising:
a microcontroller configured to generate a control signal in response to the microcontroller determining a failure in a primary unlocking component of the door, wherein the control signal controls unlocking of the door;
an energy harvesting circuit configured to harvest energy from a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by a keyless remote of the keyless door latch system; and
an actuator coupled to the microcontroller and the energy harvesting circuit, wherein the actuator is configured to receive the control signal, and based thereon, actuate a secondary unlocking component of the door using the harvested energy, the actuating of the secondary unlocking component causes the door to be unlatched, wherein the secondary unlocking component is a backup of the primary unlocking component.

18. The keyle

Assignees

• St Microelectronics Srl
• St Microelectronics Inc

Inventors

• Sy Williamson
• Piccinelli Emiliano Mario
• Walters Keith

Classifications

• E05B77/54

  Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold (triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12) · CPC title

• E05B81/46

  Clutches · CPC title

• E05B81/08

  using electromagnets or solenoids · CPC title

• E05B77/02

  for accident situations · CPC title

• E05B81/80

  characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation · CPC title