MECHATRONIC LOCKING APPARATUS

• US 20120011907A1
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy Schweiz AG (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Keso AG (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Sprenger, Detlef, Münger, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,928,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

The mechatronic locking apparatus comprises a control circuit (4), from which information signals can be transmitted to a control circuit (6) of the lock cylinder (2) using a first communication path (5). A security key (3) has at least one second communication path (7) for storing and/or processing access data. The two communication paths (5, 7) are connected to said control circuit (4) of the security key (3). The first communication path (5) preferably uses an electrical contact in the lock cylinder (2). The second communication path (7) comprises a transponder (8). The first communication path (5) may also be used for power supply purposes.

Claims

1. A mechatronic locking apparatus comprising:

a lock cylinder (2) comprising a cylinder control circuit (6);

an associated security key (3) comprising;

a first communication path (5);

a key control circuit (4) for storing and processing access data and from which information signals can be transmitted to the cylinder control circuit (6) via the first communication path (5), and

at least a second communication path (7) for the purpose of storing and/or processing access data, wherein the first and second communication paths (5, 7) are connected to said control circuit (4) of the security key (3).

2. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least a second communication path (7) comprises a transponder (8).

3. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising;

a first electrical contact plate (8) on the security key (3) connected to the first communication path (5);

a second electrical contact plate (9) on the rotary lock cylinder (2), wherein when the lock cylinder (2) is inserted into a keyway (10) in the lock cylinder (2), the first electrical contact plate (8) makes contact with the second electrical contact plate (9) to allow signal transmission between the key control circuit (4) and the cylinder control circuit (6).

4. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second contact means (8, 9) are provided both for signal transmission and for feeding power to the control circuit (6) of the lock cylinder (2) by means of an energy source (11).

5. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the energy source (11) is arranged on the security key (3) or in the lock cylinder (2).

6. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control circuit (4) on the security key (3) comprises a voltage converter (12).

7. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the voltage converter (12) is switched off in the inoperative state and is switched on when the security key (3) is inserted into the lock cylinder (2).

8. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the key control circuit (4) communicates with the cylinder control circuit (6) in a bidirectional manner by means of the first and second contact means (8, 9).

9. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access data can be written, read and changed both via the first and via the second communication path.

10. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control center (13) in which the access data is stored and can be managed connected to the control circuit (4) via the first and second communication paths (5, 7).

11. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an RFID antenna (11) connected to the control circuit (4) on the security key (3) in the second communication path (7) directly via an interface connection.

12. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (4) on the security key (3) comprises a clock (14) which can be read from and changed via the first and second communication paths (5, 7).

13. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one time window and/or at least one time zone can be determined by means of the clock (14).

14. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit (4) on the security key (3) has data for at least one of the following functions:

uniqueness number, access authorization, time zones, time windows, block lists/withdrawal of authorization, status information, history information, segmentation for data for third party users, and grouping of users.