Electronically-controlled locker system

• US 6,879,243 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Preferred Technology Systems, LLC (Assa Abloy AB), Penco Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Penco Products, Inc., Digitech International Incorporated (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Johnson, David W., Johnson, Edward E., Booth, Kevin E., Popolow, Harry N., Loftin, Jon S., Osborne, Lance C., Ford, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V.
• Application Number:
  US10/075,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.81, 340/5.25, 312/215, 700/241, 700/242, 235/46, 235/202, 235/382, 235/382.5, 705/1, 70/84, 70/77, 70/78, 70/79, 702/64, 702/78
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0037 Spring-operated
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2015/0235 Stud-like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

An electronically-controlled locker system that utilizes distributing processing to control access to, and assignment of, a plurality of lockers in a school, workplace, fitness center, etc. The system uses a plurality of locker control units that control access to a corresponding set of lockers based on user inputs and on user/locker authorization data that is provided from a central administrator workstation. This administrator workstation communicates with a system control unit that is in communication with every locker control unit and which allows cross-communication between locker control units.

Claims

1. An electronically-controlled locker system for use by a plurality of authorized users and managed by an administrator, said system comprising:

a first plurality of lockers wherein each locker comprises a respective electronically-activated lock;

at least one input device for allowing the plurality of authorized users to communicate with said system;

at least one locker control unit, in communication with each electronically-activated lock and with said at least one input device, said at least one locker control unit controlling the activation of said electronically-activated locks;

a computer, controlled by the administrator, for managing at least one database of authorized user and locker information;

a system control unit, in communication with said at least one locker control unit and with said computer, said system control unit providing said at least one locker control unit with said authorized user and locker information;

wherein said at least one locker control unit uses data from said at least one input device and said authorized user and locker information to provide access to corresponding lockers for the plurality of authorized users;

wherein said at least one locker control unit is coupled to each one of said electronically-activated locks using two conductors to form a single circuit, said at least one locker control unit controlling access to said corresponding locker door and detecting the open or closed state of said corresponding locker door using said single circuit;

wherein said single circuit comprises;

one of said two conductors being coupled between said at least one locker control unit and an actuator for driving said electronically-activated lock; and

a switch, operated by the open or closed state of said corresponding locker door, having one pole coupled to said actuator and another pole coupled to said at least one locker control unit using said other one of said two conductors; and

wherein said at least one locker control unit transmits a first pulse to energize said actuator and transmits a second pulse to determine the open or closed state of said corresponding locker door.