Efficient lock and key system

• US 7,009,490 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Hong Kong (Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
• Original Assignee: University of Hong Kong (Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)
• Inventors: Yang, Edward S, Wong, Alfred K
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US10/394,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7, 340/5.72, 340/5.73, 340/825.72, 340/5.71, 340/542, 340/556, 340/5.22, 340/5.21, 340/5.24, 340/5.25, 340/5.65, 340/5.61, 340/5.63
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for allowing users to consolidate a large number electronic keys (for operating mechanical locks) in electronic key assemblies. These electronic keys are easily duplicated, added to, removed, backed up, or upgraded. The electronic key assemblies are also more resistant to tampering. The lock assembly and electronic key designs taught by the invention are customizable to meet various security needs. The lock assembly includes a transmitter and a receiver operatively coupled to an electronic circuit in communication with a store for keys. The electronic circuit is also coupled to the mechanical levers for operating the lock assembly. The electronic key assembly also has its transmitter, receiver, a control circuit and a user interface for selecting a particular electronic key password.

Claims

1. An electronic lock system comprising:

at least one lock assembly having a lock assembly transmitter, a lock assembly receiver, a lock assembly password setting button, and a lock assembly electronic control circuit operatively coupled to lock assembly mechanical parts for locking and unlocking; and

a first electronic key assembly having a key transmitter and a key receiver;

a user interface presented to the key user; and

a key electronic control circuit for coordinating the activities of the various key sub-parts;

wherein responsive to pressing of the lock assembly password setting button, a password is stored in the lock assembly electronic control circuit, the lock assembly transmitter transmits the password to the first electronic key assembly to be stored in the key electronic control circuit; and

wherein one or more passwords are stored on the electronic key assembly to operate the at least one lock assembly.

2. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the user interface has a display and one or more of a scroll button, clickable button, infrared port, or pressure sensitive surface.

3. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein responsive to pressing of the password-setting button a random sequence is stored as a password for unlocking the lock assembly;

and the random sequence is also received by the key receiver of the first electronic key assembly to be stored in the key electronic control circuit.

4. The electronic lock system of claim 3, wherein a password setting function is activated in the first key, whereby the random sequence is received as the password for the lock assembly.

5. The electronic lock system of claim 3 wherein the lock assembly corresponds to a plurality of passwords for unlocking the lock assembly.

6. The electronic lock system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of passwords for unlocking the lock assembly are stored on the first key.

7. The electronic lock system of claim 6 wherein the first key also stores at least one password for unlocking at least one additional lock.

8. The electronic lock system of claim 6 wherein a number of passwords stored on the first key belongs to the set consisting of at least five passwords, at least ten passwords, at least twenty passwords, at least fifty passwords, and at least one hundred passwords.

9. The electronic lock system of claim 5 wherein at least one password for unlocking the lock assembly is stored on a second key assembly.

10. The electronic lock system of claim 1, wherein the password-setting button is inactivated after setting the password of the lock during manufacturing and remains inactive during the use of the electronic lock system to prevent further change of the password.

11. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein in response to receiving a password corresponding to the lock assembly, the lock assembly unlocks.

12. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein the password corresponding to the lock assembly is transmitted from the first key in response to a selection made via the user interface.

13. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein the lock assembly electronic control circuit is configured to, at a time point following unlocking, instruct the lock assembly mechanical parts to relock in a default mode.

14. The electronic lock system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the lock assembly transmitter and the key transmitter is coupled to one or more of an antenna and a light emitting diode.

15. An electronic lock system comprising:

at least one lock assembly having one or more lock assembly mechanical parts and a lock assembly electronic control circuit operatively coupled to the lock assembly mechanical parts for locking and unlocking; and

a first electronic key assembly having a key transmitter, a user interface presented to the key user; and

a key electronic control circuit for coordinating the activities of the various key sub-parts;

wherein one or more passwords are stored on the electronic key assembly to operate the at least one lock assembly; and

wherein a password is copied from the first electronic key assembly to a second electronic key assembly by activating a password duplication feature in at least one of the first and second electronic key assemblies;

establishing a link between the first and second electronic key assemblies;

receiving a specified password at the second electronic key assembly; and

finishing the duplication process by storing a new password in the second electronic key assembly.

16. The electronic lock system of claim 15, wherein the password duplication feature is accessed via the user interface.

17. A method for designing an electronic lock system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a lock assembly transmitter and a lock assembly receiver in an electronic lock assembly having at least one stored password and a control circuit coupled to mechanical parts for locking and unlocking the electronic lock assembly, wherein the control circuit unlocks the electronic lock assembly in response to receiving a password matching the stored password;

providing a key transmitter and a key receiver in a first electronic key assembly having at least one password storage location and a control circuit coupled to various key sub-parts;

providing a user interface for the first electronic key assembly, whereby a user selects at least one password stored on the first electronic key assembly to unlock the electronic lock assembly; and

implementing a password duplication function for transmitting a password from the first electronic key assembly to a second electronic key assembly followed by storing of the transmitted password on the second electronic key assembly.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a password-setting button in the electronic lock assembly, whereby a password is stored by the electronic lock assembly in response to operation of the password-setting button during the manufacturing of the lock assembly and the stored password is transmitted to the first electronic key assembly.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a password-setting function in the first electronic key assembly, whereby the password received from the electronic lock assembly is stored on the first electronic key assembly.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one transmission between the first electronic key assembly and one or more of the electronic lock assembly and the second electronic key assembly is encrypted using a public key.