Mechanical/electronic lock and key therefor

• US 6,374,653 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Security People Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Security People Incorporated
• Inventors: Gokcebay, Asil T., Keskin, Yucel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/461,514
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 702/24, 702/77, 702/781-278, 702/79--83, 292/357, 292/356, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/542, 340/543, 235/182
• US Class Current: 70/278.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/02 Striking-plates; Keepers; Bolt staples; Escutcheons keyhole finders E05B15/08; escutcheons made of hard materials E05B15/1614; finger-plates E06B7/285
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/063 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/048 the record carrier being shaped as a key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00841 by a portable device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00992 mechanical key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5832 Lock and handle assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 Dogging manual operator

Abstract

A lock cylinder of standard size and configuration, interchangeable with conventional mechanical cylinders, includes electronic access control features as additional security or in some embodiments as the sole security feature. A microcontroller, memory, solenoid, battery, one wire bus connection and other electric and electronic elements are self contained within the cylinder, being positioned in the cylinder shell or the cylinder plug. The microprocessor can be programmed as to authorized users, entry times, etc. using a special programming key, which itself is programmed with a computer. User keys have a memory cell or ID chip which is read by the cylinder'"'"'s microcontroller on insertion of the key; however, a system of locks can include locks which are mechanical/electronic, solely electronic and solely mechanical, and keys can also be electronic, mechanical or both. In one embodiment a cylinder collar contains batteries for supplying power to the cylinder, and may also have an LED and contacts for supplying emergency power.

Claims

1. A cylinder collar for use with a lock cylinder having electronic access control means, such cylinder having components requiring power, said cylinder collar comprising:

(a) a collar body having a recessed hole capable of seating a head of the cylinder and when installed on an outer side of a door along with a cylinder, the collar body surrounding a portion of the cylinder,

(b) at least one cavity in the collar body capable of storing a battery, and

(c) battery contact means for providing connection between a battery in said cavity and the cylinder when the collar is installed on a lock with a cylinder.

2. The cylinder collar of claim 1, including a nine volt battery within the cavity of the collar.

3. The cylinder collar of claim 1, further including a pair of external contacts on the collar for enabling the powering of the lock cylinder with external power in the event of battery failure.

4. The cylinder collar of claim 1, in combination with a lock position, the lock cylinder having a cylinder plug and a narrow, cylindrical shell extension of the cylinder, covering most of the length of and being concentric with the cylinder plug, and the recessed hole of the collar body being sized to receive the cylinder plug and cylindrical cylinder extension, such that the cylinder plug is exposed at the front of the collar body.

5. The cylinder collar of claim 1, in combination with said lock cylinder, having electronic access control means, the lock cylinder including a blocking means for preventing rotation of a cylinder plug of the cylinder, except when required electronic access control data is input to the cylinder.

6. The cylinder and collar combination of claim 5, wherein the lock cylinder comprises a rim cylinder.

7. The cylinder and collar combination of claim 5, wherein the lock cylinder comprises a mortise cylinder.

8. The cylinder collar of claim 1, wherein the battery contact means comprises a pin and socket connection that engages when the collar body is put together with said lock cylinder.

9. A lock cylinder arrangement with electronic access control, comprising:

a European type lock cylinder installed into a lock unit which is fitted into a cavity in a door, and the cylinder having electronic access control components requiring power, and the cylinder having a rotatable plug attached to a movable piece that interacts with a latch or deadbolt of the lock unit when a key is inserted into the cylinder and the plug is rotated,

the cavity in the door extending through the door, and the lock cylinder having a body portion with a length substantially as long as the thickness of the door, such that the lock cylinder can be installed from the inside door face,

a back unit attached to a back side of the lock cylinder, and back unit being larger in width than the body portion and including a battery casing containing at least one battery, the back unit being mounted at the inside of the door and having a flat surface engaged against the inside door face and covering the cavity at the inside door face, with the cylinder extending through the cavity, and

a power connection from the battery of the back unit into the lock cylinder for said components requiring power.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the European type lock cylinder is a double cylinder, keyed at the inside of the door as well as the outside, the cylinder extending into the back unit so as to expose the key slot at the inside of the door, surrounded by the back unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the back unit has a thumb turn connected to unlock the door from the inside.

