Systems and methods for magnet-equipped locks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12546143-B2
Application number	US-202318179316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2023
Priority date	Apr 19, 2019
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method may include a magnetic insertable lock component with a magnet-sensing lock housing. By using a magnet within a pin and a magnetic field sensor within the lock housing, the apparatus may accurately detect the state of the lock. In some embodiments, the apparatus may determine the pin is inserted fully into the lock, the pin is inserted partially into the lock, the pin is not inserted in the lock, and/or that a foreign object that is not the pin is inserted into the lock. By using a magnet within the pin to track the state of the lock, the apparatus may improve both the user experience and the security of the lock. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
providing a lock attached to a personal mobility vehicle, the lock comprising:
an insertable lock component associated with the lock, wherein the insertable lock component comprises a magnet; and
a lock housing that comprises a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a polarity and a strength of a magnetic field generated by the magnet when the insertable lock component moves through the lock housing; and
determining, based at least in part on the polarity and the strength of the magnetic field, whether a component inserted into the lock housing is the insertable lock component or an incorrect component that is different from the insertable lock component.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting an incorrect magnetic field signature based on determining a difference between the polarity and the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnet and an expected polarity and strength of the magnetic field that should have been generated by the magnet as the insertable lock component moves through the lock housing; and determining, based on the incorrect magnetic field signature, that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the insertable lock component or the incorrect component comprises:
determining a lack or an absence of a required magnetic field; and determining, based on the lack or absence of the required magnetic field, that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the insertable lock component or the incorrect component comprises:
determining that the magnetic field generated by the magnet does not match with an expected profile of the insertable lock component; and determining, based on the magnetic field not matching with the expected profile of the insertable lock component, that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component; and declining to update a state of the lock in response to determining that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component; detecting potential tampering with the lock based on determining that the component is the incorrect component; and deactivating electronic assistance functions of the personal mobility vehicle in response to detecting the potential tampering with the lock.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component; and sending, to a server, a message indicating that the component inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component, wherein the message is used by the server to perform an action.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the action comprises declining to deallocate the personal mobility vehicle from a user of the personal mobility vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the action comprises placing an alert in a file associated with a user of the personal mobility vehicle, wherein the alert indicates that the user attempted to tamper with the lock.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the action comprises sending a second message to a user to whom the personal mobility vehicle is currently allocated.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the insertable lock component is a lock pin; and the incorrect component is one of a stick or a metal wrench.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, based at least in part on the polarity and the strength of the magnetic field, a position of the insertable lock component relative to the lock housing; and determining, based on the position of the insertable lock component relative to the lock housing, a state of the lock.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the state of the lock comprises one of a locked state, an unlocked state with pin inserted, a not lockable state, or an unlocked state with pin removed.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the personal mobility vehicle comprises an electric scooter or a bicycle.

15 . A system comprising:
an insertable lock component that comprises a magnet; a lock housing that comprises a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a polarity and a strength of a magnetic field generated by the magnet when the insertable lock component moves through the lock housing; and a determination module that:
determines, based at least in part on the polarity and the strength of the magnetic field, whether a component inserted into the lock housing is the insertable lock component or an incorrect component that is different from the insertable lock component.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
detecting an incorrect magnetic field signature based on determining a difference between the polarity and the strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnet and an expected polarity and strength of the magnetic field that should have been generated by the magnet as the insertable lock component moves through the lock housing; and determining, based on the incorrect magnetic field signature, that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the insertable lock component or the incorrect component comprises:
determining a lack or an absence of a required magnetic field; and determining, based on the lack or absence of the required magnetic field, that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the insertable lock component or the incorrect component comprises:
determining that the magnetic field generated by the magnet does not match with an expected profile of the insertable lock component; and determining, based on the magnetic field not matching with the expected profile of the insertable lock component, that the component that is inserted into the lock housing is the incorrect component.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the insertable lock component is a lock pin; and the incorrect component is one of a stick or a metal wrench.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the insertable lock component is associated with a lock attached to a personal mobility vehicle, and wherein the personal mobility vehicle comprises an electric scooter or a bicycle.

Assignees

• Lyft Inc

Inventors

• Luedtke Peter Rex
• Rosenkranz Andrew Paul
• Chelminski Richard Stephen
• Peng James Jeng-Yeu

Classifications

• E05B73/0005

  using chains, cables or the like (chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006) · CPC title

• B62H5/003

  using chains or cables (chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005) · CPC title

• E05B47/0038

  using permanent magnets · CPC title

• E05B2045/0665

  Magnetic switches, e.g. reed- or hall-switch · CPC title

• B62H5/145 Primary

  by means of removable bolts · CPC title