Lock system with integrated sensors for translatable structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024257588-A1
Application number	US-202418428518-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2024
Priority date	Jan 31, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lock system includes a mount, a lock device, a sensor, and a communications interface. The mount configured to be coupled to a first surface located at a wall, the wall defining an opening in which a translatable structure is positioned, the mount including an engagement feature. The lock device configured to couple to a second surface located at the wall and proximate the first surface and includes a locking mechanism configured to engage with the engagement feature to inhibit the translatable structure from translating between open and closed positions. The communications interface configured to communicate signals to cause a controller configured to actuate the locking mechanism to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state to engage and disengage with the engagement feature of the stationary mount in response to the sensor sensing that the locking mechanism and the engagement feature are engageably aligned.

First claim

1 . A lock system, comprising:
a stationary mount configured to be coupled to a first surface located at a wall, the wall defining an opening in which a translatable structure is positioned, the translatable structure configured to translate between an open position and a closed position and to permit access to a space when in the open position, the stationary mount including an engagement feature; a lock device configured to be coupled to a second surface located at the wall and proximate the first surface, the lock device including a locking mechanism configured to engage with the engagement feature of the stationary mount to inhibit the translatable structure from translating between the open position and the closed position; a sensor configured to sense relative position of the locking mechanism relative to the engagement feature; electronics configured to determine whether the lock device is in a locked state or an unlocked state; and a communications interface configured to communicate signals; and a controller in communication with the communications interface, the controller configured to actuate the locking mechanism of the lock device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state to engage and disengage with the engagement feature of the stationary mount in response to (i) receiving a signal to cause the controller to actuate the locking mechanism and (ii) the sensor sensing that the locking mechanism and the engagement feature are engageably aligned.

2 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the lock device includes a manual control feature that is in mechanical communication with the locking mechanism to enable a user to actuate the locking mechanism of the lock device between the locked state and the unlocked state.

3 . The lock system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense that the locking mechanism is manually actuated to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state, and the communications interface is configured to, in response to the sensor sensing that the locking mechanism is manually actuated to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state:
generate a notification signal indicative of a manual state transition of the locking mechanism; and communicate the notification signal to the controller.

4 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the stationary mount includes a second engagement feature spaced along the stationary mount from the engagement feature, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to engage with the second engagement feature to inhibit the translatable structure from translating between the open position and the closed position.

5 . The lock system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is further configured to sense relative position of the locking mechanism relative to the second engagement feature, and the communications interface is configured to communicate signals to the controller configured to actuate the locking mechanism of the lock device to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state to respectively engage and disengage the locking mechanism with the second engagement feature of the stationary mount in response to the sensor sensing that the locking mechanism and the second engagement feature are engageably aligned.

6 . The lock system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense that the locking mechanism is engaged with the second engagement feature, and the communications interface is configured to generate a second notification signal indicative of the locking mechanism being engaged with the second engagement feature and communicate the second notification signal to the controller to indicate that the translatable structure is in the open position and a locked state.

7 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor configured to sense a position of the lock device relative to the stationary mount, thereby sensing that the locking mechanism is engageably aligned with the engagement feature.

8 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is a tapered bolt and the engagement feature is an aperture defined by the stationary mount, such that the tapered bolt extends through the aperture when the lock device is in the locked state.

9 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is a rotational bolt and the engagement feature is an aperture defined by the stationary mount, such that the rotational bolt extends through the aperture when the lock device is in the locked state.

10 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is a pawl and the engagement feature is a plurality of teeth defined by the stationary mount, such that the pawl engages with at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth when the lock device is in the locked state.

11 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the lock device includes an actuator configured to actuate the locking mechanism to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state in response to receiving an actuation signal from the controller.

12 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor configured to:
sense that the translatable structure is being translated, and the communications interface is configured to, in response to the motion sensor sensing that the translatable structure is being translated: generate a signal indicative of a translation of the translatable structure; and communicate the signal to the controller.

13 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a vision sensor configured to monitor a surrounding environment around the lock system, and the communications interface is configured to generate an environment signal indicative of the surrounding environment, and communicate the environment signal to the controller.

14 . The lock system of claim 13 , further comprising a light configured to illuminate the surrounding environment.

15 . The lock system of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker and a microphone, the microphone configured to capture audio from a surrounding environment around the lock device, wherein the communications interface is configured to generate an audio signal indicative of the audio captured and communicate the audio signal to the controller.

16 . The lock system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine a type of the audio captured, and the type of the audio captured includes at least one of a knock, a vibration, a voice, or a weather event.

17 . The lock system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured as a mobile app being executed on a mobile device.

18 . The lock device of claim 1 , further comprising an alarm system including an alarm, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the alarm system is activated and, in response to determining that the alarm system is activated, initiate activation of the alarm.

19 . A method of controlling a lock system of a translatable structure, comprising:
automatically determining whether a lock device is in a locked state or an unlocked state, the lock device being configured with the translatable structure so as to inhibit translatable motion of the translatable structure when in a locked state and to enable translatable motion of the translatable structure when in an unlocked state, the lock device being in the locked state when a locking mechanism of the lock device is engaged with an engagement feature of a stationary mount; in response to receiving a command signal to transition the lock device between the unlocked state to the

Assignees

• Vivint Inc

Inventors

• Kingston Chad
• Harris Christopher
• Nosack Kris
• Richards Adam

Classifications

• E05B2047/002

  Geared transmissions · CPC title

• E05B2047/0067

  Monitoring · CPC title

• E05B41/00

  Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked {(indicator lights E05B17/10)} · CPC title

• E05B47/026

  the bolt moving rectilinearly · CPC title

• G07C9/00182 Primary

  operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks · CPC title