FR2809214A1 - Management system for keys and key rings for use in, for example, a hotel has a computer controlled panel in which keys are deposited and then can only be removed on entry of the correct authorization code - Google Patents

Abstract

System comprises a support panel (1) in which keys (2) are placed in an appropriate place (3) by an authorized person. The keys can then be locked with appropriate locks and a central command center (6, 7) is used to control locking and unlocking of the key housings when a corresponding authorization code is received.

Description

The present invention relates to a key chain and key management system to be arranged by persons at suitable locations of at least one support panel.

Currently known keychain management systems are generally rudimentary, that is to say that the person having one or more access keys to one or more specific premises brings the corresponding keychain to another person managing key ring to be hung on a panel or support table. The removal of each key ring must necessarily go through the person managing the key rings.

This type of keychain management and key allocation system is restrictive since the person managing the keychains is not always present at his post and this person can, inadvertently, hang a keychain on another location than its appropriate location without being able later to find the key ring.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks of known systems by proposing a key chain management system which must be arranged by persons at suitable locations of at least one support panel and which is characterized in that the support panel comprises housings into which the key holders can be inserted and key holder locking means in their appropriate housings and in that it comprises a central control unit making it possible to control each locking means for unlock the corresponding key holder after receiving an authentication code from the person authorized to remove the key holder from its housing.

Advantageously, each key holder comprises an identification code which is specific to it and means are provided for reading the identification code of a key holder inserted in a housing of the support panel and transmitting the code read to the central unit. control which controls the locking means for locking the key holder in the housing if the code read corresponds to the location of the housing in which the key holder must be locked.

In the absence of key holders in their respective housings, the locking means occupy their locked position allowing only the partial introduction of a key holder into a housing in a waiting position at which the reading means can read the key holder identification code and transmit it to the control center which controls the unlocking of the corresponding locking means to allow the complete insertion of the key holder in its appropriate housing after having verified that the identification code read corresponds to the location of the key holder housing.

Means are provided for detecting the key chains in their fully depressed position in their respective housings to which the central control unit controls the locking means for locking the key chain in these housings.

Each locking means is an electromagnet controlling the movement of a locking pin transversely to the corresponding housing of a key holder to pass through the body of the key holder and lock it in its housing.

Advantageously, each key holder is in the form of a rigid plastic case in which is trapped a printed circuit with memory of the identification code of the key holder and constituted for example by an integrated circuit, an electronic chip, a magnetic memory, or the code can be a barcode.

Each means for reading the identification code of a key holder comprises at least two elastic conductive strips which can respectively contact two external conductive pads of the printed circuit of the card through the case of the key holder, the lamel being connected by a two-wire line the control center.

Each keychain comprises a loop rigidly rigidly attached to the casing thereof, on which one or more keys are arranged and forming part of the ground circuit of the printed circuit of the card so that in the event of sectioning of the cable when the key ring is locked in its housing, an alarm signal is produced.

According to an alternative embodiment, the loop is produced in the form of a metal cable which is difficult to break.

According to another alternative embodiment, the loop is made of a rigid plastic material in which an electrically conductive track is embedded.

The system comprises electronic modules respectively associated with the key-holder housings and connected in series on a two-wire connection loop connected respectively to the output and to the input the control unit which is adapted to periodically transmit signals at its output allowing to successively select the electronic modules and to bring each selected module to control, where appropriate the corresponding locking means for locking the key holder in its appropriate housing and to receive periodically at its input data signals concerning the state of at least one entry for each module indicating whether the key holder located in its appropriate housing associated with the module is locked or not.

control unit periodically produces on its output a frame signal broken down into successive sequences intended respectively for the electronic modules and each comprising a window of binary selection data which can occupy an active state of selection of a module followed by at least one window of binary data allowing the selected module to produce on an output thereof a control signal of the locking means to lock the corresponding key holder in its appropriate housing according to the state of an input terminal of the module previously transmitted to the control center indicating that the key ring is fully inserted in its housing.

The control unit produces on its output the frame signal whose first sequence intended for the first module of the series of modules has its selection binary data window in the active state while the following sequences of the frame signal have their windows selection binary data in idle state so that the unselected modules of the series are transparent to the frame signal.

 , Each selected module is arranged so as to replace the selection window in the active state it receives with a binary data window of an inactive state and to replace the following selection window of an inactive state with a window for selecting an active state allowing the selection of the next module.

Each module is arranged so as to replace the command data of the window according to the module selection window with data reproducing the state of the input terminal of the module to which is connected a means of detecting the key chain to its fully inserted position in its corresponding housing so that the control center can transmit on each corresponding sequence of the frame signal according to a binary data window making it possible to produce at the input of the first module and at the output of the following modules, a signal controlling or not controlling each locking means of a key ring according to the state of the input terminal of each module. Each selected module is activated for a duration equal to the duration of two consecutive sequences of the frame signal. Advantageously, the central control unit connected to a remote computer making it possible to supervise the key holder support panel by visualizing each of the key holder locations by a graph representing the state of an indicator light, such as an LED, of the location indicating whether the keychain is inserted therein is accepted or refused, the state of the corresponding locking means and the state of the detection means of the keychain in the partially fully inserted position in its housing and by an informative text comprising at least two zones indicating the surname and first name of the user of the keychain and identifying the access room using one of the user's keys.

The remote computer is further adapted to memorize in a file the indication of removal or reinsertion of each keychain in its housing, identification of the location of each keychain, the surname and first name of each user and the date and time of each operation performed by the user, the file being able to be viewed on the computer.

The remote computer allows the creation and updating of database of key users and comprising for each location of key rings, the location number, the code of the key ring, the authentication code of the user and first name.

Advantageously, the system comprises several key-holder support panels controlled respectively by control centers which are connected to the remote computer.

Preferably, the aforementioned authentication code is composed or formed by the person on a keyboard with keys, a keyboard of the sensitive type, by voice or fingerprint recognition of the person, by a magnetic badge, or the like.

The case of each key ring in the form of a flat parallelepiped or is cylindrical.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example, illustrating several modes. of embodiment the invention, and in which - Figure 1 is a general view of the keychain management system according to the invention - Figure 2 is a schematic view of a keychain being introduced into a corresponding housing of a key holder support panel; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a key holder according to one embodiment - Figure 4 is a view along arrow Iv of the printed circuit board of the key holder of Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a view of the opposite side of the printed circuit board of the key holder of Figure 4; - Figure 6 shows the block diagram of the operation of a key holder according to the invention; - Figures 7A to 7C schematically show the principle of locking a key holder in its corresponding housing; - Figure 8 shows an electrical diagram for detecting the respective partial full introductions of a keychain in its corresponding housing; - Figure 9 shows a block diagram of control and command of modules respectively associated with the key holder housings of a support panel; - Figure 10 shows in the form of block diagrams the circuit of the control center used in Figure 9; and - Figures 11A to 11D show the evolution over time of a frame signal emitted by the control center of Figures 9 and 10 and passing through the various modules of the management system of the invention.

The keychain and key management system of the invention as shown in particular in FIG. 1 comprises several panels 1, for example four in number, each making it possible to receive keychains 2 respectively in appropriate housings 3 of the panel 1.

 Each panel 1 can be in the form of a cabinet with or without a closing door 4, be located in a geographically different location from the other panels 1 and is controlled by a control center 5 visible in particular in FIG. 9 to allow different people authorized to remove their key chains from the corresponding housings in panel 1 or to reinsert the key chains in their respective housings.

For example, each panel 1 has thirty two key holder receiving locations, making a total of one hundred and twenty eight key holder locations for four panels 1, but the system can include up to thirty two panels 1 for a total number of one thousand twenty four key holder locations.

The control centers 5 associated respectively with the panels are connected to a remote computer 6 by a link of the RS 485 type or, if the distance between a panel 1 and the computer 6 is relatively short, for example of a few meters, each central of control can be connected to computer 6 by a digital link, for example of the RS 232 type, an RS 732 / RS 485 interface circuit 7 being provided between computer 6 and control centers 5. Computer 6 is connected to a printer 8 and its role will be defined later.

According to a preferred embodiment, each key holder 2 is made in the form of a rigid parallelepiped box of relatively small thickness so that it can be introduced into a housing of conjugate shape 3.

Each keychain 2 comprises, trapped in it, a plate or printed circuit card 9 to which is connected in particular a memory in which is stored an identification code specific to the keychain.

The memory 10 can be constituted by an integrated circuit. The card 9 in fact comprises two printed circuits on its two faces so as to allow the reading of the code memorized in the memory 10 whatever the direction of introduction of the body of the key holder into its corresponding housing 3. Thus, as is apparent better in FIGS. 4 and 5, each face of the plate 9 comprises a certain number of electrically conductive pads for connection to the memory 10 and in particular two extreme conductive pads 9a, 9b constituting an output of the data relating to the code of the key holder 2, the range 9a being that of the data while range 9b that connected to ground. The key holder case 2 is designed so as to comprise on each face two parallel openings La, Lb arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the key holder case 2 and respectively overhanging the two extreme conductive areas 9a, 9b of the card with printed circuit 9. Each light La, Lb opens at the free end of the box of the key holder 2 to be introduced into the housing 3 and has at its opposite end a circular hole Lai, Lbl made at the bottom of the light perpendicular to the latter so as to open above the corresponding extreme conductive area 9a, 9b. The lights La, Lb are intended to receive means for reading by contact the code of the key holder when it is introduced into its corresponding housing 3, as will be seen later.

The key holder further comprises a loop-shaped part 11 rigidly secured to the key holder housing and on which are arranged one or more keys CL for access to one or more premises. Each loop 11 of a key holder 2 is made of an electrically conductive metal cable which is difficult to break, such as for example a steel cable, and is part of the ground circuit of the printed circuit of the card 9. This arrangement is particularly useful in the event that theft of the key or keys CL occurs while the key holder is locked in its corresponding housing 3. Under these conditions, the cut-off state of the loop il (ground fault) is detected by the means of reading of the code from memory 10 and supplying the associated control center 5 which then emits an audible and / or visual alarm signal at the level of panel 1 and which can also be transmitted to the remote computer 6. As a variant, the loop 11 can be made of a rigid plastic material in which is embedded an electrically conductive track so that by cutting the loop, an alarm signal is emitted as previously described.

two ends 11a of the loop it can be shaped so that after identifying the key or keys CL to be associated with the key holder 2 and placing this or these keys on the loop 11, a simple introduction of the two ends 11a of the loop 11 in bolt holder B of the key holder 2 automatically blocks these in this box. For example, each end 11a of the loop 11 may have the shape of a semi-arrowhead as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 so that by forcing it into a hole B1 in the housing B, the sloping parts half-spikes prevent the loop II from being withdrawn from the housing B. The two ends 11a can be secured to two parallel forms 11b of the loop 11, which can resiliently approach one another when they are introduced into the orifice B1 and deviate elastically from each other after passage orifice B1 beyond it so that the straight parts of the half-points come into abutment on the internal walls at the end defining the orifice B1 during a traction exerted on the loop II, preventing the latter from being withdrawn from the housing B.

The body B of each key holder 2 comprises a bore 12 made through the body transverse to the two main flat walls of the body and the printed circuit board 9 also comprises a bore 13 concentric with the bore 12. The holes 12 and 13 allow the passage of a locking pin 14 of the housing B of the key holder in its corresponding housing Preferably, the housing B consists of two half-housings assembled together by screwing advantageously by gluing so as to be inseparable of one another so as not to access the printed circuit board 9. In the case of assembly by screwing, of fixing may have their heads embedded in the material after their blocking to prevent their access to be made inaccessible by any other way.

FIGS. 7A to 7C show, by way of example, an embodiment of a key-holder locking means 2 in its appropriate housing 3 of the panel 1.

This locking means comprises an electromagnet 15 integral with the panel 1 and the movable core of which consists of the locking pin 14 of the housing B in the housing 3. The locking pin 14 is returned to its locking position by a return spring 16 so that this axis crosses the orifice 3 transversely thereto. In this rest position, the electromagnet is not supplied with direct current. The electromagnet is controlled by the control center 5 which transmits a power control signal to move the locking pin 14 against the return force of the spring 16 and release it from the orifice 13 to allow the introduction of the key holder 2 therein.

FIGS. 7A to 7C also show the presence of two elastic, electrically conductive metal blades 17, 18 arranged one above the other at the entrance to the housing 3 to detect the presence of a key holder 2 introduced at the entrance to the housing 3 and two other electrically conductive elastic metal blades 19, 20 also arranged one above the other at the bottom of the housing 3 so as to detect the complete introduction of the key holder 2 into this housing . The blades 17 to 20 are connected by electrical conductors, not shown, to the control unit 5 and are offset vertically with respect to one another so as to be able to engage respectively in two upper openings La and lower Lb or reciprocally of the box B of a key holder 2 according to the direction of introduction of the latter into the housing 3. The free ends of the blades 17 to 20 are curved substantially in an arc of a circle so as to each be introduced into a drilling Lal, Lal of the box B of the key holder 2 to come into electrical contact with the corresponding conductive track of mass or data, 9b.

FIG. 7A shows that in the absence of a key holder 2 in the housing 3, the electromagnet 15 is deactivated and the locking pin 14 passes through the housing 3 to prevent the introduction of a door -keys in the housing 3. When a user returns the key holder 2 to lock it in its corresponding housing 3 of the panel 1, he introduces the key holder 2 in the housing 3 until the free end of the box B opposite the keys comes into abutment on the locking pin 14. At this position, the two input blades 17, 18 electrically contact the areas 9a, 9b respectively of the printed circuit of the card 9 to read the door code key present in the internal memory 10 and transmit it to the control center 5 the identification code of the key ring 2 is compared with the codes previously stored in the central unit and associated respectively with the electromagnets 15 of the various housings. When the control center 5 has recognized that the code received corresponds to the housing 3 in which the key holder 2 must be locked, it sends a command signal from the electromagnet 15 so that it releases the axis of locking 14 of the housing 3 (FIG. 7B) and allows the user to insert the key holder 2 into the housing 3 until it comes into abutment at the bottom thereof, as shown in FIG. 7C. In the fully depressed position of the key holder 2 in the housing 3, the blades 19, 20 detect the presence of the key holder 2 by coming into contact with the respective areas 9a, 9b of the printed circuit board 9 and confirm to the central control unit 5 that the key holder is actually completely inserted into its housing 3 for example by reading again the identification code of the key holder. At this instant, the control unit 5 transmits to the electromagnet 15 a power signal moving the unlocking or locking axis 14 through the housing 3 and the holes 12, 13 of the housing B and of the card 9 so as to lock the key holder 2 in the housing 3.

When the user wishes to recover his keychain 2, he goes near the panel 1 and dials a personal authentication code, for example using a keyboard C connected to the control center 5 as shown in FIG. 1. The central unit 5 compares the authentication code received with authentication codes previously stored therein in correspondence with the housings 3 of keychains and transmits to the appropriate electromagnet 15 the control signal allowing the movement of the locking pin 14 to its position of release from the housing 3 from which the key holder 2 of the person authorized to take it must be released. To allow the authorized person to recover the keychain 2, it is possible to provide an indicator light, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) associated with each housing 3, close to it, which lights up, for example in a fixed or flashing green color, to indicate to the user the precise location of the removed key ring. The ignition signal of such a warning lamp is of course transmitted by the control center 5. warning light can also be controlled by the control center 5 to indicate to a user, for example by a green color, that the keychain partially introduced, as shown in FIG. 7A, has been recognized, after reading its identification code by the blades 17 and 18, as being the one which must be effectively locked in the housing 3 otherwise, the central unit 5 can control another indicator light associated with each housing 3 near it and consisting of a flashing red LED diode indicating to the user that the keychain cannot be accepted since it does not correspond to the appropriate housing 3. In this case , the control unit 5 will not control the corresponding electromagnet 15. The indicator light can be replaced by an audible warning.

FIG. 8 schematically represents in simplified form an alternative embodiment of the means for detecting a key holder in the position partially and completely inserted in its appropriate housing 3.

Thus, in place of the elastic blades with wipers 17 to 20 described above, it is possible to use micro-contacts 21 and 22 disposed respectively at the entrance and at the bottom of the housing 3. More specifically, the micro-contact 21 located at the entry of housing 3 is normally resiliently recalled, by a spring 21a, to its open position of a grounding circuit making it possible to indicate to the control unit 5, by a signal El when the microswitch 21 is closed, that a key holder is present in the entry opening of the housing 3, position in which, of course, the identification code of the key holder 2 is read, as before by the strips 9a, 9b and transmitted on the central data line D 5. The microswitch 21 has a ramp-shaped part 21b which is contacted first by one of the bevelled ends 2a of the front end of the key holder 2 during the partial introduction of the por te-clefs 2 in the housing 3 to close the micro-contact 21 which is then opened in the fully depressed position of the key holder 2 in the housing 3 by engaging in a corresponding one of the two notches or lateral notches 2b of the housing B of this keychain. The micro-contact 22 is identical to the micro-contact 21 and allows the closing of another ground circuit indicating to the control center 5, by a signal E2 transmitted to it that the key holder 2 is in the fully positioned pressed into its housing 3.

FIG. 9 shows in block form the block diagram according to which different modules M1 to Mn respectively associated with the housings 3 of the key rings 2 are periodically scrutinized by the control unit 5 in order in particular to control or not the electromagnets 15 according to l state of at least one input terminal of each module connected to the detection means of a key ring associated with the corresponding module in the fully depressed position of the latter in its housing, means which can be constituted in particular by the micro- contact 22. The control unit 5 comprises a terminal for starting a frame signal ST1 transmitted to the first module M1 and a terminal for arriving at a modified frame signal STn from the last module Mn and the modules M1 Mn are connected in series on a loop BC constituted by a data wire and a reference wire (0 volt), the loop being connected respectively to the start and end terminals d e the control center 5. Thus, the departure terminal of the control center 5 is connected to an arrival terminal of the first module M1, whose departure or output terminal is connected to the arrival or input of the second module M2 and so on until the last module Mn, whose departure or output terminal is connected to the arrival terminal of the control center 5. A module M1, M2 ... Mn is identified by a number equal to its rank in the BC loop.

The control center 5 transmits on its start terminal the frame signal ST1 and simultaneously analyzes the modified frame signal STn received on its arrival terminal and coming from the start terminal of the last module Mn.

As is apparent from FIGS. 11A to 11C, a frame signal is a succession of transitions between logic level 1 and logic level 0, according to a chronogram based on a unit of time agreed in advance between the modules M1, M2 ,. .., Mn and the control center 5, and the rest level is in this case fixed at 1.

Each frame signal ST is divided into a series of sequences SE1, SE2, ..., SEn, each sequence being intended for dialogue with the module whose number corresponds to the rank of the sequence in the frame signal. Each sequence SE1; SE2; ...; SEn, is constituted by a window FS1; FS2; ...; FSn, for selecting a module M1; M2; ...; Mn and two data windows FDla, FDlb; FD2a, FD2b; ...; FDna, FDnb, whose roles will be defined above. In the application described, each selection window FS1, FS2, ..., FSn has a duration of seven time units while each data window FDla, FDlb FD2a, FD2b, ..., FDna, FDnb has a duration of three time units which brings the total duration of each sequence SE1,, ..., SEn, to thirteen time units.

Each selection window FS1, FS2, ..., FSn can occupy two distinct states, respectively active and passive, which are differentiated by the configuration of levels 0 and 1 in the seven window time units. example, as shown in signal ST1 of FIG. 11A, the selection window FS1 has its six time units at zero followed by a time unit at 1 (configuration 0000001) corresponding to an active state the window while the selection window FS2 has its first three time units at 0 followed by two time units at 1 and two time units respectively at 0 and 1 (configuration 0001101 corresponding to the passive state of the window. We therefore consider that each selection window is in the passive state when less than four consecutive time units are at 0.

The role of each selection window FS1, FS2, .. FSn will now be explained. When the device of FIG. 9 is switched on, all the modules Ml, M2, ..., Mn are in a passive state and a passive module copies to its start or signal output terminal which it receives on its input or arrival terminal, i.e. it is transparent to this signal. In frame signal ST1 emitted by the control center 5 on its departure terminal, only the first sequence SE1 has its selection window FS1 in the active state and all the other sequences SE2, ..., SEn of the signal ST1 have their respective selection windows FS2, ..., FSn in the passive state, as shown in FIG. 11A. Thus, when the first module M1 of the loop BC receives the frame signal ST1, it detects and recognizes the selection window FS1 thereof in 1 active state, so that the module M1 is placed in the active state and it remains there until the end of the selection signal FS2 of the second module M2 which is in the passive state since the signal of the window FS2 is passive. The module M1 being in the active state, is adapted to replace its starting or output terminal its active selection window FS1 by a passive window and replace the passive selection window FS2 of the second module M2 by an act 'window selection of the latter which remains in the act 'state until the end of the next passive selection window FS3 of the third module M3, and so on.

This principle of successive selections of modules in series allows each module not to be activated by the sequence of the previous module since it sees a passive selection window and to be activated by the second sequence since it sees a selection window active in the frame signal modified by the previous module and, in turn, this module will make its sequence passive and the next active sequence and so on until the last module of the loop, as shown in part in FIGS. 11A at 11C.

The role of the FDla, FDlb, FD2a, FD2b, ..., FDna, FDnb data windows will now be explained.

Each window FDla, FDlb, FD2a, FD2b, ..., FDna, FDnb of the frame signal ST1 emitted by the control center 5 makes it possible to transport binary data relating to a signal to be produced at an output S1, S2 of a module to control or not a particular means, such as the electromagnet 15 associated with this module and / or one of the light indicators mentioned above. For example, the signal corresponding to the binary data of the window FDla intended for the module selected by the active window FS1 makes it possible to control or not the electromagnet 15 associated with this module according to the state of the micro-contact 22 of FIG. 8 transmitted previously at the arrival terminal of the control center 5. Thus, if the control center 5 has been informed that the microswitch 22 has gone from its open state to its closed state, signifying that a keychain is fully inserted in its corresponding housing 3 the control center 5 will transmit the frame signal so that the data window FDla of the first module, which is assumed to be that associated with the micro contact 22 now closed, is in the state inact 'representative of the absence, at output S1 of this module, of a control signal of the associated electromagnet 15 so that the supply thereof is cut off the locking axis 14 is r elastically called to its blocking position of the box B of the key ring 2 in its corresponding housing 3. The inactive state of data window of the signal ST1 supplied by the control center 5 can be represented by a time unit at 0 followed by two time units at 1 as is the case for the FDla window. In other words, in a frame signal ST1 transmitted periodically by the control center 5 on its starting terminal, a data window always contains information relating to a signal present on the output S1 or S2 of the module selected to control or not a electromagnet or associated visual indicator depending on the state, closed or open, of micro-contact 21 or micro-contact 22. For example, the first data window FD2a of the second sequence SE2 contains the active command, defined by two time units at 0 followed by a time unit at 1 (configuration 001) of the output S1 of the module M2, thereby supplying the corresponding electromagnet 15 and moving the locking axis to its position released from the receiving housing 3. When a module is active, it is suitable for memorizing the values of the data contained in the data windows of the sequence intended for it and it places the electromagnet or the e corresponding indicator light in the requested state.

The data windows of the frame signal emitted by a module on its start or output terminal are modified when this module is active so as to replace the control data values of its windows of the signal ST1 with data relating to the state. micro-contacts 21, 22 supplied at the input terminals E1 and E2 module. In this way, the new frame signal carries the data from the input terminals of the module in question for the rest of the loop. Under these conditions, the data windows received at the arrival terminal of the control center 5 represent the data relating to the states of the inputs of all the modules Ml, M2, ..., Mn of the loop BC. By way of example, for the case where a box B is locked in its housing 3 associated with the module Mi, FIG. 11B represents the frame signal ST2 as modified by the first module M1 and present on the terminal of departure of the module M1 and therefore on the arrival terminal of the M2 module. I1 emerges from the signal ST2 in comparison with the signal ST1 that the control data of the windows FDla and FDlb have been modified into binary data relating to the states of the inputs E1 and E2 of the first module. The signal ST2 thus shows that the data window FDla relating to the state of the input terminal E1 of the module M1 is in the out-of-service or inactive state represented by three time units A1 (configuration 111) indicating that the microphone -contact 21 is open, so that the control center 5 will emit the next frame signal ST1 without the module M1 controlling, by its output S1, an indicator light which is therefore off (the box B of the key holder 2 comprising a notch 2b as shown in Figure 8 in which engages the micro-contact 21 in the fully depressed position of the key holder in its corresponding housing 3 to allow the opening of this micro-contact). On the other hand, the window FDlb of the signal ST2 is in a state in service or if (configuration 011) to signal to the control center 5 that the microswitch 22 is closed so that the next frame signal ST1 provides on the window FDla an inactive signal which does not control the corresponding electromagnet associated with the Mi module since the key holder 2 is fully inserted and locked in the corresponding housing 3. It is unnecessary to detail the frame signal ST3 modified by the second module and which is understands itself from Figure 11C and the foregoing explanations.

FIG. 10 represents, by way of example, an embodiment in the form of block diagrams of a module of FIG. 9.

The module operation represented in FIG. 10 will be described in connection with the frame signal ST represented in FIG. 1 which is emitted by the control center 5.

It will be assumed that the module represented in FIG. 10 is the module M2.

When the module is passive, that is to say that it has not received its activation window FS2 on its arrival terminal BA, the masking block 23 reproduced without alteration on the departure terminal BD of the module M2 the signals received at the BA arrival terminal.

When the selection block 24 detects the active window FS2 specific to the module M2, this block produces on its output a signal applied on the one hand to the input M1 of the masking block 23 which masks (modifies) the signal coming from the terminal BA module M2 arrival to make the selection window FS2 passive and secondly to an initiation input In of a block 25 and thus place this block at state 0 to make the module active. When the module M2 is active, the transition from 1 to 0 of the signal on the arrival terminal BA causes the state of the block 25 to progress in accordance with the states 1, 2 and 3 defined in the signal ST in the figure. 11D as long as the state does not reach the state which is the passive state of the selection window FS3 of the next module M3, the corresponding state 4 in fact the duration during which the module M2 is inactive. Thus, the state corresponds to that of the window FD2a, the state 2 to that of the window FD2b and the state 3 to that of the window FS3. The decoding by the block 25 of the state (binary data of the window FD2a) produces at the output (state 1) this a signal which is used to on the one hand mask (replace) the window control data a by the binary input data E1 (representative of the state of the micro-contact if these binary data are in a state different from that of control of this window, thus returning the departure terminal BD the state of the micro-contact 21 ( the masking will take place if the microswitch is open corresponding to binary data E1 of the window FD2a of 111 reference binary data for controlling this window of the signal ST of 001) and on the other hand store in memory block 27 the result of the decoding of the remote control unit 28 if the latter has recognized binary control data 001 of the window FD2a (signaling a control state, for example of the indicator light) thus providing the output Si of the module M2 with a correct control signal spondant.

The decoding of state 2 (window F2b) produces at the output "state 2" of block 25 a signal applied to the correction circuit 29 and to the memory circuit 30 to accomplish the same function as previously described with reference to the decoding of the state 1.

The decoding of state 3 by block 24, which corresponds to the generation of the data signal from the passive window FS3 of the sequence SE3, is supplied to the block to modify this passive select window thus received on the arrival terminal. BA so as to transform it into a selection window ive on the starting terminal BD of the module M2 and which will be used to select or activate the next module M3.

The decoding of state 4 (passage from 1 to 0 at the end of window FS3) by block 25 stops the progression of its states and module M2 becomes passi again.

The computer 6 makes it possible to remotely supervise the various control centers 5 associated with the panels 1 by visualizing on its screen each of the locations of the key rings 2 of a panel 1 a graph representing or symbolizing the state of an indicator light , such as a light-emitting diode (LED) in the housing 3 to indicate whether the key holder 2 partially inserted therein is accepted or refused, the state of the corresponding locking means constituted by the electromagnet 15 and l '' state of the detection means (elastic blades 17 to 19 or micro-contacts 21 and 22 of the key holder 2 in partially or fully inserted position in its housing 3 and by an informative text comprising at least two zones indicating the identity (name and first name) of the user of the key ring and identifying the access room using one of the user's CL keys. If necessary, the operator located at computer 6 can, with simple pr punctual session exercised on a mouse, act on a location displayed on the screen to unlock the key fob located at that location from a distance.

'computer 6 is further adapted to store in file the indication of a withdrawal or' reinsertion of each keychain 2 in its housing 3, the identification of the housing of each keychain 2, the identity (name and first name) of each user the date and time of each operation performed by the user, the file being able to be viewed on the computer screen and, if necessary, printed by a printer 8.

Finally, the computer 6 allows the creation and updating of a database of key users and comprising for each location or housing 3 of key chains, the location number, identification code of the keychain, the user authentication code and the identity (surname and first name) of the user.

Of course, various variants and modifications can be made to the management system described above in the invention.

Thus, the authentication code of each user to enable him to withdraw his keychain, instead of being constituted by a keyboard with keys C, can be constituted by a keyboard of the sensitive type, or by a screen of the tactile type. The user can also be authenticated by a voice recognition device, fingerprint recognition device or simply by video recognition using a video camera. The user can identify himself using a smart card that is clean or by simply using a second key ring with user-specific identification code inserted in a general reader common to each panel. 1.

in addition, the identification code of each keychain can be fixed on a magnetic strip embedded in the body of the keychain so as to be readable by a reader present in the corresponding housing 3 or can be barcode readable by an optical reader present in this housing. This code can also be fixed in an electronic chip housed in the case of the key holder and whose code can be read by an appropriate reader in the housing 3.

 Each locking means of a key holder in its housing, instead of being constituted by an electromagnet, can be formed by a small hydraulic or pneumatic jack whose rod would perform the same function as the locking axis of the electromagnet. locking means could also be constituted by a bimetallic strip configured so as to thermally engage in an orifice of the key-holder box to block it in its housing.

Finally, each key chain boltier can be produced in a cylindrical shape.

The management system described above of the invention can be applied, for example, to hotels or university laboratories.

Claims (10)

<B><U>REVENDICATIONS</U> </B> 1. Key and key management system (2) to be arranged by persons at appropriate locations (3) of at least one support panel (1), characterized in that the support panel (1) comprises housings (3) into which the key holders (2) can be inserted and means (15) for locking the key holders (2) in their appropriate housings (3) and in that it comprises a central control (5) making it possible to control each locking means (15) to unlock the corresponding key holder (2) after receiving an authentication code from the authorized person remove the key holder (2) from its housing (3 ). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that each key holder (2) comprises an identification code which is specific to it and in that means (17-18) are provided for reading the identification code of a key ring (2) inserted into a housing (3) of the support panel (1) and transmit the code read to the control center (5) which controls the locking means (15) to lock the key ring ( 2) in the housing (3) if the code read corresponds to the location of the housing (3) in which the key holder (2) must be locked. 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the absence of key holders (2) in their respective housings (3), the locking means (15) occupy their locked position allowing only partial introduction of a key ring (2) in a housing (3) at a standby position at which the reading means (17-18) can read the identification code of the key ring (2) and transmit it to the control center (5) which controls the unlocking of the corresponding locking means (15) to allow the complete insertion of the key holder (2) into its appropriate housing (3) after having verified that the identification code read corresponds the location of the housing (3) of the key holder (2). 4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means of detection (18, 19) of the key holders (2) in their fully depressed position in their respective housings (3) and to which the control unit (5) controls the locking means (15) for locking the key holder (2) in these housings (3). 5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each locking means (15) is an electromagnet controlling the movement of a locking pin (14) transversely to the housing (3) of a holder keys (2) to pass through the body (B) of the key holder (2) and lock it in its housing. 6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each key holder (2) is in the form of a rigid plastic case in which is trapped a printed circuit (9) comprising a memory (10) of the code d identification of the keychain (2) constituted for example by an integrated circuit. 7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that each aforementioned means of reading the identification code of a key holder (2) comprises at least two elastic conductive strips (17, 18) which can respectively contact two conductive pads ( 9a, 9b) of the printed circuit of the card (9) through the box B of the key holder (2), the elastic strips (17, 18) being connected by a two-wire line to the control unit (5). 8. System according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that each key holder (2) comprises a loop (11) rigidly secured to the housing (B) thereof and on which are arranged one or more keys (CL) , the loop (11) forming part of the ground circuit of the printed circuit of the card (9) so that in the event of the cable being cut when the key ring (2) is locked in its housing (3), a signal alarm is issued. 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the loop (11) is produced in the form of a conductive metal cable which is difficult to break. 10. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the loop (11) is made of a rigid plastic material in which is embedded electrically conductive track. he. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises electronic modules (M1, M2, ..., Mn) associated respectively with the housings (3) of the key holder (2) and connected in series on a connection loop two-wire (BC) connected respectively to the output and the input of the control unit (5) which is adapted to periodically transmit at its output signals making it possible to successively select the electronic modules and to bring each selected module to be controlled, where appropriate, the corresponding locking means 15) for locking the key holder (2) in its appropriate housing (3) and for receiving periodically at input data signals relating to the state of at least one input from each module indicating if the key holder (2) located in its appropriate housing (3) associated with the module is locked or not. 12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the central control unit (periodically produces on its output a frame signal broken down into successive sequences intended respectively for the electronic modules (Ml, M2, ..., Mn) and each comprising a selection binary data window (FS1, FS2, ..., FSn) which can occupy an active state of selection of a module followed by at least one binary data window (FDla, FD2a, ..., FDn) allowing the module selected to produce on an output thereof a control signal of the locking means (15) to lock the key holder (2) corresponding in its appropriate housing (3) according to the state of a terminal input of the module previously transmitted to the control center (5) and indicating that the key holder (2) is fully inserted in its housing (3) 13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that control center (5 ) product on its frame signal output (ST1) of which the first sequence (SE1) intended for the first module (M) of the series of modules has its selection binary data window (FS1) in the active state while the following sequences (SE2 , SE3, ..., SEn) of the frame signal (ST) have their binary selection data windows (FS2, FS3, ..., FSn) in the inactive state, so that the modules (M2, M3 , ..., Mn) not selected from the series are transparent to the frame signal (ST1). 14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that each selected module is arranged so as to replace the selection window in the active state which it receives with a binary data window in an inactive state and to replace the window of next selection of an inactive state by a window for selecting an active state allowing the selection of the next module. 15. System according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that each module is arranged so as to replace the command data of the window according to the module selection window with data reproducing the state of the terminal d input of the module which is connected a means of detecting the key ring (2) in its fully depressed position in its corresponding housing (3) so that the control center (5) can transmit on each corresponding sequence of the frame signal according to a binary data window making it possible to produce at the input of the first module and at the output of the following modules, a signal controlling or not each locking means (15) of a key holder (2) according to the state of the input terminal of each module. 16. System according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that each selected module is activated for a duration equal to the duration of two consecutive sequences (SE1, SE2; ...; SEn-1, SEn) of the signal weft (ST). 17. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control center (5) connected to a remote computer (6) making it possible to supervise the support panel (1) of key rings (2 by viewing each of the keyring locations (2) by a graph representing the state of an indicator light, such as a light emitting diode, from the location indicating whether the keyring inserted therein is accepted or refused, the state of the corresponding locking means (15) and the state of means of detection of the key holder (2) in position partially or fully depressed in its housing (3) by an informative text comprising at least two zones indicating the name and surname of the user of the key holder (2) and identifying the access room using one of the keys (C) of the user's key holder (2) 18. System according to claim 17 , characterized in that the remote computer (6) is further adapted p o memorize in a file the indication of removal or reinsertion of each keychain (2) in its housing (3), identification of the location of each keychain (2) the name and surname of each user and the date and time of each operation performed by the user, the file being able to be viewed on the computer screen (6). 19. The system of claim 17 or 18 characterized in that the remote computer (6) allows creation and updating of a user database of keys (C1) and comprising for each key holder location (2 ), the location number, the keychain code (2), the user authentication code and the name and surname of the user. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several support panels (1) of key rings (2) controlled respectively by central control units (5) are faired to a remote supervision computer (6 ). 21. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the authentication code is composed or formed by the person on a keyboard with keys, a keyboard of the sensitive type by voice recognition or person fingerprints, by a magnetic badge or the like. 22. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (B) of each key holder (2) is in the form of a flat rectangular parallelepiped or is cylindrical.