Claims
- 1. A lock and key with a mechanical lock configuration as well as an electronic security feature comprising:
- a lock including a metal lock cylinder for releasing the lock, the lock cylinder comprising
- (a) a cylinder shell,
- (b) a cylinder plug rotatable within the cylinder shell and having a keyway,
- (c) a series of mechanical locking elements acting between the cylinder plug and the cylinder shell, and having a specific mechanical bitting pattern,
- (d) a blocking pin independent of the mechanical locking elements positioned in a bore of the cylinder plug for in and out reciprocal movement in the bore and being contained essentially within the bore of the cylinder plug in a retracted condition and extending partially outwardly from the bore of the cylinder plug in a blocking condition,
- (e) a recess in the interior of the cylinder shell, positioned such that the blocking pin will engage in the recess in said blocking condition to prevent rotation of the cylinder plug,
- (f) electromagnetic release means in the cylinder plug for retracting the blocking pin to the retracted condition upon communication of electrical power to the electromagnetic release means, and means for normally holding the blocking pin in the blocking condition, when electrical power is not communicated to the electromagnetic
- (g) electrical conductive path means, including an external contact isolated from the metal of the lock cylinder, for communicating electric power from the exterior of the lock cylinder to the electromagnetic release means with the body of the cylinder acting as a ground, and
- (h) electronic means positioned in the conductive path means, for restricting communication of electric power to the electromagnetic release means and for conducting such power to the electromagnetic release means only when a prescribed data signal is received by the electronic means,
- mechanical key means fitted for insertion into the lock cylinder, comprising
- (a) a key blade with mechanical bitting matched to said mechanical bitting pattern of the lock cylinder,
- (b) a battery of sufficient capacity to power said electromagnetic release means to retract the blocking pin,
- (c) microprocessor means powered by the battery and data storage means connected to the microprocessor means, and
- (d) contact means for engaging with said external contact of the lock cylinder to thereby connect with the conductive path means including the electronic means in the lock cylinder in a one-wire bus connection,
- said electronic means including ID means storing an identification code for the lock, and addressable switch means connected to the electromagnetic release means and to the ID means, for switching on power from the mechanical key means to the electromagnetic release means only when said prescribed data signal is received, and
- said microprocessor means including means for reading the code of the ID means when the mechanical key means is inserted into the lock and said one-wire bus connection is made, and for looking up in the data storage means the lock ID code read from the lock to determine whether the lock is a lock authorized to be opened, and if so, for looking up a switch code associated in the data storage means with the lock ID code and sending the switch code as said prescribed data signal into the conductive path means, so that the switch code is sent to the addressable switch means and is thereby effective to cause the addressable switch means to switch power to the electromagnetic release means to retract the blocking pin permitting the cylinder plug to be rotated to open the lock.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ID code means comprises an externally readable ROM-stored registration code.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the addressable switch means comprises an ROM storing a registration code and means for changing the addressable switch means from an "off" state to an "on" state when the addressable switch means receives the registration code on a data line.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic means comprises a solenoid, and including a spring urging the blocking pin toward the extended, blocking position, the solenoid being effective to retract the blocking pin when powered.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key means includes a key head directly affixed to the key blade with said mechanical bitting, the key head including said microprocessor means and data storage means, whereby the key means is self-contained and need not be connected to any further device for opening the lock.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a keypad and a display on the key head, and means associated with the microprocessor and the data storage means for preventing the key means from sending said prescribed data signal to the lock unless and until a user enters a prestored personal identifying number into the keypad.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including means associated with microprocessor means for displaying instructions to the user on said display.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said external contact of the lock cylinder comprises a spring-loaded contact positioned in a bore in the cylinder plug, adjacent to the keyway, and wherein said contact means of the mechanical key means is positioned to engage with the external contact of the lock when the key blade is fully inserted into the keyway.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ID means comprises an ROM device positioned within the cylinder plug and wherein the addressable switch means is also positioned within the cylinder plug.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the addressable switch means comprises a Dallas Semiconductor DS2405 addressable switch.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key means includes a key head directly affixed to the key blade, the key head including said microprocessor means and data storage means as well as a power recharge port for the battery and data port means for facilitating the input of data into and output of data out of the keyhead and to the microprocessor and data storage means regarding a plurality of locks which are openable by the key means, the input data including an association between each lock ID and a code for the addressable switch means of that lock.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a plurality of similar locks each in accordance with claim 1, each having the same mechanical bitting pattern such that said key blade matches the bitting pattern, and said electronic means of each lock including an ID means with a different and unique identification code within the plurality of locks, and the addressable switch means of each lock in the system being responsive to a different and unique prescribed data signal is within the plurality of locks.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical conductive path means and said electronic means are positioned on the cylinder plug along with the electromagnetic release means and the blocking pin, whereby all electronics and the blocking pin are contained on the cylinder plug, occupying no space outside the lock cylinder itself.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the addressable switch means includes means for switching from an "on" condition back to an "off" condition when said prescribed data signal is again received.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lock includes means for preventing reading of said prescribed data signal associated with the addressable switch means, from outside the lock.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mechanical key means includes means for removing and replacing the key blade from the key head.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the key head includes a metal bow portion with a slot, and the key blade being fitted within said slot.
- 18. A lock and key system with electronic access control, comprising:
- a mechanical lock mounted in an area to be secured, with a lock cylinder, a keyway and mechanical bittings which must be matched by the bittings of a key to permit opening of the lock,
- the lock including a blocking means independent of the mechanical bittings for preventing motion which would open the lock, except when the blocking means is released,
- release means within the lock for releasing said blocking means upon power being conducted to the release means,
- contact means at the exterior of the lock for conducting power into the lock,
- key means separate from the lock, including a key blade with mechanical bittings matched to the bittings of the lock,
- the key means including a key head and lock contact means for making electrical connection with said contact means of the lock,
- the key head including a microprocessor and associated data storage containing data concerning locks to which the key is matched, and including a battery,
- the microprocessor in the key head including means for directing power via the contact means into the lock, when the key blade is inserted into the lock's keyway, means for receiving a lock ID signal from the lock via the contact means, and means for supplying power via the contact means to the release means, only upon a preselected condition being met as determined by the microprocessor means, to allow the lock to be opened, preselected condition being that the lock ID signal is indicated in said data storage as a lock authorized to be opened, and
- the blocking means and release means being contained entirely within the lock cylinder and occupying substantially no additional space within the area to be secured.
- 19. The system of claim 18, including switch means within the lock for switching "on" or "off" power to the release means.
- 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said switch means comprises an addressable switch having an address code and having means for switching to an "on" condition when the switch code is received via the contact means.
- 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the microprocessor includes means for sending a data signal comprising said switch code to the addressable switch means via the contact means, upon said preselected condition being met as determined by the microprocessor means.
- 22. The system of claim 18, wherein the lock further includes a readable ID means connected to said contact means, for enabling the microprocessor to read a lock ID when the key is in the lock's keyway, and addressable switch means connected to the contact means, for connecting the contact means to the release means when a switch code is received by the addressable switch means, and said data storage in the key head including an addressable switch code associated with a lock ID for each lock in the system, so that when the microprocessor reads a lock ID, it can send data comprising said addressable switch code for the particular lock back into the lock via the contact means, to switch the addressable switch means "on" and thus to send power to the release means to allow the lock to be accessed.
- 23. The system of claim 18, wherein the key head further includes a keypad, and wherein the microprocessor includes means for preventing opening of a lock in the system unless an operator has entered a pre-stored, secure personal identification number for the operator.
- 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said preselected condition comprising the microprocessor's determination, based on information in the data storage, that the lock is authorized to be opened when the key blade is inserted into the keyway, by an operator using said secure personal identification number.
- 25. The system of claim 23, wherein said preselected condition comprises the microprocessor's determination that the lock is authorized to be opened at the time the key blade is inserted into the keyway.
- 26. A lock with a mechanical lock configuration as well as an electronic security feature, comprising:
- a lock including a metal lock cylinder for releasing the lock, the lock cylinder comprising
- (a) a cylinder shell,
- (b) a cylinder plug rotatable within the cylinder shell and having a keyway,
- (c) a series of mechanical locking elements acting between the cylinder plug and the cylinder shell, and having a specific mechanical bitting pattern,
- (d) a blocking pin, independent of the mechanical locking elements positioned in a bore of the cylinder plug for in and out reciprocal movement in the bore and being contained essentially within the bore of the cylinder plug in a retracted condition and extending partially outwardly from the bore of the cylinder plug in a blocking condition,
- (e) a recess in the interior of the cylinder shell, positioned such that the blocking pin will engage in the recess in said blocking condition to prevent rotation of the cylinder plug,
- (f) electromagnetic release means in the cylinder plug for retracting the blocking pin to the retracted condition upon communication of electrical power to the electromagnetic release means, and means for normally holding the blocking pin in the blocking condition, when electrical power is not communicated to the electromagnetic release means, and
- (g) electrical conductive path means, including an external contact isolated from the metal of the lock cylinder, for communicating electric power from a key fitted to the lock cylinder and inserted therein, to the electromagnetic release means with the body of the cylinder acting as a ground.
- 27. The lock of claim 26, further including electronic means positioned in the conductive path means, for restricting communication of electric power to the electromagnetic release means and for conducting such power to the electromagnetic release means only when a prescribed data signal is received by the electronic means from the key.
- 28. A lock and key system with electronic access control, comprising:
- a mechanical lock mounted in an area to be secured, with a lock cylinder, a keyway and mechanical bittings which must be matched by the bittings of a key to permit opening of the lock,
- the lock including a blocking means independent of the mechanical bittings for preventing motion which would open the lock, except when the blocking means is released,
- release means within the lock for releasing said blocking means upon power being conducted to the release means,
- contact means at the exterior of the lock for conducting power into the lock,
- key means separate from the lock, including a key blade with mechanical bittings matched to the bittings of the lock,
- the key means including lock contact means for making electrical connection with said contact means of the lock,
- the key means including a microprocessor and associated data storage containing data concerning locks to which the key is matched, and including a battery,
- the microprocessor in the key means including means for directing power via the contact means into the lock, when the key blade is inserted into the lock's keyway, means for receiving a lock ID signal from the lock via the contact means, and means for supplying power via the contact means to the release means only upon a preselected condition being met as determined by the microprocessor means, to allow the lock to be opened, said preselected condition being that the lock ID signal is indicated in said data storage as a lock authorized to be opened, and
- the blocking means and release means being contained entirely within the lock cylinder and occupying substantially no additional space within the area to be secured.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 836,206, filed Feb. 14, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,295.
US Referenced Citations (23)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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836206 |
Feb 1992 |
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