Electric lock monitoring device

Abstract

To provide an electric lock monitoring device capable of assisting an action of a user at an entrance at night.SOLUTION: The electric lock monitoring device comprises: an unlock detection part that detects unlocking of an electric lock provided in a doorway of a building; an auxiliary light provided in the doorway; and a control part that lights the auxiliary light when the unlock detection part detects the unlocking of the electric lock.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric lock monitoring device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a locking and unlocking system that unlocks or locks a lock (electric lock) incorporated in an entrance door using a mobile terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When returning home at night and unlocking the electric lock to enter the entrance, for example, the lighting switch is operated to turn on the lighting, but there are cases where the lighting cannot be quickly turned on because the entrance is dark.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electric lock monitoring device capable of assisting the actions of users at the entrance at night.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] As shown in Figure 1, the electric lock monitoring device A according to this embodiment comprises an electric lock 1, a mobile terminal 2, a relay device 3, a smart home appliance 4, and a wireless LAN router 5 as its components. LAN is an abbreviation for Local Area Network.

[0009] Among the components of the electric lock monitoring device A, the electric lock 1, the mobile terminal 2, and the relay device 3 are referred to as a "smart lock," and constitute a locking and unlocking system that allows for contactless operation of the electric lock 1 from the mobile terminal 2.

[0010] The electric lock 1 is installed at entrances such as front doors in buildings such as ordinary houses. The electric lock 1 is capable of electric locking and unlocking in addition to manual locking and unlocking, and is also capable of short-range communication with a mobile terminal 2 and a relay device 3. The short-range communication method (communication standard) adopted in this embodiment is the so-called "Bluetooth (registered trademark)". The electric lock 1 performs wireless communication (Bluetooth communication) with the mobile terminal 2 and the relay device 3 in accordance with the Bluetooth communication protocol.

[0011] In addition to "Bluetooth®," several other methods (communication standards) are generally known for short-range communication, such as "ZigBee®." In this embodiment, "Bluetooth®" is used as the short-range communication method, but the electric lock monitoring device A may be constructed using other short-range communication methods as needed.

[0012] The electric lock 1 is powered by a battery (lock battery) built into it. The lock battery consumes its stored power each time the electric lock 1 performs a locking or unlocking operation, eventually leading to a state where the electric lock 1 can no longer be operated properly (battery depletion). Sufficient power remaining in the lock battery is necessary for the electric lock 1 to function correctly.

[0013] When electric lock 1 receives a locking instruction from mobile terminal 2, it locks itself based on the locking instruction (making it impossible to open or close the entrance / exit). When electric lock 1 receives an unlocking instruction from mobile terminal 2, it unlocks itself based on the unlocking instruction (making it possible to open and close the entrance / exit). Electric lock 1 notifies relay device 3 of the locking or unlocking status based on the locking or unlocking instruction received from mobile terminal 2.

[0014] Mobile terminal 2 is a portable device that can be carried by a human user, such as a smartphone. Mobile terminal 2 is a communication device capable of Bluetooth communication with electric lock 1. Mobile terminal 2 is pre-installed with a dedicated application program (electronic lock control program) that allows contactless operation of electric lock 1 using short-range communication.

[0015] The mobile terminal 2 is an electronic lock operation terminal that locks or unlocks the electric lock 1 by transmitting locking or unlocking instructions to the electric lock 1 via short-range communication based on an electronic lock control program. The electronic lock control program is compatible with the operating system (OS) of the mobile terminal 2.

[0016] For example, when a user returns home from going out at night, as they approach the entrance to the building, they operate the electronic lock control program on their mobile terminal 2 to send an unlocking command to the electric lock 1. Upon receiving the unlocking command from the mobile terminal 2, the electric lock 1 opens and closes the entrance (unlocked) according to the command.

[0017] When a user goes out of the building, they can send a locking instruction to the electric lock 1 by operating the electronic lock control program of the mobile terminal 2 from the outside of the entrance (the outside of the building). When the electric lock 1 receives the locking instruction from the mobile terminal 2, it makes the entrance unable to be opened or closed (locked state) according to the locking instruction.

[0018] The relay device 3 is provided near the entrance door (entrance) (entrance floor) inside the building. The relay device 3 is a communication device that performs wireless relaying with the electric lock 1 and the wireless LAN router 5. The relay device 3 performs Bluetooth communication with the electric lock 1, but performs wireless communication with the wireless LAN router 5 using a communication method (communication standard) with a longer communication distance than Bluetooth communication.

[0019] The communication method between the relay device 3 and the wireless LAN router 5 is, for example, a wireless LAN called "Wi-Fi (registered trademark)". The relay device 3 performs wireless LAN communication compliant with the home network (home internal LAN) with the wireless LAN router 5.

[0020] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the relay device 3 includes an auxiliary lighting 3a, a light-off switch 3b, a pairing switch 3c, and a power LED 3d. The relay device 3 includes a power plug 3e, a power circuit 3f, a memory 3g, an MCU 3h, a communication circuit 3i for the smart lock, a high-frequency circuit 3j for the smart lock, and an antenna 3k for the smart lock. The relay device 3 includes a communication circuit 3m for the home network, a high-frequency circuit 3n for the home network, and an antenna 3p for the home network.

[0021] The auxiliary lighting 3a is provided, for example, on the front surface of the relay device 3, that is, on the entrance floor (inside the entrance), and is an LRD lighting (Light Emitting Diode) that irradiates lighting light on the entrance floor. The lighting and extinguishing of the auxiliary lighting 3a are controlled by a lighting control signal input from the MCU 3h. The auxiliary lighting 3a lights up when a lighting control signal is input from the MCU 3h, and goes out when a light-off control signal is input from the MCU 3h.

[0022] The power-off switch 3b is an operation button operated by the user. When the power-off switch 3b receives an operation instruction (power-off instruction) from the user, it outputs an operation signal (power-off signal) indicating the power-off instruction to the MCU 3h. The MCU 3h forcibly turns off the auxiliary lighting 3a based on the power-off signal.

[0023] The pairing switch 3c is an operation button that instructs the MCU 3h to pair with the electric lock 1. When the user operates the pairing switch 3c, the pairing switch 3c outputs a pairing start signal to the MCU 3h. The MCU 3h establishes a pairing with the electric lock 1 based on the pairing start signal.

[0024] Specifically, the MCU 3h performs short-range communication with the electric lock 1 via the smart lock communication circuit 3i, the smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j, and the smart lock antenna 3k, thereby setting up a communication line with the electric lock 1. When pairing is set between the electric lock 1 and the relay device 3, the electric lock 1 and the relay device 3 are in a state where short-range communication is possible.

[0025] The power supply LED 3d is a light-emitting diode that notifies the outside that the relay device 3 is powered on. The power supply LED 3d emits light according to a light-emitting signal input from the MCU 3h when the relay device 3 is powered on. The light-emitting signal is a voltage signal having a voltage capable of causing the power supply LED 3d, which is a semiconductor light-emitting element, to emit light.

[0026] The power plug 3e is a connecting component that connects the relay device 3 to a commercial power supply (alternating current power supply) such as AC100V installed in a building. The power plug 3e has a pair of electrodes as is well known, and when the pair of electrodes is connected to the commercial power supply and engages with a socket having the same pair of electrodes, the relay device 3 is connected to the commercial power supply. When the power plug 3e engages with the socket, the relay device 3 is supplied with commercial power. [[ID=第十八条]] [[ID=第十九条]]

[0027] [[ID=第二十条]] The power supply circuit 3f is a power conversion circuit that converts commercial power (AC power) input from the power plug 3e into DC power. The power supply circuit 3f converts commercial power (AC power) into DC power that is used as a power source by the various electronic components and electronic circuits of the relay device 3.

