WO2000028179A1 - Improvements in or relating to key operated switches - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to key operated switches Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000028179A1
WO2000028179A1 PCT/GB1999/003646 GB9903646W WO0028179A1 WO 2000028179 A1 WO2000028179 A1 WO 2000028179A1 GB 9903646 W GB9903646 W GB 9903646W WO 0028179 A1 WO0028179 A1 WO 0028179A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
switch
key
sensor
arrangement
identification
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1999/003646
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David George Hammersley
Ashby Ron
Original Assignee
Synatel Instrumentations Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Synatel Instrumentations Limited filed Critical Synatel Instrumentations Limited
Priority to AU64812/99A priority Critical patent/AU6481299A/en
Publication of WO2000028179A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000028179A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C9/00309—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C2009/00634—Power supply for the lock
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C2009/00753—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by active electrical keys
    • G07C2009/00769—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by active electrical keys with data transmission performed by wireless means

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns improvements in or relating to key operated switches.
  • an electrical switch has to be activated by a key.
  • an electrically actuated door locking system which is locked and unlocked by the use of a key has an arrangement which sends a signal from a switch which co-operates with the key, to the actuating arrangement.
  • the electrical supply for the key arrangement is taken from a battery and if the arrangement must be in an operative condition at all times, it must be powered at all times. This causes an unacceptable drain on the battery.
  • a key operated electrical switch arrangement comprising a removable key and a switch adapted to receive the key interposed in an electrical power supply to means to be controlled by the switch, the key includes an actuating member and at least one identification member and the switch includes a first sensor for sensing the presence of absence of the actuating member within the switch and a second sensor for reading the identification member, the first sensor being connected to and operating control means for the supply of electrical power to operate the switch and the second sensor including means for interpreting the signals it reads and, on detection of a correct identification, for actuating means controlling the passage of electrical power through the arrangement.
  • the key comprises a cylindrical member insertable into a corresponding recess in the switch.
  • the recess is a circular cross section passage, open at both ends.
  • the actuating member of the key is a metallic component and the first sensor is an inductive proximity switch, a reed switch or a hall effect device.
  • the identification member is a chip or a series of chips, preprogrammed with unique identification material.
  • Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a key operated electrical switch arrangement
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement.
  • a key operated electrical switch arrangement is provided in a door which has an electrically actuated lock powered by a rechargeable battery so that the door locking operation is independent of the mains electrical supply.
  • the arrangement of the present invention comprises a switch 10 interposed in a line 12 between a battery 14 and an electrical door lock actuating means 16.
  • the switch 10 has a recess 18 for reception of an operating key 20.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates that the key comprises a substantially cylindrical member conveniently manufactured from moulded plastics material which has embedded therein an actuating member 22 in the form of a metal disc and an identification member 24 in the form of a chip.
  • the switch 10 may be incorporated in the door or, preferably, in the door frame or adjacent to the door frame, being connected by a line 12 to the battery 14 which is not shown in Fig. 2, and to a door lock actuating mechanism 16 which is also not shown as it may take any appropriate form and does not form part of the present invention.
  • the switch is provided with a circular cross section passage 18 for receiving the key 20 and it is preferable, so that this key hole cannot be blocked by foreign bodies that the passage is open at both of its ends so that any foreign body therein is pushed out of the passage when the key is inserted.
  • First and second sensors 26, 28, illustrated only diagrammatically in Fig. 2, are incorporated in the switch.
  • the first sensor 26 is arranged such that it detects the presence of the actuating member 22 of the key in the switch.
  • the first sensor may be an inductive, close proxirnity switch or a reed switch or a hall affect device and it is connected into suitable electrical circuits which, when the first sensor 26 detects the presence of the actuating member 22, allows power from the battery 14 to be supplied to the switch 10 to render it operational.
  • the second sensor 28 is then powered and interrogates and reads the unique characteristics programmed into the chip 24 in the key. On detecting a predetermined signal from the chip 24, the switch allows power from the battery to be supplied to the door actuating device 16, thereby unlocking the door.
  • the key is then removed for future use, the door lock returned to a locking state and the power to the switch 10 is disconnected such that it remains inactive until the next key insertion so that there is no unnecessary drain of power from the battery.
  • the door lock actuating means does not form part of the present invention but it may include computing means for, for example, counting the number of lock actuations, identifying a specific key used in an unlocking operation, limiting the periods of time during which a particular key is operative.
  • the first and second sensors 26, 28 comprises two identical coils placed in side by side relationship.
  • the coils are wound on 25mm formers which have a 10mm centre hole to allow the key 20 to pass through them.
  • One coil is an inductive proxirnity switch which detects the metal member 22 embedded within the key.
  • the second is a HITAG-2 transponder coil which reads the information from a HITAG-2 transponder IC embedded within the key (the coil and transponder being supplied by Phillips Semi-Conductor).
  • the HITAG-2 system consists of an ASEC which drives the transponder plus a micro computer which contains the control and code recognition software. Codes etc. are contained in the non-volatile memory within the micro computer and can only be altered by secure means.
  • a plurality of chips can be incorporated within the key to increase the information it provides.
  • the key and its corresponding hole can take any convenient shape and alternative positioning of the sensors and members within the key may be accommodated.

Abstract

A key operated electrical switch arrangement includes a key (20) and a switch (10) for receiving the key, the switch being interposed in an electrical power supply for operating the switch, and including first and second sensors (26, 28) actuable by members (22, 24) carried by the key, detection by the first sensor (26) of the first member switching on the power supply and identification of the second sensor of a unique message from the first member actuating the switch.

Description

Improvements in or relating to key operated switches
The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to key operated switches.
There are many applications where, for security and other reasons, an electrical switch has to be activated by a key. For example, an electrically actuated door locking system which is locked and unlocked by the use of a key has an arrangement which sends a signal from a switch which co-operates with the key, to the actuating arrangement. The electrical supply for the key arrangement is taken from a battery and if the arrangement must be in an operative condition at all times, it must be powered at all times. This causes an unacceptable drain on the battery.
According to the present invention there is provided a key operated electrical switch arrangement comprising a removable key and a switch adapted to receive the key interposed in an electrical power supply to means to be controlled by the switch, the key includes an actuating member and at least one identification member and the switch includes a first sensor for sensing the presence of absence of the actuating member within the switch and a second sensor for reading the identification member, the first sensor being connected to and operating control means for the supply of electrical power to operate the switch and the second sensor including means for interpreting the signals it reads and, on detection of a correct identification, for actuating means controlling the passage of electrical power through the arrangement.
Preferably the key comprises a cylindrical member insertable into a corresponding recess in the switch. Preferably the recess is a circular cross section passage, open at both ends.
Preferably the actuating member of the key is a metallic component and the first sensor is an inductive proximity switch, a reed switch or a hall effect device. Preferably the identification member is a chip or a series of chips, preprogrammed with unique identification material.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a key operated electrical switch arrangement; and
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement.
In the present embodiment a key operated electrical switch arrangement is provided in a door which has an electrically actuated lock powered by a rechargeable battery so that the door locking operation is independent of the mains electrical supply. With existing arrangements of this general type the power is continuously supplied to the arrangement such that the door can be locked or unlocked at any time. The power demand of such an arrangement causes an unacceptable drain on the battery.
As illustrated in Fig. 1 the arrangement of the present invention comprises a switch 10 interposed in a line 12 between a battery 14 and an electrical door lock actuating means 16. The switch 10 has a recess 18 for reception of an operating key 20.
Fig. 2 illustrates that the key comprises a substantially cylindrical member conveniently manufactured from moulded plastics material which has embedded therein an actuating member 22 in the form of a metal disc and an identification member 24 in the form of a chip. The switch 10 may be incorporated in the door or, preferably, in the door frame or adjacent to the door frame, being connected by a line 12 to the battery 14 which is not shown in Fig. 2, and to a door lock actuating mechanism 16 which is also not shown as it may take any appropriate form and does not form part of the present invention. The switch is provided with a circular cross section passage 18 for receiving the key 20 and it is preferable, so that this key hole cannot be blocked by foreign bodies that the passage is open at both of its ends so that any foreign body therein is pushed out of the passage when the key is inserted.
First and second sensors 26, 28, illustrated only diagrammatically in Fig. 2, are incorporated in the switch. The first sensor 26 is arranged such that it detects the presence of the actuating member 22 of the key in the switch. The first sensor may be an inductive, close proxirnity switch or a reed switch or a hall affect device and it is connected into suitable electrical circuits which, when the first sensor 26 detects the presence of the actuating member 22, allows power from the battery 14 to be supplied to the switch 10 to render it operational. The second sensor 28 is then powered and interrogates and reads the unique characteristics programmed into the chip 24 in the key. On detecting a predetermined signal from the chip 24, the switch allows power from the battery to be supplied to the door actuating device 16, thereby unlocking the door.
The key is then removed for future use, the door lock returned to a locking state and the power to the switch 10 is disconnected such that it remains inactive until the next key insertion so that there is no unnecessary drain of power from the battery.
The door lock actuating means does not form part of the present invention but it may include computing means for, for example, counting the number of lock actuations, identifying a specific key used in an unlocking operation, limiting the periods of time during which a particular key is operative.
In a specific arrangement, the first and second sensors 26, 28 comprises two identical coils placed in side by side relationship. The coils are wound on 25mm formers which have a 10mm centre hole to allow the key 20 to pass through them. One coil is an inductive proxirnity switch which detects the metal member 22 embedded within the key. The second is a HITAG-2 transponder coil which reads the information from a HITAG-2 transponder IC embedded within the key (the coil and transponder being supplied by Phillips Semi-Conductor). The HITAG-2 system consists of an ASEC which drives the transponder plus a micro computer which contains the control and code recognition software. Codes etc. are contained in the non-volatile memory within the micro computer and can only be altered by secure means.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, a plurality of chips can be incorporated within the key to increase the information it provides. The key and its corresponding hole can take any convenient shape and alternative positioning of the sensors and members within the key may be accommodated.

Claims

1. A key operated electrical switch arrangement comprising a removable key and a switch adapted to receive the key interposed in an electrical power supply to means to be controlled by the switch, characterised in that the key (20) includes an actuating member (22) and at least one identification member (24) and the switch (10) includes a first sensor (26) for sensing the presence of absence of the actuating member within the switch and a second sensor (28) for reading the identification member (24), the first sensor (26) being connected to and operating control means for the supply of electrical power to operate the switch (10) and the second sensor (28) including means for interpreting the signals it reads and, on detection of a correct identification, for actuating means controlling the passage of electrical power through the arrangement.
2. A switch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the key (20) comprises a cylindrical member insertable into a corresponding recess (18) in the switch.
3. A switch arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the recess (18) is a circular cross section passage, open at both ends.
4. A switch arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the actuating member (22) of the key (20) is a metallic component and the first sensor (26) is an inductive proximity switch, a reed switch or a hall effect device.
5. A switch arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the identification member (24) is a chip or a series of chips, preprogrammed with unique identification material.
PCT/GB1999/003646 1998-11-07 1999-11-04 Improvements in or relating to key operated switches WO2000028179A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU64812/99A AU6481299A (en) 1998-11-07 1999-11-04 Improvements in or relating to key operated switches

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9824378.5 1998-11-07
GBGB9824378.5A GB9824378D0 (en) 1998-11-07 1998-11-07 Improvements in or relating to key operated switches

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000028179A1 true WO2000028179A1 (en) 2000-05-18

Family

ID=10841989

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1999/003646 WO2000028179A1 (en) 1998-11-07 1999-11-04 Improvements in or relating to key operated switches

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6481299A (en)
GB (1) GB9824378D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2000028179A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20120843A1 (en) * 2012-05-16 2013-11-17 Mauro Trespidi "LOCK CYLINDER TO OPERATE A LOCK OF A LOCK, AND ITS KEY"

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2026081A (en) * 1978-07-25 1980-01-30 Ward R Numerical, magnetically-encoded, electronically-sensed key
US4392134A (en) * 1978-06-07 1983-07-05 Sach-Systemtechnik Gmbh Locking device with programmable key
EP0288791A2 (en) * 1987-04-29 1988-11-02 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. Wireless transmission method for power and data transmission, and mechanically and electronically coded lock
US4864292A (en) * 1986-11-14 1989-09-05 Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno Identification system
JPH0493481A (en) * 1990-08-10 1992-03-26 Hiwada Denshi Kk Electronic lock device
DE19539852C1 (en) * 1995-10-26 1996-10-02 Daimler Benz Ag Ignition key vehicle communication unit with at least one electronic key
EP0818596A2 (en) * 1996-07-12 1998-01-14 Abloy Oy Current switch arrangement for an electromechanical locking unit

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4392134A (en) * 1978-06-07 1983-07-05 Sach-Systemtechnik Gmbh Locking device with programmable key
GB2026081A (en) * 1978-07-25 1980-01-30 Ward R Numerical, magnetically-encoded, electronically-sensed key
US4864292A (en) * 1986-11-14 1989-09-05 Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno Identification system
EP0288791A2 (en) * 1987-04-29 1988-11-02 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V. Wireless transmission method for power and data transmission, and mechanically and electronically coded lock
JPH0493481A (en) * 1990-08-10 1992-03-26 Hiwada Denshi Kk Electronic lock device
DE19539852C1 (en) * 1995-10-26 1996-10-02 Daimler Benz Ag Ignition key vehicle communication unit with at least one electronic key
EP0818596A2 (en) * 1996-07-12 1998-01-14 Abloy Oy Current switch arrangement for an electromechanical locking unit

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 016, no. 328 (M - 1281) 16 July 1992 (1992-07-16) *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20120843A1 (en) * 2012-05-16 2013-11-17 Mauro Trespidi "LOCK CYLINDER TO OPERATE A LOCK OF A LOCK, AND ITS KEY"
EP2665045A1 (en) 2012-05-16 2013-11-20 Nemesy S.R.L.C.R. Lock cylinder for driving a lock latch, and key thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6481299A (en) 2000-05-29
GB9824378D0 (en) 1998-12-30

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