Lock system

• US 8,866,066 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Fuse, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wyatt, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/062,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 250/231, 702/782, 702/783, 702/831, 702/84, 340/542, 385/147
• US Class Current: 250/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/006 actuating opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7051 Using a powered device [e.g., motor]
• 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 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7141 Combination and key

Abstract

Techniques are generally described for a lock system. An example lock system includes a lock with a lock module that controls a lock mechanism. The lock is configured to transmit optical signals to a key. The key reflects the optical signals back to the lock. The key is configured to encode the optical signals with a combination. The lock module is configured to determine whether the combination is valid. The lock module actuates the locking mechanism when the key is determined to be valid.

Claims

1. A lock system comprising:

a lock that includes a lock module configured to control a lock mechanism, the lock module comprising;

a first waveguide that includes a plurality of first optical paths;

a source that is configured to transmit optical signals through the first optical paths of the first waveguide to a key, wherein the key comprises a key module that includes a second waveguide, and wherein the second waveguide includes a plurality of second optical paths;

a detector configured to detect encoded optical signals returned from the key and transmitted through at least some of the plurality of second optical paths and at least some of the plurality of first optical paths; and

a control module, wherein the control module is configured to read the encoded optical signals detected by the detector and to determine whether the key is valid, wherein the control module is also configured to actuate the lock mechanism when the key is determined to be valid;

wherein at least some of the second optical paths each include a reflective element configured to return the optical signals back to the lock module and wherein at least some of the second optical paths are blocked such that optical signals in the blocked optical paths are not returned to the lock module.

2. The lock system of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of photodetectors and the source comprises a plurality of emitters, wherein the plurality of emitters are configured to transmit the optical signals and the plurality of photodetectors are configured to detect the encoded optical signals.

3. The lock system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of emitters are configured to emit light at different wavelengths.

4. The lock system of claim 1, wherein the key module is configured to encode the optical signals by preventing at least some portion of the optical signals from being returned to the lock module, wherein the optical signals are transmitted from the first waveguide to the second waveguide across an interface between the key and the lock and wherein the encoded optical signals are coupled through the interface from the second waveguide to the first waveguide.

5. The lock system of claim 1, wherein the encoded optical signals are encoded with a combination, wherein the control module is configured to compare the combination with a predetermined combination stored in a memory of the lock module to determine the validity of the key.

6. The lock system of claim 1, wherein the reflective element comprises a mirror positioned at an end of at least some of the second optical paths and wherein blocks in the second optical paths include one of holes or a light absorbing material.

7. The lock system of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a keyhole having a first structure and wherein an end of the key includes a complementary structure adapted to ensure that the key is correctly oriented when inserted into the keyhole.

8. The lock system of claim 1, wherein each of the blocked optical paths comprises a block configured to prevent light from being returned to the lock module.

9. The lock system of claim 8, wherein each block comprises a hole configured to disperse or scatter a corresponding one of the optical signals.

10. The lock system of claim 8, wherein each block comprises a light absorbing material.

11. A lock system comprising:

a lock paired with a key;

the lock including;

a first waveguide;

a source positioned to emit optical signals toward the key through the first waveguide when the key is engaged with the lock, wherein the source includes a plurality of emitters and each of the plurality of emitters is arranged to emit an optical signal into a corresponding first optical path included in the first waveguide;

a detector arranged to receive encoded optical signals returned from the key, wherein the key encodes the optical signals emitted by the source with a combination, wherein the detector includes a plurality of photodetectors; and

a control module coupled to a lock drive component that is configured to selectively engage or disengage a locking mechanism, wherein the control module is configured to generate an instruction to actuate the locking mechanism when the control module determines that the combination is valid for the lock; and

the key including;

a second waveguide, wherein the optical signals emitted by the source are coupled to the second waveguide from the first waveguide, wherein the second waveguide is configured to reflect at least a portion of the optical signals back towards the detector through the second waveguide and the first waveguide;

wherein the second waveguide includes a plurality of optical paths and wherein at least one of the plurality of optical paths is configured to suppress reflection of a corresponding optical signal in the at least one of the plurality of optical paths; and

wherein at least some of the plurality of optical paths each include a mirror positioned within the corresponding optical path, wherein the mirrors are configured to reflect the optical signals emitted from the source back through the second waveguide and the first waveguide to the detector.

12. The lock system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of optical paths of the second waveguide comprise a plurality of second optical paths, wherein the first waveguide is positioned so as to permit alignment of the first optical paths and the second optical paths, wherein the first optical paths are configured to deliver optical signals emitted from the source to the second optical paths, and wherein the first optical paths are configured to deliver the encoded optical signals received from the second optical paths to the detector.

13. The lock system of claim 11, wherein the control module is configured to determine whether the key is valid by comparing the combination in the encoded optical signals with a prestored combination that is stored in a memory.

14. The lock system of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the plurality of optical paths configured to suppress reflection of the corresponding optical signal comprises a block that includes a hole configured to disperse or scatter the corresponding optical signal.

15. The lock system of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the plurality of optical paths configured to suppress reflection of the corresponding optical signal comprises a block that includes a light absorbing material.

16. A method of actuating a lock mechanism in a lock system, the method comprising:

emitting optical signals from a plurality of emitters included in a lock module into a plurality of waveguides, one or more of the plurality of waveguides including a reflective element positioned therein and one or more of the plurality of waveguides including a feature configured to substantially prevent one or more of the optical signals from being reflected;

receiving reflected optical signals at a plurality of detectors, wherein the reflected optical signals include a combination;

determining that a key is valid in response to verification of the combination; and

actuating the lock mechanism in response to determining that the key is valid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein actuating the lock mechanism comprises generating an instruction to a lock drive component that is configured to drive the lock mechanism in response to verification of the combination.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of waveguides include a first waveguide positioned in the lock module and a second waveguide positioned in the key, and wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide each include an optical path for each of the optical signals.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting insertion of the key into the lock.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising reconfiguring the combination of the lock and pairing the lock with a different key.