1 Hall-Effect Sensors in Smart Locks

Electronic smart locks have become a key part of a smart home and can be implemented in many different ways. One of the common key elements in a smart lock is understanding the position of the deadbolt. This can be used to reduce strain on the motor as well as provide information about the current state of the lock. If the lock is supposed to be fully closed but gets stuck part way, this can be reported to the user via notification that their door may not be all the way closed. The position of the deadbolt can be implemented with a variety of technologies including optical switches, rotary encoders, mechanical switches, and Hall-effect sensors. In addition to being used to detect the position of the deadbolt, Hall-effect sensors can be used to determine if someone is attempting to tamper with the lock or gain access to the internal circuitry. Tamper detection provides an additional security feature to reduce the potential risk of someone breaking into a house through the smart lock.