IP Library Granted Patent US 12,385,318
Granted Patent B2
US 12,385,318 · App. 18/579,838 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Electronic door system

Inventors: Nicholas Fink (Maumee, OH); May Russell (Maumee, OH); Brett Finley (Maumee, OH); Jacob Weil (Maumee, OH); Daniel Schneider (Maumee, OH); Keith Butcher (Maumee, OH); Logan Harvey (Maumee, OH); Brandon Knoll (Maumee, OH); Andrew Waite (Maumee, OH); Ben Kowalski (Maumee, OH); Ryan Starling (Maumee, OH); Frances Wang (Maumee, OH); Joseph Gonzalez (Maumee, OH); David Hezlep (Maumee, OH); Steven Orchosky (Maumee, OH); Hidekazu Saegusa (Maumee, OH); Videl Smith (Maumee, OH); Bill Klein (Maumee, OH); Adam Allmandinger (Maumee, OH); Tim Quirin (Maumee, OH); Jon Klein (Maumee, OH); John Burleson (Maumee, OH); Kevin Anderson (Maumee, OH); Brian Frackelton (Maumee, OH); Todd Whitaker (Maumee, OH); George Polly (Maumee, OH); Arlber Chang (Maumee, OH); Derek Fielding (Maumee, OH)
Assignee: Therma-Tru Corporation
E06B7/28E05F15/71E05F15/73E05Y2900/132
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,385,318
App. No.
18/579,838
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic door system includes a door frame, a door hingedly coupled to the door frame, an electrically-controllable component coupled to or disposed within the door, a door wiring harness, and a cover. The door defines a channel extending along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof. The door wiring harness includes a wire extending along and within the channel. The wire is coupled to the electrically-controllable component. The cover extends along the peripheral edge and covers the channel.

Claims (105)

1. An electronic door system comprising:

a door frame including a first side jamb, a second side jamb, a head jamb, and a sill, and wherein at least one of the first side jamb or the second side jamb defines a light channel extending substantially along an entire longitudinal length thereof;

a frame wiring harness extending through the door frame;

a light strip disposed within and extending along the light channel, a portion of the light strip extending into the head jamb and connected to the frame wiring harness; and

a light cover enclosing the light strip within the light channel;

a door hingedly coupled to the door frame, the door defining a channel extending along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof;

an electrically-controllable component coupled to or disposed within the door;

a door wiring harness including a wire extending along and within the channel, the wire coupled to the electrically-controllable component;

a power transfer assembly positioned between the door frame and the door, the power transfer assembly electrically coupling the frame wiring harness to the door wiring harness; and

a cover extending along the peripheral edge and covering the channel.

2. The electronic door system of claim 1 , wherein the door defines a window aperture, further comprising a window disposed within the window aperture, wherein the window is the electrically-controllable component, and wherein the window is a controllable privacy glass or a transparent display.

3. The electronic door system of claim 2 , wherein the channel defines a wire aperture that connects the channel to the window aperture, and wherein the wire extends through the wire aperture to the window.

4. The electronic door system of claim 3 , further comprising a raceway disposed within the channel, wherein the raceway includes a base secured within the channel and the cover, wherein the wire aperture is a first wire aperture, wherein the base defines a wire volume and a second wire aperture that aligns with the first wire aperture, wherein the wire extends though the wire volume, the second wire aperture, and the first wire aperture to the window, and wherein the cover releasably engages with the base to enclose the wire volume.

5. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to facilitate determining a location of a user relative to the door; and

a controller configured to make a door access decision at least partially based on the location of the user indicating that the user is outside and not inside of a building within which the electronic door system is installed.

6. The electronic door system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more sensors include a plurality of ultra-wideband sensors configured to facilitate triangulating a device location of a user device carried by the user and, thereby, the location of the user.

7. The electronic door system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to make the door access decision based on (a) the location indicating that the user is outside and not inside of the building and (b) an access intent of the user.

8. The electronic door system of claim 7 , further comprising at least one of (a) a radar sensor or (b) a capacitive touch doorknob or handle, wherein the controller is configured to determine the access intent of the user based on a signal received from the at least one of (a) the radar sensor or (b) the capacitive touch doorknob or handle.

9. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a doorknob or handle coupled to the door, the doorknob or handle including a haptic component; and

a controller configured to activate the haptic component according to one or more haptic profiles to provide feedback or information to a user based on a current situation proximate the door.

10. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more sensors; and

a controller configured to:

detect a presence of a user proximate the door via the one or more sensors;

detect a gesture performed by the user via the one or more sensors; and

control a function of the electronic door system based at least on the presence and the gesture.

11. The electronic door system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-controllable component is a first electrically-controllable component, further comprising:

a second electrically-controllable component coupled to or disposed within the door frame or the door;

a backup battery configured to power the first electrically-controllable component and the second electrically-controllable component in response to a mains power outage; and

a controller configured to:

provide a notification to a user device associated with the electronic door system in response to the mains power outage;

receive a response from the user device based on the notification, the response including at least one of (a) a hierarchy for the first electrically-controllable component and the second electrically-controllable component or (b) a time limit for the electronic door system to remain at least partially functional using the backup battery; and

evaluate a remaining charge of the backup battery; and

selectively deactivate the first electrically-controllable component and the second electrically-controllable component based on the at least one of the hierarchy or the time limit.

12. The electronic door system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic door system is configured to integrate with a building system of a building within which the electronic door system is installed;

the building system includes at least one of a lighting control system, an alarm system, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, or a water monitoring and control system; and

in response to the electronic door system entering an away mode, a controller of the electronic door system is configured to at least one of:

communicate with the lighting control system to turn off one or more lights within the building that are on when the away mode is activated;

communicate with the alarm system to enter the alarm system into an active mode;

communicate with the HVAC system to engage away temperature control operations; or

communicate with the water monitoring and control system to engage away water monitoring and control operations.

13. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the electrically-operated component to provide a visual or audible message tailored for a specific user when the specific a user walks through the door.

14. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to provide a notification to a user device associated with a user when another user walks through the door where the notification is tailored based on the other user.

15. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

acquire temperature data regarding an ambient environment; and

at least one of (a) provide a notification a user to turn off a water supply to water spickets of a building in which the electronic door system is installed or (b) automatically turn off the water supply in response to the temperature being less than a temperature threshold.

16. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

detect inclement weather; and

provide a notification to a user to close any open windows of a building in which the electronic door system is installed.

17. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

monitor and learn a schedule of a user; and

provide a notification to the user or another user in response to the schedule deviating.

18. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

monitor an event external to the door over time to learn a schedule for the event; and

at least one of (a) provide a notification to a user regarding a deviation from the schedule or (b) contact an organization associated with the event in response to the deviation.

19. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

monitor an area outside of the door;

detect a delivery person delivering a package; and

disable a doorbell chime function in response to detecting the delivery person delivering the package.

20. The electronic door system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to maintain the doorbell chime function in response to detecting the delivery person with a signature device indicating that the package needs to be signed for.

21. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to open the door, open a pet door of the door, or provide a notification to an owner of a pet in response to detecting the pet at the door and determining that the pet desires to be let inside through an action other than being present at the door.

22. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising:

external lights; and

a controller configured to:

detect knocking at the door or movement of the door; and

alter a lighting characteristic of the external lights based on a characteristic of the knocking or the movement.

23. The electronic door system of claim 1 , further comprising a control configured to:

identify that all occupants of a building within which the electronic door system is installed have left the building; and

automatically engage an away mode in response to the identification.

24. An electronic door system comprising:

a door frame;

a frame wiring harness extending through the door frame;

a door hingedly coupled to the door frame, the door defining a channel extending along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof;

an electrically-controllable component coupled to or disposed within the door;

a door wiring harness including a wire extending along and within the channel, the wire coupled to the electrically-controllable component;

a power transfer assembly positioned between the door frame and the door, the power transfer assembly electrically coupling the frame wiring harness to the door wiring harness;

a cover extending along the peripheral edge and covering the channel;

an access panel configured to be positioned in a location spaced from the door and the door frame;

a power converter disposed within the access panel and configured to receive AC power from a mains power source and convert the AC power to DC power;

a wireless transceiver disposed within the access panel;

a backup battery disposed within the access panel; and

a controller disposed within the access panel, the controller coupled to the power converter, the wireless transceiver, the backup battery, and the frame wiring harness.

25. The electronic door system of claim 24 , further comprising a user interface (a) coupled to the door frame and electrically coupled to the frame wiring harness or (b) coupled to the door and electrically coupled to the door wiring harness.

26. The electronic door system of claim 25 , wherein the user interface includes an external charge port to facilitate powering the user interface if the mains power source is unavailable and the backup battery is depleted.

27. The electronic door system of claim 24 , further comprising:

a reset interface disposed within the access panel; and

one or more switches positioned to disconnect at least one of the controller or the electrically-controllable component from the mains power source and the backup battery, the one or more switches configured to open for a period of time in response to receiving an open signal;

wherein the controller is configured to send the open signal to the one or more switches in response to a user engaging the reset interface.

28. An electronic door system comprising:

a door frame including a first side jamb, a second side jamb, a head jamb, and a sill, wherein at least one of the first side jamb or the second side jamb defines a light channel extending substantially along an entire longitudinal length thereof;

a frame wiring harness extending through the door frame;

a light strip disposed within and extending along the light channel, a portion of the light strip extending into the head jamb and connected to the frame wiring harness;

a light cover enclosing the light strip within the light channel;

a door hingedly coupled to the door frame, the door defining a wire channel extending along at least a portion of a peripheral edge thereof;

an electrically-controllable component coupled to or disposed within the door;

a door wiring harness including one or more wires extending along and within the wire channel, the door wiring harness coupled to the frame wiring harness and the electrically-controllable component;

a channel cover extending along the peripheral edge and covering the channel;

an access panel configured to be positioned in a location spaced from the door and the door frame;

a power converter disposed within the access panel, the power converter configured to receive AC power from a mains power source and convert the AC power to DC power;

a backup battery disposed within the access panel;

a power management controller disposed within the access panel, the power management controller coupled to the power converter and the backup battery; and

an access panel wiring harness coupled to the power management controller and the frame wiring harness.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2025
From: FINK, NICHOLAS; RUSSELL, MAY; FINLEY, BRETT; WEIL, JACOB; SCHNEIDER, DANIEL; BUTCHER, KEITH; HARVEY, LOGAN; KNOLL, BRANDON; WAITE, ANDREW; KOWALSKI, BEN
To: THERMA-TRU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070895/0867 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2025
From: KLEIN, BILL
To: THERMA-TRU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070895/0987 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2025
From: ALLMANDINGER, ADAM; QUIRIN, TIM; KLEIN, JON; BURLESON, JOHN; ANDERSON, KEVIN; FRACKELTON, BRIAN; WHITAKER, TODD; POLLY, GEORGE; CHANG, ARLBER; FIELDING, DEREK
To: THERMA-TRU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070896/0095 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2025
From: STARLING, RYAN; WANG, FRANCES; GONZALEZ, JOSEPH; HEZLEP, DAVID; ORCHOSKY, STEVEN; SAEGUSA, HIDEKAZU; SMITH, VIDEL
To: CAPGEMINI AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 070874/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2025
From: CAPGEMINI AMERICA, INC.
To: THERMA-TRU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 070874/0927 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63430280 · Dec 5, 2022
Provisional Application 63357709 · Jul 1, 2022
Related Publication 20250116154A1 · Apr 10, 2025
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