Electronic lock with energy conservation features

• US 4,896,246 A
• Filed: 05/02/1989
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Interlogix Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Supra Products, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Gray, John E., Henderson, Walter G., Unrein, Edgar J., Scansen, Jerry P., Olds, Rockne M., Daum, Gerald R., Archer, John Q. II, Larson, Wayne F., Sherman, John W., Ellson, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/348,082
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 361/170, 361/171, 361/179, 361/189, 361/190, 70/63
• US Class Current: 361/171
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/0005 Key safes E05B35/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0053 by operating the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00865 remotely by wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/215 the system having a variable access-code, e.g. varied as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

Battery power in an electronic lock system is conserved by delaying application of energy to the unlocking mechanism until a movable member, used to open the lock system, is moved.

Claims

1. In a lock system in which a movable member is latched in place by the plunger of an unenergized electrical solenoid and in which the movable member can be manually moved for a distance despite its being latched in place, the system further including a solenoid drive circuit through which energy is selectively applied to the solenoid from a battery, an improvement for conserving battery energy comprising:

switch means operatively coupled to the movable member and connected to the drive circuit so that energy is not applied to the solenoid through the drive circuit until said movable member is manually moved.

2. The system of claim 1 which further includes means for applying energy to the solenoid for a predetermined period of time after the movable member is manually moved.

3. A method of conserving energy in the operation an electrically powered lock system, said operation including the step of fulfilling a condition precedent to unlocking the lock system, such as entering a proper unlocking combination, and the additional step of manually moving a member, said member being nominally immovable until the lock system is unlocked but actually having some small freedom of movement, the method comprising the steps:

moving said member; and

causing an electrical power source to unlock the lock system in response to said movement of the member;

whereby power is not consumed in unlocking the lock system until the member is moved.

4. The method of claim 3 which additionally comprises the steps:

operating a switch by the small movement of the member; and

causing an electrical power source to unlock the lock system in response to said operation of the switch.