Lock portion with solid-state actuator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic lock, comprising:
- an outer body having a bore and configured to be mounted to an object;
a rotatable core comprising a plug rotatably positioned within the bore and movable relative to the bore in an unlocking direction during a normal unlocking operation; and
a solid-state actuator positioned in the plug and configured to resist movement of a locking member during a non-normal unlocking operation, said solid-state actuator having a first position and a second position, wherein the solid-state actuator is in the first position when the electronic lock is locked and in the second position when the electronic lock is unlocked, wherein the solid-state actuator generates electrical power in response to the non-normal unlocking operation and the generated electrical power is shunted back to the solid-state actuator such that the solid-state actuator is biased toward the first position.
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Abstract
An electronic lock includes a rotatable core movable within an outer body. The rotatable core includes an actuator configured to move a tumbler blocking member into or out of interfering engagement with one or more tumblers. In an unlocked state, the actuator moves the tumbler blocking member so that a movable locking member in the rotatable core that engages the outer body can be moved into the rotatable core. In a locked state, the actuator positions the tumbler blocking member to prevent the one or more tumblers from retracting and thereby retain the locking member in a channel of the outer body.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic lock, comprising:
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an outer body having a bore and configured to be mounted to an object; a rotatable core comprising a plug rotatably positioned within the bore and movable relative to the bore in an unlocking direction during a normal unlocking operation; and a solid-state actuator positioned in the plug and configured to resist movement of a locking member during a non-normal unlocking operation, said solid-state actuator having a first position and a second position, wherein the solid-state actuator is in the first position when the electronic lock is locked and in the second position when the electronic lock is unlocked, wherein the solid-state actuator generates electrical power in response to the non-normal unlocking operation and the generated electrical power is shunted back to the solid-state actuator such that the solid-state actuator is biased toward the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A lock comprising:
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a locking member; a special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator preventing movement of the locking member when the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator is not receiving a voltage from a power source; a voltage multiplier circuit coupled with the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator, wherein the voltage multiplier circuit is configured to boost a voltage received from a key associated with the lock and to apply the boosted voltage to the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator such that the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator enables movement of the locking member, wherein the voltage multiplier circuit is a high voltage tandem flyback circuit boosting the voltage from the power supply to at least 1000 volts; and a tamper circuit, coupled with the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator, that shunts electrical power produced by an externally induced motion of the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator to the special-purpose piezo ceramic actuator.
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18. A system comprising:
a key comprising; a power supply; a first voltage multiplier circuit coupled with the power supply and configured to boost a voltage from the power supply to a first boosted voltage of at least 100 volts; and a flange electrically coupled with the first voltage multiplier circuit and configured to electrically couple with a contact pin and provide the first boosted voltage from the first voltage multiplier circuit to the contact pin; and
an electronic lock comprising;the contact pin configured to electrically couple with the flange of the key and receive the first boosted voltage from the key; a locking member; a solid-state actuator preventing movement of the locking member when the solid-state actuator is not receiving the first boosted voltage from the contact pin; and a second voltage multiplier circuit coupled with the solid-state actuator, wherein the second voltage multiplier circuit is configured to boost the first boosted voltage received from the flange of the key to a second boosted voltage and to apply said second boosted voltage to the solid-state actuator such that the solid-state actuator enables movement of the locking member, wherein the second voltage multiplier circuit is a high voltage tandem flyback circuit.
Specification