Abstract:
A touch screen electronic deadbolt includes a planar, exterior touch panel with a touch overlay for receiving tactile input for entry of an access code to engage and disengage a deadbolt. The touch panel is contained within a housing cavity of a rectilinear housing. A touch overlay rests above the housing cavity extending to the edge of the housing without the use of a bezel or frame, thus providing a sleek and low profile appearance. An interior escutcheon may be in communication with the exterior touch panel allowing a user to manually engage and disengage the deadbolt from within a dwelling.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of security locks. More particularly, it relates to an electronic deadbolt controlled by a touch screen. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Electronic deadbolts are well-known. Many electronic deadbolts include a keypad that allows users to enter a passcode to unlock the lock. In some cases, the keypads have physical buttons that the users press to enter passcodes while others include touch buttons or touch screens that operate on capacitive touch. With a touch screen lock controller, the keypad is able to sense touches of the user&#39;s finger on the keypad surface without the mechanical parts of a physical button. The user may engage the deadbolt and disengage the deadbolt through tactile input into the lock controller via the touch screen. 
         [0003]    These touch screens are often installed on the exterior portion of an entry door. In the event of a power outage, touch screen lock controllers are known to include a mechanical key bypass accessible on the exterior portion of the entry door. The mechanical key bypass allows the user to use a physical key to engage and disengage the same deadbolt controlled by the touch screen. This allows a fail-safe measure to gain entry in the event of a power outage or malfunction of the electronic lock. 
         [0004]    Mechanical key bypasses also add to the overall size of the deadbolt requiring a larger use of space on the exterior surface of the door. The increased use of the door surface limits aesthetic designs such as glass accents, millwork, or carvings that may be included on the door surface. Mechanical key bypasses also add to the overall complexity and cost associated with the deadbolt. 
         [0005]    Known electronic deadbolts that use touch screens use a touch overlay that is surrounded by and protected by a bezel. The bezel acts as a barrier to protect the overlay from impact and also shields the perimeter from moisture, as it is installed on the exterior of a door. These bezels also add to the overall size of the touch screen, which as mentioned above is undesirable. 
         [0006]    What is therefore needed is an electronic deadbolt that uses a reduced amount of the door surface. What is also needed is an electronic deadbolt that incorporates a touch screen without a mechanical key bypass. Finally, what is needed is an improved, exterior, compact touch screen for operating an electronic deadbolt. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An electronic deadbolt controller preferably includes a planar, exterior touch panel. The touch panel is preferably used in all-weather conditions. The touch panel is also preferably in the shape of a square with flat sides. A touch overlay may form a face of the touch panel and receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input may be received by a flexible printed circuit board secured to the touch overlay. 
         [0008]    To assist in displaying a numeric key pad, a diffuser may be secured to the flexible printed circuit board opposite the touch overlay. A spacer may further be secured to the diffuser opposite the flexible printed circuit board. A rigid printed circuit board may include light emitting diodes and be secured to the spacer opposite the diffuser. Preferably, a PCB housing contains the components of the touch pad within sides formed by a PCB housing cavity. The touch overlay preferably rests above the PCB housing cavity and is secured with an adhesive sealing the components within. 
         [0009]    A second housing may be used to accept the PCB housing within a housing cavity formed by four sides of the second housing cavity thus allowing the PCB housing to nest within. An opening in the rear surface of the touch panel may be sealed, preferably with an epoxy, therefore preventing any moisture from entering the touch panel. 
         [0010]    An interior escutcheon may be attached to the touch panel with fasteners and a cable allowing communication, or be in remote communication. A battery storage compartment is preferably included within the interior escutcheon to deliver power the electronic deadbolt controller. A set of battery terminals may also extend from the exterior of the second housing in electrical communication with the lock controller configured to accept an external battery to power the electronic deadbolt controller when the battery storage compartment fails to power the electronic deadbolt controller. 
         [0011]    The second housing may be secured to the PCB housing with a tenon in the second housing cavity configured to mate with a mortise in the PCB housing. 
         [0012]    The touch overlay may also include an electroluminescent material configured to both illuminate the touch panel and also detect the tactile input. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the electronic deadbolt controller does not include a mechanical key bypass on an exterior side of the door and instead uses a battery backup with the battery terminals. 
