Access control system

• US 20120126936A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Harkins, Michael, Fale, Casey
• Granted Patent: US 8,786,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/61 Signal comprising different frequencies, e.g. frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/21 having a variable access code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

An access device for a system having at least one lock that is configured to receive instructions and to energize a lock mechanism to unlock the at least one lock and a computer is disposed at a remote location from the at least one lock and the access device. The computer is connected to a primary wireless communication path. The access device comprises at least one key configured for communicating with the computer via the primary wireless communication path and to communicate with the lock over a secondary wireless communications path and wherein the at least one key further is configured as authorized to unlock the at least one lock absent a de-authorizing instruction from the computer.

Claims

1. An access system comprising:

a computer for communicating over a primary wireless communication path;

a lock including a lock circuit for communicating over a secondary wireless communication path, and for energizing a lock mechanism to unlock the lock based upon instructions received over the secondary wireless communication path; and

a key including a key circuit for communicating with the computer over the primary wireless communication path, for communicating with the lock over the secondary wireless communication path, and for inductively coupling energy from the key to the lock to provide power to the lock circuit.

2. The access system of claim 1, wherein the key and the lock communicate over the secondary wireless communication path by near field radio frequency communication.

3. The access system of claim 1, wherein the lock circuit includes a coil for receiving inductively coupled energy from the key, and a power supply coupled to the coil.

4. The access system of claim 3, wherein the key circuit includes a coil for transmitting inductively coupled energy to the coil of the lock circuit.

5. The access system of claim 1, wherein communications between the key and the lock are secured by a security code scheme.

6. The access system of claim 5, wherein the security code scheme changes after a predefined time period.

7. The access system of claim 1, wherein the primary wireless communication path comprises a wireless telecommunication system.

8. The access system of claim 1, wherein the key circuit configured to generate and communicate usage data to the computer comprising at least one of a unique lock identifier of the lock, and a time of access of the lock.

9. The access system of claim 1, wherein the lock circuit is configured to be at least partially energized and/or partially recharged by the inductively coupled energy from the key.

10. The access system of claim 1, wherein the lock is located on a lock box used in real estate sales.

11. An access system comprising a plurality of locks, a plurality of keys, and a computer disposed at a remote location from the keys and locks, wherein:

each lock is configured to receive instructions from the keys and to energize a lock mechanism to unlock the lock;

the computer is configured to communicate with the keys over a primary wireless communication path to receive usage data from the keys and to send de-authorization instructions to the keys; and

each key is configured to communicate over the primary wireless communication path with the computer, communicate with the locks over a secondary wireless path, and to supply inductively coupled energy to at least partially energize or recharge a lock with which the key is communicating.

12. The access system of claim 11, wherein each key is authorized to unlock one of the locks absent a de-authorizing instruction received over the primary wireless communications path from the computer and absent a determination that the key has not been in contact with the computer over the primary wireless communication path during and/or lasting a predetermined period of time.

13. The access system of claim 11, wherein communications between the keys and the locks are secured by a security code scheme that changes after a predefined time period.

14. The access system of claim 11, wherein the primary wireless communication path comprises a wireless telecommunication system.

15. The access system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of locks and each of the plurality of keys is configured to communicate over the secondary wireless communication path using near field radio frequency communications.

16. An access device for use in a system having a lock that is configured to energize a lock mechanism to unlock the lock based on the received instructions, and a computer disposed at a remote location from the lock, the access device comprising:

a key configured to communicate with the computer via a primary wireless communication path and to communicate with the lock over a secondary wireless communication path, wherein the key is authorized to unlock the lock absent a de-authorizing instruction from the computer and absent a determination that the key has not been in contact with the computer over the primary wireless communication path during and/or lasting a predetermined period of time, and wherein the key is configured to deliver inductively coupled energy to the lock to at least partially supply power required to operate the lock.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein communications over the secondary wireless communication path between the key and the lock are secured by a periodically changing security code scheme.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the primary wireless communication path comprises a wireless telecommunication system.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the lock and the key are configured to communicate over the secondary wireless communication path using near field RF communications.

20. The access system of claim 16, wherein upon a determination that the key has not been in contact with the computer over the primary wireless communication path during and/or lasting a predetermined period of time, the key de-authorizes itself.