The smart lock technology offers keyless entry, remote access, and security with Wi-Fi connectivity in a battery-powered design.
Wireless, battery-powered smart locks represent a significant shift in how customers manage access to their homes and buildings. These innovative devices are gaining popularity due to their ability to eliminate the reliance on physical keys. Users appreciate the convenience of controlling their locks remotely from any location and receiving notifications whenever their doors are locked or unlocked. This trend highlights the increasing consumer demand for smart locks with Internet connectivity, offering enhanced security and convenience.
The TIDC-01005 Battery Powered Smart Lock Reference Design from Texas Instruments showcases the capabilities of the SimpleLink Wi-Fi® technology in facilitating the development of battery-operated smart locks. This technology finds its primary applications in home security and access control, particularly in electronic smart locks, door keypads, and readers. These applications leverage the technology’s advanced features to enhance security and user convenience in residential and commercial settings.
The design highlights explicitly how integrated Wi-Fi in these locks allows for direct Internet connectivity, demonstrating a significant advancement in smart lock technology. The reference design illustrates creating a battery-powered electronic smart lock with integrated Wi-Fi. It showcases using the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3220S wireless MCU (SoC) as the primary controller and network processor, leading to a highly integrated design. The design combines the wireless MCU with a DRV8837 1.8A low-voltage brushed DC motor driver, forming the basis of a Wi-Fi-enabled electronic smart lock. Additionally, it incorporates the SimpleLink Bluetooth low energy CC2640R2F wireless MCU to demonstrate Wi-Fi setup using BLE.
This smart lock design boasts many features that enhance its functionality and efficiency. It offers an impressive estimated battery life of 1.26 years, operating on just four AA batteries while maintaining a constant connection. A direct cloud connection facilitates remote monitoring and control, enhancing user convenience. The integrated Wi-Fi radio, network processor, and MCU provide an optimized design that ensures low power consumption. The smart lock supports multiple Wi-Fi provisioning methods, including BLE, AP, and SmartConfig, offering flexibility in setup. Security is a paramount concern, addressed through many built-in features necessary for secure, cloud-connected applications. These include a secure boot of the MCU image, an internal HTTPS server for AP provisioning, MQTT over TLS with Eclipse Internet of Things (IoT) Broker, secure Over the Air (OTA) updates using Dropbox, and a 128-bit, unique device ID for enhanced security. The motor driver with integrated FETs also facilitates easy design and a compact solution size with minimal discrete components.
TI has tested this reference design. It comes with a Bill of Materials (BOM), schematics, Gerber file, etc. You can find additional data about the reference design on the company’s website. To read more about this reference design, click here.