         [0014]    A plurality of tactile input traces may also be used by programing them into the electronic deadbolt controller or they may be physically embedded into the touch overlay thus allowing for a thinner touch panel. In such an example, the touch overlay would preferably be glass but any known touch overlay material may be used. 
         [0015]    The touch overlay also preferably includes equal length sides that each extend beyond a perimeter of the PCB housing. The PCB housing may be formed with at least three equal length sides that are each shorter than the equal length sides of the touch overlay. The second housing also preferably includes sides that are each equal in length to the touch overlay sides. The equal length sides of the touch overlay thus align with and are flush to the equal length sides of the second housing when the touch panel is assembled. 
         [0016]    The touch panel may be assembled with a conformal resin to secure the flexible printed circuit board, the diffuser, the spacer, and the rigid circuit board within the housing cavity, or double sided tape and adhesives may be used. 
         [0017]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a raised perspective view of an exemplary electronic deadbolt with a touch panel for keyless entry according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the electronic deadbolt of  FIG. 1 , as configured in a typical installation in an entry door; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a raised perspective view of a touch panel of the electronic deadbolt of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the touch panel of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the touch panel of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the touch panel of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the touch panel of  FIG. 3  showing a touch overlay, flexible printed circuit board, diffuser, spacer, rigid printed circuit board, PCB housing, and the housing; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a housing of the touch panel of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the housing of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a front view of a PCB housing as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the PCB housing of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the PCB housing and the housing of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the PCB housing of  FIG. 7  nested within the housing of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a back view of the PCB housing in the foreground assembled with the touch overlay in the background, as shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is side view of the PCB housing assembled with the touch overlay as shown in  FIG. 14 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the housing with the touch overlay removed, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described devices, systems, and methods, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. Because such elements and operations are well-known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0036]    References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Additionally, it should be appreciated that items included in a list in the form of “at least one A, B, and C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C). Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C). 
         [0037]    In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown in specific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may be combined with other features. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic deadbolt controller  20  is shown according to one embodiment of the invention. The electronic deadbolt controller  20  includes a touch panel  24 , electronic deadbolt  22 , and an escutcheon  54 . The touch panel may be mounted on an exterior surface and exposed to the elements. The escutcheon  54  may be mounted on an interior of a dwelling. The electronic deadbolt  22  engages and disengages a deadbolt  78  following input provided by a user into either the touch panel  24  or the escutcheon  54 . 
         [0039]    The touch panel  24  preferably receives input in the form of tactile touch from a user. A touch overlay  28  is provided on the front portion of the touch panel  24  and may illuminate to display a number pad. The user may enter an access code by manually entering a numeric code onto the touch overlay  28 . A logo  92  may also selectively illuminate to either identify the origin of the invention or to communicate various messages to the user. For example, the logo  92  may illuminate in white to indicate an operational status, red for a malfunction, flash to indicate an incorrect/correct attempt to enter an access code, or any other color/flashing combination. The touch overlay  28  need not be limited to illuminating a numeric pad, but may include alpha numeric characters and symbols. The touch overlay  28  may also illuminate to display messages or video to allow for communication with a remote person or computer system. In this instance, a camera may be incorporated either directly on the touch panel  24  or integrated via a wire or wireless control. 
         [0040]    In any instance, the preferred embodiment of the touch panel  24  includes a flat, planar touch overlay  28  that has equal length sides  26  forming a uniform, square shape. The touch panel  24  sides  26  are formed by the touch overlay  28  and the exterior  86  of the housing  44 . The touch overlay  24  has sides  70  that are uniform in length, line up to, and are flush with the sides  46  of the housing  44 . This produces a sleek and uniform shape with a flat front and sides. 
         [0041]    Referring now to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the electronic deadbolt controller  20  is preferably installed with the touch panel  24  on an exterior side  100  of a door  94 . The escutcheon  54  is also preferable installed on the interior side  102  of the same door  94 . An interior turn piece  82  may be included on the escutcheon  54  allowing an occupant within the dwelling to engage or disengage the deadbolt  78  manually, without necessitating an access code. The interior turn piece  82  may mechanically engage the deadbolt or it may energize the electronic deadbolt  22  and causing it to engage. A cable  98  is preferably used, allowing the touch panel  24  to communicate with both the electronic deadbolt  22  and the escutcheon  54 . The cable  98  may pass through the door  94  through a hole cored into the door between the escutcheon  54  and the touch panel  24 . Alternatively, any known wireless protocol may be used, allowing the touch panel  24  to communicate with the electronic deadbolt  22 , and escutcheon  54 . By using a wireless protocol, a user could mount the touch panel  24  anywhere or even use a pre-existing device, such as a smart phone to operate the electronic deadbolt  22 . 
         [0042]    In order to prevent unauthorized access to the escutcheon  54  from the exterior side  100  of the door  94 , a hardened steel plate  62  may be inserted between the door  94  and the escutcheon. The steel plate  62  provides anti-drilling features in the event the touch panel  24  is dislodged from the door  94 . An added security measure includes forming the housing  44  out of a durable alloy and using fasteners extending through the door  94  to join the housing  44  to the escutcheon  94 . 
         [0043]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the touch panel  24  is shown in isolation. As previously discussed, the touch panel preferably includes a flat touch overlay  28  that rests on top of a housing  44 . The touch overlay  28  extends flush to the sides  46  of the housing, such that the sides  70  of the touch overlay  28  and the sides  46  of the housing are flush along the entire perimeter of the sides  26  of the touch panel  24 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  expands on the touch panel  24  showing the rear surface  52  of the housing  44 . An opening  50  is preferably included in the housing  55  and touch panel  24  allowing the previously-mentioned cable  98  to pass through. As the touch panel  24  is intended to be mounted on an exterior side  100  of a door  94  (see  FIG. 2  for example), the opening  50  is preferably sealed to prevent moisture from rain, snow, or air humidity from entering the housing  44 . The seal may be any known substance but is preferably a cured resin in the form of an epoxy. Supports  18  may be included on the rear surface  52  of the touch panel  24  and rest within the door  94  for added support. Fasteners may use the supports  18  as anchor points and thread into the supports pulling both the escutcheon  54  and the touch panel  24  against the interior side  102  and exterior side  100  of the door, respectively (see  FIG. 2  for example). As the rear surface  52  of the touch panel  24  and housing  44  is generally flat, the touch panel  24  rests flush against the door  94  with the supports  18  extending into a pocket (not shown) within the door. As the touch panel  24  is flush against the exterior side  100  of the door  94 , this provides an added security feature preventing an unauthorized user from using a pry bar between the touch panel  24  and the door  94 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 5 and 6  detail the sleek, uniform profile of the touch panel  24 .The touch overlay  28  includes a profile formed by sides  70  that uniformly line up with and are flush to the sides  46  of the housing  44 . This produces a touch panel  24  that does not require a bezel to make-up for any differences between the respective sides of the touch overlay  28  and the housing  44 . The lack of any bezel also eliminates the use of a border around the touch overlay  28  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In fact, from a front view of the touch panel  24 , the housing  44  is not visible as the touch overlay extends right up to the sides  46  of the housing  44 . 
         [0046]    As there is no bezel surrounding the touch overlay  28 , the touch panel  24  preferably does not use any visible gasket between the housing  44  and the touch overlay. Instead, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the touch panel  24  uses an adhesive  88  between the touch overlay  28  and the housing  44 . The adhesive  88  is shown in  FIG. 7  in the form of stippling, but may include a liquid adhesive, a double sided tape adhesive, a conformal resin adhesive, or any other known adhesive used in the art of touch screen assembly. Preferably, the touch overlay  28  is secured to a flexible printed circuit board  30  with adhesive  30 . The flexible printed circuit board  30  is then bonded to a diffuser  32 . The diffuser  32  diffuses light projected from light emitting diodes  106  on a rigid printed circuit board  36 . The light is passed through a spacer  34  prior to the diffuser which concentrates the light into desired patterns and shapes. Each one of these layers of the touch panel  24  may be secured to one another with an adhesive  88 . As previously discussed, the touch panel may also incorporate video or display other messages. As a result, the touch panel is not intended to be limited to the components discussed herein. As touch screen technology advances, different printed circuit boards are envisioned that may not require as many layers, thus allowing for a thinner profile. 
         [0047]    Preferably, the various layers of the touch panel  24  are contained within a PCB housing  38 . The PCB housing  38  includes sides  40  that form a PCB housing cavity  42 .The PCB housing cavity  42  is shaped such that the rigid printed circuit board  36 , the spacer  34 , the diffuser  32 , and the flexible printed circuit board  30  are all contained within the PCB housing cavity  42 . Each one of these components sits completely within the PCB housing cavity  42  such that they are not visible from a side view. This allows the touch overlay  28  to rest on the PCB housing sides  40  around the entire perimeter of the PCB housing  38 . The adhesive  88  therefore seals the components within the PCB housing cavity  42 . Once contained within the PCB housing cavity  42  the PCB housing  38  may be inserted within the housing  44  within the housing cavity  48 . 
         [0048]    To assist in securing the PCB housing  38  within the housing  44 , a tenon  76  extends from the housing cavity  48 . The tenon  76  on the housing  44  is inserted into a mortise  44  on the PCB housing  38 . The tenon  76  of the housing  44  projects from a side  46  of the housing  44  and into the housing cavity  48 . The mortise  104  likewise projects into the PCB housing cavity  42  from a single side  40  of the PCB housing  38 . As a result, the exterior  86  of the housing  44  is flat and uniform on every side  46 . The PCB housing  38  is flat and uniform on all sides  40  except for the side  40  with the mortise  104 . Nevertheless, the length of each one of the sides  40  of the PCB housing are equal length allowing it to fit within the interior of the housing  44  within the housing cavity  48 . Once inserted into the housing cavity  48 , the perimeter  72  of the PCB housing  38  is contained flush with a front face  90  of the housing  44 . 
         [0049]    Turning now to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the housing  44  is shown in isolation with the PCB housing  38  removed. The housing cavity  48  is formed with smooth interior sides  46  with a single mortise  76  projecting into the housing cavity. The front face  90  of the housing  44  is also planar and evenly flat. This allows for an even and secure bond with the touch overlay  28  about the front face  90  with the use of an adhesive thus sealing the entire perimeter of the housing  44  with the touch overlay  28 . As previously mentioned, an opening  50  in the rear of the housing  44  allows a cable  98  (see  FIG. 2  for example) to pass through allowing communication with the escutcheon  54 . The opening  50  is preferably filled with an epoxy sealing the opening from any moisture or foreign bodies and protecting the electric operation of the touch panel  24 . 
         [0050]    Looking to  FIG. 10 , a front view of the PCB housing  38  shows the exterior profile that matches the interior profile of the housing  44  in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 11  also shows a perspective fire of the PCB housing  38 . The sizes of PCB housing  38  and the housing  44  are not to scale. The PCB housing  38  is designed to fit within the interior of the housing cavity  48  such that the mortise  104  of the PCB housing  38  receives the tenon  76  of the housing  44  which as best shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 7 . The perimeter  72  of the PCB housing is also uniformly flat which allows the touch overlay  28  to be secured with adhesive about the perimeter  72  as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 14-16 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show the PCB housing being inserted into the housing cavity  48  of the (main) housing  44 .The sides  40  of the PCB housing fit uniformly within the housing cavity  48 . The flexible printed circuit board  30 , diffuser  32 , spacer  34 , and rigid printed circuit board  36  are not shown for simplicity&#39;s sake, but are all contained within the PCB housing  38  such that they would not be visible in the side view of  FIG. 12 . Once the PCB housing  38  is inserted within the housing cavity  48  the touch overlay  28  may be secured to both the perimeter  72  of the PCB housing and front face  90  of the housing  44  as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , without the housing  44  the touch overlay  28  extends past the sides  40  of the PCB housing  48  on each one of the sides  40 . Looking at the rear  74  of the PCB housing, the sides  70  of the touch overlay  28  remain exposed and projecting about the perimeter  72  of the PCB housing  38  which allows them to be securely fastened to the front face  90  housing  38 , best shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0053]    When assembling the touch panel  24 , the touch overlay  28  may be secured at the same time onto both the PCB housing  38  and the housing  44  after they are nested together as shown in  FIG. 16 . Alternatively, the touch overlay  28  may be first secured to the PCB housing as shown in  FIG. 14  and then secured to the housing  44 . It is also envisioned that the PCB housing  38  may be eliminated entirely. In such an embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board  30 , diffuser  32 , spacer  34 , and rigid printed circuit board  36  may all be inserted directly into the housing  44 . The touch overlay  28  may then encapsulate these components within the housing cavity  48  by being secured about the sides  46  of the housing. 
         [0054]    Referring back to  FIG. 16 , the bottom of the housing  44  is shown which reveals a set of battery terminals  58 . These battery terminals may be aligned with a hand-held battery  60  to provide power to the electronic deadbolt controller  20  in the event of a power outage. The battery terminals  58  preferably accept a common nine volt battery  60  but may be configured to accept any other battery or other form of auxiliary power. The electronic deadbolt controller is preferably powered by batteries contained within a battery storage compartment  56  of the escutcheon  54  (see  FIG. 1  for example). 
         [0055]    The escutcheon  54  may not only contain a battery storage compartment  56 , but may also be configured to contain any number of accessories, such as a wireless protocol controller  84 . Any one of the components of the touch panel  24  may also be removed from the housing  44  and moved within the escutcheon  54  allowing for an even smaller touch panel  24 . The touch panel  24  may also include a touch overlay  28  constructed with an electroluminescent material  64  contained within the touch overlay  28  or on one side of the touch overlay  28 . Such a construction would allow for a smaller housing  44  as the light emitting diodes contained on the rigid circuit board  36  would not be needed or may be smaller. Another alternative design may incorporate tactile input traces  68  which may be programmed into the electronic deadbolt controller  20  which would allow a user to trace shapes or patterns onto the touch overlay  28  as a form of access code. 
         [0056]    When operating the touch panel  24 , the user preferably may engage the deadbolt  78  simply by touching anywhere on the overlay  28  of the touch panel  24 . A single touch may “awaken” the touch panel from a dormant sleep mode. While in a dormant sleep mode the touch panel  24  preferably does not illuminate and a number pad may not be visible. Once awoken with a single touch on the touch overlay  28 , the number pad may then be visible. When the door  94  is in a closed position, waking the touch pad  28  may also automatically engage the deadbolt  78 . This allows the user to lock the door  94  simply and easily when exiting the dwelling. Alternatively, the user may touch the touch overlay  28  to awaken the touch panel  24  and then press a lock button that illuminates. 
         [0057]    It is also envisioned that the touch panel  24  may include a physical button. The button may either sense tactile touch through capacitive sensing or through haptic feedback allowing the user to physically depress the button. As indicated by lock symbol, pressing of the button may cause the deadbolt  78  to engage. The button  106  may be depressed along a parting line allowing displacement of the button as it is pressed. Should the user desire the deadbolt  78  to disengage, the access code is preferably entered into the touch panel  24 . 
         [0058]    The touch panel  24  may also use an illuminated keypad. The keypad includes a set of numbers ranging from zero through nine allowing a user to input any combination of numbers as a pass code. The keypad may also include other symbols such as a check mark or battery symbol. Any other symbols may be used as well to convey messages to the user, indicate battery levels, indicate malfunctions, and indicate operational status. The logo may also be used to receive input or indicate operational status. 
         [0059]    The numbers may be shown in random order each time the keypad is illuminated thus preventing a potential intruder from learning the access code by seeing residual fingerprints, marks, or wear on the touch panel  24 . It is also envisioned that a single touch of the touch overlay  28  may engage the deadbolt  78  when the keypad is not illuminated. 
         [0060]    For example, when the touch panel  24  has not received any tactile input for a predetermined time period, it may be configured to power down activating a sleep mode. When in such a sleep mode the keypad may not be visible and the touch panel  24  preferably appears blank. As a user exits a dwelling, the touch panel  24  may still be in sleep mode. Should the user desire to engage the deadbolt  78 , the user may simply press the button or if the touch panel  28  does not include button the user may simple touch anywhere on the touch overlay  28  which awakens the touch panel  24  and automatically engages the deadbolt  78 . As a result, the user may exit the dwelling leaving it in a secured state without the need to use a physical key, enter a code, or other cumbersome activity. 
         [0061]    It is also envisioned that the touch panel  24  may be configured in other shapes in addition to the square shape shown. For example, the touch panel  24  may be round, rectangular, or triangular. In fact, any polygonal shape may be used. The keypad may also be illuminated in round patterns, triangular patterns, or any other patterns and need not be limited to a checkerboard like pattern.