Abstract: An electronic latch retraction mechanism for an exit device may include an actuator including an output shaft coupled to a crank head, where the crank head is configured to rotate between first and second rotational positions. The electronic latch retraction mechanism may also include a crank coupled to the crank head such that the crank is at least partially rotatable to the crank head, where the crank is configured to engage a push bar of the exit device to move the push bar from the from the extended position to the retracted position when the crank head moves from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

Abstract: Lock systems are disclosed. The lock system may include a lock unit and a separate base station. The lock unit may include one or more components maintained in a powered-off and/or low-power standby state when not in use. The lock unit may include a sound receiver. The lock unit may activate power to one or more components unit after detecting a predetermined activation sound transmitted by a sound transmitter on the base station. The lock unit and base station may include wireless communicators to communicate signals and/or information between the lock unit and base station after the lock unit is powered on. To conserve power, a lock unit may power down after a predetermined action has been completed, communication of a power down signal, and/or after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a bored lock has a lock chassis, a locking element, a motor housing, a reversible electric motor, an auger, and a spiral lock spring disposed between the locking element and the motor. The motor may drive the auger in a first or second rotational direction to move the spring towards/away from the motor to reduce/increase spring force on the locking element, thereby moving the locking element to an unlocked/locked position. One of the locking element and motor housing has a projection while the other has a guideway for slideably receiving the projection. The guideway prevents rotation of the locking element with respect to the motor as it moves between locked and unlocked positions. The projection and guideway are interlocked to prevent disassembly of the locking element and motor housing.

Abstract: Various door locks and their methods of operation are described. In one embodiment, one or more capacitors are discharged to power one or more electrical loads of a door lock and then charged by one or more associated power sources. During this type of operation, a voltage of the one or more capacitors may cyclically vary between a first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold. Methods related to estimating an amount of energy provided to the one or more capacitors using time measurements are also described.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a bored lock has a lock chassis, a locking element, a motor housing, a reversible electric motor, an auger, and a spiral lock spring disposed between the locking element and the motor. The motor may drive the auger in a first or second rotational direction to move the spring towards/away from the motor to reduce/increase spring force on the locking element, thereby moving the locking element to an unlocked/locked position. One of the locking element and motor housing has a projection while the other has a guideway for slideably receiving the projection. The guideway prevents rotation of the locking element with respect to the motor as it moves between locked and unlocked positions. The projection and guideway are interlocked to prevent disassembly of the locking element and motor housing.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a bored lock has a lock chassis, a locking element, a motor housing, a reversible electric motor, an auger, and a spiral lock spring disposed between the locking element and the motor. The motor may drive the auger in a first or second rotational direction to move the spring towards/away from the motor to reduce/increase spring force on the locking element, thereby moving the locking element to an unlocked/locked position. One of the locking element and motor housing has a projection while the other has a guideway for slideably receiving the projection. The guideway prevents rotation of the locking element with respect to the motor as it moves between locked and unlocked positions. The projection and guideway are interlocked to prevent disassembly of the locking element and motor housing.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring energy harvested from at least one energy source for use in an access control system. The method comprises charging a capacitive storage device to a voltage high threshold, where the capacitive storage device is for storing energy harvested from at least one sensor receiving energy from at least one energy source and the capacitive storage device is coupled to an energy harvesting manager adapted for managing the amount of energy received by the at least one sensor, and applying a reference load to the capacitive storage device until the capacitive storage device discharges to a predetermined voltage value, the reference load having a predetermined resistance value.

Abstract: Lock systems are disclosed. The lock system may include a lock unit and a separate base station. The lock unit may include one or more components maintained in a powered-off and/or low-power standby state when not in use. The lock unit may include a sound receiver. The lock unit may activate power to one or more components unit after detecting a predetermined activation sound transmitted by a sound transmitter on the base station. The lock unit and base station may include wireless communicators to communicate signals and/or information between the lock unit and base station after the lock unit is powered on. To conserve power, a lock unit may power down after a predetermined action has been completed, communication of a power down signal, and/or after a predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: Various door locks and their methods of operation are described. In one embodiment, one or more capacitors are discharged to power one or more electrical loads of a door lock and then charged by one or more associated power sources. During this type of operation, a voltage of the one or more capacitors may cyclically vary between a first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold. Methods related to estimating an amount of energy provided to the one or more capacitors using time measurements are also described.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a bored lock has a lock chassis, a locking element, a motor housing, a reversible electric motor, an auger, and a spiral lock spring disposed between the locking element and the motor. The motor may drive the auger in a first or second rotational direction to move the spring towards/away from the motor to reduce/increase spring force on the locking element, thereby moving the locking element to an unlocked/locked position. One of the locking element and motor housing has a projection while the other has a guideway for slideably receiving the projection. The guideway prevents rotation of the locking element with respect to the motor as it moves between locked and unlocked positions. The projection and guideway are interlocked to prevent disassembly of the locking element and motor housing.

Abstract: A method for measuring energy harvested from at least one energy source for use in an access control system, comprising providing an access control device adapted to be at least partially powered by energy harvested from at least one energy source; providing at least one sensor receiving energy from the at least one energy source; providing an energy harvesting manager coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the energy harvesting manager manages the amount of energy received by the at least one sensor; providing a capacitive storage device coupled to the energy harvesting manager, the capacitive storage device for storing energy harvested from the at least one sensor; charging the capacitive storage device to a voltage high threshold, V-HTH; applying a reference load to the capacitive storage device until the capacitive storage device discharges to a predetermined voltage value, Vo/e, the reference load having a predetermined resistance value; determining a time constant, the time constant defined as the

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for adaptively controlling a stepper motor to produce a required torque output based on selection information provided by a sensor or a user/user interface which, in combination with a selector, selects a torque-related value. The selection information provided to the selector for selecting the stepper motor torque-related value may be, for example, the size or thickness of material being handled or the number of accumulated sheets for processing. The torque-related value is predetermined through experimentation and loaded into a lookup table stored in the memory of a motion control system board. The selected torque-related value is provided to a stepper motor driver which supplies the appropriate drive signal(s) to the stepper motor.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for preventing stepper motor control signals from being applied to a stepper motor drive circuit in order to stop a stepper motor when an interlock situation is present. A sequence of one or more control signals is generated by a motion control system and passed to one or more interlock logic gates connected in series. The interlock logic gates have an enable signal input which allows the control signals to pass through to the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of “1”. On the other hand, the interlock logic gates will prevent the control signals from reaching the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of “0”. The logic level of the enable input signal may be connected to a switch, relay, or an integrated circuit responsive to an interlock situation such as the opening of an access door.