[0028] The various electronic components include auxiliary lighting 3a, an off switch 3b, a pairing switch 3c, and a power LED 3d, which perform their desired functions based on the DC power supplied from the power supply circuit 3f. The various electronic circuits include memory 3g, an MCU 3h, a communication circuit 3i for the smart lock, a high-frequency circuit 3j for the smart lock, a communication circuit 3m for the home network, and a high-frequency circuit 3n for the home network, which perform their desired functions based on the DC power supplied from the power supply circuit 3f.

[0029] Memory 3g is a semiconductor memory device that stores the relay program executed by MCU3h and various control data necessary for the execution of the relay program. Memory 3g consists of non-volatile memory (ROM: Read Only Memory) and volatile memory (RAM: Random Access Memory).

[0030] Memory 3g stores the relay program in non-volatile memory and the data generated by MCU 3h during the execution of the relay program in volatile memory. Data reading and writing in memory 3g are controlled by MCU 3h.

[0031] The MCU3h is a control unit (Micro Controller Unit) that comprehensively controls the relay device 3 by executing a relay program. In addition to a central processing unit (CPU) that executes the relay program, the MCU3h includes auxiliary lighting 3a, an off switch 3b, a pairing switch 3c, a power LED 3d, memory 3g, a communication circuit 3i for the smart lock, and a communication circuit 3m for the home network, as well as an input / output unit for data input and output.

[0032] MCU3h is an unlock detection unit that detects whether the electric lock 1 is locked or unlocked based on a relay program. MCU3h is a control unit that controls the turning on or off of the auxiliary lighting 3a by generating a lighting control signal based on whether the electric lock 1 is locked or unlocked.

[0033] The MCU3h generates a lighting control signal based on the status information of the electric lock 1 obtained from the electric lock 1 via Bluetooth communication and the operation signal of the off switch 3b. The MCU3h controls the on and off of the auxiliary light 3a by outputting the lighting control signal to the auxiliary light 3a.

[0034] MCU3h receives an off signal from the off switch 3b based on the relay program, and also receives a pairing start signal from the pairing switch 3c. MCU3h outputs a light emission signal to the power LED 3d according to the power supply status of the DC power supply from the power supply circuit 3f.

[0035] The MCU3h performs Bluetooth communication with the electric lock 1 via the smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j and smart lock antenna 3k by outputting a communication instruction (Bluetooth communication instruction) to the smart lock communication circuit 3i based on the relay program.

[0036] Based on the relay program, the MCU3h outputs a communication command (wireless LAN communication command) to the home network communication circuit 3m, thereby performing wireless LAN communication with the wireless LAN router 5 via the home network high-frequency circuit 3n and the home network antenna 3p.

[0037] The smart lock communication circuit 3i generates a communication packet (Bluetooth transmission packet) compliant with the Bluetooth communication protocol based on a Bluetooth communication instruction input from the MCU 3h and outputs it to the smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j. The Bluetooth transmission packet includes at least the identification number of the source intermediate device 3, the identification number of the destination electric lock 1, and transmission data indicating the content of the transmission.

[0038] The smart lock communication circuit 3i retrieves received data from the electric lock 1 based on Bluetooth received packets input from the smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j. The Bluetooth received packet includes at least the identification number of the electric lock 1, which is the source, the identification number of the intermediate device 3, which is the destination, and received data indicating the content of the received data. The smart lock communication circuit 3i outputs the received data to the MCU 3h.

[0039] The high-frequency circuit 3j for the smart lock is a high-frequency circuit that applies high-frequency transmission processing (Bluetooth high-frequency transmission processing) compliant with the Bluetooth communication protocol to the Bluetooth transmission packets input from the smart lock communication circuit 3i. Bluetooth high-frequency transmission processing is a modulation process compliant with the Bluetooth communication protocol, converting the Bluetooth transmission packets into Bluetooth high-frequency transmission signals. The high-frequency circuit 3j for the smart lock outputs the Bluetooth high-frequency transmission signal to the smart lock antenna 3k.

[0040] The high-frequency circuit 3j for the smart lock extracts Bluetooth received packets from the Bluetooth high-frequency received signal input from the smart lock antenna 3k by applying high-frequency reception processing (Bluetooth high-frequency reception processing) in accordance with the Bluetooth communication protocol. Bluetooth high-frequency reception processing is demodulation processing in accordance with the Bluetooth communication protocol. The Bluetooth received packets are output from the high-frequency circuit 3j for the smart lock to the communication circuit 3i for the smart lock.

[0041] The smart lock antenna 3k is a high-frequency component that radiates the Bluetooth high-frequency transmission signal input from the smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j into the air as radio waves (Bluetooth transmission waves). The Bluetooth transmission waves are high frequencies in the 2.4GHz band that contain the contents of the Bluetooth transmission packets, and the contents of the Bluetooth transmission packets are reconstructed when they are received by the electric lock 1, which is the recipient of the transmission.

[0042] The smart lock antenna 3k converts radio waves (Bluetooth received waves) arriving from the air into Bluetooth high-frequency received signals and outputs them to the smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j. The Bluetooth received waves are 2.4GHz high-frequency waves containing the contents of Bluetooth received packets and are transmitted from the electric lock 1, which is the source. The Bluetooth received packets are Bluetooth transmitted packets generated by the electric lock 1.

[0043] The home network communication circuit 3m generates a communication packet (wireless LAN transmission packet) compliant with the wireless LAN communication protocol based on the wireless LAN communication instruction input from the MCU 3h and outputs it to the home network high-frequency circuit 3n. The wireless LAN transmission packet includes at least the identification number of the source intermediate device 3, the identification number of the destination wireless LAN router 5, and transmission data indicating the content to be transmitted.

[0044] The home network communication circuit 3m extracts received data from the electric lock 1 based on the wireless LAN received packets input from the home network high-frequency circuit 3n. The Bluetooth received packet includes at least the identification number of the source wireless LAN router 5, the identification number of the destination intermediate device 3, and received data indicating the content of the received data. The home network communication circuit 3m outputs the received data to the MCU 3h.

[0045] The home network high-frequency circuit 3n is a high-frequency circuit that applies high-frequency transmission processing (wireless LAN high-frequency transmission processing) compliant with the wireless LAN communication protocol to wireless LAN transmission packets input from the home network communication circuit 3m. Wireless LAN high-frequency transmission processing is a modulation process compliant with the wireless LAN communication protocol, converting wireless LAN transmission packets into wireless LAN high-frequency transmission signals.

[0046] The home network high-frequency circuit 3n extracts wireless LAN received packets from the wireless LAN high-frequency received signal input from the home network antenna 3p by applying high-frequency reception processing (wireless LAN high-frequency reception processing) in accordance with the wireless LAN communication protocol. The wireless LAN received packets are output from the home network high-frequency circuit 3n to the home network communication circuit 3m. The wireless LAN high-frequency reception processing is demodulation processing in accordance with the wireless LAN communication protocol.

[0047] The home network antenna 3p is a high-frequency component that radiates the wireless LAN high-frequency transmission signal input from the home network high-frequency circuit 3n into the air as radio waves (wireless LAN transmission waves). The wireless LAN transmission waves are high frequencies in the 2.4GHz band that contain the contents of wireless LAN transmission packets, and the contents of the wireless LAN transmission packets are reconstructed when they are received by the wireless LAN router 5, which is the destination.

[0048] The home network antenna 3p converts radio waves (wireless LAN received waves) arriving from the air into wireless LAN high-frequency received signals and outputs them to the home network high-frequency circuit 3n. The wireless LAN received waves are 2.4GHz high-frequency waves containing the contents of wireless LAN received packets and are transmitted from the wireless LAN router 5, which is the source. The wireless LAN received packets are wireless LAN transmitted packets generated by the wireless LAN router 5.

[0049] Smart appliance 4 is a home appliance that can connect with an external communication terminal and is a component of the home network (home LAN) built in the building. In this embodiment, a home network including the smart appliance 4 and the wireless LAN router 5 as components is pre-built in the building.

[0050] Smart appliance 4 is a communication-enabled outlet or light fixture, commonly referred to as a smart outlet (smart plug) or smart lighting. Smart appliance 4 communicates wirelessly (wireless LAN communication) with the wireless LAN router 5 using a communication protocol compliant with wireless LAN (Local Area Network), which is a communication method (communication standard) with a longer communication range than short-range communication.

[0051] Smart appliances 4 perform their initial functions based on operation instructions received from an external source via the wireless LAN router 5. For example, a smart outlet (smart plug) starts supplying power to the electrical devices connected to it when it receives a power-on instruction from an external source. A smart light switches from the off state to the on state when it receives a power-on instruction from an external source.

[0052] The wireless LAN router 5 is a communication device (connection device) that connects the home network (home LAN) to an external communication line such as the internet. The wireless LAN router 5 performs wireless LAN communication compliant with the wireless LAN communication protocol with the relay device 3 and smart home appliances 4, and also performs communication with the external communication line compliant with the communication protocol of the external communication line.

[0053] The wireless LAN router 5 receives, for example, operation instructions (external operation instructions) from the smart home appliance 4 via an external communication line. The wireless LAN router 5 converts the external operation instructions into wireless LAN transmission waves compliant with the wireless LAN communication protocol and transmits them to the smart home appliance 4. The smart home appliance 4 operates according to the external operation instructions.

[0054] The wireless LAN router 5 receives a wireless LAN transmission wave from, for example, the relay device 3, which contains transmission data indicating the operating status of the electric lock 1 and the user's return / exit information, as a wireless LAN reception wave. The wireless LAN router 5 extracts the received data (transmission data of the wireless LAN transmission wave) from the wireless LAN reception wave and saves the operating status of the electric lock 1 and the user's return / exit information as log information.

[0055] The wireless LAN router 5 sends log information to cloud B as needed. Cloud B is a storage device located on an external communication line. Cloud B stores the log information received from the wireless LAN router 5.

[0056] The operation of the electric lock monitoring device A according to this embodiment will be explained in accordance with the flowchart shown in Figure 3.

[0057] In the electric lock monitoring device A, the MCU3h of the relay device 3 first determines whether or not the electric lock 1 has been unlocked (step S1). When the user goes out, they operate the electronic lock control program on the mobile terminal 2 to send a lock command to the electric lock 1, setting the electric lock 1 to the locked state. When the user returns home at night, for example, they operate the electronic lock control program on the mobile terminal 2 to send an unlock command to the electric lock 1.

[0058] When electric lock 1 receives a locking instruction from mobile terminal 2, it locks according to the instruction and notifies relay device 3 via Bluetooth communication that the state has changed from unlocked to locked (locking notification). When electric lock 1 receives an unlocking instruction from mobile terminal 2, it unlocks according to the instruction and notifies relay device 3 via Bluetooth communication that the state has changed from locked to unlocked (unlocking notification).

[0059] Locking or unlocking notifications are input to the MCU 3h via the smart lock antenna 3k → smart lock high-frequency circuit 3j → smart lock communication circuit 3i. When the MCU 3h receives a locking notification, it determines that the electric lock 1 has been locked, and when it receives an unlocking notification, it determines that the electric lock 1 has been unlocked.

[0060] When the user returns home at night and an unlock notification is received, the MCU3h determines step S1 as "Yes" and turns on the auxiliary light 3a (step S2). Based on the unlock notification, the MCU3h generates a lighting control signal and outputs it to the auxiliary light 3a, thereby turning on the auxiliary light 3a, which was previously off. The determination in step S1 becomes "No" if no unlock notification is received from the electric lock 1, so the MCU3h remains in standby mode until an unlock notification is received from the electric lock 1.

[0061] The auxiliary lighting 3a illuminates the entrance floor, making it easy for users entering the entrance floor through the front door to operate the light switch or other controls to turn on the entrance lights. The activation of auxiliary lighting 3a based on the unlocking notification assists users in their actions at the entrance at night.

