Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an energizer and particularly to a device for detecting door knocks.
Description of Related Art
[002] Security of residential and commercial premises remains a critical concern. Conventional lock and key systems often fail to prevent unauthorized access since they depend on physical mechanisms that intruders can easily tamper with. Incidents of forced entry highlight the limitations of such systems in offering reliable security and prompt alerts. The absence of an effective method to identify external activity at the door without manual verification creates vulnerability.
[003] Existing solutions include electronic locks, password-based systems, and biometric devices. Some systems employ piezoelectric sensors, microcontrollers, and vibration detection units for monitoring external force or activity near entry points. These systems attempt to detect intrusion or door interaction through electrical signals derived from mechanical stress or vibration. Commercial adoption of sensor-based technologies demonstrates their role in supplementing traditional security mechanisms.
[004] Despite such developments, present solutions show significant limitations. Many sensor-based devices consume continuous power and thus increase energy costs. Conventional electronic locks and biometric systems require maintenance, frequent calibration, or user authentication that reduces convenience. Sensitivity of vibration detection often leads to false alarms due to minor disturbances, that reduces user trust.
[005] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced device for detecting door knocks that can administer the aforementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a device for detecting door knocks. The device comprising a piezoelectric sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to vibration from a knock on a door. The device further comprising a microcontroller operatively connected to the piezoelectric sensor. The microcontroller is configured to receive the generated electrical signal; compare the received electrical signal with a pre-set threshold value; and activate an indicator unit when the received electrical signal exceeds the pre-set threshold value.
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for detecting door knocks. The method comprising steps of receiving a generated electrical signal from a piezoelectric sensor; comparing the received electrical signal with a pre-set threshold value; and activating an indicator unit when the received electrical signal exceeds the pre-set threshold value.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a device for detecting door knocks.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a device for detecting door knocks that generates electrical signals naturally from applied pressure or vibration, making the system environmentally friendly.
[0010] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0011] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1A illustrates a block diagram of a device for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 1B illustrates a circuit diagram of a device for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 1C illustrates a working diagram of a device for harvesting electrical energy through door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a data flow diagram of a device for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0020] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0021] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0022] FIG. 1A illustrates a block diagram of a device 100 for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be designed to enhance or replace conventional lock-and-key mechanisms.
[0023] The device 100 may comprise a housing (not shown) configured to encapsulate internal components and provide protection against external environmental conditions. The housing may be adapted to be hung from, or attached to, a mechanical structure, such as a door. The device 100 may further be adapted to detect physical force applied to the mechanical structure of a door, such as knocks. The mechanical structure of the door may include, for example, a door panel, a door frame, or a hinge assembly capable of transmitting the vibrations caused by external knocking.
[0024] The device 100 may further be adapted to generate visual indications when the applied force exceeds a predefined threshold. By monitoring and analyzing an intensity, a frequency, and/or a pattern of knocks, the device 100 may be adapted to enable an intelligent access detection for potentially distinguishing between authorized and unauthorized attempts. Furthermore, the device 100 may be integrated with additional features, such as wireless notifications, logging of knock events, or triggering connected security systems for providing a comprehensive approach to property security beyond traditional mechanical locks.
[0025] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the device 100 may incorporate the internal components to enhance a processing speed and an efficiency, such as the device 100 may comprise a piezoelectric sensor 102, a microcontroller 104, an indicator unit 106, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108, and a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the internal components of the device 100 may be integrated with computer-executable instructions for overcoming the challenges and limitations of the existing devices.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor 102 may be adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to vibration from a knock on the door. The piezoelectric sensor 102 may be a low-cost component that may use a piezoelectric effect to measure changes in pressure, acceleration, force, or temperature and converts them to an electrical charge. The piezoelectric sensor 102 may be mounted on the door surface for direct vibration transfer. In another embodiment of the present invention, multiple piezoelectric sensors 102 may be deployed at different locations on the door to improve detection accuracy. In another embodiment of the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor 102 may be embedded into a flexible film adhered to the door surface. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor 102 may be configured to detect specific knock patterns or rhythms, or may be combined with an accelerometer to improve vibration detection and reduce false positives.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be connected to the piezoelectric sensor 102. The microcontroller 104 is configured to receive the generated electrical signal. The microcontroller 104 may be configured to compare the received electrical signal with a pre-set threshold value. The threshold value may be adjustably set such that vibrations below the pre-set threshold value are ignored to eliminate minor disturbances. This adjustable threshold may allow the device 100 to be tailored to different door materials, sensitivity requirements, or environmental conditions for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of knock detection.
[0028] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be configured to communicate wirelessly through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or ZigBee with external devices such as a smartphone or a home automation hub. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be powered by an energy harvesting unit 112 coupled with the piezoelectric sensor 102, or programmed to distinguish between knocks and other door-related events such as opening or closing.
[0029] The microcontroller 104 is configured to activate the indicator unit 106 when the received electrical signal exceeds the pre-set threshold value. The microcontroller 104 may be an Arduino-based unit. The microcontroller 104 may also be configured to differentiate between single knocks and multiple knocks. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be configured to count the number of knocks within a preset time window to verify intentional knock sequences. The counting may be performed by initiating a timer upon detection of a first knock and incrementing a counter for each subsequent knock until the timer expires. If the number of knocks meets or exceeds a pre-defined sequence, the microcontroller 104 may trigger a corresponding response. In a further embodiment of the present invention, different knock sequences may trigger different responses, such as a double knock for an alert or a triple knock for unlocking a mechanism. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may comprise a machine learning logic to classify vibration patterns and thereby improve accuracy.
[0030] The microcontroller 104 may accomplish this by comparing the stored knock pattern in memory with the real-time knock input, and then mapping the matched sequence to a pre-programmed action. In another embodiment of the present invention, filtering algorithms such as debouncing or moving average filters may be implemented within the microcontroller 104 to eliminate noise and prevent false detection of knocks. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be programmed with interrupt-based routines to ensure accurate capture of fast knock sequences without missing any events.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be integrated with a memory unit (not shown) to store historical knock data for adaptive learning and predictive response. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be configured with programmable sensitivity levels that can be adjusted by the user through physical switches or a companion mobile application. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may incorporate encryption and authentication protocols to ensure secure communication when interfacing with external devices such as smartphones or smart locks. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be coupled with a real-time clock to associate knock events with timestamps, thereby enabling audit trails or event logging. In another embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be designed to operate in a low-power sleep mode and wake up only upon receiving vibration signals, thereby conserving energy. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 104 may be configured to operate in conjunction with other environmental sensors, such as sound sensors or motion detectors, to improve accuracy and minimize false detections.
[0032] The indicator unit 106 may provide both a visual signal and a digital display corresponding to the detection of the knock. The indicator unit 106 may comprise the Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108, the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 110, and so forth. In another embodiment of the present invention, the indicator unit 106 may further include an audible buzzer in addition to the visual indicators. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the LED 108 may emit different colors corresponding to different levels of detected knock force, while the LCD 110 may display textual notifications such as “Knock detected,” “Multiple knocks detected,” or “Threshold exceeded.” In another embodiment of the present invention, the indicator unit 106 may also be connected to a mobile application to provide remote notifications to the user.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may further comprise the energy harvesting unit 112 that may be adapted to derive small amounts of power from vibrations caused by knocks or closing of the door. The energy harvesting unit 112 may include a rectifier circuit connected to the piezoelectric sensor 102 and a storage element (not shown) such as a supercapacitor or thin film rechargeable battery, and an electrical interface.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical interface may include conductive terminals, connectors, or circuitry designed to deliver the harvested energy to storage unit (not shown) or the batteries (not shown). The electrical interface may be adapted to output the harvested energy in form of a direct current (DC) energy.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the DC energy may be used to charge peripheral devices or the energy may be regulated and supplied to the microcontroller 104 for further processing and control. In an embodiment of the present invention, the stored energy may be regulated and supplied to the indicator unit 106. thereby reducing or eliminating the need for external batteries. The microcontroller 104 may be programmed to operate in an ultra-low power mode and wake only when sufficient energy is available for signal detection and indication. This arrangement enables self-powered operation and supports long term maintenance free use of the device 100. The harvested energy may further be utilized for various purposes that may be, but limited to powering low-energy sensors, communication modules, or auxiliary electronic components of the device 100.
[0036] FIG. 1B illustrates a circuit diagram of the device 100 for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the vibration information from the piezoelectric sensor 102 may be identified to turn ON the Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108, the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 110, and so forth.
[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may further include a wireless communication module (not shown), such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, for remote monitoring. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may be powered by a battery pack with a low-power standby mode or integrated into an electronic lock system, where a valid knock sequence triggers unlocking. In another embodiment of the present invention, the device 100 may include a rechargeable power supply coupled with solar or piezoelectric charging to ensure continuous operation.
[0038] FIG. 1C illustrates a working diagram of the device 100 for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the piezoelectric sensor 102 may have two output pins, one may be positive potential and the other may be at negative potential. The positive potential pin may be connected with pin 3 analog channel of the microcontroller 104, and negative potential pin connected to ground. A resistor (not shown) of 1 megohm may be connected between them for protection purposes.
[0039] The Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108 may be connected to digital pin zero to check a working of a sensor output. The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 110 may be connected to 4-9 digital pins of the microcontroller 104. The pre-set threshold value of 60 may be set so that the piezoelectric sensor 102 may not activate for vibrations less than the pre-set threshold value. Using this, unwanted small vibrations may be eliminated. When the output voltage generated by the piezoelectric sensor 102 may be greater than the pre-set threshold value, the Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108 may change its state, i.e., if the Light Emitting Diode (LED is in a HIGH state, then the Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108 may go to a LOW state. If the value is lower than the pre-set threshold value, then the Light Emitting Diode (LED) 108 does not change its state and remains in its previous state.
[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a data flow diagram 200 of the device 100 for harvesting electrical energy through the door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] At step 202, the device 100 may receive mechanical energy in the form of vibration and shock that may be passed to the mechanical structure of the door.
[0042] At step 204, the device 100 may pass variable stress and strain, from the received mechanical energy, into the piezoelectric sensor 102 of the energy harvesting unit 112.
[0043] At step 206, the device 100 may output electrical energy via the electrical interface of the energy harvesting unit 112.
[0044] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for detecting door knocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] At step 302, the device 100 may receive the generated electrical signal from the piezoelectric sensor 102.
[0046] At step 304, the device 100 may compare the received electrical signal with the pre-set threshold value. Upon comparison, if the received electrical signal exceeds the pre-set threshold value, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 306. Else, the method 300 may revert to the step 302.
[0047] At step 306, the device 100 may activate the indicator unit 106.
[0048] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0049] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal language of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A device (100) for detecting door knocks, the device (100) comprising:
a piezoelectric sensor (102) adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to vibration from a knock on a door; and
a microcontroller (104) operatively connected to the piezoelectric sensor (102), characterized in that the microcontroller (104) is configured to:
receive the generated electrical signal;
compare the received electrical signal with a pre-set threshold value; and
activate an indicator unit (106) when the received electrical signal exceeds the pre-set threshold value.
2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator unit (106) comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED) (108), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) (110), or a combination thereof.
3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threshold value is adjustably set such that vibrations below the pre-set threshold value are ignored to eliminate minor disturbances.
4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (104) is an Arduino-based unit.
5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator unit (106) is adapted to provide a visual signal and a digital display corresponding to detection of the knock.
6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller (104) is configured to differentiate between single knocks and multiple knocks.
7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric sensor (102) is mounted on the door surface for direct vibration transfer.
8. A method (300) for detecting door knocks, the method (300) characterized by steps of:
receiving a generated electrical signal from a piezoelectric sensor (102);
comparing the received electrical signal with a pre-set threshold value; and
activating an indicator unit (106) when the received electrical signal exceeds the pre-set threshold value.
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the piezoelectric sensor (102) is mounted on the door surface for direct vibration transfer.
10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, comprising a step of providing a visual signal and a digital display corresponding to detection of the knock.
Date: September 13, 2025
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant