EP0401647B1 - Locking mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

In a locking mechanism equipped with electronic locking components, the key comprises a code transmitter and the lock unit formed from a lock and lock cylinder comprises a code evaluator (16) with a release device. The energy source (20) is arranged in the key and the code evaluator (16) is located with the release device (18) in the lock cylinder (12). It is thereby possible to provide lock cylinders which have only the size of conventional lock cylinders and which, without exchanging the lock as a whole, can be substituted for the existing lock cylinder. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a locking device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Locking systems in larger objects, such as blocks of flats, schools, administrative buildings or industrial companies are usually arranged in a security hierarchy, so that only individual locks can be opened with certain keys, while keys of a higher hierarchical level fit into other locks and a general key of the highest hierarchical level opens all of them Locks enabled. Depending on their authorization to gain access to certain rooms, people who use these objects receive the key assigned to the relevant hierarchy level.

If a key of a higher hierarchy level is lost, it is necessary for security reasons to exchange all locks of this hierarchy level. This can e.g. if the master key is lost, it can cause considerable costs.

For particularly security-relevant areas, access control systems with card systems that work electronically are also known. The authorized person pushes the card into a slot, which is then read and evaluated electronically and automatically opens the relevant door when the authorization is determined. Such access control systems are very complex to install, but they have the advantage that the authorization of these cards can be deleted if individual cards are lost, so that the system can otherwise be operated without compromising security.

Locking devices, which represent a combination of mechanical and electronic coding, offer an increase in security compared to locking systems working with purely mechanical coding, with reduced investment costs compared to access control systems with cards. Such locking devices are described, for example, in a brochure by Bauer Kaba Sicherheitstechnik GmbH Co. & KG.

In this system, only the doors of particularly security-relevant areas are provided with locks that carry out electronic code evaluation, while the cheaper mechanical locking cylinders can be retained with keys that then only work purely mechanically. If in this case a key that is intended for access to security-relevant areas is lost, the code assigned to this key can be deleted and the locking device can be used for the rest.

In this known system there is a code transmitter in the key and a code evaluator with an unlocking device in the lock unit formed from the lock and lock cylinder. The energy source is located in each case in the lock unit and feeds the code transmitter located in the key with electrical energy when the key is inserted into the lock. The supply can take place galvanically, inductively or capacitively or also by infrared radiation.

In the case of doors that are to be provided with such electronic lock units, the existing mortise lock must be replaced completely by an electronic lock. The effort is correspondingly high, albeit less than when installing the access control systems with card readers already mentioned. If the power supply for the electronic components in the lock unit comes from the supply network, then additional electrical cables must be laid to the doors. In the case of battery operation, there is no need to lay such lines, but it must then be ensured that the batteries must be replaced in good time so that the lock can no longer be operated when the battery is exhausted.

The invention has for its object to improve a locking device according to the preamble of claim 1 so that the locking device is faster, easier and more economical to perform when installing or upgrading existing locking systems.

This object is achieved in a locking device according to the preamble of claim 1 Part specified features solved.

An important aspect of the invention is that the energy source is not arranged in the lock unit, but in the key. If the energy source of a key is then exhausted, there is still the possibility of opening the lock with another key, so it has not become completely unusable. In addition, the cumbersome exchange of an independent energy source otherwise located in the lock unit or the laying of corresponding power supply lines to the lock unit is eliminated. At the same time, the need for space is reduced by eliminating such an energy source, so that it is possible to arrange the code evaluator with the unlocking device in the locking cylinder. When converting existing lock units, only the lock cylinder then needs to be replaced, but not the entire mortise lock.

A further development provides that the unlocking device comprises an electromagnetically actuated, mechanical flip-flop.

This makes it possible to operate the unlocking device to reduce the necessary electrical energy extremely, so that the life of the energy sources arranged in the keys is particularly long.

A practical embodiment of the mechanical flip-flop comprises a magnet armature designed as a latch which, when tightened by an electromagnet, releases a bolt which can be displaced against the force of a spring.

The latch is only briefly tightened in this embodiment and the bolt, which is biased against the spring force, can then retreat and release the rotary movement of the lock cylinder insert. Once tightened, the latch can then fall off the pole pieces and return to its starting position after the opening process and removal of the key, as soon as the bolt has returned to its end position due to the spring force.

