Sensor-Guided Sliding Door Locking for Remote Secure Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding door and window locks are often integrated with a single brand and type, making them difficult to automate and posing security risks, with dowels or bars being used as makeshift solutions.
Innovation Solution
A lock system with a stationary mount, engagement feature, and lock device that can be remotely controlled, featuring sensors to determine the lock's state and communicate signals for automated engagement and disengagement with the engagement feature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dowel or bar is placed in the track to increase security, then security is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into separate functional components: a stationary mount with engagement feature attached to the wall, a lock device with locking mechanism attached to the translatable structure, and a sensor system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system security without requiring complex makeshift solutions like dowels or bars.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical security measures (dowels, bars) with an automated electromechanical locking system that uses a locking mechanism actuated by a controller based on sensor input. This substitution eliminates the need for complex manual security devices while providing more reliable and automated security control.
2Reliability
If integrated latch-type sliding door locks are used, then security is improved, but ease of operation and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is designed with universal adaptability through the stationary mount and engagement feature configuration that can accommodate different translatable structures (sliding doors, windows, gates). The lock device can be applied to various brands and types, eliminating the limitation of brand-specific integrated locks while maintaining security through the engagement feature mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static integrated locks to a dynamic automated locking system where the locking mechanism can be remotely actuated between locked and unlocked states based on sensor input and controller decisions. This dynamic capability provides both security and operational flexibility across different applications.
3Reliability
If integrated latch-type sliding door locks are used, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system incorporates automatic sensor detection that monitors the relative position of the locking mechanism and engagement feature, enabling the system to automatically determine locked/unlocked states and trigger appropriate locking actions without manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains security while dramatically improving ease of operation through remote or automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides feedback about the relative position of the locking mechanism and engagement feature to the controller, which then makes intelligent decisions about when to actuate the locking mechanism. This feedback loop ensures secure operation while eliminating the need for manual checking or complex user interactions, greatly simplifying operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A lock system includes a mount, a lock device, a sensor, and a communications interface. The mount configured to be coupled to a first surface located at a wall, the wall defining an opening in which a translatable structure is positioned, the mount including an engagement feature. The lock device configured to couple to a second surface located at the wall and proximate the first surface and includes a locking mechanism configured to engage with the engagement feature to inhibit the translatable structure from translating between open and closed positions. The communications interface configured to communicate signals to cause a controller configured to actuate the locking mechanism to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state to engage and disengage with the engagement feature of the stationary mount in response to the sensor sensing that the locking mechanism and the engagement feature are engageably aligned.