Electronic locking apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic control for an electronic lock having a battery means for powering the lock, means for reading a keycard or other key, a lock operator, and an alarm to indicate a low battery voltage condition, said control comprising:
- means for measuring the voltage of said battery means including means for transmitting a signal indicative of the sensed voltage; and
processing means for receiving said transmitted voltage signal for activating said lock operator and said alarm when a valid key in inserted in the lock and read by the reading means and the magnitude of the voltage signal transmitted by said transmitting means has decreased to a first predetermined level, said processing means being further operable for activating said alarm but not said lock operator when said valid key has subsequently been inserted and read and the magnitude of the voltage signal transmitted by said transmitting means has decreased to a second predetermined level below said first predetermined level, said battery means at said second predetermined voltage level containing sufficient energy and providing sufficient voltage to drive said lock operator.
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Abstract
A battery powered electronic lock includes a control for indicating low battery voltage and reserving a portion of the battery'"'"'s energy for operating the lock upon insertion of maintenance or emergency keys.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic control for an electronic lock having a battery means for powering the lock, means for reading a keycard or other key, a lock operator, and an alarm to indicate a low battery voltage condition, said control comprising:
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means for measuring the voltage of said battery means including means for transmitting a signal indicative of the sensed voltage; and processing means for receiving said transmitted voltage signal for activating said lock operator and said alarm when a valid key in inserted in the lock and read by the reading means and the magnitude of the voltage signal transmitted by said transmitting means has decreased to a first predetermined level, said processing means being further operable for activating said alarm but not said lock operator when said valid key has subsequently been inserted and read and the magnitude of the voltage signal transmitted by said transmitting means has decreased to a second predetermined level below said first predetermined level, said battery means at said second predetermined voltage level containing sufficient energy and providing sufficient voltage to drive said lock operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic control for an electronic lock having a battery means for powering the lock, means for reading a keycard or other key, a lock operator, and an alarm for indicating a low battery voltage condition, said electronic control comprising:
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means for measuring the voltage of said battery means, including means for transmitting a signal indicative of the sensed voltage, and processing means for receiving said transmitted voltage signal for activating said lock operator and said alarm when a valid key is read and the magnitude of the voltage signal transmitted by said transmitting means has decreased to a first predetermined level from its original level, activating said alarm and said lock operator in response to a number of insertions of said valid key thereafter, said processing means being further operable for activating said alarm but not said lock operator when said valid key is inserted after said number of insertions, said predetermined level and said number being such that after said number of operations, said battery means still contains sufficient energy and provides sufficient voltage to drive said lock operator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating an electronic lock system having a battery for powering the lock, a reader for reading a key, a lock operator connected to the battery and activated thereby, and an alarm indicating a low battery voltage condition comprising the steps of:
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activating the lock operator while maintaining the alarm inactive when a valid key is inserted and read and the magnitude of the battery voltage exceeds a first predetermined level; activating the alarm and the lock operator when a valid key is inserted and read and the magnitude of the battery voltage decreases to said first predetermined level; and activating the alarm while maintaining the lock operator inactive when a valid key is inserted and read and the magnitude of the battery voltage decreases below said first predetermined level, said last mentioned voltage being sufficient to drive the lock operator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification