Mechatronic locking apparatus

• US 8,928,453 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2010
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy AG (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Assa Abloy AG (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Sprenger, Detlef, Mnger, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US13/258,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20120011907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.6, 340/5.73, 307/9.1, 320/109, 320/114, 702/783, 702/787
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

The mechatronic locking apparatus comprises a control circuit (4), from which information signals can be transmitted to a control circuit (6) of the lock cylinder (2) using a first communication path (5). A security key (3) has at least one second communication path (7) for storing and/or processing access data. The two communication paths (5, 7) are connected to said control circuit (4) of the security key (3). The first communication path (5) preferably uses an electrical contact in the lock cylinder (2). The second communication path (7) comprises a transponder (8). The first communication path (5) may also be used for power supply purposes.

Claims

1. A mechatronic locking apparatus comprising:

a lock cylinder comprising a cylinder control circuit;

an associated security key comprising;

a first communication path;

a key control circuit for storing and processing access data and from which information signals can be transmitted to the cylinder control circuit via the first communication path, and

at least a second communication path for the purpose of storing and/or processing access data, wherein the first and second communication paths are connected to said key control circuit of the security key,

wherein the access data can be written, read and changed both via the first communication path and via the second communication path,

wherein the security key comprises electrical contact elements and the rotary lock cylinder comprises electrical contact elements, said first communication path formed by a signal line directly connecting said key control circuit to said electrical contact elements providing the first communication path, wherein said electrical contact elements of the security key are in contact with electrical contact elements of the rotary lock cylinder, to allow signal transmission between the key control circuit and the lock control circuit, when the key is inserted into a keyway in the lock cylinder, and

wherein the second communication path comprises a signal line directly connecting a transponder to said key control circuit.

2. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second contact element are provided both for signal transmission and for feeding power to the control circuit of the lock cylinder by means of an energy source.

3. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energy source is arranged on the security key or in the lock cylinder.

4. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control circuit on the security key comprises a voltage converter.

5. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the voltage converter is switched off in the inoperative state and is switched on when the security key is inserted into the lock cylinder.

6. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the key control circuit communicates with the cylinder control circuit in a bidirectional manner by means of the first and second contact elements.

7. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control center in which the access data is stored and can be managed connected to the control circuit via the first and second communication paths.

8. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an RFID antenna connected to the control circuit on the security key in the second communication path directly via an interface connection.

9. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit on the security key comprises a clock which can be read from and changed via the first and second communication paths.

10. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one time window and/or at least one time zone can be determined by means of the clock.

11. The locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit on the security key has data for at least one of the following functions:

uniqueness number, access authorization, time zones, time windows, block lists/withdrawal of authorization, status information, history information, segmentation for data for third party users, and grouping of users.

12. The locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contact elements are contact plates.