Door lock sensor and alarm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9836903-B2
Application number	US-201615175407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2016
Priority date	May 23, 2012
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A door lock mechanism is disclosed that includes door lock and alarm features. The mechanism includes a controller and a sensor useful to detect motions that are representative of attempted access through a door to which the door lock mechanism is attached. The controller can set an alarm condition if a measured motion, such as a measured acceleration, meet and/or exceeds a threshold. If an appropriate access control credential is provided through a user device then the alarm condition may not be set by the controller. The door lock mechanism can be coupled to a remote station via a communications link if needed, such as a radio frequency link. The remote station can additionally be in communication with the door lock mechanism via a network. The remote station can be used to send and receive messages regarding door lock mechanism status, configuration, etc.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a door lock mechanism structured to operate a lock that controls entry through a door and configured to be installed with a door panel;
at least one accelerometer coupled to the door lock mechanism and operable to detect a first acceleration of the door lock mechanism in a first direction and a second acceleration of the door lock mechanism in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the at least one accelerometer also operable to output at least one data signal that identifies the first acceleration and the second acceleration; and
a controller in communication with the at least one accelerometer and coupled to the lock, the controller operable to analyze the at least one data signal and trigger an alarm if the at least one data signal satisfies an alarm conditions;
wherein to analyze the at least one digital signal comprises to (i) determine whether the second acceleration exceeds a first predetermined threshold and (ii) determine whether the first acceleration exceeds a second predetermined threshold in response to a determination that the second acceleration exceeds the first predetermined threshold; and
wherein the alarm condition occurs in response to a determination that the first acceleration exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user input device structured to receive an authentication of an authorized user through one of a keypad, touchpad, swipe card, proximity card, key FOB, RFID device, or biometric sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency device structured to transmit a message indicating a status of the door lock mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the radio frequency device is configured to transmit a Z-wave message.

5. An apparatus comprising:
a door lock and alarm mechanism having (i) a multi-axis accelerometer operable to generate sensor data associated with motion of the door lock and alarm mechanism in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and (ii) a controller operative to receive the sensor data from the multi-axis accelerometer and determine whether an alarm condition has occurred, and
a communications transmission device electrically coupled with the door lock and alarm mechanism and structured to transmit information between the door lock and alarm mechanism and a server related to a satisfaction of the alarm condition,
wherein the controller is adapted to (i) monitor whether a door is in an open position or a closed position and (ii) determine that the alarm condition has occurred in response to a determination that the door has been in the open position for a predetermined time period.

6. A method of assessing an alarm condition, the method comprising:
moving a door lock mechanism affixed to a door as a result of action to gain entry through a door;
generating sensor data by an inertial motion sensor based on movement imparted to the door lock mechanism, wherein the sensor data is indicative of a first acceleration motion of the door lock mechanism in a first direction and a second acceleration of the door lock mechanism in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
comparing the second acceleration with a first threshold and the first acceleration with a second threshold to determine an action by the door lock mechanism; and
generating an alarm state signal in response to a determination that the first acceleration exceeds the second threshold and the second acceleration exceeds the first threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a direction along a first axis that extends horizontally from a first edge of the door panel secured to a door frame to a second edge of the door panel that includes a door latch.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second direction is a direction along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and is tangent to an arc defined by a location of the at least one accelerometer sensor as the door is moved between an open and closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first acceleration of the door lock mechanism in the first direction corresponds with a centripetal acceleration of the door lock mechanism.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined threshold is zero.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the controller includes a microcontroller adapted to transition from a sleep state an operating state in response to a determination that the sensor data exceeds a predetermined wake threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the motion of the door lock and alarm mechanism in the first direction corresponds with a centripetal acceleration of the door lock and alarm mechanism.

13. An apparatus comprising:
a door lock and alarm mechanism having (i) a multi-axis accelerometer operable to generate sensor data associated with motion of the door lock and alarm mechanism in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and (ii) a controller operative to receive the sensor data from the multi-axis accelerometer and determine whether an alarm condition has occurred; and
a communications transmission device electrically coupled with the door lock and alarm mechanism and structured to transmit information between the door lock and alarm mechanism and a server related to a satisfaction of the alarm condition;
wherein to determine whether the alarm condition has occurred comprises to:
determine whether the second acceleration exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and
determine whether the first acceleration exceeds a second predetermined threshold in response to a determination that the second acceleration exceeds the first predetermined threshold; and
wherein the alarm condition occurs in response to a determination that the first acceleration exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second predetermined threshold is zero.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first predetermined threshold and the second predetermined threshold can be adjusted remotely via a network.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first direction is a direction along a first axis that extends horizontally from a first edge of a door panel secured to a door frame to a second edge of the door panel that includes a door latch.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second direction is a direction along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and is tangent to an arc defined by a location of the multi-axis accelerometer as the door is moved between the open and closed positions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the motion of the door lock and alarm mechanism in the first direction corresponds with a centripetal acceleration of the door lock and alarm mechanism.

19. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second threshold is zero.

20. The method of claim 6 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold based on one or more messages received remotely via a network.

Assignees

• Schlage Lock Co Llc

Inventors

• Comerford Timothy N
• Baty David M
• Ainley William B
• Rettig Raymond F
• Ahearn John R
• Lyon Joe

Classifications

• E05B65/00

  Locks {or fastenings} for special use · CPC title

• G08B13/06

  by tampering with fastening · CPC title

• E05B2047/0058

  by batteries · CPC title

• E05B45/04

  with detonating alarm devices {(detonating alarm devices in general G08B3/14, G08B13/06)} · CPC title

• E05B47/0001

  with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof (for vehicles E05B81/04) · CPC title