Closing unit, closing apparatus, and method for unlocking and/or locking a lock

• US 9,355,512 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro-Sensys GmbH
• Original Assignee: Micro-Sensys GmbH
• Inventors: Jurisch, Reinhard, Peitsch, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik, Steven S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Habib, Asifa
• Application Number:
  US14/083,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20140138439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00706 with conductive components, e.g. pins, wires, metallic strips
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A closing unit, closing apparatus, and method for locking and/or unlocking a lock is provided. The closing unit can include an actuator for moving or for blocking and releasing a locking and unlocking unit of the lock, an electrical energy supply arrangement, a switch between the electrical energy supply arrangement and the actuator, an encryption/decryption unit, a key memory, as well as a passive RFID basic circuit having an antenna, where at least the actuator, the switch between the electrical energy supply arrangement and the actuator, the encryption/decryption unit, and the key memory are disposed in a housing that cannot be opened without destroying it.

Claims

1. A closing unit for a lock, the closing unit comprising:

an actuator for moving or for blocking and releasing a locking and unlocking unit of the lock;

an electrical energy supply arrangement;

a switch arranged between the electrical energy supply arrangement and the actuator, the switch being supplied with electrical energy from the electrical energy supply arrangement and providing the electrical energy to the actuator to actuate the actuator;

an encryption/decryption unit;

a key memory; and

a passive RFID basic circuit having an antenna, the passive RFID basic circuit providing the electrical energy to the electrical energy supply arrangement,

wherein at least the actuator, the switch between the electrical energy supply arrangement and the actuator, the encryption/decryption unit, and the key memory are arranged in a housing that cannot be opened without destroying it,

wherein the passive RFID basic circuit of the closing unit is supplied with the electrical energy only via an RFID reader,

wherein the energy transmission from the RFID reader to the closing unit is performed via induction,

wherein the closing unit is provided with a single interface that enables locking and unlocking of the lock in an entirely contactless manner, the passive RFID basic circuit forming the single interface, and

wherein the electrical energy supply arrangement comprises at least one electrical short-term interim energy storage device, the short-term interim energy storage device being a capacitor.

2. The closing unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured as an electric motor, as an electromagnet, or as a piezo-element.

3. The closing unit according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for monitoring movement or for blocking and releasing the locking and unlocking unit of the lock.

4. The closing unit according to claim 3, further comprising an optical, acoustical and/or haptic output unit for output of a sensor result of the sensor.

5. The closing unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of metal and/or plastic.

6. A closing apparatus comprising at least one RFID reader and at least one closing unit according to claim 1.

7. The closing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the RFID-reader is configured as a mobile communications device or integrated into a mobile communications device.

8. The closing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a separate transponder having a key for authentication of the RFID-reader with respect to the closing unit.

9. A method for unlocking and/or locking of a lock via a closing apparatus according to claim 6, the method comprising:

establishing a bidirectional communications connection between the RFID-reader and the single interface of the closing unit;

transferring said electrical energy from the RFID-reader to the closing unit,

performing an authentication, wherein the RFID-reader authenticates itself with regard to the closing unit; and

activating, after successful authentication, the switch of the closing unit using the electrical energy transmitted from the RFID-reader, in order to move or to block and release the locking and unlocking unit of the lock via the actuator,

wherein the single interface enables the unlocking and/or locking of the lock in an entirely contactless manner.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the RFID-reader authenticates itself with regard to the closing unit via a key that is transmitted to the RFID-reader by a separate transponder and to the closing unit by the RFID-reader via the single interface.

11. The closing unit according to claim 1, wherein the single interface enables authentication of the RFID reader.