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An exterior actuator assembly for a manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly includes a torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess, and is rotatable about a first rotational axis. A clutch assembly is drivably interposed between an exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver. A mot

An exterior actuator assembly for a manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly includes a torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess, and is rotatable about a first rotational axis. A clutch assembly is drivably interposed between an exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver. A motor shaft is arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis that is non-coaxial with the first rotational axis. A locking shifter is configured for axial translation along the second rotational axis. The locking shifter has a blocking tab portion configured for selective engagement with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver. A rotational-to-linear motion converter is drivably interposed between the motor shaft and the locking shifter and is configured such that a rotation of the motor shaft results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter to one of a locked position and an unlocked position.

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1. An exterior actuator assembly for a manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly and configured to operate a deadbolt mechanism from an exterior space via a torque blade, the exterior actuator assembly having a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the exterior actuator assembly comprising:

1. An exterior actuator assembly for a manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly and configured to operate a deadbolt mechanism from an exterior space via a torque blade, the exterior actuator assembly having a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the exterior actuator assembly comprising: a cylinder body;an exterior turnpiece rotatably mounted to the cylinder body;a torque blade driver coupled to the torque blade, the torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess, the torque blade driver being rotatable about a first rotational axis;a clutch assembly drivably interposed between the exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver;a motor having a motor shaft arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis that is non-coaxial with the first rotational axis; wherein the first and second rotational axes are substantially parallel to each other;a locking shifter mounted to the cylinder body and configured for axial translation along the second rotational axis, the locking shifter having a blocking tab portion configured for selective engagement with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver;a rotational-to-linear motion converter drivably interposed between the motor shaft and the locking shifter and configured such that a rotation of the motor shaft in a first rotational direction about the second rotational axis results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter in a first longitudinal direction to a locked position corresponding to the locked condition wherein the blocking tab portion of the locking shifter is engaged with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver to prohibit rotation of the torque blade via the exterior turnpiece, and a rotation of the motor shaft in a second rotational direction about the second rotational axis results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter in a second longitudinal direction to an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked condition wherein the blocking tab portion of the locking shifter is disengaged from the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver to permit rotation of the torque blade via the exterior turnpiece;a turnpiece clutch shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the exterior turnpiece being mounted to the turnpiece clutch shaft at the proximal end, and having an annular groove intermediate of the proximal end and the distal end, and having a pair of opposed V-shaped ramps spaced toward the distal end from the annular groove;a turnpiece clutch driver having a bore for receiving the turnpiece clutch shaft, the turnpiece clutch driver having a pair of opposed V-shaped slots configured to receive the pair of opposed V-shaped ramps of the turnpiece clutch shaft, the turnpiece clutch driver having a circumferential tab configured to drivably engage the torque blade driver;a retaining ring positioned in the annular groove; anda clutch spring interposed between the retaining ring and the turnpiece clutch driver, the clutch spring configured to bias the turnpiece clutch driver such that the pair of opposed V-shaped slots of turnpiece clutch driver engage the pair of opposed V-shaped ramps of the turnpiece clutch shaft. 2. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a keypad configured to receive a user input code entered by a user; anda control circuit electrically connected to the motor, the control circuit configured to receive the user input code and discriminate between a valid input code and an invalid input code entered by the user via the keypad. 3. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 2, the control circuit being configured such that when a valid input code is entered at the keypad the input code is converted into a command to shift the locking shifter in the second longitudinal direction to the unlocked position such that the torque blade is rotatable by rotation of the exterior turnpiece. 4. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 3, wherein the control circuit of the exterior actuator assembly is configured such that when in the locked condition and a valid input code corresponding to one of a plurality of unique user access codes is entered on the keypad to attain the unlocked condition at the exterior actuator assembly, the user has a predetermined period of time in which to rotate the exterior turnpiece, and if the exterior turnpiece is not rotated during the predetermined period of time, at the expiration of the predetermined period of time the exterior actuator assembly is returned back to the locked condition. 5. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 2, further comprising a programming button configured to allow programming of a memory of the control circuit of the exterior actuator assembly with a plurality of unique user access codes via the keypad. 6. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 2, wherein the exterior turnpiece includes a protruding pin and the keypad has a corresponding button, the exterior turnpiece being spring biased outwardly by a turnpiece spring away from the button of the keypad, and configured such that a manual pressing of the exterior turnpiece causes the protruding pin to engage the corresponding button of the keypad to actuate the button to initiate an action. 7. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 6, wherein the action is a system “wakeup” command input for the control circuit. 8. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 6, wherein the action is one of an “enter” key for the code entered by the user on the keypad and an illumination switch to turn on a light source to aid in code entry on the keypad. 9. The exterior actuator assembly of claim 1, the clutch assembly being configured such that a relative rotation between the turnpiece clutch driver and the turnpiece clutch shaft causes the pair of opposed V-shaped slots of the turnpiece clutch driver to ride up the pair of opposed V-shaped ramps of the turnpiece clutch shaft, thereby causing a proximal axial movement of turnpiece clutch driver toward the proximal end of the turnpiece clutch shaft, thereby causing the circumferential tab of the turnpiece clutch driver to disengage from the torque blade driver, so as to prevent damage to the exterior actuator assembly if the turnpiece is forcibly rotated when the torque blade driver is blocked from rotation. 10. A manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly for use on a door separating an exterior space from a secured space, comprising: a deadbolt mechanism having a spindle drive opening;a torque blade configured to be drivably received in the spindle drive opening of the deadbolt mechanism, the torque blade having a first end, a second end, and a first rotational axis;an interior actuator assembly configured to operate the deadbolt mechanism from the secured space, the interior actuator being mechanically connected to the first end of the torque blade; andan exterior actuator assembly configured to operate the deadbolt mechanism from the exterior space, the exterior actuator assembly having a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the exterior actuator assembly including:a cylinder body;an exterior turnpiece rotatably mounted to the cylinder body;a torque blade driver coupled to the second end of the torque blade, the torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess;a clutch mechanism drivably interposed between the exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver;a motor having a motor shaft arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis that is non-coaxial with the first rotational axis;a locking shifter mounted to the cylinder body and configured for axial translation along the second rotational axis, the locking shifter having a blocking tab portion configured for selective engagement with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver;a rotational-to-linear motion converter drivably interposed between the motor shaft and the locking shifter and configured such that a rotation of the motor shaft in a first rotational direction about the second rotational axis results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter in a first longitudinal direction to a locked position corresponding to the locked condition wherein the blocking tab portion of the locking shifter is engaged with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver to prohibit rotation of the torque blade via the exterior turnpiece, and a rotation of the motor shaft in a second rotational direction about the second rotational axis results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter in a second longitudinal direction to an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked condition wherein the blocking tab portion of the locking shifter is disengaged from the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver to permit rotation of the torque blade via the exterior turnpiece;wherein the first and second rotational axes are substantially parallel to each other;an interior turnpiece;an interior base to which is attached a battery holder and a cover, the cover having an opening for mounting the interior turnpiece;an interior torque blade driver drivably attached to the interior turnpiece, the interior torque blade driver having a shaped opening for drivably receiving the first end of the torque blade;an interior printed circuit board mounted to the battery holder, the interior printed circuit board having a switch having a protruding actuator, and having a wiring connector, the actuator being positioned to be selectively actuated by a camming action caused by a rotation of the interior torque blade driver, the switch having a first state and a second state; anda wiring harness extending from the control circuit of the exterior actuator assembly to the wiring connector of the printed circuit board of the interior actuator assembly and configured such that when the switch is in the first state by a rotation of the interior turnpiece to unlock the deadbolt mechanism, the control logic of the control circuit causes the exterior actuator assembly to attain the unlocked condition. 11. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a keypad configured to receive a user input code entered by a user; anda control circuit electrically connected to the motor, the control circuit configured to receive the user input code and discriminate between a valid input code and an invalid input code entered by the user via the keypad. 12. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 11, the control circuit being configured such that when a valid input code is entered at the keypad the input code is converted into a command to shift the locking shifter in the second longitudinal direction to the unlocked position such that the torque blade is rotatable to operate a bolt of the deadbolt mechanism. 13. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 12, wherein the control circuit of the exterior actuator assembly is configured such that when in the locked condition and a valid input code corresponding to one of a plurality of unique user access codes is entered on the keypad to attain the unlocked condition at the exterior actuator assembly, the user has a predetermined period of time in which to rotate the exterior turnpiece, and if the exterior turnpiece is not rotated during the predetermined period of time, at the expiration of the predetermined period of time the exterior actuator assembly is returned back to the locked condition. 14. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 10, the clutch assembly including: a turnpiece clutch shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the exterior turnpiece being mounted to the turnpiece clutch shaft at the proximal end, and having an annular groove intermediate of the proximal end and the distal end, and having a pair of opposed V-shaped ramps spaced toward the distal end from the annular groove;a turnpiece clutch driver having a bore for receiving the turnpiece clutch shaft, the turnpiece clutch driver having a pair of opposed V-shaped slots configured to receive the pair of opposed V-shaped ramps of the turnpiece clutch shaft, the turnpiece clutch driver having a circumferential tab configured to drivably engage the torque blade driver;a retaining ring positioned in the annular groove; anda clutch spring interposed between the retaining ring and the turnpiece clutch driver, the clutch spring configured to bias the turnpiece clutch driver such that the pair of opposed V-shaped slots of turnpiece clutch driver engage the pair of opposed V-shaped ramps of the turnpiece clutch shaft. 15. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 14, the clutch assembly being configured such that a relative rotation between the turnpiece clutch driver and the turnpiece clutch shaft causes the pair of opposed V-shaped slots of the turnpiece clutch driver to ride up the pair of opposed V-shaped ramps of the turnpiece clutch shaft, thereby causing a proximal axial movement of turnpiece clutch driver toward the proximal end of the turnpiece clutch shaft, thereby causing the circumferential tab of the turnpiece clutch driver to disengage from the torque blade driver, so as to prevent damage to the exterior actuator assembly if the turnpiece is forcibly rotated when the torque blade driver is blocked from rotation. 16. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 10, wherein when the switch is in the first state the motor is electrically disengaged by the control logic of the control circuit after the unlocked condition is attained. 17. The manually driven electronic deadbolt assembly of claim 10, further comprising a programming button located at the interior actuator assembly configured to allow the programming of a memory of the control circuit of the exterior actuator assembly with a plurality of unique user access codes via the keypad. 18. A method for operating a deadbolt mechanism mounted on a door that separates an exterior space from a secured space, the deadbolt mechanism having a spindle drive opening, the method comprising: providing a torque blade configured to be drivably received in the spindle drive opening of the deadbolt mechanism, the torque blade having a first end, a second end, and a first rotational axis;providing an interior actuator assembly for operating the deadbolt mechanism from the secured space, the interior actuator being mechanically connected to the first end of the torque blade; andproviding an exterior actuator assembly for operating the deadbolt mechanism from the exterior space, the exterior actuator assembly having a locked condition and an unlocked condition, the exterior actuator assembly including:a cylinder body;an exterior turnpiece rotatably mounted to the cylinder body;a torque blade driver coupled to the second end of the torque blade, the torque blade driver having a perimetrical lock recess;a clutch mechanism drivably interposed between the exterior turnpiece and the torque blade driver;a motor having a motor shaft arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis that is non-coaxial with the first rotational axis;a locking shifter mounted to the cylinder body and configured for axial translation along the second rotational axis, the locking shifter having a blocking tab portion configured for selective engagement with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver;a rotational-to-linear motion converter drivably interposed between the motor shaft and the locking shifter and configured such that a rotation of the motor shaft in a first rotational direction about the second rotational axis results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter in a first longitudinal direction to a locked position corresponding to the locked condition wherein the blocking tab portion of the locking shifter is engaged with the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver to prohibit rotation of the torque blade via the exterior turnpiece; wherein the first and second rotational axes are substantially parallel to each other; and a rotation of the motor shaft in a second rotational direction about the second rotational axis results in an axial displacement of the locking shifter in a second longitudinal direction to an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked condition wherein the blocking tab portion of the locking shifter is disengaged from the perimetrical lock recess of the torque blade driver to permit rotation of the torque blade via the exterior turnpiece;a keypad configured to receive a user input code entered by a user;a control circuit electrically connected to the motor, the control circuit configured to receive the user input code and discriminate between a valid input code and an invalid input code entered by the user via the keypad; andwherein the exterior turnpiece includes a protruding pin and the keypad has a corresponding button, the exterior turnpiece being spring biased outwardly by a turnpiece spring away from the button of the keypad, and configured such that a manual pressing of the exterior turnpiece causes the protruding pin to engage the corresponding button of the keypad to actuate the button to initiate an action.