Patent Application
20150379795
The present invention relates to an active detection type radio frequency identification smart door lock controller and, more particularly, to a door lock controller permitting an electronic tag to automatically transmit a command of opening a door lock according to setting of a household or commercial field domain.
Access management of personnel and/or vehicles becomes important due to complexity of large populations in modern cities and busy commercial and industrial activities. Human labor is used in conventional door access management to manage access of a building or a community, which is a waste of labor and is inefficient. Surveillance of an ordinary residential building is generally conducted by security guards at certain places only, which is not risk-proof in management. Burglary and/or injury risk of the residents due to human negligence occur from time to time.
More and more new modern smart buildings utilize electronic locks to control opening and closing of doors. Door access control systems for buildings are commonly used to enhance convenience and safety of the users. However, electronic locks used in door access control generally use single code verification, which is a radio frequency identification (RFID) type door access control.
A door access control device using an RFID tag generally includes at least one central processing unit, a memory unit connected to the central processing unit, at least one RFID reading unit connected to the central processing unit, a power supply connected to the central processing unit and the RFID reading unit, at least one transmission interface connected to the central processing unit, and at least one analog-controlled DIDO interface connected to the central processing unit. The RFID reading unit receives information of an electronic tag and sends the information to the central processing unit. The central processing unit conducts analysis and operation according to the received information and information stored in the memory unit and can proceed with data exchange with the outside via the transmission interface or can be connected to at least one controlled mechanism via the analog-controlled DIDO interface. An example of such a door access control device is disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model No. M464752.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/571,409 (Taiwan Patent Application No. 103201403) by the Applicant discloses a door lock management control system includes a door controller including a reading module for reading a door opening message and a control module electrically connected to the reading module. The control module can receive signals from the reading module, control a door lock, and store access identification numbers. A main control unit includes a key tag and a near field communication (NFC) controllable device. One or both of the key tag and the NFC controllable device can be granted door lock management authority. The NFC controllable device can receive information from the control module via point-to-point transmission. At least one door opening unit sends a door opening message to the reading module and can be in the form of an NFC device. The NFC device can be granted door access authority by the key tag or the NFC controllable device.
Comparing the above conventional technique with the door lock management control system of Applicant, the central processing unit of the conventional technique has to conduct analysis and operation after the RFID reading unit receives the information of the electronic tag, and the result of operation has to be transmitted to another mechanism via a transmission interface or a DIDO interface, which is complicated in transmission control while failing to permit setting according to authority. Furthermore, the mobile electronic tag keeps sending signals to the RFID reading unit and, thus, consumes power rapidly. Furthermore, a double check mechanism is required to effectively solve the safety risk of door locks.
Thus, a need exits for an active detection type radio frequency identification smart door lock controller to provide enhanced utility.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an active detection type radio frequency identification smart door lock controller to solve the disadvantage of rapid power consumption of the door lock power source and the mobile electronic tag while providing a double check mechanism. The door lock controller according to the present invention permits an electronic tag to automatically transmit a command of opening a door lock according to setting of a household or commercial field domain.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an active detection type radio frequency identification smart door lock controller including a door lock controller and an electronic tag unit. The door lock controller includes a triggering unit, a reading unit, and a control unit. The triggering unit includes an infrared sensing module is configured for transmitting an infrared signal. The control unit is configured to be operatively coupled to a door lock. The electronic tag unit includes a radio frequency identification module and is adapted to be carried by a user. A user information is stored in the electronic tag unit. The electronic tag unit is configured for conducting a short range induction with the triggering unit. The electronic tag unit is configured for blocking the infrared signal. The triggering unit is configured to be activated when the infrared signal is blocked by the electronic tag unit and is configured to actuate the reading unit to activate the radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit by a first radio frequency identification signal. The user information is adapted to be sent by the radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit to the reading unit by a second radio frequency identification signal and is then sent to the control unit. The control unit is configured to compare the user information with a user information stored in the control unit and configured to decide whether or not to unlock the door lock based on a result of comparison.
The door lock controller can further include a first button and a second button. When in a general mode, the first button provides an unlocking function, and the second button provides a locking function. When in a management mode, the first button provides an adding function of adding user information of a new user, and the second button provides a deleting function of deleting the user information of a selected user.
The door lock controller can further include an alarm device adapted to send an alarm.
The door lock controller further can further include a power backup device for supplying electricity to the door lock controller.
The first radio frequency identification signal sent by the reading unit can be a high frequency signal, and the second radio frequency identification signal sent by the electronic tag unit to the radio frequency identification module of the reading unit can be a high frequency signal.