12. A lock cylinder arrangement with electronic access control, comprising:

lock cylinder installed into a lock unit which is fitted into a cavity in a door, and the cylinder having electronic access control components requiring power, and the cylinder having a rotatable plug attached to a movable rear piece that interacts with a latch or deadbolt of the lock unit when a key is inserted into the cylinder and the plug is rotated,

the lock unit having a rear hole positioned toward the inside of the door and directly opposite the position of the lock cylinder,

the door having an inside door face with an opening directly adjacent to the rear hole in the lock unit, for access thereto from the inside of the door,

a back unit including a battery casing containing at least one battery, the back unit being mounted at the inside of the door and covering the opening in the inside door face, the back unit having an extension which fits into the rear hole of the lock unit by sliding insertion therein, and

electrical connectors between the extension of the back unit, at the inner end of the back unit, and the back side of the lock cylinder, effective to connect power into the lock cylinder for said components requiring power, when the battery casing is inserted into the lock unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical connectors comprise wires between the extension of the back unit and the back side of the lock cylinder.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical connectors comprise spring contacts between the extension of the back unit and the back side of the lock cylinder.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrical connectors comprise pin and socket connectors.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the back unit includes a manual knob accessible from the inside of the door and with a linkage arranged to engage with the lock unit so as to retract the latch or deadbolt by turning up the manual knob.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the back unit includes an additional lock cylinder, so that the lock unit in the door is accessible by a key both inside and outside.

18. A self-contained lever handle capable of fitting into and operating a key-in-knob type cylindrical lever lock set in a door, the lever having electronic access control, comprising:

the handle containing a battery and circuitry containing logic for making access control decisions,

an access panel in the handle capable of removal to obtain access to and change the battery, and

the handle having a base portion containing a lock cylinder, the lock cylinder having electronic access control features and components requiring power and being connected to the battery and to the circuitry containing logic, said electronic access control features including an isolation contact on the lock cylinder positioned to electronically read a key when inserted into a key slot of the lock cylinder, and the circuitry containing logic being capable of reading an identification code on the key and making an access control decision based on such identification.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the lever handle has an outer surface with a pair of auxiliary external power contacts for receiving external power to allow accessing of the electronic access features of the lock in the event the battery in the handle is too low, said access panel being located at an inside surface of the lever handle.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the lever handle has an outer surface with a light emitting diode connected to the electronic access control components in the lock and capable of indicating status after an attempt at access has been made, as to whether access is granted or not.

21. A self-contained locking knob capable of fitting into and operating a key-in-knob type cylindrical lock set in a door, the knob having electronic access control, comprising:

the knob containing a battery and circuitry containing logic for making access control decisions,

an access panel in the knob capable of removal to obtain access to and change the battery, and

the knob containing a lock cylinder, the lock cylinder having electronic access control features and components requiring power and being connected to the battery and to the circuitry containing logic, said electronic access control features including an isolation contact on the lock cylinder positioned to electronically read a key when inserted into a key slot of the lock cylinder, and the circuitry containing logic being capable of reading an identification code on the key and making an access control decision based on such identification.

22. In a system of locks and keys having electronic access control features wherein certain keys are to be permitted access to certain locks as selected, a management system for setup, monitoring and control of which keys can access which locks, comprising:

a computer with a memory and a monitor, the computer having programming,

a series of keys, each having an electronic ID with means for reading the ID,

a series of locks, each having electronic access control features, including an electrically operated blocking member, a microcontroller for making access control decisions, and connected memory, each lock being programmable for access by selected ones of the keys according to key ID'"'"'s, and

means in the computer programming for (a) presenting on the monitor a matrix representing locks in the system on one axis of the matrix and keys of the system on the other axis of the matrix, (b) facilitating user selection of which key or keys in the system are to be permitted electronic access to which lock or locks in the system, by the user'"'"'s making a positive indication on the matrix by use of a user input device, such that each location of a positive indication comprises an intersection of a row and column represented by a particular lock and key signifying that the key is to have access to that lock, and including provision for some keys having access to multiple locks and for some locks being accessible by multiple keys, as desired, (c) recording the user selections in computer memory, along with codes or ID numbers representing the locks and keys, and (d) for generating programming data in accordance with the user'"'"'s selections, for the locks in the systems, as to which locks are to be accessible by which keys.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer programming includes mean for inputting into the computer and memory information identifying the ID on each key of the system, so that the ID on each key of the system, so that the ID is associated in the computer with each of the series of keys in the system as listed on the matrix, and further including lock programming means for programming locks of the system with access control information as to which keys of the system are to be permitted access to which locks, in accordance with the selections made by the user of the matrix presented by the computer programming.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the lock programming means comprises:

a programming key for the system, having a key blade and having a programmable memory, the programming key being portable and insertable into the locks of the system, and the programming key including means for connecting to the computer when desired, and for downloading stored information from the computer into the programming key memory,

the computer and programming having means for downloading data representing the recorded user selections of which locks are to be accessed by which keys, to the programming key memory when the programming key is connected to the computer, such that the programming key stores, for each lock in the system, which keys in the system should be capable of electronically accessing the lock, and

means on the programming key for making electrical contact with locks in the system when the programming key is inserted into a lock, enabling data transfer between the programming key and the microcontroller of the lock so as to program the locks to grant electronic access to those keys selected by the user.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein at least some of the locks and some of the keys include mechanical bitting configurations, with specific keys having bittings matched to specific locks.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer programming includes means enabling user input of data relating to mechanical bitting matches between keys and locks, and further includes means preventing selection of keys to electronically access locks in cases where a mechanical hitting match does not exist.