Programmable electronic lock

• US 5,591,950 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Onity Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Talleres De Escoriaza, S.A.
• Inventors: Imedio-Ocana, Juan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/470,346
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/380, 340/825.31
• US Class Current: 235/382.5
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00722 with magnetic components, e.g. magnets, magnetic strips, metallic inserts mechanical locks operated by permanent magnets E05B47/0038
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like

Abstract

A programmable electronic provides security among multiple users, allows independent use by multiple users of different types, and is modularly adaptable to various applications. Security is provided by the automatic updating of a lock code if an inserted card'"'"'s key code bears a predetermined relation to the stored lock code. The present invention allows multiple types of users to access a given lock without affecting lock codes associated with other types or invalidating the stored lock codes of other users of the same type. For example, in a hotel room lock, a maid'"'"'s key will not change the code for a guest'"'"'s key, and other maid'"'"'s keys will still open a lock after a first maid has accessed the lock if their lock codes are stored in the lock. The present invention also provides an additional functions circuit which allows add-on functions to be attached to the basic circuit to fit the needs of a particular site. Some examples of add-on functions include: a real time clock, a timetable function, a privacy function, an office function, a keyboard function, and a secret code function.

Claims

1. A programmable electronic lock, comprising:

a card, having fields respectively encoded with a card code, a shift code, and a card type code;

a card reader;

means for storing said card code;

means for storing said shift code;

means for storing said card type code;

a system code;

means for storing said system code;

means for receiving said card, system, and shift codes, and calculating a key code therefrom;

means for storing said key code;

a plurality of lock codes for said card type code;

means for storing said plurality of lock codes for said card type code;

means for receiving said card type code and retrieving a lock code from said plurality of lock codes for said card type code;

means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code;

said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code producing an active output signal at a first output when said key code is equal in value to said lock code;

said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code producing an active signal at a second output when said key code value is within a predetermined tolerance value of said lock code value;

means for setting and storing said predetermined tolerance value;

means for opening a lock responsive to either of said active output signals from said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code;

means for automatically updating said lock code, by replacing said lock code with said key code, responsive to said second active output signal from said means for receiving and comparing said key and said lock codes.

2. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein said means for storing said plurality of lock codes for said card type code comprises:

a plurality of registers, storing a list of lock codes for each card type code.

3. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code comprises:

a comparator, having a control input;

said control input being connected to said means for setting and storing said predetermined tolerance value.

4. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein said means for setting and storing said predetermined tolerance value comprises:

a register.

5. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined tolerance value is the difference produced by subtracting said key code value from said lock code value.

11. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6, wherein said means for connecting said modular additional elements comprises:

a calculation circuit, producing an active output signal upon receiving said additional functions code and an active output signal from one or more of said plurality of modular elements;

an AND gate;

said AND gate receiving at a first input said output signal from said from said calculation circuit;

said AND gate receiving at a second input both of said output signals from said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code of claim 2;

said AND gate producing an active output signal upon said first input and said second input simultaneously receiving active signals;

said active output signal of said and gate energizing said means for opening a lock.

6. A programmable electronic lock comprising:

a card, having fields respectively encoded with a card code, a shift code, a card type code, and an additional functions code;

a card reader;

means for storing said card code;

means for storing said shift code;

means for storing said type code;

means for storing said additional functions code;

a system code;

means for storing said system code;

means for receiving said card, system, and shift codes, and producing a key code therefrom;

means for storing said key code;

a plurality of lock codes for said card type code;

means for storing said plurality of lock codes for said card type code;

means for receiving said card type code and retrieving a lock code from said plurality of lock codes for said card type code;

means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code;

said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code producing an active output signal at a first output when said key code is equal in value to said lock code;

said means for comparing said key code and said lock code producing an active signal at a second output when said key code value is within a predetermined tolerance value of said lock code value;

means for setting and storing said predetermined tolerance value;

means for opening a lock, responsive to either of said active output signals from said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code;

means for automatically updating said lock code, by replacing said lock code with said key code, responsive to said second active output signal from said means for receiving and comparing said key and said lock codes; and

means for connecting a plurality of modular additional elements to adapt a lock to the needs of a particular site.

7. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6, wherein said means for storing said plurality of lock codes for said card type code comprises:

a plurality of registers, storing a list of lock codes for each card type code.

8. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6, wherein said means for receiving and comparing said key code and said lock code comprises:

a comparator, having a control input;

said control input being connected to said means for setting and storing said predetermined tolerance value.

9. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6, wherein said means for setting and storing said predetermined tolerance value comprises:

a register.

10. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined tolerance value is the difference produced by subtracting said key code value from said lock code value.

12. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6 where said modular function elements comprise;

a clock module;

a timetable module;

a privacy module;

an openings memory module;

a keyboard module; and

an office function module.

13. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 6 having at least one additional functions module.

14. A programmable electronic lock comprising:

means for reading a key code from a card;

means for storing a lock code in said lock;

means for setting and storing an allowable maximum difference between said key code and said lock code; and

means, responsive to a difference between said key code and said lock code being less than said allowable maximum difference for enabling activation of said electronic lock.

15. A programmable electronic lock according to claim 14 comprising:

means for reading an additional functions code from said card;

means, responsive to said key code satisfying a predetermined condition for providing a first opening signal;

means, responsive to satisfaction of at least one condition in said additional functions code, for providing a second opening signal; and

means responsive to the presence of said first and second opening signals for enabling opening of said lock.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition includes a valid time before which said second opening signal is prohibited.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition includes an invalid time after which said second opening signal is prohibited.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said at least one condition further includes a valid time, before said invalid time, before which said second opening signal is prohibited, whereby said second opening signal is permitted between said valid time and said invalid time.

19. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition includes a timetable of permitted opening times.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition includes a privacy function whereby a lock operator is enabled to prevent opening of said lock under certain circumstances.

21. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said at least one condition includes codes useable with a definable plurality of locks, said definable plurality being less than all of said locks in a building.