The electronic tag unit can be a card, an object wearable on a wrist of the user, or a remote control.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides an active detection type radio frequency identification smart door lock controller including a door lock controller and an electronic tag unit. The door lock controller includes a triggering unit, a reading unit, and a control unit. The triggering unit includes an infrared sensing module. The infrared sensing module is configured for transmitting an infrared signal. The control unit is configured to be operatively coupled to a door lock. The electronic tag unit is adapted to be carried by a user. A user information is stored in the electronic tag unit. The electronic tag unit includes a received signal strength indication value that is set according to a field domain. The received signal strength indicator value is a distance range for awakening the electronic tag unit.
When the electronic tag unit is located in the distance range and is triggered by the triggering unit, the user information is sent from the electronic tag unit to the reading unit by a radio frequency identification signal and is then sent to the control unit, the control unit is configured to compare the user information with a user information stored in the control unit and configured to decide whether or not to unlock the door lock based on a result of comparison. The control unit unlocks the door lock only when it is identified that the user information contained in the radio frequency identification signal is identical to the user information of the control unit and when the user is within an infrared detection range of the infrared signal transmitted by the infrared sensing module.
The door lock controller can further include a first button and a second button. When in a general mode, the first button provides an unlocking function, and the second button provides a locking function. When in a management mode, the first button provides an adding function of adding user information of a new user, and the second button provides a deleting function of deleting the user information of a selected user.
The door lock controller can further include an alarm device adapted to send an alarm.
The door lock controller can further include an image pick-up device configured to provide a monitoring function.
The triggering unit of the door lock controller can send a low frequency radio frequency identification signal to activate the electronic tag unit. The radio frequency identification signal sent from the electronic tag unit to the reading unit of the door lock controller can be an ultrahigh frequency signal.
The electronic tag unit can be a card, an object wearable on a wrist of the user, a remote control, or any object carried by the user.
The triggering unit of the door lock controller can include a low frequency triggering module having the received signal strength indication value. The low frequency triggering module of the triggering unit of the door lock controller transmits a low frequency signal. The reading unit of the door lock controller can include an ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification reading module. The electronic tag unit can include a low frequency triggering module, an ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification module, and a battery. The battery provides electricity to the low frequency triggering module of the electronic tag unit and the ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit. The low frequency triggering module of the electronic tag unit is triggered by the low frequency triggering module of the triggering unit of the door lock controller when the electronic tag unit is within the distance range. The ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit is activated by the low frequency triggering module of the electronic tag unit to send an ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification signal containing the user information of the electronic tag unit to the ultrahigh frequency radio frequency identification reading module of the reading unit of the door lock controller. The control unit compares the signal indicative of the user information with the user information of the control unit and unlocks the door lock if it is identified that the user information contained in the signal is the same as the user information of the control unit and when the user is within the infrared detection range of the infrared signal transmitted by the infrared sensing module.
The electronic tag unit can further include a high frequency radio frequency identification module. The reading unit of the door lock controller can further include a high frequency radio frequency identification reading module. When the battery is out of electricity, the high frequency reading module of the reading unit of the door lock controller sends a high frequency radio frequency identification signal to activate the high frequency radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit when the high frequency radio frequency identification reading module of the reading unit of the door lock controller is within an operation range of the high frequency radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit. The high frequency radio frequency identification module of the electronic tag unit sends the user information by a high frequency radio frequency identification signal to the high frequency radio frequency identification reading module of the reading unit of the door lock controller. The reading unit sends the signal to the control unit. The control unit compares the signal indicative of the user information with the user information of the control unit and unlocks the door lock if it is identified that the user information contained in the signal is the same as the user information of the control unit.
The infrared detection range of the infrared signal transmitted by the infrared sensing module of the triggering unit is smaller than the distance range for awakening the electronic tag unit.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
With reference to
In the first embodiment shown in
With reference to
In a case that the door lock controller 2 is destructed or forcible intrusion occurs, the door lock controller 2 further includes an alarm device 26 for sending an alarm (such as sounding a siren) to warn the user. Furthermore, the door lock controller 2 includes a backup power device 27 (
In the general mode, when the door lock controller 2 is destructed or malfunctions, the first button 24 provides an unlocking function, and the second button 25 provides a locking function, which can be appreciated by one skilled in the art. In the management mode, the first button 24 provides an adding function of adding a new manager or a new user, and the second button 25 provides a deleting function of deleting a manager or a user, which can be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
In the second embodiment shown in
The electronic tag unit 3 includes a memory in which user information, such as an access identification number, is stored. The electronic tag unit 3 can be a card, an object wearable on the wrist of the user, a remote control, or any object that can be carried by the user. The electronic tag unit 3 includes a low frequency (LF) triggering module 31 (serving as a reception end), a high frequency (HF) RFID module 32, and an ultrahigh frequency (UHF) RFID module 33, and a battery 34. The battery 34 supplies power to the LF triggering module 31 and the UHF RFID module 33.
The reading unit 42 includes a high frequency (HF) RFID reading module 421 and an ultrahigh frequency (UHF) RFID reading module 422. The triggering unit 41 includes an infrared sensing module 411 and a low frequency (LF) triggering module 412 (which serves as a transmitting end). The trigger module 412 (the transmitting end) includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value that is set according to the field domain. The RSSI value is a distance range for awakening the electronic tag unit 3. When the electronic tag unit 3 receives a triggering signal from the LF triggering module 412 (the transmitting end), the user information of the electronic tag unit 3 is sent from the UHF RFID module 33 by an ultrahigh frequency (UHF) RFID signal to the reading unit 42 and is then sent to the control unit 43 for comparison purposes. When the holder of the electronic tag unit 3 moves to a location within an infrared signal detection range of the infrared sensing module 411, the control unit 43 verifies the user information and the range and decides whether to unlock the door lock after verification.
With reference to
When in use, the LF triggering module 412 (the transmitting end) of the triggering unit 41 transmits a low frequency triggering signal. When any one of the electronic tag units 3 is within the distance range of the RSSI value in which the low frequency triggering signal can be received, the LF triggering module 31 (the reception end) of the electronic tag unit 3 is awakened, and the UHF RFID module 33 of the electronic tag unit 3 is activated to send the user information of the electronic tag unit 3 by an UHF RFID signal. After the reading unit 42 reads the user information, the user information is sent to the control unit 43. The control unit 43 compares the signal indicative of the user information with the user information of the control unit 43 and prepares to unlock the door lock if it is identified that the user information contained in the signal is the same as the user information of the control unit 43. During the procedure of reading and comparison of the user information, the user keeps moving towards the door lock. When the user reaches a location within an infrared signal transmitting range (such as 1 meter) of the infrared sensing module 411 of the triggering unit 4, the infrared sensing module 411 detects the presence of an object (the user in this case) within its infrared signal transmitting range (because the infrared sensor reading is changed), confirming that the user has reached the safe unlocking range. Thus, a double check (user information and distance) is made before the door lock is unlocked.
In a case that the battery 34 is out of electricity, the UHF RFID module 33 cannot transmit the UHF RFID signal to the UHF RFID reading module 422, such that the control unit 43 cannot verify the user information. In this case, when the user reaches a position close to the door lock controller 2 (the HF RFID reading module 421 of the reading unit 42 of the door lock controller 2 is within an operation range, such as 1 cm, of the HF RFID module 32 of the electronic tag unit 3), the HF RFID reading module 421 sends an HF RFID signal to activate the HF RFID module 32 of the electronic tag unit 3. The HF RFID module 32 of the electronic tag unit 3 sends the user information by an HF RFID signal to the reading unit 42, which, in turn, sends the signal to the control unit 43. The control unit 43 compares the signal indicative of the user information with the user information of the control unit 43 and unlocks the door lock if it is identified that the user information contained in the signal is the same as the user information of the control unit 43.
Furthermore, the door lock controller 4 for commercial use includes a first button 44 and a second button 45. The first button 44 and the second button 45 have different functions in different modes (a management mode and a general mode) of the door lock controller 4 set according to the authority of the electronic tag unit 3. In the general mode, when the door lock controller 4 is destructed or malfunctions, the first button 44 provides an unlocking function, and the second button 45 provides a locking function. In the management mode, the first button 44 provides an adding function of adding a new manager or a new user, and the second button 45 provides a deleting function of deleting a manager or a user. In a case that the door lock controller 4 is destructed or forcible intrusion occurs, the door lock controller 2 further includes an alarm device 46 for sending an alarm (such as sounding a siren) to warn the user.
Still referring to
Since the UHF RFID module of the electronic tag unit 3 begins to send the user information by the UHF RFID signal after triggering by the LF triggering module 412 (the transmitting end) of the door lock controller 4, the disadvantage of rapid power consumption of the electronic tag unit 3 can be solved.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103211578 | Jun 2014 | TW | national |
