Extended life electromechanical lock
First Claim
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1. A system for conserving back up power in the absence of an external power source, comprising:
- an internal power interface that receives power from an external power source and supplies power to the system;
an electromechanical lock that normally receives power from said internal power interface;
at least one power draining device associated with said system that receives power from said internal power interface;
a back up power supply that supplies power to said electromechanical lock and said at least one power draining device upon power loss at said internal power interface; and
a switch that decouples said at least one power draining device and said electromechanical lock from said back up power supply after power loss at said internal power interface;
said electromechanical lock selectively powered by said back up power supply after detection of an external electronic key.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system with an electromechanical lock, such as a vending machine, has a back up power supply for use in the event power failure and includes a sleep mode for a microcontroller associated with a vending machine. Specifically, a switch decouples the microcontroller from the battery when a power interruption is detected and thus inhibits most power draining functions. A sensor associated with the electromechanical lock detects the presence of a key and draws enough power from the battery to operate the electromechanical lock such that a key user may access the interior of the vending machine.
8 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for conserving back up power in the absence of an external power source, comprising:
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an internal power interface that receives power from an external power source and supplies power to the system;
an electromechanical lock that normally receives power from said internal power interface;
at least one power draining device associated with said system that receives power from said internal power interface;
a back up power supply that supplies power to said electromechanical lock and said at least one power draining device upon power loss at said internal power interface; and
a switch that decouples said at least one power draining device and said electromechanical lock from said back up power supply after power loss at said internal power interface;
said electromechanical lock selectively powered by said back up power supply after detection of an external electronic key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for conserving back up power in the absence of an external power source coupled to an external power port to provide power to an electromechanical lock, comprising:
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an external power port that receives power from the external power source;
an electromechanical lock that normally receives power from the external power port;
at least one power draining device that receives power from the external power port; and
a back up power supply that selectively supplies power to said electromechanical lock from said back up power supply after detection of a power loss at the external power port, said selective power supplying based on detection of an external electronic key.
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14. A vending machine having an internal compartment that is accessible through an external electronic key, the vending machine comprising:
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a power input that receives power from an external power supply;
a back up power supply for supplying power to the vending machine when power is not received at said power input;
a switch operatively associated with said power input and said back up power supply;
a customer interface requiring power to function and through which goods are vended;
a microcontroller that controls said customer interface and requires power to function;
an electromechanical lock for preventing access to the internal compartment of the vending machine, said electromechanical lock requiring power to function;
a key interface receiving a signal from the external electronic key when the key is proximate said interface, said key interface associated with said electromechanical lock; and
said switch decoupling said customer interface, said microcontroller, and said electromechanical lock from said back up power after detection that power is not present at said power input, said switch selectively recoupling power to at least said microcontroller and said electromechanical lock when the external electronic key is proximate said key interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of controlling a vending machine, comprising:
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powering the vending machine with an external power source;
decoupling power draining elements within the vending machine from any power source after detection of failure of power in the vending machine; and
selectively coupling an electromechanical lock to a back up power supply through a switch such that the electromechanical lock may be operated after detection of an external electronic key proximate the vending machine. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of controlling a system, comprising:
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powering the system with an external power source;
decoupling power draining elements within the system from any power source after detection of failure of power in the system machine; and
selectively coupling an electromechanical lock to a back up power supply through a switch such that the electromechanical lock may be operated occurring after detection of an external electronic key proximate the system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification