IP Library Granted Patent US 11,879,268
Granted Patent B2
US 11,879,268 · App. 16/217,859 · Granted Jan 23, 2024

Door lock bezel with touch and wireless capabilities

Inventors: John H. Martin (Atherton, CA); Kenneth D. Goto (Emerald Hills, CA)
Assignee: Level Home, Inc.
E05B47/0001E05B15/02E05B47/00G07C9/00174E05B2035/009E05B2047/0067E05B2047/0084E05B2047/0095G07C9/00563G07C9/00904
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,879,268
App. No.
16/217,859
Granted
Jan 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electromechanical lock can have a bezel along an exterior surface. A touch of a human finger upon the bezel can be determined and used to adjust a deadbolt between a lock state and an unlock state.

Claims (43)

1. An electromechanical smart lock to lock and unlock a door of a building, comprising:

a housing, including a bezel, the housing defining an exterior surface of the electromechanical smart lock;

touch sensor circuitry positioned on a surface of the bezel and configured to detect a motion of a finger that traces the surface of the bezel;

a deadbolt;

a motor configured to actuate the deadbolt between a lock state and an unlock state; and

a controller circuit configured to operate the motor based on detection of the motion of the finger tracing the surface of the bezel.

2. The electromechanical smart lock of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor circuitry further identifies a fingerprint of the finger, and the controller is further configured to operate the motor based on a determination that the fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint.

3. The electromechanical smart lock of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power source configured to provide electric power to the touch sensor circuitry, the motor, and the controller circuit, the power source coupled with a doorbell wiring of the door.

4. The electromechanical smart lock of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power source configured to provide electric power to the touch sensor circuitry, the motor, and the controller circuit, the power source disposed within a front bezel of the electromechanical door lock.

5. The electromechanical smart lock of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power source configured to provide electric power to the touch sensor circuitry, the motor, and the controller circuit, the power source disposed within a back bezel of the electromechanical door lock.

6. The electromechanical smart lock of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor circuitry is further configured to detect a direction of finger that traces the surface of the bezel, and the controller circuit further configured to operate the motor based on the direction of the finger.

7. An electromechanical lock, comprising:

a bezel portion of an exterior surface of the electromechanical lock;

touch sensor circuitry positioned on a surface of the bezel and configured to detect pressure from a finger on the surface of the bezel;

a deadbolt configured to retract to be in an unlock state, and configured to extend to be in a lock state; and

a controller circuit configured to generate control signals that cause the deadbolt to extend or retract based on detection of the pressure from the finger on the surface of the bezel.

8. The electromechanical lock of claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor circuitry further identifies a fingerprint of the finger, and the controller is further configured to generate control signals that cause the deadbolt to extend or retract based on a determination that the fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint.

9. The electromechanical lock of claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor circuitry is further configured to detect a motion of the finger that traces a surface of the bezel, the controller is further configured to generate control signals that cause the deadbolt to extend or retract based on motion of the finger.

10. The electromechanical lock of claim 9 , further comprising:

a key slot, and wherein the motion of the finger upon the bezel is a circular motion around the key slot.

11. The electromechanical lock of claim 9 , wherein the motion of the finger is a circular motion upon the bezel.

12. The electromechanical lock of claim 7 , further comprising:

a power source configured to provide electric power to the controller circuit, the power source coupled with a doorbell wiring of the door.

13. The electromechanical lock of claim 7 , further comprising:

a motor configured to be operated by the controller circuit to adjust the deadbolt between the lock state and the unlock state.

14. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a touch sensor positioned on a surface of a bezel of an electromechanical lock, a motion of a finger tracing the surface of the bezel;

generating a control signal based on the motion of the finger tracing the surface of the bezel; and

in response to the control signal, actuating, by a motor, a position of a deadbolt.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensor, a fingerprint of the finger;

determining, by a processor, that the fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint; and

wherein the control signal is further based on the determination that the fingerprint matched the stored fingerprint.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensor, a direction of finger that traces the surface of the bezel; and

wherein the control signal is further based on the direction of the finger.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

detecting, by the touch sensor, a pressure from the finger on the surface of the bezel; and

wherein the control signal is further based on the pressure of the finger.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the direction of the finger upon the bezel is a circular motion around a key slot.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2025
From: COX COMMUNICATIONS EBD HOLDINGS, INC.
To: LEVEL HOME, INC.
Reel/Frame 071966/0983 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2024
From: LEVEL HOME, INC.
To: ASSA ABLOY ELEVEN LLC
Reel/Frame 069136/0252 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 5, 2024
From: ASSA ABLOY ELEVEN LLC
To: ASSA ABLOY LEVEL LLC
Reel/Frame 069304/0892 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: LEVEL HOME, INC.
To: COX COMMUNICATIONS EBD HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067682/0457 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2019
From: CALIFORNIA THINGS, INC.
To: LEVEL HOME, INC.
Reel/Frame 050637/0889 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2019
From: MARTIN, JOHN H.; GOTO, KENNETH D.
To: CALIFORNIA THINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050620/0517 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62597890 · Dec 12, 2017
Related Publication 20190178003A1 · Jun 13, 2019