A module and securing member

Abstract

A door or window includes a lock or latch mechanism actuatable between a locked and unlocked condition. A system is provided to determine the state of the lock or latch mechanism. The system includes

Claims

1. A door or window including:a lock or latch mechanism actuatable between a locked and an unlocked condition;a system configured to determine the condition of the lock or latch mechanism, the system including:a module including first, second, and third sensor units; anda magnet configured to be attached to a part of the lock or latch mechanism such that the magnet moves along a magnet path with actuation of the lock or latch mechanism, the magnet having a magnetic axis which is directionally aligned with the magnet path, the magnet path passing each of the first, second, and third sensor units, such that the module is configured to determine a current condition of the lock or latch mechanism by using the first, second, and third sensor units to sense changes in a polarity of a sensed magnetic field generated by the magnet as the magnet moves along the magnet path.

2. A door or window according to claim 1, wherein the third sensor unit is located between the first and second sensor units.

3. A door or window according to claim 2, wherein the polarity detected by the third sensor unit is used to determine when the lock or latch mechanism is in a partially locked condition between the locked and unlocked conditions.

4. A door or window according to claim 3, wherein, in the partially locked condition, the lock or latch mechanism is partially engaged.

5. A door or window according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lock or latch mechanism is determined to be in the partially locked condition when the polarity of the sensed magnetic field detected by the third sensor unit is the opposite to the polarity of the sensed magnetic field detected by either of the first or second sensor units.

6. A door or window according to any preceding claim, wherein the module further includes a controller configured to control operation of the sensor units and / or to receive information from the sensor units.

7. A door or window according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to execute instructions which cause the determining of the current condition of the lock or latch mechanism.

8. A module for use in determining the condition of a latch or lock mechanism of a door or window, the module including:first, second, and third sensor units configured to sense changes in a polarity of a sensed magnetic field of a magnet as the magnet moves along a magnet path, the magnet moving along the magnet path with actuation of a lock or latch mechanism between an unlocked and a locked condition, the magnet having a magnetic axis which is directionally aligned with the magnet path and the magnet path passing each of the first, second, and third sensor units, such that the module determines a current condition of the lock or latch mechanism by using the sensed changes in the sensed polarity of a magnetic field generated by the magnet as the magnet moves along the magnet path.

9. A module according to claim 8, wherein the third sensor unit is located between the first and second sensor units.

10. A module according to claim 9, wherein the polarity detected by the third sensor unit is used to determine when the lock or latch mechanism is in a partially locked condition between the locked and unlocked conditions.

11. A module according to claim 10, wherein, in the partially locked condition, the lock or latch mechanism is partially engaged.

12. A module according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the lock or latch mechanism is determined to be in the partially locked condition when the polarity of the sensed magnetic field detected by the third sensor unit is the opposite to the polarity of the sensed magnetic field detected by either of the first or second sensor units.

13. A module according to any of claims 8 to 12, further including a controller configured to control operation of the sensor units and / or to receive information from the sensor units.

14. A module according to claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to execute instructions which cause the determining of the current condition of the lock or latch mechanism.

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