[0062] When the auxiliary light 3a is turned on, the MCU3h sets a timer internally to measure a predetermined time and starts the timer count (measuring the predetermined time) (step S3). When the timer times up (end of measuring the predetermined time) (step S4), the MCU3h turns off the auxiliary light 3a (step S6).

[0063] The timer count value (predetermined time) defines the lighting time of the auxiliary light 3a, which is, for example, a few minutes. When the timer times up (end of timing for the predetermined time), the decision in step S4 becomes "Yes". When the decision in step S4 becomes "Yes", the MCU 3h generates an off control signal and outputs it to the auxiliary light 3a, thereby turning off the auxiliary light 3a, which is currently lit.

[0064] Even while the timer is counting (measuring a predetermined time), if the MCU3h receives a power off command from the user (step S5), it will turn off the auxiliary light 3a (step S6). If the MCU3h receives a power off signal from the power off switch 3b, it will forcibly turn off the auxiliary light 3a.

[0065] When the user turns off the light using the off switch 3b, the MCU 3h receives an off signal from the off switch 3b, and the decision in step S5 is set to "Yes". If the decision in step S5 is "Yes", the MCU 3h forcibly turns off the auxiliary light 3a, even if the timer is still counting (measuring a predetermined time).

[0066] According to this embodiment, the auxiliary light 3a is turned on based on the unlocking notification transmitted by the electric lock 1, so an electric lock monitoring device A can be provided that can assist the user's actions at the entrance at night.

[0067] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. (1) In the above embodiment, auxiliary lighting 3a is provided on the relay device 3, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The auxiliary lighting may be provided anywhere that can brighten the entrance floor. In some cases, the auxiliary lighting may be provided on the electric lock 1.

[0068] (2) In the above embodiment, a light switch 3b is provided, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The light switch 3b may be provided as needed, or may be omitted, for example.

[0069] (3) In this embodiment, Bluetooth® is used as the short-range communication method, but this disclosure is not limited to Bluetooth. For example, ZigBee® may be used as a short-range communication method other than Bluetooth.

[0070] (4) In this embodiment, log information is stored in Cloud B, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, log information may be stored in the relay device 3. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] A...Electric lock monitoring device, B...Cloud, 1...Electric lock, 2...Mobile terminal, 3...Relay device (control unit), 3a...Auxiliary lighting, 3b...Off switch, 3c...Pairing switch, 3d...Power LED, 3e...Power plug, 3f...Power circuit, 3g...Memory, 3h...MCU, 3i...Communication circuit for smart lock, 3j...High-frequency circuit for smart lock, 3k...Antenna for smart lock, 3m...Communication circuit for home network, 3n...High-frequency circuit for home network, 3i...Antenna for home network, 4...Smart appliance, 5...Wireless LAN router

Claims

1. An unlock detection unit that detects the unlocking of an electric lock installed at the entrance of the building, Auxiliary lighting installed inside the aforementioned entrance, The system includes a control unit that, when the unlocking detection unit detects the unlocking of the electric lock, turns on the auxiliary light, The auxiliary lighting is an electric lock monitoring device provided in a relay device that relays wireless communication between the home network and the electric lock.

2. The electric lock monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a timer to measure a predetermined time when the unlock detection unit detects that the electric lock has been unlocked, and turns off the auxiliary lighting when the timer has expired.

3. It also has a light switch, The electric lock monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit turns off the auxiliary lighting when the light-off switch is operated.

4. An electric lock monitoring method in which a relay device relays wireless communication between a home network and an electric lock installed at the entrance of a building, detects the unlocking of the electric lock, and when the unlocking of the electric lock is detected, turns on an auxiliary light provided by the relay device installed inside the entrance.

5. A relay device that relays wireless communication between the home network and the electric lock installed at the entrance of the building. An electric lock monitoring program that is executed by the system, An electric lock monitoring program that detects the unlocking of the electric lock, and when the unlocking of the electric lock is detected, turns on the auxiliary lighting provided by the relay device installed inside the entrance / exit.

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