Strike plate with bolt sensing feature

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a sensor located within an opening formed in a strike box of the strike assembly. The sensor, which could be an optical, mechanical, continuity, inductive, ultrasonic, and/or mechanical sensor, is configured to detect whether the bolt of the bolt assembly is encompassed by the strike box. The sensor assembly is configured to interact with a surface of the bolt when the bolt is located within the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor assembly for a lock assembly of a door, the sensor assembly comprising:
 a sensor located within an opening formed in a strike box of the lock assembly, the sensor configured to detect whether a bolt of the lock assembly has entered the opening a sufficient distance so as to prevent removal of the bolt from the opening when an opening force is applied to the door.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor that transmits an optical signal that interacts with the bolt when the bolt is within the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein, when the bolt is located within the opening, the optical signal is transmitted from the optical sensor, bounces off of an end of the bolt, and is transmitted back to the optical sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the optical sensor transmits the optical signal along a transmission axis that is parallel to an extension axis upon which the bolt extends within the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a mechanical sensor comprising a moveable switch that is biased to an open position by a biasing member, wherein the movable switch is positioned in the path of movement of the bolt as the bolt is moved along an extension axis into the opening such that the moveable switch is capable of being engaged by an end of the bolt. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , where in the sensor is a capacitive sensor that emits an electrical field within the opening and includes a sensor element that detects changes in the electrical field, wherein the electrical field extends at least to an actuation axis defined by being a predetermined distance into the opening of the strike box from an aperture providing access to the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor element includes a plurality of sensing elements that detect changes in the electrical field, the plurality of sensing elements positioned in a linear arrangement that is substantially parallel with an extension axis of the bolt as it extends within the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an inductive sensor located in a back panel of the strike box and/or along an exterior circumference of the strike box. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor includes one or more inductive coil elements that emit an electrical field within the opening, the sensor configured to detect the frequency of the electrical field. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the bolt is configured to change the dielectric constant of air within the opening, wherein the dialectical constant of air within the opening will reach a predetermined level when the bolt is located the predetermined distance within the strike box. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined distance corresponds with an actuation axis of the bolt, and the electrical field extends to at least the actuation axis. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal into a transmission field within the opening, wherein the transmission field extends to at least an actuation axis of the bolt, wherein the actuation axis of is located at the predetermined distance within the strike box. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ultrasonic signal is transmitted along a transmission axis, the transmission axis being substantially parallel to an extension axis of the bolt. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a plurality of moveable features that extend from either a back panel, top panel, or bottom panel of the strike box into the opening, wherein the plurality of moveable features include a free end that may be abutted by the bolt when the bolt is inserted into the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of moveable features are comprised of brushes. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is comprises of one or more leaf springs. 
     
     
         17 . A lock assembly for a door, the lock assembly comprising:
 a latch assembly coupled to the door and including an extendable bolt;   a strike assembly coupled to a jamb corresponding to the door, the strike assembly configured to receive the bolt of the bolt assembly to secure the door to the jamb; and   a sensor assembly comprising a sensor located within an opening formed in a strike box of the strike assembly, the sensor configured to detect whether the bolt of the latch assembly is encompassed by the strike box, the sensor assembly configured to interact with a surface of the bolt when the bolt is located within the opening.   
     
     
         18 . The lock assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor assembly is one or more of an optical, mechanical, continuity, inductive, ultrasonic, and/or mechanical sensor configured to detect whether the bolt of the bolt assembly is encompassed by the strike box. 
     
     
         19 . The lock assembly  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is located on a back panel of the strike box and/or a circumferential wall of the strike box.