ELECTRIC LOCK CONTROL CIRCUIT AND METHOD

• US 20130184872A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Askey Computer Corporation (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.), Askey Technology Limited (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Askey Computer Corporation (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.), Askey Technology Limited (ASUSTek Computer, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHEN, WEI-YU, HSIEH, CHING-FENG
• Application Number:
  US13/435,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184872A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/00 Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion G05B19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

An electric lock control circuit and method allow users to control an electric lock with a reference password pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions. The circuit includes a substrate, a memory unit, an input unit, and a processing unit. The memory unit stores the reference password. The input unit rotates in a space of at least two dimensions to generate a parameter signal related to at least two dimensions. The processing unit encodes the parameter signal to turn the parameter signal into an input code and outputs an unlocking signal or a locking signal based on a result of comparison of the input code and the reference password to control the electric lock. Controlling the electric lock with a reference password pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions enhances confidentiality and complexity of the electric lock.

Claims

1. An electric lock control circuit for controlling an electric lock with a reference password pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions, the electric lock control circuit comprising:

a substrate;

a memory unit disposed on the substrate for storing the reference password;

an input unit disposed on the substrate for generating a parameter signal based on rotation of the input unit in a space of at least two dimensions; and

a processing unit connected to the memory unit and the input unit for converting the parameter signal into an input code and sending a release lock signal to the electric lock when the input code matches the reference password.

2. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets the input code to the reference password when the electric lock is in an unlocked state and then sends a locking signal to the electric lock.

3. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, further comprising a display unit connected to the processing unit for displaying the input code, the parameter signal, and a locked state of the electric lock.

4. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, further comprising a confirmation unit connected to the processing unit for determining sending the parameter signal to the processing unit when the electric lock is in an unlocked state.

5. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, wherein the processing unit samples at a preset time interval the input code generated from the input unit.

6. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit connected to the memory unit, the input unit, and the processing unit for supplying power to the memory unit, the input unit, and the processing unit.

7. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, wherein the input unit is one of a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, and a combination thereof.

8. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, wherein the input unit has graduations corresponding or not corresponding to the parameter signal, and the parameter signal denotes at least one of an angle of rotation and an angle of inclination.

9. The electric lock control circuit of claim 1, further comprising an analog-to-digital conversion unit connected to the processing unit and the input unit for converting the parameter signal in an analog format into the parameter signal in a digital format.

10. An electric lock control method for controlling an electric lock having an input unit, the electric lock being controlled with a reference password pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions, the electric lock control method comprising the steps of:

step (a);

rotating the input unit in a space of at least two dimensions to generate a parameter signal pertaining to a parameter related to at least two dimensions;

step (b);

converting the parameter signal into an input code; and

step (c);

comparing the input code with the reference password when the electric lock is in a locked state to determine that a release lock signal has to be sent to the electric lock when a result of the comparison indicates that the input code matches the reference password.

11. The electric lock control method of claim 10, further comprising step (d) after step (c), the step (c) providing an enable signal for determining whether to control the electric lock by the release lock signal.

12. The electric lock control method of claim 10, further comprising step (e) after step (b), the step (e) setting the input code to the reference password when the electric lock is in an unlocked state, and sending a locking signal to the electric lock to cause the electric lock to enter the locked state.

13. The electric lock control method of claim 12, further comprising step (f) after step (e), the step (f) providing an enable signal for determining whether to control the electric lock by the locking signal.