Electronic Door Lock Preload Compensation System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromechanical door locks with battery-powered actuators often face issues of insufficient power to drive the bolt against door mismatches, leading to short battery life due to excessive power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The system adjusts the allowable peak current drawn by the electronic actuator based on preload conditions, initially minimizing power consumption and incrementally increasing it when bolt-strike mismatches occur, using a motor current sensing algorithm to extend or retract the deadbolt locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic actuator draws higher peak current to overcome bolt-strike mismatch, then the locking mechanism can be actuated reliably, but battery life is reduced due to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the peak current limit based on actual door conditions. The controller monitors motor current draw and adjusts the allowable peak current threshold accordingly, transitioning from a static current limit to a dynamic one that adapts to changing preload conditions caused by weather stripping, warped doors, or installation variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring the motor current draw during actuation attempts. When the motor attempts to draw current exceeding the allowable peak current threshold, the system detects this condition and responds by adjusting the threshold, creating a closed-loop control system that learns from actual operating conditions.
Solution Approach 3:
The system performs preliminary current threshold adjustment based on initial actuation attempts. By monitoring failed actuation attempts at the initial peak current threshold, the system proactively increases the threshold before complete locking failure occurs, preparing the system for future high-preload conditions.
2Reliability
If the allowable peak current is increased to compensate for higher preloads over time, then the locking mechanism can overcome bolt-strike mismatch, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the electrical parameter (peak current threshold) based on operational feedback. The controller modifies the allowable peak current parameter from its initial setting to higher values when bolt-strike mismatch is detected, enabling the motor to overcome increased preload conditions while maintaining optimal power consumption when possible.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach extends battery life by optimizing power usage, ensuring the locking mechanism can overcome increased preloads while reducing overall power consumption and maintaining performance over time.
Implementation Method 1
an electronically controllable actuator operable draw an allowable peak current from the power source to actuate the locking mechanism between the unlocked position and the locked position
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to sense motor current and determine a preload condition of the locking mechanism in response to the electronically controllable actuator attempting to exceed the allowable peak current
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments of lock devices, systems, and methods. A locking system includes a locking mechanism with a controller configured to provide an actuation signal to an electronic actuator to extend or retract a locking mechanism and to adjust an allowable peak current for operating the electronic actuator to throw the deadbolt based on whether the allowable peak current is sufficient for the locking mechanism to achieve its locked or unlocked positions. The allowable peak current can be adjusted over time between a minimum and maximum peak current, thus optimizing the actual current draw from the electronic actuator required to throw the locking mechanism and minimizing power consumption.