What Is a Fingerprint Door Lock?

The fingerprint door lock uses human biometric fingerprints for identity security identification and authentication.

With high-tech digital image processing, biometrics, and DSP algorithms, it has become a new generation of access control systems that meet modern security requirements.

The fingerprint door lock has been widely used for homes, government agencies, banks, high-end apartments, and other places that require security and privacy.

What Are The Types of Fingerprint Door Lock

Early Intelligent door locks mainly realized intelligence in unlocking methods, such as password fingerprint door locks, pure password locks, swipe card locks, etc.

Then, with network connection technology development, networked smart door locks, Face recognition door locks, etc..

Of course, most fingerprint door locks have more than one unlocking method.

The more common fingerprint smart locks on the market are password + biometrics (face recognition, fingerprint recognition, etc.)

Fingerprint door lock types by place of use: fingerprint door locks for home.

Fingerprint locks for cabinets/cupboards, fingerprint locks for the house, fingerprint locks for gates, and biometric door locks for business.

The mobile system’s fingerprint system types are fingerprint app locks for iPhone and Android.

The Structure of The Fingerprint Door Lock

Most fingerprint smart door locks use the handle structure, the standard door locks with a handle.

This door lock comprises the mortise, handle, and lock panel.

Under normal circumstances, the fingerprint intelligent door lock mortise part is similar to the traditional door lock, and the conventional mechanical lock body is still used.

Besides, most smart door lock products are not customized for fingerprint handles.

For door locks with multiple unlocking methods, the fingerprint recognition module is often placed in the handle part, which is more suitable for users to open the door—the habit of using fingerprints to unlock.

The panel part is the part with high technical content of the entire fingerprint door lock.

Most electronic components are concentrated in this part, including password panels, camera modules, batteries, etc., which provide other functions required by intelligent door locks.

Now let us know more in detail about the various components of the fingerprint door lock.

Fingerprint door lock components include:

Externally visible

• Front and rear panels
• Sliding
• handle
• Fingerprint head
• keyboard
• Display
• camera
• Emergency power outlet
• Keyhole
• Anti-lock knob
• Battery bay
• Lock body

Invisible inside

• Circuit Board
• Cylinder
• chip

1. Front and rear panels

The fingerprint smart lock panel comprises three primary materials: zinc alloy materials, stainless steel materials, and aluminum alloy materials.

The panel made of zinc alloy has good corrosion resistance and high hardness and is the first choice for fingerprint smart lock panels of major manufacturers.

2. Slide cover

The smart fingerprint lock with a sliding cover can effectively protect the fingerprint recognition module and give the fingerprint recognition module a longer service life.

However, many home fingerprint door locks are not designed with a sliding cover because fingerprint locks without a sliding cover are more convenient to unlock.

Fingerprint smart lock with a sliding cover

The fingerprint front door lock does not have a sliding cover as long as the fingerprint recognition module is adequately protected.

It can be used for a long time. It is not necessary to choose a fingerprint lock with a sliding cover.

3. Handle

According to the handle’s shape, finger handle intelligent locks can be divided into push-pull and push-down types.

The push-down type has a horizontal handle, and the door needs to be pressed down to open the door, while the push-pull type opens the door by pushing the handle.

Fingerprint home locks can be divided into semi-automatic and fully automatic fingerprint home locks.

Semi-automatic generally means pressing down or pushing the handle to open the bolt after fingerprint recognition is passed.

A fully automated fingerprint home lock means the motor automatically pulls the bolt open after receiving fingerprint recognition.

After unlocking, push the door to enter.

Semi-automatic fingerprint locks must be lifted to lock the door, and fully automatic fingerprint locks are automatically locked, so full-automatic locks require more electricity.

4. Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor locks mainly have two mainstream identification modules: optical fingerprint and semiconductor fingerprint.

The semiconductor fingerprint sensor has a much higher recognition accuracy than the optical fingerprint sensor, and the rejection rate is low.

Now, mainstream brands of fingerprint sensors all use semiconductor methods.

The Swedish semiconductor fingerprint identification module is easier to use among the semiconductor fingerprint identification modules.

5. Keyboard

In addition to fingerprint identification and unlocking methods, fingerprint sensor locks generally support password input mode.

A better Fingerprint sensor lock will have a virtual password function.

Generally, a right Fingerprint sensor lock keyboard will use a fingerprint-free panel to prevent others from cracking the long-term password.

For safety, it is recommended to change the long-term password of the fingerprint lock at regular intervals.

6. Display

The fingerprint intelligent door lock screen mainly displays the keyboard and system prompts.

A better fingerprint smart door lock will use a display that does not leave fingerprints.

The fingerprint can be erased with one wipe, effectively preventing password leakage.

7. Camera

The security of fingerprint locks of influential brands is already high enough, and friends with a low budget do not need to choose a fingerprint door lock with a camera.

The fingerprint door locks with a camera function are the icing on the cake.

8. Emergency power port

Since dry or lithium batteries power the current fingerprint locks, the battery will inevitably run out, and the fingerprint recognition system will malfunction.

Therefore, the fingerprint lock is designed with an emergency power port. The emergency power supply can restart the system when the internal power supply is out of power.

The emergency power port is generally designed to be more concealed, usually hidden at the bottom of the lock.

9. Keyhole

Since the fingerprint identification system cannot always guarantee no problem, the fingerprint gate lock will also retain the emergency mechanical key opening method when designed.

The fingerprint gate lock will have a keyhole. The keyholes of fingerprint gate locks are generally intended to be more concealed.

10. Emergency mechanical key

When fingerprint recognition fails, the emergency mechanical key is used to open the fingerprint key lock. Each fingerprint key lock will be equipped with more than two keys.

11. Emergency knob

The emergency button is used when the motor fails to open the door, which can also be opened with the emergency knob.

13. One-key unlock and close buttons

The user can open and lock the door by pressing a key to open and close the lock, a very convenient fingerprint lock function.

14. Battery slot

Generally, the fingerprint home lock’s power source is a dry lithium battery. The lithium battery is better because lithium battery can be recharged after discharge, which is more convenient.

15. Lock mortise

The lock mortise is an essential part of the fingerprint lock. When buying the lock mortise, you need to choose the opening size where the door is placed. If the lock body is not selected, it may directly affect the life of the lock.

The lock mortise’s material is stainless steel, but zinc alloy and iron are preferably 304 stainless steel.

16. The circuit board

A small black box can be used to check the quality of the electronic fingerprint door lock.

The internal circuit design of the fingerprint security door lock is also very particular.

Generally, the internal circuit of the fingerprint security door lock of the big brand will have an overload protection design, which can effectively prevent the small black box’s attack.

The small black box can unlock those fingerprint security door locks of low quality because it can instantly generate a strong electromagnetic field, overloading the internal circuit and causing the system to restart and open.

So be sure to choose a fingerprint lock that can resist the small black box’s electromagnetic.

17. Lock the cylinder

The lock core is divided into A, B, and C levels, and the safety and difficulty of prying it open will increase sequentially. Nowadays, many brands of fingerprint locks use C-level lock cylinders.

19. Chip

The chip in the fingerprint house lock is similar to the CPU of a mobile phone or computer.

A suitable fingerprint recognition module must have a good fingerprint recognition processor to take advantage of its advantages.

The internal chips of the fingerprint house locks of significant manufacturers are self-developed or foreign-specialized. The processing chip has strong performance and high security.

20. Motor

The motor is the device that drives the bolt and the hook. Now, the fingerprint house locks of big brands are safe enough.

It is not recommended to install the theme because it will increase the motor’s burden and red engines’ service life and battery life.

Fingerprint Door Lock Functions

Generally speaking, the current fingerprint door lock has three essential functions. (A smart door lock with these three functions can be called a fingerprint door lock smart lock).

1. Anti-false cover alarm
2. It does not support a non-encrypted RFID card to open the door.
3. Anti-insertion design of the oblique lock tongue

What are the main functions of the fingerprint lock?

As mentioned above, the fingerprint door lock has three primary functions. Does the fingerprint door lock have any other parts?

1. Automatic anti-lock function: With automatic anti-lock, you will not be afraid that the door is hidden or a hard card cut the anti-insertion design. Now, this feature of fingerprint lock is regarded as a primary function.

2. Anti-riot demolition function: Here is the anti-violent demolition lock; the lock is designed to be very safe, and there are various biometric functions.

3. Anti-pry alarm function: This function is equivalent to anti-violent unlocking. There is a professional anti-sensor detection surface, and an alarm will be issued when the lock is detected.

4. Internal mechanical reverse lock: The door can only be removed after the internal mechanical reverse lock, but there are also disadvantages. If children touch this function by mistake, it will cause harmful consequences.

5. Semiconductor fingerprint recognition: Optical fingerprint recognition can not identify living bodies, and a re-engraved fingerprint can easily open the door lock. However, most fingerprint locks on the market now use semiconductor fingerprint recognition.

Fingerprint Lock Material

1. Zinc alloy material: The most widely used material for intelligent locks on the market is zinc alloy, which has the advantages of hardness and strong corrosion resistance.

It also has the advantages of easy processing and molding. So, it is the most familiar material for intelligent locks.

2. Stainless steel material: The stainless steel material is helpful in hardness and durability, preventing the intelligent lock from being violently removed to a large extent.

3. Reinforced plastic material: This material is relatively rare in the current smart lock market, and cheap goods are easy to remove.

4. Aluminum alloy material: The quality in all aspects is fair, but the usage is not high, and few merchants make this material.

5. Copper material: Copper has very high hardness and durability. The lock styles are very particular and have a texture at first glance. There are few brass cases in the market, and the price is relatively high.

Fingerprint Door Lock Price Analysis

Let’s divide the fingerprint door lock price into three ranges:

• Low-end fingerprint door lock price: This refers to a fingerprint door lock price of less than $300 online and less than $400 offline. In this fingerprint door lock price range, the features of fingerprint lock mainly include simple, non-networked, or pseudo-networked (randomly sent passwords), and there must be no copper in the material.
• Mid-end Fingerprint Door Lock Price: This refers to a fingerprint door lock price range of $400-$500 online and less than $600 offline. In this fingerprint door lock price range, whether you will buy fingerprint locks online or offline,  fingerprint door locks are the most sold in the retail market.
• High-end Fingerprint Door Lock Price: Whether you buy fingerprint locks online or offline, we focus on the price of more than $600. This fingerprint door lock price range is a battleground for flagship products. Without this flagship product, the pressure on the competition will be considerable.

Fingerprint Smart Lock Market

Who will buy fingerprint locks?

According to relevant statistics, the current fingerprint intelligent door lock sales channel is still dominated by business clients.

Most fingerprint smart door lock manufacturers produce directly sold to real estate developers, door factories, security integrators, etc.

This channel’s advantage is that channel does not need to worry about installation and other issues.

In terms of retail channels, similar to traditional products, the fingerprint intelligent lock market is also divided into online and offline channels.

The fingerprint lock online channels you can buy include Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Etc.

At present, the market share of intelligent fingerprint locks is still low. The main reason seems to be that users lack trust in fingerprint door locks.

Most e-commerce channels have incomplete sales supporting services, such as door-to-door fingerprint door lock installation, after-sales maintenance, etc.

The problem is that it causes users to want to buy fingerprint locks but dare not accept them.

According to relevant data, male buyers occupy the mainstream position among the current users who buy fingerprint locks, and the age is mainly concentrated in users aged 25-50.

Among them, users aged 27-40 are the main purchasing power.

How Does Fingerprint Lock Work?

The fingerprint door lock operates by scanning the fingerprint data and converting it into a digital template.

After putting your finger on the fingerprint scanner lock for the first time, it will be converted into digital data, and the fingerprint template will be saved.

This process is repeated every time you want to grant someone access.

The next time someone puts their finger on the fingerprint sensor lock, it will match the data obtained through the finger with the pre-saved value.

Access will be granted if a match is found, and the door will be opened.

When matching, the stored fingerprint template is compared with the received input.

A green LED signal is usually issued if a match and the door is opened. The process is speedy and takes less than a second to complete.

Is Fingerprint Door Lock Safe?

Of course, the fingerprint door lock is an evolution of the mechanical lock.

Not only is it safe, but it has also upgraded its security. It prevents technology from turning on, but it also uses violent means.

Fingerprint smart door locks will also take the initiative to call the police, send messages to scare away the caring people, take pictures of the loving people, and send them to us. Isn’t this lock safer? Isn’t the same time, the fingerprint lock has the following advantages:

1. Security.

Standard mechanical lock keys can be copied, and the owner is not assured after others use them.

The fingerprint is unique. There are no two fingerprints that are the same in the world.

2. Convenience.

There is no need to carry the key with you, and it is a key that will never be lost.

A person’s fingerprint is the same for life, and one fingerprint can be used for energy. And one person can input the fingerprints of different fingers. Touch to open, reverse lift to lock.

Compared with traditional door locks, in the era of fingerprint sensor locks, the trouble of forgetting to bring the key will not exist for users.

Especially for older people at home than memorizing the key and password.

3. Scalability.

It can hold 199 fingerprints, register and input fingerprints, delete fingerprints at will, and be convenient for fingerprint management.

Compared with ordinary mechanical locks, it saves the trouble of preparing and recovering keys. It is especially suitable for office rooms and rental rooms.

5. Long-term maintenance life.

Ordinary mechanical locks have a short service life, are prone to failures during use, and must break in while the fingerprint door lock functions correctly.

6. High recognition rate.

The false rejection rate of fingerprint door locks is less than 1%. The false recognition rate is less than one in a million, and fingerprints can be accurately compared within any angle of 360°.

7. Fashionability.

Fingerprint password technology is the direction of the development of locks.

Fingerprint password door locks represent fashion, nobleness, and cutting edge. The appearance design is fashionable and generous.

8. Scenario extension

Based on the convenient user experience, the popularization of fingerprint door locks can even realize remote unlocking.

You assume that when you are not at home, your parents and children cannot enter the door when you arrive home.

After checking the situation, you can open the fingerprint door lock remotely through the network, which is convenient.

Besides, users do not need to worry about children opening the door to strangers at will because you can know the situation near the door at any time from the remote end and remotely control the locking of the door lock.

9. Timely stop loss for unexpected situations

Of course, like a door lock, even a traditional one cannot guarantee 100% security.

If the door is hacked or opened violently, the user can receive notifications through the fingerprint door lock’s network connection and call the police quickly.

Rescue the loss in a short time, which is unmatched by traditional door locks

Disadvantages of Fingerprint Door Locks:

1. Reliability of technology

Smart fingerprint door locks use many high-tech technologies in unlocking methods, such as face recognition technology, fingerprint recognition technology, iris recognition technology, and more basic password unlocking technology.

The reliability of these technologies is naturally the first concern for users.

2. Cybersecurity

Network security is naturally one of the issues that users are paying more and more attention to.

Ensuring that hackers do not easily crack networked hacks is also a significant issue the industry must face.

3. Imaging problems

Some people or specific groups of fingerprints have few features and are difficult to image.

Every time a fingerprint is used, the fingerprint print will be left on the fingerprint sensor, and these fingerprint traces may be used to copy fingerprints.

4. Fingerprint  door lock price issues

In the traditional lock industry, the cost of changing locks is not high.

The current price of fingerprint door locks is much higher than conventional ones.

Combining pricing so that users can recognize the value of the price is also one of the industry’s problems.

The industry door lock is in the initial development stage, and the fingerprint lock price is still relatively high.

With the continuous development of the technology level, it is believed that the fingerprint door lock manufacturing cost of the fingerprint lock will drop in the future.

5. Other unstable factors

• Some people or groups of fingerprints have few fingerprint features and are difficult to image.
• Every time a fingerprint is used, the fingerprint print will be left on the fingerprint collector, and these fingerprint traces may be used to copy fingerprints.
• The stability and durability of a code lock are not as strong as a mechanical code.

How Do Fingerprint Smart Locks Get Power?

Usually, fingerprint door locks are powered by batteries. The alkaline battery is divided into alkaline, carbon, and lithium batteries.

1. Alkaline batteries or carbon batteries?

First, fingerprint door locks belong to electronic products with relatively large currents (semi-automatic unlocking current is 300mA, fully automatic lock unlocking current is more significant).

Carbon batteries are not suitable; one is too small, and the other carbon batteries principle of the process determines that it is straightforward to leak, and alkaline batteries are the relatively right choice;

However, the alkaline battery choice can reduce leakage because battery leakage is a highly complex mechanism, inseparable from the quality of the battery process, the method of use, and the selection.

2. How many alkaline dry batteries are used?

1) To increase the use time and reduce the frequency of users changing batteries, some alkaline products adopt eight dry batteries;

2) The circuit principle of 8 dry batteries is equivalent to a group of 4. A total of 2 groups of batteries are connected in parallel, and a single group of 4 batteries is connected in series. Usually, one group is powered, and the other is on standby (in theory);

3) The actual application is that the two sets of batteries can’t have the same parameters, so there will be an imbalance in the power supply of the two sets of batteries, which may lead to accelerated battery aging and even other unpredictable results (such as battery heating, over-discharge, leakage, etc.)

4) Therefore, the fingerprint door lock installer’s advice is to install four batteries, pay attention to the powerful reminder of the intelligent lock itself, and once it enters the low battery alarm, replace the battery in time to avoid over-discharge and leakage.

Suggestions for using fingerprint door lock dry battery:

1. Select the appropriate dry battery according to the requirements of different application scenarios.

2. Carbon dry batteries are nearly eliminated in the market (old technology, low capacity, and easy to leak). They can be used in clocks, remote controls, and other products. The advantage is that they are cheap and light.

Alkaline dry batteries are the mainstream dry batteries in the market. They can be seen everywhere in life and used in general applications.

3. Lithium-iron dry battery is a relatively new technology with a small market share. It is characterized by large capacity, no leakage, and lightweight, but the price is much higher. Some high-end products (intelligent door locks, keyboards, mice, etc.)

Choosing lithium iron dry batteries is recommended to avoid electrical corrosion caused by leakage.

4. Mix batteries of different brands, and old and new levels are forbidden. The Mixed-use of 100% batteries will shorten battery life or even leak.

5. Follow the product power consumption recommendations and replace the battery quickly. Avoid leakage caused by over-discharge.