US 12,191,076 B2
Solenoid assembly actuation using resonant frequency current controller circuit
Randall Shaffer, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to HANCHETT ENTRY SYSTEMS, INC., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/424,154.
Application 18/424,154 is a continuation of application No. 17/881,690, filed on Aug. 5, 2022, granted, now 11,915,869.
Application 17/881,690 is a continuation of application No. 17/078,134, filed on Oct. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,424,061, issued on Aug. 23, 2022.
Application 17/078,134 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/406,464, filed on May 8, 2019, granted, now 10,964,467, issued on Mar. 30, 2021.
Application 16/406,464 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/098,522, filed on Apr. 14, 2016, granted, now 10,378,242, issued on Aug. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/147,478, filed on Apr. 14, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0242870 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. H01F 7/18 (2006.01); H01F 7/06 (2006.01); H02M 3/335 (2006.01)
CPC H01F 7/18 (2013.01) [H01F 7/064 (2013.01); H02M 3/335 (2013.01); H02M 3/33523 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A latch system including a latch or a keeper, and a solenoid assembly, wherein the solenoid assembly is used to drive the latch or the keeper of the latch system to a retracted position, the solenoid assembly comprising:
a) a solenoid driver coupled to a power supply;
b) a preload sensor, including a timer and a latch position sensor or keeper position sensor, wherein the preload sensor is configured to sense whether a preloaded condition is present at the latch or the keeper; and
c) a function generator in communication with the solenoid driver and the preload sensor, wherein the function generator is configured to selectively sweep a frequency of a pick current across a first range of frequencies, wherein the pick current is output from the power supply and provided to the solenoid driver,
wherein, when the preload sensor determines a preloaded condition is present at the latch or the keeper, the frequency is swept across the first range of frequencies by the function generator until the pick current induces a resulting vibration of the latch system at a target frequency within the first range of frequencies,
wherein upon inducing the resulting vibration of the latch system, the latch or the keeper is released from the preloaded condition,
wherein a second range of frequencies is determined after the first range of frequencies is swept and falls within the first range of frequencies, and wherein the second range of frequencies includes the target frequency, and
wherein the second range of frequencies is swept by the function generator to induce the resulting vibration of the latch system and release the latch or the keeper from the preloaded condition.
 
9. A method for releasing a latch or a keeper of a latch system from a preloaded condition, wherein the latch system further comprises: a solenoid driver, a preload sensor, and a function generator, wherein the solenoid driver is configured for releasing the latch or the keeper, wherein the preload sensor includes a timer and a latch position sensor or keeper position sensor, wherein the preload sensor is configured to sense whether a preloaded condition is present at the latch or the keeper, and wherein the function generator is configured for providing a pick current to the solenoid driver, the method comprising steps of:
a) sensing that the preloaded condition is present at the latch or the keeper;
b) providing the pick current to the solenoid driver by sweeping a first range of pick current frequencies using the function generator to identify a target frequency that induces a resulting vibration of the latch system;
c) after the first range of pick current frequencies is swept, establishing a second range of pick current frequencies that falls within the first range of pick current frequencies, wherein the second range of pick current frequencies includes the target frequency;
d) applying the pick current at the second range of pick current frequencies to the solenoid driver to release the latch or the keeper from the preloaded condition by the induced resulting vibration;
e) sensing that the latch or the keeper is not fully retracted after the function generator sweeps the frequency across the first range of frequencies; and
f) when the latch or the keeper is not fully retracted after the function generator sweeps the frequency across the first range of frequencies, providing a second signal indicating to the function generator to again provide the pick current at one of the target frequency, the first range of frequencies, the second range of frequencies, or an enlarged range of frequencies.
 
19. A method for releasing a latch or a keeper of a latch system from a preloaded condition, wherein the latch system further comprises: a solenoid driver, a preload sensor, and a function generator, wherein the solenoid driver is configured for releasing the latch or the keeper, wherein the preload sensor includes a timer and a position sensor, wherein the preload sensor is configured to sense whether the preloaded condition is present at the latch or the keeper, and wherein the function generator is configured for providing a pick current to the solenoid driver, the method comprising steps of:
a) sensing that the preloaded condition is present at the latch or the keeper;
b) providing the pick current to the solenoid driver by sweeping a first range of pick current frequencies using the function generator to identify a target frequency that induces a resulting vibration of the latch system;
c) after the first range of pick current frequencies is swept, establishing a second range of pick current frequencies that falls within the first range of pick current frequencies, wherein the second range of pick current frequencies includes the target frequency;
d) applying the pick current at the second range of pick current frequencies to the solenoid driver to release the latch or the keeper from the preloaded condition by the induced resulting vibration;
e) sweeping a third range of pick current frequencies using the function generator to identify a second target frequency that induces the resulting vibration of the latch system;
f) establishing a fourth range of pick current frequencies that falls within the third range of pick current frequencies, wherein the fourth range of pick current frequencies includes the second target frequency, wherein the fourth range of pick current frequencies is different than the second range of pick current frequencies; and
g) applying the pick current at the fourth range of pick current frequencies to the solenoid driver to release the latch or the keeper from the preloaded condition by the induced resulting vibration.