Electromagnetic door lock with on-board programmable access control

• US 5,479,151 A
• Filed: 03/31/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harrow Products LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Harrow Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Lavelle, Gary E., Conklin, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/220,787
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 340/542, 340/543, 340/545, 361/160, 361/171, 292/251.5
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/108 Electronically controlled emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/166 electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic

Abstract

An electromagnetic door lock system employs an on-board microprocessor which is mounted in the housing for the electromagnet. The microprocessor is pre-programmed with possible operating parameters which are then selected at the installation site. In one embodiment, a contact activatable data reader is mounted at the housing to provide various input data for the microprocessor. The microprocessor is also capable of being interrogated to reveal the preset operating parameters and other information, including the identification of individuals requesting to egress through the associated doorway.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic lock system transformable between locked and unlocked states comprising:

electromagnet means comprising a core and a coil positioned about said core and selectively energizable for generating an electromagnetic field;

armature means for attraction by said electromagnetic field;

housing means for housing said electromagnet means; and

microprocessor means comprising a microprocessor disposed in said housing means and comprising input means for providing a plurality of input signals to said microprocessor and output means for generating an output signal from said microprocessor, said coil being selectively energizable in response to said output signal.

2. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 further comprising memory means for storing access codes and application features disposed in said housing means and communicating with said microprocessor.

3. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor defines a plurality of possible operating parameters and said microprocessor selects at least one parameter in response to an input signal.

4. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor comprises relock delay means for implementing a selected delay time interval for re-energizing said electromagnet means, said relock delay means defining a plurality of delay time intervals, and comprising means for selecting one of said delay time intervals in response to an input signal.

5. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor further comprises nuisance delay time interval means for implementing a delay time interval to allow deenergizing said electromagnet means only after a pre-established nuisance time delay.

6. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 5 wherein said microprocessor further comprises a nuisance delay alert means for providing a signal during any such nuisance time delay.

7. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor further comprises egress time delay means for implementing a selected period for egress delay, said egress time delay means defining a plurality of egress time delay periods and comprising means for selecting one of said egress time delay periods.

8. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 further comprising unlock alarm means for communicating with said microprocessor for actuating an alarm when said electromagnet lock means is in an unlocked state.

9. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 further comprising a "door propped-open" alarm means for actuating an alarm indicating that the door is in a propped-open state.

10. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor means further comprises passcode means for establishing a valid electronic passcode.

11. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 further comprising record means for recording information concerning said input signals.

12. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 further comprising interrogatory means communicable with said microprocessor for interrogating said microprocessor means.

13. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 1 further comprising contact activatable data port means mounted to said housing for communicating with a contact activatable ROM chip.

14. An electromagnetic lock system for controlling passage through a doorway comprising:

electromagnet means comprising a core and a coil positioned about said core and selectively energizable for generating an electromagnetic field;

housing means for housing said electromagnet means;

microprocessor means comprising a microprocessor disposed in said housing means and comprising input means for receiving an input to said microprocessor indicative of a request to pass through the doorway, said microprocessor generating an output signal for selectively energizing said coil; and

reader means disposed at said housing means for providing said input to said microprocessor means.

15. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 14 wherein said reader means comprises a contact activatable data port means mounted to said housing for communicating with a contact activatable ROM chip.

16. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 14 and further comprising a second reader means remote from said housing means for providing said to said microprocessor means.

17. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor defines a plurality of operating parameters and said microprocessor selects at least one parameter in response to an input signal from said reader means.

18. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 17 wherein said microprocessor further comprises means for providing information concerning each of said selected operating parameters.

19. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor comprises reset means for resetting said coil to an energized state after said coil has been de-energized in response to a request to pass through said doorway, said reset means being responsive to a signal from said reader means.

20. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 14 further comprising record means for recording information concerning said request.

21. An electromagnetic lock system for controlling passage through a doorway comprising:

electromagnet means comprising a core and a coil positioned about said core and selectively energizable for generating an electromagnetic field;

housing means for housing said electromagnet means;

microprocessor means comprising a microprocessor disposed in said housing means and comprising input means for receiving an input to said microprocessor indicative of a request to pass through the doorway, said microprocessor generating an output signal for controlling the energization of said coil, said microprocessor defining a plurality of possible operating parameters for said electromagnet means and for selecting at least one parameter, said output signal dependent on said at least one selected parameter; and

signal means for providing said input to said microprocessor means.

22. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 21 wherein said operating parameters comprise a plurality of values for implementing a selected delay time interval for re-energizing said electromagnet means.

23. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 21 wherein said operating parameters comprise a plurality of nuisance time delay interval values for allowing said electromagnetic lock means to de-energize only after a pre-establish nuisance time delay interval.

24. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 21 wherein said operating parameters comprise a plurality of egress delay time values for implementing a selected delay period for deenergizing said electromagnet means in response to the request.

25. The electromagnetic lock system of claim 21 wherein said signal means comprises a contact activatable data port means mounted to said housing for communicating with a contact activatable ROM chip.