Radio frequency electronic lock

• US 7,334,443 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcelle, Jesse, Meekma, Glenn, Nunuparov, Martyn S., Burmesch, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US10/373,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 703/95, 704/08, 704/13, 702/781, 702/782, 702/783, 702/787, 70275-277, 702791-284, 307 101- 105, 340/5.61
• US Class Current: 70/278.7
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0017 with rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0083 Devices of electrically driving keys, e.g. to facilitate opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0097 including means for monitoring voltage, e.g. for indicating low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/063 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0673 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/24 with built- in cylinder locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]

Abstract

A radio frequency (“RF”) electronic lock and a method of its operation are described. Also described is a programming key which may be used in connection with such a lock. It has several embodiments, including without limitations a mortise cylinder lock, a padlock, and a lever lock.

Claims

1. A lock and key assembly comprising a front body, a rear body and a key, the front body containing a printed circuit board, a battery electrically connected to the printed circuit board, a lock radio frequency antenna operatively connected to the printed circuit board, and a window in front of the lock radio frequency antenna,

the rear body having a first cavity which rotatably receives a plug such that the plug is operatively connected to a cam, and the cam interacts with hardware in a door for locking and unlocking the door,

the key comprising a passive radio frequency identification device, a key radio frequency antenna, and a key blade,

the plug having a key slot for receipt of the key blade such that when the key blade is inserted into the key slot the distance between the lock radio frequency antenna and the key radio frequency antenna is sufficiently small to permit communication,

the rear body having a second cavity housing a motor and a blocker, the motor being electrically connected to the printed circuit board such that when power is provided to the motor, the motor rotates the blocker from a locked position to an unlocked position,

a lever blocker operator movably mounted within the front body such that the lever blocker operator has a sleep position and a wake-up position, wherein in the sleep position the lock and key assembly consumes very little or no power, and in the wake-up position power is supplied to the printed circuit board, such that when the key blade is inserted into the key slot the lever blocker operator is moved from the sleep position to the wake-up position,

wherein when the blocker is in the locked position the blocker prevents displacement of a sidelock pin from a depression in the plug, and when the blocker is in the unlocked position the blocker does not prevent displacement of the sidelock pin from the depression, and wherein the lever blocker operator is rotatably mounted within the front body.

2. The lock and key assembly of claim 1 further comprising an external jumper contact for providing electrical power to components in the assembly which use electrical power.

3. The lock and key assembly of claim 2 further comprising an LED electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the LED operating to communicate to the keybearer whether access is granted or denied by the lock assembly.

4. The lock and key assembly of claim 1 further comprising a lever spring which biases the lever blocker operator in the sleep position, and insertion of the key blade into the key slot moves the lever blocker operator against the bias of the spring from the sleep position to the wake-up position.

5. The lock and key assembly of claim 4 wherein, when the key blade is removed from the key slot, the spring causes the lever blocker operator to move from the wake-up position to the sleep position.

6. The lock and key assembly of claim 1 wherein when the key blade is inserted into the key slot the distance between the lock radio frequency antenna and the key radio frequency antenna may be less than or equal to 10 millimeters.

7. The lock and key assembly of claim 6 wherein when the key blade is inserted into the key slot the distance between the lock radio frequency antenna and the key radio frequency antenna may be less than or equal to 7 millimeters.

8. The lock and key assembly of claim 7 wherein when the key blade is inserted into the key slot the distance between the lock radio frequency antenna and the key radio frequency antenna may be less than or equal to 5 millimeters.

9. The lock and key assembly of claim 1 wherein the lock and key assembly comprises a mortise cylinder lock assembly.

10. The lock and key assembly of claim 1 wherein the passive radio frequency identification device stores information indicating the person to whom the key was given is authorized for access.

11. A passive radio frequency lock comprising:

a lock assembly including a plug, a lock printed circuit board, a lever blocker operator, and a slide actuator, such that;

the plug includes a key slot and an aperture defined between the key slot and an exterior of the plug,

the slide actuator is positioned within the aperture of the plug,

the lever blocker operator is positioned to contact the slide actuator,

the lever blocker operator is mounted to move between a sleep position and a wake-up position, and

the lock printed circuit board includes a switch to change the lock printed circuit board between a sleep mode and a wake-up mode;

a key including a key blade insertable into the key slot;

wherein when the key blade is not inserted in the key slot, the slide actuator extends into the key slot and the lever blocker operator is in the sleep position, but when the key blade is inserted into the key slot, it displaces the slide actuator from the key slot and the lever blocker operator is moved to the wake-up position; and

wherein when the lever blocker operator is in the sleep position, the switch is not activated and the lock printed circuit board is in the sleep mode, but when the lever blocker operator is in the wake-up position, the switch is activated and the lock printed circuit board is in the wake-up mode.

12. The passive radio frequency lock of claim 11, the lock assembly further comprising a power source, wherein when the lock printed circuit board is in the sleep mode, the lock printed circuit board does not receive power from the power source, but when the lock printed circuit board is in the wake-up mode, the lock printed circuit board receives power from the power source.

13. The passive radio frequency lock of claim 12, the key further comprising a key printed circuit board and a key radio frequency antenna, such that:

the key printed circuit board is operatively connected to the key radio frequency antenna, and

the key printed circuit board changes between an inactive mode and an active mode;

wherein when the key is inserted in the key slot and the lock printed circuit board is in sleep mode, the key printed circuit board is in inactive mode, but when the lock printed circuit board is in wake-up mode, the key printed circuit board is in active mode and receives power through radio frequency coupling between the lock radio frequency antenna and the key radio frequency antenna.

14. The passive radio frequency lock of claim 11, further comprising a LED electrically connected to the lock printed circuit board.

15. The passive radio frequency lock of claim 11, further comprising an external jumper contact for connecting an auxiliary supply of power.

16. The passive radio frequency lock of claim 11, wherein the lever blocker operator is rotatably mounted.