Electronic Door Lock Mounting Direction Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic door locks often fail to be correctly mounted on left-handed or right-handed doors due to lack of a method that combines automated and manual operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A semi-automatic method involving a latch, rotational actuator with protrusions, and switches that automatically determine the correct mounting direction by rotating between different angular positions to send signals and drive the latch between latched and unlatched positions, allowing for user-assisted correct installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a fully automated method is used to determine the mounting direction, then the automation extent is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of manual guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the user manually rotate the rotary handle to a predetermined position before assembly. This preliminary manual action guides the protrusion to press against a specific switch (first or second switch) depending on the door type, which then triggers the automated detection and confirmation process. This resolves the contradiction by providing simple manual guidance that enables fully automated mounting direction determination.
2Ease of operation
If manual operation is added to the automated method, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the system where the user's simple manual rotation of the rotary handle automatically triggers the entire detection and confirmation process through the pre-configured switch-protrusion interaction. The system serves itself by using the manual action to initiate an automated sequence that confirms mounting direction without requiring complex user input or additional manual steps, thus improving ease of operation without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the latch is initially placed at the unlatched position, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential incorrect mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing an automated detection process that uses the switch-protrusion interaction to determine whether the latch is correctly positioned. After the user performs the preliminary manual rotation, the system automatically detects which switch was pressed and confirms whether the mounting direction is correct. This feedback mechanism ensures reliability by verifying the mounting status without complicating the manufacturing process, as the verification is performed automatically after assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of mounting an electronic door lock on a door includes: a manual operation to rotate a protrusion of a rotational actuator to initially press a switch; and an operating procedure implemented by the electronic lock for determining a correct mounting direction of the electronic door lock. The operating procedure includes controlling, in response to a signal sent by the switch that is initially pressed, a driving unit to rotate the protrusion in a direction from the initially pressed switch to the other initially un-pressed switch and to drive a latch to move from an unlatched position toward a latched position, followed by stopping and subsequently controlling the driving unit to rotate the protrusion in a reverse direction and to drive the latch to move toward the unlatched position.