Electronic combination lock with closure and locking verification

• US 5,488,358 A
• Filed: 02/18/1994
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mas-Hamilton Group (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Mas-Hamilton Group (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Inventors: Hamilton, James E., Thompson, Daniel L., Dawson, Gerald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/198,835
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 380/23, 380/59, 235/380
• US Class Current: 340/5.26
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes

Abstract

A lock is described which has the capability to generate or encrypt a close number which is then displayed to the operator of the lock to be used to verify the locking of the lock. This number must be reported to a central dispatch operation where it is compared with a number similarly generated using identical starting values and an identical encryption algorithm. Comparison of the two numbers, resulting in a compare equal will indicate that the lock has been locked since the lock encryption operation is dependent upon the repowering of the lock. The lock is repowered after it has been opened by rotation of the dial which will extend the bolt and through the rotation of the dial drive a stepper motor/generator to provide electrical power to the lock.

Claims

1. An electronic combination lock comprising:

a dial;

a generator connected to said dial for generating electrical power for powering said lock and for entering a first combination into said lock;

electronic controls comprising a program controlled microprocessor for receiving said first combination and said power and for comparing said first combination with an authorized combination and for controlling opening of said lock;

said electronic controls further comprising a memory for storing said combination and at least one additional multiple digit number associated with said lock;

said electronic controls further responsive to said dial and said electrical power to encrypt at least portions of two numerical values including said first combination and one of said at least one additional multiple digit numbers stored in said memory to produce an encrypted number upon powering of said lock;

a display responsive to said electronic controls to display said encrypted number;

whereby said number may be observed and reported for comparison to a similarly encrypted number to verify said lock as locked.

2. The lock of claim 1 wherein said two numerical values comprise said first combination and a second combination and said electronic controls encrypt said first combination and encrypts said second combination and combines results of said encryptions to yield said encrypted number.

3. The lock of claim 1 wherein said electronic control comprises program controlled logic for combining two preselected digits of said first combination to yield a first two digit result, mathematically combining said two digit result with two predesignated digits of said first combination to yield a second two digit result, combining two preselected digits of said second combination to yield a third two digit result, mathematically combining said third two digit result with two predesignated digits of said second combination to yield a fourth two digit result, and mathematically combining said second two digit result and said fourth two digit result to yield a two digit number which is unique to each opening and closing of said lock.

4. A method of verifying closure of a combination lock comprising the steps of:

providing a lock having a display, a bolt and a member for extending said bolt to a locked position;

moving said member to extend said bolt to a locked position;

providing storage memories within said lock for storing at least a first and a second changeable numerical values each having a plurality of digits;

storing in said storage memories at least said first and second changeable numerical values;

moving said member for extending said bolt to extend said bolt to a locked position and continuing to move said member for extending said bolt;

responsive to movement of said member for extending said bolt to extend said bolt to a locked position and said continuing movement of said member for extending said bolt, combining each of two predesignated digits of said first numerical value to form a first two digit result;

mathematically combining said third two digit result with a predesignated two digit number forming a portion of said second numerical value to yield a fourth two digit result;

mathematically combining said second and said fourth results to yield a two digit close number;

transmitting said number to a remote location for comparison with a similarly derived value and upon favorable comparison determination that said lock has been locked.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of;

displaying said closure number;

comparing said closure number with a similarly computed number and

alerting predesignated personnel to results of said comparing step if said comparing step results in a compare not equal condition.

6. An electronic combination lock comprising;

means for storing within said lock a plurality of numerical values of at least four digits each;

at least two numerical values having at least 4 digits each stored in said means for storing;

means for separately encrypting each of two of said numerical values and for combining results of said encryptions to yield a number having a unique value for each locking of said lock; and

means for displaying said number for observation by the operator,

whereby the said number will be determined and displayed to an operator, thereby providing an encrypted number to said operator which may be compared with a similarly encrypted number to provide assurance that said lock has been locked.

7. The lock of claim 6, wherein said lock further comprises:

manually operated means for controlling said lock;

means for electrically powering said lock;

means for opening said lock;

means for closing said lock;

said means for powering said lock, said means for opening said lock and said means for closing said lock all responsive to said manually operable means for controlling said lock;

said means for encrypting responsive to said manually operated means for controlling said lock and said means for powering said lock.

8. The lock of claim 7 wherein said means for encrypting is responsive to the operation of said means for electrically powering said lock to encrypt said numerical values and provide said unique value upon each powering of said lock.

9. The lock of claim 7 wherein said means for electrically powering said lock and said means for locking said lock are both responsive to said manually operable means for controlling said lock.

10. The lock of claim 7 wherein at least one of said two numerical values is changed with each operation of said means for unlocking said lock.

11. The lock of claim 10 wherein said other of said numerical values is intermittently changed by said lock upon operation of said means for unlocking said lock.