ELECTRONIC LOCK AND KEY ASSEMBLY

• US 20080066507A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KNOX & Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Heather M. Knox
• Inventors: Trempala, Dohn, Wolski, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/283.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/002 Keys with mechanical characteristics, e.g. notches, perforations, opaque marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00706 with conductive components, e.g. pins, wires, metallic strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7486 Single key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/765 Key only controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7915 Tampering prevention or attack defeating

Abstract

A locking device comprises a key that comprises a key power coil and a key data coil and an electronically-actuatable lock comprising a lock power coil and a lock data coil. The key power coil and the lock power coil are coaxial and at least partially overlapping one another when the key engages the lock. The key data coil lies in a first plane and the lock data coil lies in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel to one another.

Claims

1. A locking device comprising:

a key comprising a key power coil and a key data coil; and

an electronically-actuatable lock comprising a lock power coil and a lock data coil, said key power coil and said lock power coil being coaxial and at least partially overlapping one another when said key engages said lock, said key data coil lying in a first plane, said lock data coil lying in a second plane, said first plane and said second plane being substantially parallel to one another.

2. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said lock further comprises a lock cylinder rotatable in a lock housing.

3. The locking device of claim 2, wherein a rotation of said key rotates said lock cylinder when said key engages said lock.

4. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said key further comprises a power source capable of providing power to said lock.

5. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said lock further comprises a lock cartridge.

6. The locking device of claim 5, wherein said lock further comprises a ball located coaxial with said lock cartridge, said ball located between said cartridge and said key when said key engages said lock.

7. The locking device of claim 5, wherein said cartridge further comprises:

a solenoid; and

a first sliding barrier; and

a second sliding barrier, said solenoid, said first sliding barrier, and said second sliding barrier being axially aligned along a longitudinal axis of said lock, and said first sliding barrier being located on a first side of said solenoid and said second sliding barrier being located on second side of said solenoid.

8. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said lock data coil and said key data coil comprise a torus shape.

9. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said key power coil comprises a cylinder extending from said key and said lock power coil comprises a cup capable of receiving said cylinder.

10. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said lock further comprises a power source capable of providing power to said key.

11. The locking device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the key power coil, the lock power coil, the key data coil, and the lock data coil comprises a metal casing, the metal casing comprising at least one opening to allow magnetic fields to pass through the metal casing.

12. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said electronically-actuatable lock further comprises a power conversion circuit operative to convert current from said key power coil into direct current, to transmit alternating current to said solenoid, and to transmit direct current to a processor.

13. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said lock data coil has a radius of greater magnitude than a radius of said lock power coil.

14. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said key data coil has a radius of greater magnitude than a radius of said key power coil.

15. A locking device, comprising:

a key comprising a key power coil and a key data coil; and

an electronically-actuatable lock comprising a lock power coil and a lock data coil, said key power coil and said lock power coil being inductively coupled when said key engages said lock, said key data coil and said lock data coil being inductively coupled when said key engages said lock, at least a portion of a data magnetic field created by inductively coupling said lock data coil and said key data coil being substantially orthogonal to a power coil magnetic field created by inductively coupling said lock power coil and said key power coil.

16. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said lock further comprises a lock cylinder rotatable in a lock housing.

17. The locking device of claim 15, wherein a rotation of said key rotates said lock cylinder when said key engages said lock.

18. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said key further comprises a power source capable of providing power to said lock.

19. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said lock further comprises a lock cartridge.

20. The locking device of claim 19, wherein said lock further comprises a ball located coaxial with said lock cartridge, said ball located between said cartridge and said key when said key engages said lock.

21. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said cartridge further comprises:

a solenoid; and

a first sliding barrier; and

a second sliding barrier, said solenoid, said first sliding barrier, and said second sliding barrier being axially aligned along a longitudinal axis of said lock, and said first sling barrier being located on a first side of said solenoid and said second sliding barrier being located on second side of said solenoid.

22. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said lock data coil and said key data coil comprise a torus shape.

23. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said key power coil comprises a cylinder extending from said key and said lock power coil comprises a cup capable of receiving said cylinder.

24. The locking device of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said data magnetic field is substantially orthogonal with at least a portion of said power magnetic field at an interface between said key data coil and said lock data coil.

25. A method for communicating with an electronic lock, the method comprising:

inductively coupling a key power coil with a lock power coil;

inductively coupling a key data coil with a lock data coil, such that at least a portion of a power magnetic field generated by inductive coupling of said key power coil and said lock power coil is substantially orthogonal to at least a portion of a data magnetic field generated by inductive coupling of said key data coil and said lock data coil; and

transmitting data between said key data coil and said lock data coil, said data operative to move a lock to an unlocked position.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of said data magnetic field is substantially orthogonal with at least a portion of said power magnetic field at an interface between said key data coil and said lock data coil.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said interface comprises an annular region between said key data coil and said lock data coil.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising retrieving data from the lock, said data comprising data relevant to an audit.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein transmitting data between said key data coil and said lock data coil comprises using a pulse-width modulation scheme.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting power between said key data coil and said lock data coil, wherein said power is transmitted at a higher frequency than said data.