Electrical/mechanical access control systems and methods

• US 6,064,316 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Owens, Jeffrey D., Glick, Mark, Bolan, Michael L., Fekete, Nicholas M. G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US09/035,159
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.32, 70/278, 70/277, 70/279, 70/276, 70/263, 70/284, 70/409, 70/280, 70/63, 70/271
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0091 Retrofittable electric locks, e.g. an electric module can be attached to an existing manual lock
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0611 Cylinder locks with electromagnetic control
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00904 for hotels, motels, office buildings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/267 in different semiconductor regions , e.g. heterojunctions H01L29/263 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

An access control system, has at least one door to a secured area, each door having a strike plate, a host computer, at least one door control module coupled to the host computer, one door control module for every door; and at least one door reader coupled to the at least one door reader coupled to the door control module to activate the strike plate to release the door. The access control system further has at least one electro-mechanical key to independently actuate a lock that corresponds to the door(s). A master keying device to rekey the lock that corresponds to door(s). The host system records information selected from the group consisting of time of entry, place of entry, identification of entered party, and/or any combination thereof. In addition, a door knob and mechanical locking mechanism selectively latches and unlatches the locking mechanism and can be actuated with a mechanical key; and circuitry to actuate the locking mechanism to selectively latch so that the door can open, the circuitry actuated by an electrical signal transmitted by an electrical key, the electrical signal communicated by an electrical contact extending through the mechanical locking mechanism. The circuitry is powered by a battery, which can be removed without disturbing or actuating unlocking mechanism. The contact is an insulated electrical wire that extends through the locking mechanism to the circuitry. All of the circuitry discussed can be integrated onto a single, monolithic piece of silicon in a multi-chip or single-chip format. A master rekeying device has input/output circuitry to receive and transmit electrical signals, circuitry coupled to the input/output circuitry to record a list of security passwords in order to check passwords against the list and a memory to store data; and the input/output circuitry also receives and transmits electrical signals to a host computer.

Claims

1. A master rekeying device, comprising:

(a) input/output circuitry to receive and transmit electrical signals;

(b) circuitry coupled to said input/output circuitry to record a list of security passwords in order to check passwords against said list and a memory to store data;

(c) said input/output circuitry also receives and transmits electrical signals to a host computer and

wherein said master rekeying device is powered by parasitic power.