In a further development of this embodiment it is provided that the spring rests stationary at one end, is supported against the bolt in the central region and carries a stop surface for the key shaft at the free end, which, when the key is inserted, has a Unlocking force exerts on the bolt.

The same spring is thus biased by the biasing force of the key so that the bolt experiences a force in the opening direction and can relax when the key is removed, whereby the bolt receives a force in the closing direction.

For further simplification, it is provided that the trap is arranged under the vertically mounted electromagnet and is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis.

As a result, after the tightening pulse has subsided, the trap can move back to its starting position without additional spring force, namely exclusively under the influence of gravity, and snap in behind the bolt.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, the unlocking device comprises an electromagnet, which via a capacitor arranged in the locking cylinder and chargeable by the energy source located in the key, if the code of Key and lock cylinder can be energized.

As a result, it is possible to deliver the short-term energy pulse required for reliably tightening the trap even with a high internal resistance of the key-side energy source. This allows e.g. use small button cells as energy sources, so that the size of such keys does not differ significantly from other mechanical keys.

In a further development of the invention, the energy supply lines are designed for one polarity through the key shaft with the locking cylinder and for the other polarity through a contact at the end of the key shaft with a central contact of the locking cylinder, preferably the stop surface on the spring.

In this version, the contact in the locking cylinder is very well protected against damage and dirt. In addition, in the case of its design as a stop surface on the spring, the spring pressure ensures reliable contact and mechanical cleaning of the contacts. Contact resistances that otherwise occur at low operating voltages Function could be impaired in this way. In addition, the arrangement of the contact on the key also ensures a high short-circuit protection when carrying the key together with other keys, since practically no contact with them can take place at the end of the key.

In an alternative embodiment of the power supply lines, the contacts at the root of the key shaft on the one hand and in the locking cylinder are formed by corresponding contacts which are in alignment with the contacts on the key when the key is in the inserted state.

This makes it possible to provide a plurality of contacts over the length of the key shaft, which must come into contact with the corresponding contacts of the locking cylinder practically simultaneously, so that an energy transfer is possible. The short-circuit security can also be increased in this way, since in this embodiment the key-side energy source is only discharged if all contacts are bridged at the same time.

An additional measure to improve short-circuit safety is that the key carries a sliding contact cover when inserted into the lock cylinder.

This contact cover normally lies over the contacts, so that when the relevant key is carried on the key ring, contact with other keys can also not lead to bridging of the corresponding contacts for the power supply lines. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide the key with a manually operated button that is looped into the power supply lines.

This also prevents an undesired discharge of the key-side energy source from occurring when the contacts are accidentally bridged.

A particularly advantageous embodiment for improving the short-circuit protection and protecting the battery from undesired discharges is a solution which comprises a timer circuit in the key which only briefly releases a charging current for the charging capacitor. A development of this embodiment provides that the timer circuit via a The feedback line can be connected to the code evaluator in the key and can only be initialized if the code matches.

In this case, the current required to actuate the unlocking device is only taken from the key-side energy source if the key is in the lock cylinder and the authorization to open the lock has been proven.

A practical embodiment of the code transmitter comprises a code memory, a controller circuit for code word formation and a data transmitter, and a practical embodiment of the code evaluator comprises a data receiver, a code memory and a controller circuit for code word comparison, which is connected to a control input of the unlocking device.

With this construction, the keys and the locking cylinders of the locking device contain partially identical components, which enable cost-effective production in mass production, and differ only in the memory contents of the code memories. By reprogramming the code memory with a programming device, the Change authorizations because, for example, they specify different hierarchy levels for keys or delete the codes of individual keys for locking cylinders or record those of other keys.

A further development provides that the code evaluator additionally comprises a data transmitter arranged in a feedback line, controlled by its controller circuit, and the code transmitter comprises a data receiver connected to its controller circuit. As a result, a code match signal can be transmitted to the code-side controller circuit, which serves to initialize the timer circuit.

Through this measure, the authorization check takes place until the lock cylinder is released in dialog, which provides additional security against misuse and, at the same time, the key-side energy source is only used if there is authorization to open the lock.

In a practical embodiment, the energy supply lines are also provided for data transmission.

This practically requires two lines, one of which is preferably formed by the key shaft. The mechanical effort is considerably simplified compared to configurations with several lines and the mechanical stability of the key shaft remains guaranteed. In addition, the key and the locking cylinder can be provided with additional mechanical coding in a manner known per se. This increases security against misuse on the one hand, and on the other hand the same key can also be used for purely mechanical locking cylinders.

Further developments and advantageous refinements of the invention result from the claims, the further description and the drawing which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines teilweise aufgeschnittenen Schließzylinders der erfindungsgemäßen Schließvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des aufgeschnittenen Bereichs aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf einen Schlüssel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 4

ein Schaltbild des im Schließzylinder angeordneten Codeauswerters, und

Fig. 5

ein Schaltbild des im Schlüssel angeordneten Codegebers.

The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

2 shows a perspective view of a partially cut locking cylinder of the locking device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

2 shows an enlarged illustration of the cut-open area from FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

a plan view of a key of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a circuit diagram of the code evaluator arranged in the locking cylinder, and

Fig. 5

a circuit diagram of the code transmitter arranged in the key.

In Fig. 1, a lock cylinder 12 is shown, which does not differ in its external design and in its dimensions from conventional mechanical lock cylinders. It can therefore be replaced with the original lock cylinder in a conventional mechanical lock.

While vertical locking pins can be arranged in the area on the left in the drawing, which enable conventional mechanical coding, is located in the rear part of a code evaluator 16 with an unlocking device 18. This unlocking device serves to lock the rotary insert 66 of the locking cylinder 12.

The unlocking device 18 is shown in detail in FIG. 2. It comprises a mechanical flip-flop 26, which consists of a displaceable latch 34, a spring 32, an electromagnet 30 and a latch 28. The bolt 34 is located in a longitudinal groove 62, which is located both in the housing 64 of the locking cylinder and in the rotatable part 66 and overlaps both parts in the locked state, so that a positive connection between the housing 64 of the locking cylinder 12 and the rotatable part 66 consists.

The spring 32 is stationary at one end on the electromagnet 30 and is supported in the central region against the bolt 34. At the free end, the spring 32 carries a stop surface 36, against which the key shaft of the key 10, which is partially shown here, presses in the inserted state. In this way, the key shaft 38 exerts an unlocking force on the bolt 34. If the key 10 is removed, the Latch 34 is pressed by the spring 32 to the left against its stop and brings about the aforementioned locking between the rotatable part 66 and the housing 64 of the locking cylinder 12.

When the key 10 is inserted, the spring 32 is compressed by the contact of the key shaft 38 with the stop surface 36 to such an extent that a force is exerted in the opposite direction, ie to the right. The displacement of the bolt 34 is blocked by the latch 28, which is arranged here vertically under the electromagnet 30 and is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis. The trap 28 thus falls back into the starting position under the force of gravity.

If the electromagnet 30 is actuated under the pretension by the inserted key 10, which is done by the code evaluator 16 if the codes correspond, the latch 28, since it is designed as a magnet armature, is briefly attracted to the electromagnet 30 and indicates the displacement path for the bolt 34 free. After the trap 28 drops when the current pulse in the electromagnet 30 subsides, the trap 28 lies on one Leg of the bolt 34. The bolt 34 is now in the right end position and only engages in the area of the longitudinal grooves 62 located in the housing 64 of the locking cylinder 12. Thus, the positive connection between the housing 64 and the rotatable part 66 is released and the lock can be opened by turning the rotatable part by means of the key 10.

2 also shows the energy supply lines 22 and 24, via which electrical energy for actuating the electromagnet 30 is conducted from the energy source arranged in the key to the code evaluator 16 and the unlocking device 18. One power supply line 22 is formed by the key shaft and the housing 64 of the locking cylinder 12 and the other by a central contact 42 at the end of the key shaft 38 and the stop surface 36 and the spring 32. From there, conventional wiring lines lead to the code evaluator 16 and to the electromagnet 30 .

In the exemplary embodiment, the power supply lines 22 and 24 also serve for data transmission at the same time.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a key 10 of the locking device according to the invention. The key 10 has a conventional key handle 70 in which a code transmitter 14 and an energy source 20 are arranged. At 68 there is also a type plate for identification of the key number. The key shaft 38 is located on the handle 70, which is designed here as a key bit with the usual mechanical coding. At the front end of the key shaft 38, the contact 42 can be seen, which forms one part of the energy supply lines 22, 24, while the other part is represented by the remaining key shaft 38.

In this embodiment, the key 10 can be used in addition to the use in locking devices of the type according to the invention in conventional locks which work as part of a locking system exclusively with mechanical coding. In the case of locking devices with electronic locking components also in the locking cylinder, the security against misuse is increased by the additional mechanical coding.

4 shows a circuit diagram of the lock cylinder 12 arranged code evaluator 16. This comprises a data receiver 52, a code memory 54 and a controller circuit 56 for code word comparison. In addition, a charging capacitor 40 is provided, which supplies the energy for the unlocking device 18.

Via the input of the circuit, which is formed mechanically by the spring 32 with the stop surface 36, electrical energy for supplying the electronic circuits and for charging the charging capacitor 40 as well as data in the form of data sent by the code transmitter 14 reach the data receiver 52. From there the received code word is fed to the controller circuit 56, which carries out a comparison with the code word stored in the code memory 54.

The code memory 54 can contain the codes of one or more key numbers. If there is a match, a control signal is emitted on the one hand to the unlocking device 18, of which a switching transistor 72 and the magnet coil of the electromagnet 30 are shown here. In addition, a code match signal is transmitted back to the code transmitter 14 via a data transmitter 58.

If the codes match, the charging capacitor 40 is then charged via a diode 74 and the stored charge is transferred as a current pulse to the magnetic coil of the electromagnet 30 after the switching transistor 32 has been released. This is followed by the brief tightening of the latch 28 mentioned in connection with the description of FIG. 2, so that the bolt 34 is released.

The diode 74 in connection with the charging capacitor 40 also serves to screen the supply voltage of the electronic assemblies so that their function is not impaired by the energization of the solenoid of the electromagnet 30.

5 shows a circuit arrangement of the code transmitter 14 in the key 10. The code transmitter 14 comprises a code memory 46, a controller circuit 48 for code word formation and a data transmitter 50. In addition, the energy source 20, a data receiver 60 and a timer circuit 44 are also provided.

One or more code numbers can be contained in the code memory 46 of the code transmitter 14 if the key is, for example, the authorization for several locks of a lower one Hierarchical level. The stored code is transmitted from the controller circuit 48 via the data transmitter 50 to the code evaluator 16 of the locking cylinder 12. The transmission takes place here via the energy supply lines 22 and 24, the contact 42 at the end of the key shaft 38 being shown as the output.

The energy supply of the code transmitter 14 takes place from the energy source 20 formed by a battery via resistors 76 and 78. The resistor 76 also forms a series resistor for the energy supply of the code evaluator 16.

A code matching signal supplied by the code evaluator 16 passes through the data receiver 60 to the controller circuit 48 and causes the controller circuit 48 to initialize the timer circuit 44. This then switches through the switching transistor 80 for a limited time and thereby bridges the series resistor 76, so that the full charging current can flow from the energy source 20 into the charging capacitor 40. After completion of the charging process, the timer circuit 44 blocks the switching transistor 80 again.

After charging the charging capacitor 40, the process explained in connection with FIG. 4 can now take place, in which the magnet coil of the electromagnet 30 is briefly energized. The code transmitter 14 and the code evaluator 16 therefore conduct a dialogue with mutual data transmission, as a result of which the security of the identification is improved and an improper overcoming of the locking device is made more difficult.

In addition, charging of the charging capacitor 40 does not always take place every time the key 10 comes into contact with a locking cylinder 12, rather charging is limited to the cases in which a code match has been found and energy is actually required to energize the electromagnet 30.

Otherwise, the charging capacitor 40 will also charge partially via the resistors 76 and 78 even before the switching transistor 80 is switched on. If it should be shown that this amount of charge should already be sufficient to actuate the electromagnet 30, switching of the switching transistor 80 would be unnecessary, as a result of which the key's energy source could be relieved.

Although the arrangement of a charging capacitor 40 was assumed in each of the exemplary embodiments described, in principle the invention can also be implemented without such a charging capacitor if the energy source 20 provided in the key is dimensioned sufficiently strong. In the first working phase, when checking for code conformity, there is only a minimal load on the energy source 20 because of the very low current that the electronic circuits require.

Only if there is agreement is it necessary to actuate the electromagnet 30, for which purpose the switching transistor 80 is switched on for a short time. A sufficiently strong energy source can also have a longer service life, in spite of the short-term greater load for the energy supply for the electromagnet 30, so that the capacitor 40 can optionally be dispensed with. This does not change the principle of the invention.

Finally, it should also be pointed out that the code memories 46, 54 can of course be reprogrammed in a manner known per se with a programming device in order to change the authorizations of a key in the desired manner.

Claims (17)

1. Locking device, consisting of at least one key (10) and one lock unit comprising lock and lock cylinder (12), which have electronic closure components, the electronic closure components including a code transmitter (14), disposed in the key (10), and a code evaluator (16) comprising an unlatching device (18), disposed in the lock unit, and also an energy source (20) and energy supply lines (22, 24) between the key (10) and the lock unit, characterized in that the energy source (20) is disposed in the key (10) and the code evaluator (16) with unlatching device (18) in the lock cylinder (12).
2. Locking device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the unlatching device (18) comprises an electromagnetically operated, mechanical flip-flop (26).
3. Locking device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the mechanical flip-flop (26) is formed of a magnetic armature constructed as a latch (28) which, when pulled up by an electromagnet (30), releases a bolt (34) displaceable against the force of a spring (32).
4. Locking device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the spring (32) bears stationarily at one end, bears in the central region against the bolt (34) and carries, at the free end, an abutment surface (36) for the key shank (38), which, when a key (10) is inserted, exerts an unbolting force upon the bolt (34).
5. Locking device according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the latch (28) is disposed below the vertically mounted electromagnet (30) and is journalled pivotally about a horizontal axis.
6. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the unlatching device (18) comprises an electromagnet (30), which can be energized via a capacitor (40), disposed in the lock cylinder (12) and chargeable by the energy source (20) located in the key (10), when the code of the key (10) and that of the lock cylinder (12) are the same.
7. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the energy supply lines (22, 24) are formed, for the one polarity by the key shank (38) with the lock cylinder (12), and for the other polarity by a contact (42) at the end of the key shank (38) with a central contact of the lock cylinder (12), preferably the abutment surface (36) on the spring (32).
8. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the energy supply lines (22, 24) are formed by contacts at the root of the key shank (38) and, in the inserted condition, by contacts aligned with them in the lock cylinder (12).
9. Locking device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the key (10) carries a contact cover, which is displaceable when the key is inserted into the lock cylinder (12).
10. Locking device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the key (10) comprises a hand-operated keying device, which is looped into the energy supply lines (22, 24).
11. Locking device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the key (10) comprises a timer circuit (44), which releases a charging current for the charging capacitor (40) only for a short time.
12. Locking device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the timer circuit (44) can be connected via a return signal line with the code evaluator (16) and can be initialized only when the code agrees.
13. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the code transmitter (14) comprises a code memory (46), a controller circuit (48) for forming the code word and a data transmitter (50).
14. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the code evaluator (16) comprises a data receiver (52), a code memory (54) and a controller circuit (56) for comparing the code word and is connected to a control input of the unlatching device (18).
15. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the code evaluator (16) comprises in addition a data transmitter (58), disposed in a return signal line and controlled by its controller circuit (56), and the code transmitter (14) comprises a data receiver (60) connected to its controller circuit (48), by which a code agreement signal can be transmitted to the controller circuit (48) on the code transmitting side, which serves for initializing the timer circuit (44).
16. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the energy supply lines (22, 24) serve also for transmitting data.
17. Locking device according to one or more of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the key (10) and the lock cylinder (12) additionally possess a mechanical coding.

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