Mortise Lock Optical Status Indication for Visible State Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mortise locks lack visibility of their electrical and operational status to installation and maintenance personnel, making it difficult to assess their condition effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mortise lock equipped with an optical display device that visually indicates its status, including electrical and electronic states, with the indicator visible when the door is open, allowing users to see lock states through a faceplate or via light passed through it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the lock is electrified to enable remote control and monitoring, then the functionality and automation of the lock is improved, but the visibility and recognizability of the lock's state to installation and maintenance personnel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an optical display device that uses different colors (e.g., green for locked, red for unlocked, yellow for error states) to indicate the lock's operational state. This visual color-coding system allows maintenance personnel to quickly identify the lock state without needing to access electronic systems or interpret complex electrical signals, directly resolving the contradiction between automation and detectability
2Ease of operation
If the lock state is made visible through display devices, then the ease of operation and maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The optical display device is integrated into the existing lock housing and serves multiple functions: indicating locked/unlocked states, error conditions, and system status. By combining these display functions within a single integrated component rather than adding separate indicators for each function, the patent improves ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The display device is nested within the lock case structure, utilizing the existing housing space. The optical indicators are positioned within the lock body and visible through openings or transparent portions of the housing, effectively nesting the display function within the existing structural framework rather than adding external components
3Loss of information
If multiple display modes are provided to indicate different lock states, then the amount of information conveyed is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display device uses periodic flashing patterns to indicate different states (e.g., steady green for locked, flashing green for locking in progress, steady red for unlocked, flashing red for unlocking). This periodic action allows multiple states to be communicated through a single color channel by varying the temporal pattern, reducing the need for multiple separate indicators and thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining information completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically adjusts its output based on the current lock state, transitioning between different colors and flashing patterns as needed. This dynamic behavior allows the same physical display component to convey multiple pieces of information sequentially and simultaneously, maximizing information transmission while minimizing the number of physical components and associated energy requirements
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
Enables easy recognition of the lock's status by assembly or maintenance personnel, facilitating maintenance and ensuring the lock's proper functioning and configuration.
Implementation Method 1
The display device can comprise a multi-color LED, such as an RGB LED
Implementation Method 2
The display device may include a light source, and in particular may be designed as a light source
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a lock (200), in particular a mortise lock, for a building door with a lock case (10). According to the invention, the lock (200) comprises an optical indicator device (120).