The present invention relates to an electric lock/and more particularly to an electric lock having multiple control systems.
Generally, an electric lock has a control system configured to control a motor to rotate in order to perform locking or unlocking operation. When the motor is rotated in an unlocking direction, a clutch mechanism of the electric lock is engaged with a latch assembly of the electric lock, such that a user can turn a handle to open a door. When the motor is rotated in an unlocking direction, the clutch mechanism of the electric lock is disengaged from the latch assembly of the electric lock. Therefore, the door cannot be opened even if the user turns the handle. When the control system of the electric lock fails, the user can only use a key to open the door through a mechanical locking system of the electric lock. However, the mechanical locking system is bulky and is not conducive to design of the electric lock. Therefore, some electric locks do not comprise the mechanical locking system due to design considerations. As such, when a control system of a keyless electric lock of the prior art fails, the user must destroy the electric lock to open the door. Therefore, the keyless electric lock of the prior art has lower reliability.
The present invention provides an electric lock and a control method thereof.
The electric lock of the present invention comprises a motor, a power input port, a first control system and a second control system. The first control system comprises an input unit configured to receive input data, an internal power source, and a first processing unit configured to use electricity of the internal power source to control the motor to rotate according to the input data. The second control system comprises a wireless unit configured to receive a wireless signal, and a second processing unit different from the first processing unit and configured to use electricity of an external power source to control the motor to rotate when data transmitted in the wireless signal matches predetermined data and when the power input port is electrically connected to the external power source.
The control method of the electric lock of the present invention comprises providing an electric lock comprising a motor, a power input port, a first control system and a second control system, wherein the first control system comprises an input unit, an internal power source and a first processing unit, and the second control system comprises a wireless unit and a second processing unit different from the first processing unit; the input unit receiving input data; the first processing unit using electricity of the internal power source to control the motor to rotate according to the input data; the wireless unit receiving a wireless signal; and the second processing using electricity of an external power source to control the motor to rotate when data transmitted in the wireless signal matches predetermined data and when the power input port is electrically connected to the external power source.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
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Moreover, when the internal power source 134 runs out of electricity, a user can electrically connect an external power source (not shown in
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In one embodiment of the present invention the second control system 140 works as a backup system when the first control system 130 fails. Therefore, the second processing unit 144 is configured to use the electricity of the external power source 150 to control the motor 110 to rotate only in the unlocking direction in Step 450. In other words, the second control system 140 only needs to drive the electric lock 100 to perform the unlocking operation, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Moreover, after the wireless unit 142 converts the wireless signal into electricity, the second processing unit 144 is configured to use the electricity converted from the wireless signal to perform operation. In other words, the electricity required by the second processing unit 144 for operation is converted from the wireless signal, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The electricity required by the second processing unit 144 for operation can also be provided by the external power source 150. In addition, the predetermined data stored in the second processing unit 144 can be unique identification data of the mobile device 200, such as an international mobile equipment identity (IME) or a media access control address (MAC address), but the invention is not limited thereto. On the other hand, the external power source 150 can be a 9V battery or a 5V USB power source, but the invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, each of the first processing unit 136 and the second processing unit 144 can comprise a microprocessor and a driver, but the invention is not limited thereto. The microprocessor is configured to control the driver to drive the motor 110 to rotate according to a control signal.
According to the aforementioned arrangement, when the first control system 130 of the electric lock 100 fails, the second control system 140 of the electric lock 100 can work as a backup system to unlock the electric lock 100. The user can place the authenticated mobile device 200 to be close to the electric lock 100 and electrically connect the external power source 150 to the power input port 120 to further activate and request the second control system 140 to perform the unlocking operation. Moreover, since the second control system 140 is independent of the first control system 130, the operation of the second control system 140 is not affected by the failure of the first control system 130.
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In addition, in the control method of the electric lock of the present invention, the aforementioned steps need not be in the exact order shown. That is, the order of the steps can be changed and other steps can be inserted in between.
In contrast to the prior art, the electric lock of the present invention has multiple control systems. When the first control system of the electric lock fails, the user can use the authenticated mobile device and the external power source as a key to further activate the second control system and request the second control system to perform the unlocking operation. In other words, the second control system of the electric lock of the present invention works as a backup system to replace a mechanical locking system. Moreover, since the second control system is independent of the first control system, the operation of the second control system is not affected by the failure of the first control system. Therefore, as a keyless electric lock, the electric lock of the present invention can have higher reliability.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method, may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
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