IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,697,302
Granted Patent B2
US 9,697,302 · App. 14/517,178 · Granted Jul 4, 2017

Electronic lock having automatic user slot assignment for passcodes

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,697,302
App. No.
14/517,178
Granted
Jul 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic lock in which new passcodes can be added and/or deleted without specifying the user slot to which the new passcode should be assigned. A circuit in the electronic lock determines whether the new passcode to be added is unique compared to existing passcodes stored in memory. If so, the circuit searches for an available user slot for which no authorized passcodes are associated and associates the new passcode with an available user slot.

Claims (17)

1. An electronic lock comprising:

a latch assembly including a bolt movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a circuit including at least one input device and memory;

wherein the memory has a plurality of user slots stored thereon that are capable of being associated with an authorized passcode;

wherein the circuit is configured to control movement of the bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position responsive to receiving an authorized passcode via the input device;

wherein the circuit is configured to enter into an add mode responsive to input received from the input device; wherein in the add mode the circuit is configured to add a new passcode to memory without specifying a user slot;

wherein in the add mode, the circuit is configured to search existing passcodes stored in memory to determine whether the new passcode is a duplicate of any existing passcodes;

wherein in the add mode, the circuit is configured to store the new passcode in memory as an authorized passcode if the new passcode is not a duplicate of any existing passcodes; and

wherein the circuit is configured to enter into a delete mode responsive to input received from the input device; wherein in the delete mode the circuit is configured to delete a passcode to be deleted from existing passcodes stored in memory without specifying a user slot.

2. The electronic lock as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to search for an available user slot for which no authorized passcodes are associated and associate the new passcode with an available user slot.

3. The electronic lock as recited in claim 2 , wherein the circuit is configured to move the bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position responsive to entering the new passcode via the input device.

4. The electronic lock as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to reject the new passcode if the new passcode is a duplicate of an existing passcode.

5. The electronic lock as recited in claim 4 , wherein the circuit is configured to communicate an audible and/or visual indication that the new passcode has been rejected.

6. The electronic lock as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the delete mode, the circuit is configured to search existing passcodes stored in memory to determine whether the passcode to be deleted matches any existing passcodes.

7. The electronic lock as recited in claim 6 , wherein the circuit is configured to delete the passcode to be deleted from memory as an authorized passcode if the passcode to be deleted matches an existing passcode.

8. The electronic lock as recited in claim 7 , wherein the circuit is configured to reject the passcode to be deleted if the passcode to be deleted does not match an existing passcode stored in memory.

9. The electronic lock as recited in claim 8 , wherein the circuit is configured to communicate an audible and/or visual indication that the passcode to be deleted has been rejected.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: ASSA ABLOY AMERICAS RESIDENTIAL INC.
Reel/Frame 065658/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064029/0313 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 22, 2016
From: KWIKSET CORPORATION
To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039116/0293 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE
Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2015
From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 035614/0356 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2014
From: NGUYEN, THUAN DUY; YEH, KEN CHING YING
To: KWIKSET CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033973/0384 →