Electronic door locks are a way to replace keys or to add additional automation features, like remote locking or unlocking. Although most commonly found on cars, many cutting-edge security providers are offering electronic door locks for homes and businesses.door lock system using bluetooth
In any type of door lock, a latch or bolt is made to cross the opening between the side of the door and the doorframe, preventing access. This can be a “spring bolt,” which is held in place by springs and allows the door to close (but not reopen) when locked, or the more secure “dead bolt,” which stays in place until manually unlocked. In both cases, locking and unlocking is achieved by rotating the visible element (a knob or a key in a lock cylinder) to move the bolt or latch.
Traditional key locks use some variation of the “pin and tumbler” method, in which the lock cylinder is held in place with a line of small metal pins, each of which consists of an upper and lower half. When a key is inserted and turned, the uneven “serrated” edge ensures that each pin is moved a certain distance. The cylinder may be turned only when each pin is moved just enough to create a straight separation between the upper and lower halves of all pins.
Electronic door locks also involve parts called “actuators,” which connect the bolt or the cylinder to a small motor completely buried within the door or frame itself. The motor is controlled by an electrical impulse, which may be triggered in a number of ways: by an electronic card reader, by a keypad or by a wireless remote control sensor. Either way, the electronic door lock is configured to start the motor-driven actuator only once it has received the correct electronic input.
Each method of locking has pros and cons. Physical keys, such as
metal keys, key cards or handheld remotes, can be lost or damaged, while
numerical key codes can be forgotten (or learned and memorized by the
wrong person). Key codes can be quickly and easily changed by the user
when necessary, while changing physical locks and keys is much more
involved, requiring specialized hardware and expertise. Power failures
are problematic for purely electronic door locks, causing them to remain
locked or unlocked until the electricity has been restored.
On most electronic door locks, you’ll find some combination of physical
and electronic locking control on the same door. For example, you may
have a physical key for setup and emergency backup, but use the remote
or keypad to lock and unlock the door on a day-to-day basis. This
provides an extra layer of convenience and safety for the user, but may
also provide additional functionality as well.
