U.S. patent application number 14/981200 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-29 for wireless access control system including closed door position and exterior area remote access wireless communications device based lock switching and related methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is Unikey Technologies Inc. Invention is credited to Philip C. DUMAS, David MASCENIK, Dirk WYCKOFF.
Application Number | 20170186256 14/981200 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59087176 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170186256 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DUMAS; Philip C. ; et
al. |
June 29, 2017 |
WIRELESS ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING CLOSED DOOR POSITION AND
EXTERIOR AREA REMOTE ACCESS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE BASED
LOCK SWITCHING AND RELATED METHODS
Abstract
A wireless access control system may include a remote access
wireless communications device and a lock assembly to be mounted on
a door. The lock assembly may include a lock, a door position
sensor, interior and exterior directional antennas, lock wireless
communications circuitry, and a lock controller. The lock
controller determine whether the lock is manually unlocked,
determine when the door is closed after being opened based upon the
door position sensor, and determine whether the remote access
wireless device is in an interior or an exterior based upon the
directional antennas. The lock controller may also switch the lock
to the locked position when the door is closed and when the remote
access wireless device is in the exterior, and not switch the lock
to the locked position when the door is closed and when the remote
access wireless device is in the interior.
Inventors: |
DUMAS; Philip C.; (Orlando,
FL) ; MASCENIK; David; (Winter Park, FL) ;
WYCKOFF; Dirk; (State College, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Unikey Technologies Inc |
Orlando |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59087176 |
Appl. No.: |
14/981200 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 47/06 20130101;
E05B 2047/0094 20130101; E05B 2047/0068 20130101; G07C 9/00174
20130101; G07C 9/00182 20130101; G07C 9/00309 20130101; G07C
2009/0019 20130101; G07C 2009/00793 20130101; H04B 17/27 20150115;
G07C 2209/65 20130101; H04B 17/318 20150115 |
International
Class: |
G07C 9/00 20060101
G07C009/00; H04B 17/318 20060101 H04B017/318; H04B 17/27 20060101
H04B017/27 |
Claims
1. A wireless access control system comprising: a remote access
wireless communications device; and a lock assembly to be mounted
on a door remotely from said remote access wireless communications
device, said lock assembly comprising a lock switchable between
locked and unlocked positions, a door position sensor, interior and
exterior directional antennas, lock wireless communications
circuitry coupled to said interior and exterior directional
antennas, and a lock controller coupled to said lock, said door
position sensor, and said lock wireless communications circuitry;
said lock controller configured to (a) determine whether said lock
is manually unlocked to permit a user to open the door, (b)
determine when the door is closed after being opened based upon the
door position sensor and after (a), (c) determine whether said
remote access wireless device is in an interior area or an exterior
area based upon said interior and exterior directional antennas and
after (b), (d) switch said lock to the locked position when the
door is closed after (c) and when said remote access wireless
communications device is determined to be in the exterior area, and
(e) not switch said lock to the locked position when the door is
closed after (c) and when said remote access wireless
communications device is determined to be in the interior area.
2. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said lock
assembly further comprises a proximity sensor coupled to said lock
controller; and wherein said lock controller is configured to
determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based upon said
proximity sensor.
3. The wireless access control system of claim 2 wherein said
proximity detector faces the interior area.
4. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said lock
assembly comprises a thumb turn coupled to said lock; and wherein
said lock controller is configured to determine whether the lock is
manually unlocked based upon said movement of said thumb turn.
5. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said lock
assembly comprises a thumb turn coupled to said lock and a
proximity sensor coupled to lock controller; and wherein said lock
controller is configured to determine whether said lock is manually
unlocked based upon said operation of said thumb turn within a
threshold time period of sensing the user based upon said proximity
sensor.
6. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said lock
assembly comprises a physical key detector coupled to said lock
controller; and wherein said lock controller is configured to
determine whether said lock is manually unlocked based upon said
physical key detector.
7. The wireless access control system of claim 6 wherein said
physical key detector comprises at least one optical switch.
8. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said lock
controller is configured to determine whether said remote access
wireless device is in the interior area or the exterior area based
upon a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from said interior
and exterior directional antennas.
9. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said lock
controller is configured to switch said lock to the locked position
when said remote access controller is determined to be in the
exterior area after being in the interior area.
10. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said door
position sensor comprises an accelerometer.
11. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said door
position sensor comprises a magnetometer.
12. The wireless access control system of claim 1 wherein said
remote access wireless communications device comprises remote
access wireless communications circuitry and a remote access
controller coupled thereto; and wherein said remote access
controller is configured to communicate via said remote access
wireless communications circuitry with said lock wireless
communications circuitry for switching said lock between the locked
and unlocked positions.
13. A lock assembly for a wireless access control system comprising
a remote access wireless communications device, the lock assembly
to be mounted on a door remotely from the remote access wireless
communications device and comprising a lock switchable between
locked and unlocked positions; a door position sensor; interior and
exterior directional antennas; lock wireless communications
circuitry coupled to said interior and exterior directional
antennas; and a lock controller coupled to said lock, said door
position sensor, and said lock wireless communications circuitry;
said lock controller configured to (a) determine whether said lock
is manually unlocked to permit a user to open the door, (b)
determine when the door is closed after being opened based upon the
door position sensor and after (a), (c) determine whether said
remote access wireless device is in an interior area or an exterior
area based upon said interior and exterior directional antennas and
after (b), (d) switch said lock to the locked position when the
door is closed after (c) and when the remote access wireless
communications device is determined to be in the exterior area, and
(e) not switch said lock to the locked position when the door is
closed after (c) and when the remote access wireless communications
device is determined to be in the interior area.
14. The lock assembly of claim 13 further comprising a proximity
sensor coupled to said lock controller; and wherein said lock
controller is configured to determine whether the lock is manually
unlocked based upon said proximity sensor.
15. The lock assembly of claim 14 wherein said proximity detector
faces the interior area.
16. The lock assembly of claim 13 further comprising a thumb turn
coupled to said lock; and wherein said lock controller is
configured to determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based
upon said movement of said thumb turn.
17. The lock assembly of claim 13 further comprising a thumb turn
coupled to said lock and a proximity sensor coupled to lock
controller; and wherein said lock controller is configured to
determine whether said lock is manually unlocked based upon said
operation of said thumb turn within a threshold time period of
sensing the user based upon said proximity sensor.
18. The lock assembly of claim 13 further comprising a physical key
detector coupled to said lock controller; and wherein said lock
controller is configured to determine whether said lock is manually
unlocked based upon said physical key detector.
19. A method of controlling access in a wireless access control
system comprising a remote access wireless communications device
and a lock assembly to be mounted on a door remotely from the
remote access wireless communications device, the lock assembly
comprising a lock switchable between locked and unlocked positions,
a door position sensor, interior and exterior directional antennas,
lock wireless communications circuitry coupled to the interior and
exterior directional antennas, and a lock controller coupled to the
lock, the door position sensor, and the lock wireless
communications circuitry, the method comprising: using the lock
controller configured to (a) determine whether the lock is manually
unlocked to permit a user to open the door, (b) determine when the
door is closed after being opened based upon the door position
sensor after (a), (c) determine whether the remote access wireless
device is in an interior area or an exterior area based upon the
interior and exterior directional antennas and after (b), (d)
switch the lock to the locked position when the door is closed
after (c) and when the remote access wireless communications device
is determined to be in the exterior area, and (e) not switch the
lock to the locked position when the door is closed after (c) and
when the remote access wireless communications device is determined
to be in the interior area.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the lock assembly further
comprises a proximity sensor coupled to the lock controller; and
wherein lock controller is used to determine whether the lock is
manually unlocked based upon the proximity sensor.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein the lock assembly comprises a
thumb turn coupled to the lock; and wherein the lock controller is
used to determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based upon
the movement of the thumb turn.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the lock assembly comprises a
thumb turn coupled to the lock and a proximity sensor coupled to
lock controller; and wherein the lock controller is used to
determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based upon the
operation of the thumb turn within a threshold time period of
sensing the user based upon the proximity sensor.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the lock assembly comprises a
physical key detector coupled to the lock controller; and wherein
the lock controller is used to determine whether the lock is
manually unlocked based upon the physical key detector.
24. The method of claim 19 wherein the lock controller determines
whether the remote access wireless device is in the interior area
or the exterior area based upon a received signal strength
indicator (RSSI) from the interior and exterior directional
antennas.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure is directed to the field of
electronics, and more particularly, to wireless access control and
related methods.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Protecting or securing access to an area may be particularly
desirable. For example, it is often desirable to secure a home or
business. One way of securing access to an area is with a
mechanical lock. A mechanical lock typically accepts a key, which
may move a deadbolt or enable a door handle to be operated.
[0003] It may be desirable to increase user convenience with
respect to a mechanical lock. A passive keyless entry (PKE) system
may provide an increased level of convenience over a standard lock
and key, for example, by providing the ability to access a secure
area without having to find, insert, and turn a traditional key.
For example, a user may access a secure area using a remote access
device, such as, for example, a FOB or mobile wireless
communications device. In a PKE system, access may be provided to
the secure area without pressing a button or providing other input
to the remote device, thus making it passive.
[0004] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0340196 to
Myers et al. discloses an access control system via direct and
indirect communications. More particularly, Myers et al. discloses
a lock assembly communicating with a mobile device and a gateway to
communicate with the lock. Operating commands such as lock and
unlock are communicated directly from the mobile device or
indirectly after confirming, for example, using GPS coordinates of
the mobile device.
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0280790 to
Gerhardt et al. is directed to a system for controlling a locking
mechanism using a portable electronic device. More particularly,
Gerhardt et al. discloses using a web service to authenticate a
portable electronic device, detecting the proximity of the portable
electronic device to the lock, and issuing a command for receipt by
the lock from the web service or portable electronic device.
[0006] U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0164208 to Schaffzin et al.
is directed to a universal hands free key and lock system. A
universal key that transmits an ID to a lock unit. The lock unit
has a range limited reader. The lock unit detects the transmitted
ID and based thereon operates the lock.
SUMMARY
[0007] A wireless access control system may include a remote access
wireless communications device and a lock assembly to be mounted on
a door remotely from the remote access wireless communications
device. The lock assembly may include a lock switchable between
locked and unlocked positions, a door position sensor, interior and
exterior directional antennas, lock wireless communications
circuitry coupled to the interior and exterior directional
antennas, and a lock controller coupled to the lock, the door
position sensor, and the lock wireless communications circuitry.
The lock controller may be configured to determine whether the lock
is manually unlocked to permit a user to open the door, determine
when the door is closed after being opened based upon the door
position sensor, and determine whether the remote access wireless
device is in an interior area or an exterior area based upon the
interior and exterior directional antennas. The lock controller may
also be configured to switch the lock to the locked position when
the door is closed and when the remote access wireless
communications device is determined to be in the exterior area, and
not switch the lock to the locked position when the door is closed
and when the remote access wireless communications device is
determined to be in the interior area. Accordingly, the lock
controller may not lock the lock when the remote access wireless
device is in the exterior area and lock the lock when the remote
access wireless device is in the interior areas, for example, which
may provide additional user conveniences while maintaining
security.
[0008] The lock assembly may also include a proximity sensor
coupled to the lock controller. The lock controller may be
configured to determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based
upon the proximity sensor, for example. The proximity detector may
face the interior area.
[0009] The lock assembly may include a thumb turn coupled to the
lock. The lock controller may be configured to determine whether
the lock manually unlocked based upon the movement of the thumb
turn, for example. In some embodiments, the lock assembly may
include a thumb turn coupled to the lock and a proximity sensor
coupled to lock controller, and the lock controller may be
configured to determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based
upon the operation of the thumb turn within a threshold time period
of sensing the user based upon the proximity sensor.
[0010] The lock assembly may include a physical key detector
coupled to the lock controller. The lock controller may be
configured to determine whether the lock is manually unlocked based
upon the physical key detector, for example. The physical key
detector may include at least one optical switch.
[0011] The lock controller may be configured to determine whether
the remote access wireless device is in the interior area or the
exterior area based upon a received signal strength indicator
(RSSI) from the interior and exterior directional antennas, for
example. The lock controller may be configured to switch the lock
to the locked position when the remote access controller is
determined to be in the exterior area after being in the interior
area.
[0012] The door position sensor may include an accelerometer. The
door position sensor may include a magnetometer.
[0013] The remote access wireless communications device may include
remote access wireless communications circuitry and a remote access
controller coupled thereto. The remote access controller may be
configured to communicate via the remote access wireless
communications circuitry with the lock wireless communications
circuitry for switching the lock between the locked and unlocked
positions, for example.
[0014] A method aspect is directed to a method of controlling
access in a wireless access control system that includes a remote
access wireless communications device and a lock assembly to be
mounted on a door remotely from the remote access wireless
communications device. The lock assembly includes a lock switchable
between locked and unlocked positions, a door position sensor,
interior and exterior directional antennas, lock wireless
communications circuitry coupled to the interior and exterior
directional antennas, and a lock controller coupled to the lock,
the door position sensor, and the lock wireless communications
circuitry. The method includes using the lock controller configured
to determine whether the lock is manually unlocked to permit a user
to open the door, determine when the door is closed after being
opened based upon the door position sensor, and determine whether
the remote access wireless device is in an interior area or an
exterior area based upon the interior and exterior directional
antennas. The method also includes using the controller to switch
the lock to the locked position when the door is closed and when
the remote access wireless communications device is determined to
be in the exterior area, and not switch the lock to the locked
position when the door is closed and when the remote access
wireless communications device is determined to be in the interior
area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a side schematic view of a
lock assembly of a wireless access control system and a remote
access device of the wireless access control system carried by a
user in accordance with an embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless access
control system of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the wireless
access control system of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a side schematic view of a
lock assembly of a wireless access control system and a remote
access device of the wireless access control system carried by a
user in accordance with another embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless access
control system of FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the wireless
access control system of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar
elements in alternative embodiments.
[0022] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wireless access
control system 20 for a door 21 may include a lock assembly 30
carried by the door. The door 21 may be an interior door, exterior
door, overhead garage door, a door to a structure, overhead door,
sliding door, screen door, revolving door, for example, a home or
business, or any other door that separates an area where protection
of that area may be desirable.
[0023] The lock assembly 30 may be considered a smart lock and
illustratively includes a lock 31 switchable between a locked
position and an unlocked position, lock wireless communications
circuitry 32, and a door position sensor 34. The lock 31 may be
cylinder lock, a deadbolt, or other type of lock, as will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the
lock 31 may accept a physical key, for example, for manual or key
operation of the lock. The lock assembly 30 is illustratively
exposed on both the interior and exterior of the door 21. It should
be understood that the term interior may refer to the side of the
door 21 that faces an area desirable of protection or secured
space. For example, where the lock assembly 30 is carried by a door
of a home, the interior side 41 is the side within the home, while
the exterior side 42 is outside the home and may be accessible to
people other than the home's inhabitants.
[0024] The lock wireless communications circuitry 32 may be
configured to communicate via one or more short range wireless
communications protocols, for example, Bluetooth, NFC, WLAN, or
other communications protocols. The lock wireless communications
circuitry 32 may also communicate via a long range communication
protocol, for example, cellular, or global positioning system, or
other long range communication protocol. The lock wireless
communications circuitry 32 may communicate using either or both of
one or more short and long range protocols, as will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art.
[0025] The lock assembly 30 also includes interior and exterior
directional antennas 37, 38 coupled to the lock wireless
communications circuitry 32. The interior and exterior directional
antennas are pointed or directed to interior and exterior areas 41,
42 respectively.
[0026] The lock assembly 30 also illustratively includes a door
position sensor 34. The door position sensor 34 may include an
accelerometer, for example. The door position sensor 34 may also
include a magnetometer. In some embodiments, the door position
sensor 34 may include both an accelerometer and a magnetometer, or
other and/or additional devices, sensors, or circuitry configured
sense a position of the door 21. For example, the door position
sensor 34 may determine when the door 21 has been opened and/or
closed, moved, stationary, etc. A pattern of movement of the door
21 can be determined, for example, opened and then closed, closed
then opened, based upon the door position sensor 34.
[0027] The lock assembly 30 also illustratively includes a touch
sensor 35 on the exterior of the lock assembly 30 to sense touching
by a user 22. The touch sensor 35 may be a capacitive touch sensor,
for example, and when the lock 31 includes a key hole, may be
positioned around the key hole. The touch sensor 35 may be
positioned elsewhere on the lock assembly 30. More than one touch
sensor 35 may be used. For example, in some embodiments, the lock
assembly 30 may include an interior touch sensor and an exterior
touch sensor. Other types of touch sensors may also be used. For
example, the touch sensor 35 may not necessarily sense touching
directly from a user, but rather touching using an intervening
object that may be an extension of the user. The lock 31 may be
switched between the locked and unlocked positions based upon the
touch sensor 35. For example, the user 22 may lock the door 21 by
touching the touch sensor 35. Of course, as will be explained in
further detail below, other pre-requisite events may have to occur
prior to switching the lock 31.
[0028] The touch sensor 35 may be a physical-touch sensor for
sensing physical contact with the user, for example. The touch
sensor 35 may alternatively or additionally be a proximity-based
touch sensor configured to sense proximity of the user thereto. In
other words, while a touch sensor 35 is described herein, the touch
sensor senses either a physical touch of the user or when the user
is in a relatively close proximity to the touch sensor, for
example, a small distance from the lock assembly 30 (e.g., less
than 12 inches), such as by an access card reader, a FOB reader, or
other circuitry to sense a user within a relatively small distance
from the lock assembly 30 or door 21.
[0029] The wireless access control system 20 also illustratively
includes a remote access device 50 remote from the lock assembly
30. The remote access device 50 includes a remote access device
controller 51 and remote access wireless communications circuitry
52 coupled to the remote access device controller 51. The remote
access device controller 51 and the remote access device wireless
communications circuitry 52 cooperate to communicate with the lock
wireless communications circuitry 32. For example, the remote
access device controller 51 and the remote access device wireless
communications circuitry 52 cooperate to communicate access
commands, location information, authentication information, and/or
other information for communicating with and controlling operation
of the lock 31, and/or other devices that may be included in the
wireless access control system 20, as will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art. The remote access device controller 51 may also
communicate with the lock wireless communications circuitry 32 for
switching said lock between the locked and unlocked positions.
Similar to the lock wireless communication circuitry 32, the remote
access device wireless communications circuitry 52 may communicate
using one or both of short range and long range communications
protocols.
[0030] The remote access device 50 may be in the form of a fob or
keychain, and may include housing 54 carrying a battery for
powering the remote access device controller 51 and wireless
communications circuitry 52, and at least one input device 53
carried by the housing and coupled to the remote access device
controller 51. In other embodiments, the remote access device 50
may be a cellular telephone, tablet PC, or any other portable
wireless communications device. The lock assembly 30 further
includes a lock controller 36 coupled to lock 31, the lock wireless
communications circuitry 32, the door position sensor 34, and the
touch sensor 35.
[0031] Referring now additionally to the flowchart 60 in FIG. 3,
beginning at Block 62, operation of the wireless access control
system 20 will also be described. The lock controller 36 is
configured to unlock the lock based upon the touch sensor 35 to
permit a user to open the door 21. If, for example, the user
activates the touch sensor 35 (Block 64), the lock controller 36
determines when the door 21 is closed after being opened based upon
the door position sensor 34 (Block 66). In some embodiments, the
lock controller 36 may "wake-up" from a low power mode and begin
scanning for an advertising remote access wireless communications
device 50 based upon the door position sensor 34 or motion of the
door 21.
[0032] If, after the lock controller 36 determines that the door 21
is closed after being opened (Block 66), the lock controller
determines whether the remote access wireless device 50 is in an
interior area 41 or an exterior area 42 based upon the interior and
exterior directional antennas 37, 38 (Block 68). The lock
controller 36 may determine whether the remote access wireless
device 50 is in the interior area 41 or the exterior area 42 based
upon a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from the interior
and exterior directional antennas 37, 38, for example. Of course,
other factors may alternatively or additionally be used to
determine whether the remote access wireless device 50 is in the
interior or exterior area 41, 42, for example, based upon position
data determined from triangulation or a global positioning system.
In some embodiments, the RSSI may be used to determine a direction
of motion of the remote access wireless communications device 50,
for example, whether the remote access wireless communications
device is moving away from the lock assembly 30.
[0033] When the door 21 is closed (Block 66) and when the remote
access wireless device 50 is determined to be in the interior area
41 (Block 68), and in some embodiments, also moving away from the
lock assembly 30, at Block 70 the lock controller 36 switches the
lock 31 to the locked position. In some embodiments, the lock
controller 36 may switch the lock 31 to the locked position when
the remote access wireless device is determined to be in the
interior area 41 after being in the exterior area 42, for example,
as may occur after the user arrives at their home. When the door 21
is closed (Block 66) and when the remote access wireless device 50
is determined to be in the exterior area 42 (Block 68), the lock
controller does not switch the lock 31 to the locked position
(Block 72). The method ends at Block 74.
[0034] The above-described may be particularly advantageous for
"auto-locking" based upon the determined intent of the user,
specifically, arriving at home. More particular, the wireless
access control system 20 may be particularly advantageous for
determining whether the user 22 has arrived at home, for example,
and thus, lock events, such as switching the lock to the locked
position, may be based upon the determined events. This may
increase user convenience while maintaining security, for
example.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, in another embodiment, the lock
assembly 30' includes a proximity sensor 44' coupled to the lock
controller 36' and facing the interior area 41'. In some
embodiments, the proximity detector 44' may be facing the exterior
area 42' or both the interior 41' and exterior areas. It should be
understood by those skilled in the art that the proximity sensor
44' may be another physical sensor separate from the touch sensor
35 described above, or may embody the same functionality as the
touch sensor described above. More than one proximity and/or touch
sensor 44', 35' may be used either alone or in combination.
[0036] Beginning at Block 82' in the flowchart 80', the lock
controller 36' determines whether the lock 31' is manually unlocked
to permit the user 22' to open the door 21' (Block 84'). The lock
controller 36' may determine whether the lock 31' is manually
unlocked based upon the proximity sensor 44'. For example, the lock
controller 36' may determine whether the lock 31' has been unlocked
based upon sensed movement of the lock including its components,
and/or detecting the user's presence adjacent the lock.
[0037] The lock assembly 30' may also include a thumb turn 45'
coupled to the lock 31'. The thumb turn 45' may be a handle or
other structure that when grasped and rotated by the user 22'
allows the lock 31' to be manually switched between the locked and
unlocked positions, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art. The lock controller 36' may alternatively or additionally
determine whether the lock 31' has been unlocked based upon
movement of the thumb turn 45'. For example, when the thumb turn
45' is manually moved, a Hall Effect sensor may sense the position
of the thumb turn or the lock components, similarly to the
proximity sensor 44' described above. In some embodiments, the lock
controller 36' may determine whether the lock 31' is manually
unlocked based upon the operation of the thumb turn 45' within a
threshold time period of sensing the user based upon the proximity
sensor 44'. For example, if the proximity sensor 44' senses the
user 22' and within a threshold time period from sensing the thumb
turn 45' being manually operated, the lock controller 36' may
determine that the lock 31' has been manually unlocked.
[0038] In other embodiments, the lock assembly 30' may include a
physical key detector 46' coupled to the lock controller 36'. The
physical key detector 46' may include an optical sensor, for
example, a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, and/or a
photodiode. The lock controller 36' may determine whether the lock
31' is manually unlocked based upon the physical key detector 46'.
While several components and techniques have been described herein
for determining whether the lock 31' has been manually unlocked, it
should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number
of techniques may be used, for example, those described herein,
either alone or in combination. Additional techniques may also be
used for the determination.
[0039] At Block 86', the lock controller 36' determines when the
door 21' is closed after being opened based upon the door position
sensor 34'. The lock controller 36' also determines whether the
remote access wireless device 50' is in an interior area 41' or an
exterior area 42' based upon the interior and exterior directional
antennas 37', 38', and more particularly based upon the RSSI
therefrom (Block 88'). Of course, other factors may alternatively
or additionally be used to determine whether the remote access
wireless device 50' is in the interior or exterior area 41', 42',
for example, based upon position data determined from triangulation
or a global positioning system.
[0040] When the door 21' is closed (Block 86') and when the remote
access wireless device 50' is determined by the lock controller 36'
to be in the exterior area 42', at Block 88', the lock controller
switches the lock 31' to the locked position (Block 90'). In some
embodiments, the lock controller 36' may switch the lock 21' to the
locked position when the remote access wireless device 50' is
determined to be in the exterior area 42' after being in the
interior area 41', for example, as may occur after the user leaves
their home.
[0041] When the door 21' is closed (Block 86') and when the remote
access wireless device 50' is determined to be in the interior area
41' (Block 88'), the lock controller 36' does not switch the lock
21' to the locked position (Block 92'). The method ends at Block
94'.
[0042] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
above-described may be particularly advantageous for "auto-locking"
based upon the determined intent of the user, specifically, leaving
the home. More particularly, the wireless access control system 20'
may be advantageous for determining whether the user 22' has left
the home, for example, and thus, lock events, such as switching the
lock to the locked position, may be based upon the determined
events. This may increase user convenience while maintaining
security, for example.
[0043] While several embodiments have been described herein, and
more particularly, locking of the lock based upon user arrival or
user departure, it will be appreciated that some or all of the
techniques and methods described with respect to "user arrival" may
apply to "user departure" and vice versa. Moreover, many
modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to
the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the
teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the
associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention
is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and
that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *