Electronic lock and key system
First Claim
1. A key for use with an electronic lock system comprising a body having a handle at one end and a blade constituting a first electrical contact at the other end, said handle containing an electronic circuit package electrically connected with said first electrical contact, said blade containing a single second electrical contact extending along a portion of said blade and being electrically insulated from said blade, said single second electrical contact being electrically connected with said electronic circuit package and being configured so as to mechanically polarize said key such that said key may be inserted into a keyway of a lock in only a single orientation, a light emitting device and a light receiving device arranged adjacent to said blade and being operatively connected with said electronic circuit package, and a housing surrounding said electronic circuit package and at least a portion of said handle in a moisture-proof manner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic key and lock system, particularly useful for solenoid-operated locks employs a key that can operate electronically and mechanically. The key is mechanically polarized with its blade forming a first electrical contact and a separate second contact which is flush or raised relative to the blade. Each of the key and the cylinder employs respective light emitting and light receiving IR devices for communications between the electronics in the key and communications within the lock. The lock includes a solenoid-operated electronic cylinder.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. A key for use with an electronic lock system comprising a body having a handle at one end and a blade constituting a first electrical contact at the other end, said handle containing an electronic circuit package electrically connected with said first electrical contact, said blade containing a single second electrical contact extending along a portion of said blade and being electrically insulated from said blade, said single second electrical contact being electrically connected with said electronic circuit package and being configured so as to mechanically polarize said key such that said key may be inserted into a keyway of a lock in only a single orientation, a light emitting device and a light receiving device arranged adjacent to said blade and being operatively connected with said electronic circuit package, and a housing surrounding said electronic circuit package and at least a portion of said handle in a moisture-proof manner.
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6. An external power source connection arrangement for coupling power from an external power source to an electronic key and lock system comprising:
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a first contact leg for providing electrical contact with a first electrical contact element of an electronic key; a second contact leg for providing electrical contact with an electrically conductive blade of said electronic key; a connector which is operative to connect said first and second contact legs with a power source external to said lock system and exclusive of an electrical power supply path through said lock system; and a shaped element on one of said contact legs for ensuring proper electrical connection of the contact legs with said electronic key.
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7. A cylinder for an electronic key and lock system, comprising:
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a housing with a keyway; a plurality of leaf spring contact arms having portions configured to be press fitted into recesses in the housing at spaced axial positions along the keyway so as to have contact portions extending into the keyway in the absence of an electronic key in the keyway; an insulating rider pin associated with one of the contact arms arranged to provide an electrical connection with a positive contact of the electronic key, the rider pin extending into the keyway and preventing contact with a conductive blade of the electronic key during insertion of the key into the keyway; IR devices arranged within the housing so as to operatively operate with IR devices in the electronic key; a low battery warning light arranged within the housing; lead wires press-fit connected with the contact arms, IR devices in the housing and the low battery warning light; and means arranged in proximity to an end of the housing remote from an entrance to the keyway for providing a multi-pin connector for connection to an electronic package of a lock system for permitting authorized access to a locked area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrical cylinder for an electronic key and lock system, comprising:
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a solenoid housing adapted to be arranged inside a cylinder body; a cylinder plug rotatably arranged within the solenoid housing and having a keyway extending axially therethrough; stationary contacts arranged within the solenoid housing at axially spaced positions; movable contacts arranged within the cylinder plug and in operative electrical relationship to the stationary contacts of the solenoid housing; a solenoid in the solenoid housing, said solenoid having a pin with a cam locator normally biased toward a rear portion of the solenoid housing in the absence of an authorized electronic key in the cylinder plug; a cam fixed at the cylinder plug so as to be engaged by the cam locator in a locked position in the absence of the authorized electronic key in the cylinder plug; and lock electronics and IR devices operatively connected with the lock electronics and the solenoid for actuating the latter in response to the insertion of the authorized electronic key in the cylinder plug. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic key and lock system for a solenoid-operated cylinder, comprising:
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a key having a handle at one end and a blade constituting an electrical contact at the other end, wherein electronics and associated IR devices are arranged within a housing on the handle and a positive contact operatively connected with the electronics on the handle extends along a portion of the blade with electrical insulation therebetween; a cylinder body containing a solenoid housing and a cylinder plug with a keyway extending axially therethrough rotatably arranged within the solenoid housing, wherein the solenoid housing has stationary contacts at axially spaced positions and the cylinder plug has movable contacts in operative electrical relationship with the stationary contacts, and further the solenoid housing having a solenoid with a cam locator at the free end of a pin normally biased toward a rear portion of the solenoid housing in the absence in the cylinder plug of the key, which has selectively programmed authorization for access to the system, and IR devices operatively connected with lock electronics, contained in an enclosure, and the solenoid for actuating said solenoid in response to the presence of the authorized key in the cylinder plug, and wherein the cylinder plug has fixed thereto a cam so as to be engageable by the cam locator in a locked position in the absence of the authorized key in the cylinder plug; and said enclosure containing a power source and said lock electronics operatively connected with the stationary contacts, IR devices and with the solenoid for selectively opening and closing a lock. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electrical cylinder for an electronic key and lock system, comprising:
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a solenoid housing adapted to be arranged inside a cylinder body; a cylinder plug rotatably arranged within the solenoid housing and having a keyway extending axially therethrough with recesses arranged along each side of the keyway; stationary contacts arranged within the solenoid housing at directly opposite sides of the keyway; movable contacts arranged directly opposite each other within the cylinder plug and in operative electrical relationship to the stationary contacts of the solenoid housing; a solenoid in the solenoid housing;
the solenoid having a pin with a cam locator normally biased toward a rear portion of the solenoid housing in the absence of an authorized electronic key in the cylinder plug;a cam fixed at the cylinder plug so as to be engaged by the cam locator in a locked position in the absence of the authorized electronic key in the cylinder plug; and lock electronics and IR devices operatively connected with the lock electronics and the solenoid for actuating the latter in response the insertion of the authorized electronic key in the cylinder plug.
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29. An electronic key and lock system for a solenoid-operated cylinder, comprising:
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a key having a handle at one end and a blade constituting an electrical contact at the other end, wherein electronics and associated IR devices are arranged within a housing on the handle and a positive contact operatively connected with the electronics on the handle extends along a portion of the blade with electrical insulation therebetween, and a first protrusion extends from the positive contact and a second protrusion extends from the blade; a cylinder body containing a solenoid housing and a cylinder plug with a keyway and recesses arranged laterally thereof for accommodating the first and second protrusions on the key extending axially therethrough rotatably arranged within the solenoid housing, wherein the solenoid housing has oppositely disposed stationary contacts and the cylinder plug has oppositely disposed movable contacts in operative electrical relationship with the stationary contacts, and further the solenoid housing having a solenoid with a cam locator at the free end of a pin normally biased toward a rear portion of the solenoid housing in the absence in the cylinder plug of the key which has selectively programmed authorization for access to the system and IR devices operatively connected with lock electronics, contained in an enclosure, and the solenoid for actuating said solenoid in response to the presence of the authorized key in the cylinder plug, and wherein the cylinder plug has fixed thereto a cam so as to be engagable by the cam locator in a locked position in the absence of the authorized key in the cylinder plug; and said enclosure containing a power source and said lock electronics operatively connected with the stationary contacts, IR devices and with the solenoid for selectively opening and closing a lock.
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30. An electronic key and lock system for a solenoid-operated cylinder comprising:
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a key having a handle at one end and a blade constituting a first electrical contact at the other end, said handle containing an electronic circuit package electrically connected with said first electrical contact, said blade containing a single second electrical contact extending along a portion of said blade and being electrically insulated from said blade, said single second electrical contact being electrically connected with said electronic circuit package and being configured so as to mechanically polarize said key such that said key may be inserted into a keyway of a lock in only a single orientation, a light emitting device and a light receiving device arranged adjacent to said blade and being operatively connected with said electronic circuit package; a cylinder having a keyway with axially spaced contacts therein for contacting respectively the key blade and the second electrical contact of said key, said cylinder having respective light receiving and light emitting devices arranged to communicate with the light emitting and light receiving devices of said key; and an enclosure containing a power source and an electronic lock circuit arranged to be electrically connected with the spaced contacts of said cylinder and with said solenoid-operated cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification