Electronic locking system

• US 5,019,812 A
• Filed: 02/27/1987
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AB Volvo
• Original Assignee: AB Volvo
• Inventors: Gostahagberg, Anders P., Knutsson, Evan A., Nystrom, Mats O. G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/036,676
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/64, 361/172, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 340/5.23
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

An electronic locking system comprises a conventional mechanical lock and a key associated therewith, said key having a built-in code transmitter and receiver, preferably an infrared sensitive photo-detector which cooperates with the code transmitter. The receiver is connected to an electronic control unit which is arranged to register a coded signal emitted from the key and transmitted to the receiver. When the signal is acceptable the electronic control unit is activated. The electronic control unit is provided with a memory element contains no information on any coded signal. After transmission of the coded signal of the associated key the coded signal is stored permanently in the memory element whereafter the electronic control unit will accept only precisely this coded signal in order to be activated.

Claims

1. An electronic locking system comprising:

a conventional mechanical lock and a key for operating said lock, a code transmitter built into said key including means for transmitting coded signals in response to a code request signal when said key is used in said lock, a receiver for receiving coded signals transmitted by said code transmitter, and an electronic control unit connected to said receiver for controlling a select security function, said electronic control unit having means for transmitting code request signal to said code transmitter of said key, memory means for strong a select code signal and means for comparing a code signal received by said receiver with said stored code signal, said electronic control unit activating the select security function when said received coded signal stored therein and including seal means for preventing operation of said select security function unit said seal means has been disabled for permitting normal mechanical lock operations, disabling said seal means being effective to permit said electronic control unit to store a code signal permanently upon the first use of said key in said lock after said seal means has been disabled and when first receiving a coded signal from said receiver, said electronic control unit thereafter activating said security function only when the permanently stored code signal is received from a key used in said lock.

2. The electronic locking system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for activating said security function comprises means for switching an electrical circuit.

3. The electronic locking system as set forth in claim 1 comprising means in said lock and said key for transmitting electric power to said key.

4. The electronic locking system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is pre-programmed to store a coded signal at a preselected occasion.