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Tokai Rika Introduces Automated Home Smart Door System
for Residential Use |
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Aichi, Japan, February 14, 2003 - Tokai Rika Co., Ltd., today announced that it has completed development of the world's first fully automated door system for residential use, called the Home Smart Door system. Developed jointly with Toyota Motor Corporation, Miwa Lock Co. Ltd. and Chuo Spring Co., Ltd., the Smart Door system enables completely hands-free operation. Unlocking, opening, closing and locking are accomplished simply by approaching the door with the Smart Key, an electronic control device. This fully automated home door system represents a further advance on the Smart Key technology that Tokai Rika introduced in October 2000, for automatically locking and unlocking home doors.
 The Home Smart Door system will be deployed in a new apartment building in Ota-Ku, Tokyo, named Celsior City Kugahara, which is being developed by Toyota Motor Corporation. Marketing of the apartments is scheduled to begin in March, and the Home Smart Door will be on display in the sales office, located at 1-39 Kugahara, Ota-Ku. In addition, Miwa Lock plans to start retail sales of Home Smart Door systems in the spring of 2004.
Major features of the Home Smart Door
Hands-free operation
When a resident approaches the door with a Smart Key, its preprogrammed ID codes communicate electronically with matching codes in the door, which automatically unlocks and opens to an angle of 45 degrees*1, powered by a motor inside the door. The Smart Key control mechanism begins communicating at a distance of about 0.8 meters from the door. This system eliminates the need for manipulating a key or even touching the door handle, making possible a stress-free, hands-free entry - a convenient feature when both hands are full with luggage or shopping bags. Entering the house and leaving the communication zone activates the door closer, which quietly shut the door. Once it closes, the door automatically locks.
1)As the homeowner approaches the Smart Key recognition zone, the door unlocks itself.
2)The door opener mechanism automatically opens the door to a 45-degree*1 angle.
3)The door stops once it opens to a 45-degree*1 angle.
4)As the homeowner walks away from the door, it automatically closes and locks itself.
Remote-control operation
The Smart Key control can also be programmed for remote-control operation. Pressing buttons on the control automatically unlocks the door and opens it to an angle of 90 degrees.*1This remote-control operation makes entry easily accessible for wheelchair users.
In the remote-control operation mode, the control mechanism is programmed to start communicating with the door at a distance of about 1.5 meters.
1)Pressing a button on the Smart Key control unlocks the door.
2)The automatic door opener mechanism opens the door to a 90-degree*1 angle.
3)The door stops once it opens to a 90-degree*1 angle.
4)Pressing another button on the control automatically closes and locks the door.
Other safety features of the Home Smart Door
1)In the event an obstacle interferes with the door's motor-powered opening, the automatic door halts in that position. If the door has opened to more than a 30-degree angle when the obstacle gets in the way, the door stops its opening movement. If the door has opened to less than a 30-degree angle, the door stops its opening movement and automatically starts closing.
2)As long as the door is not locked, it can be opened and closed manually. This permits operation during a power outage or by someone without the Smart Key control.
3)The Smart Key system*2 uses an ID recognition system that functions like a car immobilizer, providing an effective theft-prevention device. The possibility of someone's copying the keyless system or electronic ID codes is extremely slight. In addition, the Home Smart Door offers an alarm system that is activated by an unauthorized unlocking of the door (if the lock is forcibly broken by a crowbar or other tools, or unlocked with devices other than the Smart Key). The alarm system can be connected to other alarm devices and systems that are already installed in the house. The alarm system is switched on by twice pressing a button in an antenna unit on the door.
To protect the lock from being picked, the keyhole in the cylinder can be covered. If an unauthorized user attempts to take off the cover, the alarm will go off.
NOTES
*1.The door can be programmed to open to either a 45-, 60- or 90-degree angle in both the hands-free and remote-control modes.
*2. This anti-theft system is the same one used in the Hallway Smart Key for home doors, which Tokai Rika introduced in October 2000. |
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TOKAI RIKA CO., LTD.
