Abstract: A standard solenoid body and coils are combined with a non-magnetic armature tube containing a permanent magnet, preferably neodymium. The magnet is located in one of three positions within the armature. When biased toward the stop end of the solenoid, it may be configured to act as a push solenoid. When biased toward the collar end of the solenoid, it may be configured to act as a pull solenoid. In either case, no spring is required to return the armature to its de-energized position. Positioning the magnet in the middle of the armature defines a dual-latching solenoid requiring no power to hold it in a given state. A positive coil pulse moves the armature toward the stop end, whereas a negative coil pulse moves the armature toward the collar end. The armature will remain at the end to which it was directed until another pulse of opposite polarity comes along.

Abstract: A system for providing wire-free and contact free electric power and communication connection in a security installation between a door and a frame. The cores, windings, and control circuits of first and second transformers portions are disposed in the frame and the door, respectively. Power applied to the first transformer portion induces a voltage and current in the second transformer portion when the door is in a closed position. Fiber optic cables housed within the transformer portions transmit and receive data between the door and the frame. Power transfer occurs at 100+ KHz and data transfer is in the range of 100 K baud. The transformers portions are compactly constructed and, in one aspect of the invention, may reside in an opening normally occupied by a dead bolt. In another aspect of the invention, the transformer portions are fixed and resonating circuitry is off-tuned to optimize output levels.

Abstract: A system for providing wire-free and contact free electric power and communication connection in a security installation between a door and a frame. The cores, windings, and control circuits of first and second portions of a split core transformer are disposed in the frame and the door, respectively. Power applied to the first portion induces a voltage and current in the second portion when the door is in a closed position. Modulation of the voltage amplitude in either the first or second portion defines a communication signal between the door and the frame. Status and data are transmitted at data rates that are essentially twice the frequency of the voltage applied to the split core transformer. In a second embodiment, voltage transfer occurs at 20 KHz and data transfer is in the range of 100K baud.

Abstract: A surface mounted electric strike for use with an exit device such as a rim panic exit device. The electric strike has a housing with at least one keeper pivotally mounted to the housing. Each keeper has an associated cam with a detent. Release pawls engage detents on the cam in the locked position. A solenoid-operated unlock bar has stops, the position of which establishes whether the keepers are in a locked or unlocked position. The electric strike can be installed in either a fail safe or fail secure mode by locating the stops when the solenoid is de-energized in either a position which blocks or releases the release pawls. Other arrangements for establishing a selected operational mode include use of dual solenoids, use of dual locking bars and reversible release pawls.

Abstract: A system for operating an electric door release having an actuator powered by an energy harvester. The actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator and the harvester may be a piezo harvester. The system may further include a power module, a rechargeable battery and a voltage boost circuit disposed between the energy harvester and the actuator. When a piezoelectric actuator is used, a recycle actuator discharge circuit may be disposed between the piezoelectric actuator and the power module battery for recapturing a portion of the energy delivered to the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric harvester may include an energy input portion whereby the piezo electric harvester is excited by the energy input portion. The energy input portion may include a circular or linear driving gear for exciting the piezoelectric harvester or a stepper motor generator, driven by movement of a door. The harvester may also be a stepper motor/generator.

Abstract: A system for electromagnetically harvesting waste kinetic energy. A wound electrical coil having a hollow bobbin abuts an opening in ring magnet. An actuator plunger extends through the opening. Fixed magnets are located at the opposite end of the bobbin. Floating magnets are disposed within the bobbin, arranged with their magnetic field opposing that of the fixed magnets but not that of the ring magnet. Axial force on the actuator plunger moves the floating magnets toward the fixed magnets. When the actuator is released, the floating magnets are repelled by the fixed magnets and attracted by the ring magnet, causing the floating magnets to pass rapidly through the coil, thereby generating an electric current in the coil. In one application, the harvester is actuated by a keeper in a door latch release mechanism. In a second application the harvester is actuated by a latch bolt of a lock set.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for an enhanced and user friendly control circuit for an electric unlocking device, such as for example, an electric door strike or other unlocking devices utilizing actuating solenoids. The control circuit minimizes the potential for human error while also providing a small footprint, minimal DC in-rush current, over current protection, and minimized heat dissipation. Additionally, the present invention is directed to providing visual notification/diagnostics and improved field compatibility with existing electric unlocking devices.

Abstract: A system for providing wire-free and contact free electric power and communication connection in a security installation between a door and a frame. The cores, windings, and control circuits of first and second portions of a split core transformer are disposed in the frame and the door, respectively. Power applied to the first portion induces a voltage and current in the second portion when the door is in a closed position. Modulation of the voltage amplitude in either the first or second portion defines a communication signal between the door and the frame. Status and data are transmitted at data rates that are essentially twice the frequency of the voltage applied to the split core transformer. In a second embodiment, voltage transfer occurs at 20 KHz and data transfer is in the range of 100K baud.

Abstract: An electric door strike having a keeper rotatably mounted in a fixed strike case for movement between open and closed positions. The keeper includes dual solenoids with a biasing link between the solenoid plungers to urge the plungers to a non-actuated position. Changing the biasing link in the keeper changes the mode of operation. The application of an actuating signal to a solenoid moving the plungers to an actuated position which can be either the fail-safe or fail-secure mode of operation depending on the biasing link employed.

Abstract: A control circuit for a latching solenoid incorporated in an electric door strike, the latching solenoid permitting the use of low power control pulses and the control circuit insuring reliable fail safe or fail secure operation with ready conversion between the two operating modes.

Abstract: A door holding mechanism (10) is provided for holding a door (14) in an open position adjacent a wall (12). The door holding mechanism (10) includes a cylindrical housing (18). A magnetic coil (30) is mounted within the cylindrical housing (18). Structure (40, 50, 60, 64) is provided for pivotally mounting the cylindrical housing (18) to the wall (12). A door plate (68) is mounted on the door (14) which is magnetically attracted to the cylindrical housing (18) to hold the door (14) in an open position.

Abstract: A door release mechanism (10) for a door (24) having a latch bolt (22) is provided. The door release mechanism (10) includes a strike block (12) adapted to receive the latch bolt (22). A ramped surface (26) is provided within the strike block (12) for urging the latch bolt (22) into the door (24) to thereby open the door (24). Structure (30, 42, 48) is further provided within strike block (12) for preventing the latch bolt (22) from being withdrawn within the door (24) for maintaining the door (24) closed.

Abstract: A door lock (10) includes a strike case (18) adapted to receive a dead bolt (14). A rotatable keeper (20) is rotatable between an open and closed position for opening and closing the strike case (18). An abutment member (30) is connected to the rotatable keeper (20) and is selectively rotatable with the rotatable keeper (20). A sensing arm (34) is connected to the strike case (18) for sensing the presence of the dead bolt (14) in the strike case (18). The sensing arm (34) selectively disengages the abutment member (30) for allowing the abutment member (30) to rotate with the rotatable keeper (20) if the dead bolt (14) is detected within the strike case (18).

Abstract: A door lock has both its dead bolt and spring latch released by the action of a single keeper. The keeper has two stable limit positions, i.e. it opens the strike case, or it closes the strike case. The keeper is held in its open position allowing the door to be opened and closed if the solenoid of the keeper was energized and if the dead bolt was in extended position at the time the door was opened. If the solenoid of the keeper is deenergized and if only the spring latch was extended, the keeper returns to locked condition once the latch bolt has cleared the strike, because the keeper is still biased to its second stable or closed position. In that position the keeper is then locked by the bias spring inside the keeper acting on the latch bolt.

Abstract: A system for reading bar codes having characters formed by a plurality of bars and inter-bar spaces wherein each bar and each inter-bar space of a character signifies a bit of information is provided with means for detecting too many or too few single bar signals in a quantized character signal and for detecting and correcting sequence errors.