DE3938995C1 - Card-operated security system - has coded strips applied to both sides of card and no more than one aligned lamp sensor pair - Google Patents

Abstract

A card operated security system has reflective coded strips on the card and optic sensors and lights inside the key slot. If the correct card is positioned in the reading slot then the reflective strips reflect the light to the sensors and complete the code. The simple security system then operates a relay which unblocks the protected circuits e.g. electronic locks, machine switches. The coded strips can be applied to both sides of the card and each side can have more than one lamp-sensor pairs aligned with the strips. The sensors are in series so that the relay is only activated if all the code is correct. ADVANTAGE - Simple technology, suitable for domestic-and amateur use.

Description

The invention relates to a briefly below as cards lock designated card-operated switch lock for (be fugten) switching on or off of electrically operated Machines or devices such as door openers or alarm systems to operate via a between the card lock and the the device intermediate relay or the like. By means of a coded (i.e. provided with a certain coding) Key card, with a (lock) housing that one of the Width and thickness of the key card and guide slot and a stop for the keys Card, which is arranged so that the key card after full insertion (until it stops) in  the guide slot on the opposite of their introducer end towards the outside via the (lock) housing stands, with at least one arranged in the (lock) housing Reading device for reading the coding of an inserted Key card, and with a ver tied electrical circuit that when inserting a Key card with correct coding the applied voltage switches through to the relay, so that ultimately this concerns device is switched on or off.

There are such switch locks with punch card readers knows, where the key card ver with a punch code see is how they operate the door lock in particular who uses it as a door opener for hotel rooms the so that you can use conventional keys can forego and in particular largely ensure that unauthorized third parties do not use keys or Keys can penetrate into hotel rooms. This card Key locks are both themselves and regarding the coding direction relatively complex and it is also beyond disadvantageous that the hole code easily recognizable and possibly relaiv is easy to imitate, even if the Ko dation of such a card lock changed regularly when a guest has left a hotel room.

Furthermore, generic card locks are known at which are encoded in a magnetic carrier, so that a corresponding magnetic card reader is required to read the key card. Such one Design as it is, for example, and especially for banks or the like. is common, is because of their effort for the private area - especially for do-it-yourselfers and hobbyists - completely unsuitable.  

The same applies to the use of barcodes a bar code, such as that used for labeling and Identification of goods or commodity data is common. Such barcodes can be used advantageously, for example the cash registers of supermarkets or the like. the relevant data (including in particular the price) of a purchased product read off by using an appropriate reading pen the printed coding of the goods deleted and thereby the number of bars, their thickness and / or mutual Distance the encoded information into a computer be read, the u. a. ver with the relevant cash register is bound. For a card lock in question here such a design is also unsuitable.

From GB 21 43 062 A is still a card operated Switch lock known, which is a switching unit for and switching off or opening and closing contains and by means of a coded key card can be operated. This well known Key switch has a housing with a card slot and a reading device for reading the coding with a corresponding decoding arrangement (logical combination of several Reading elements), whereby the switching stage is switched when the card code matches the lock code.

The object of the present invention is accordingly reasons, a card lock of the type described above to create, which compared to the previously known State of the art considerably simpler and cheaper (and accordingly for home improvement and hobbyists from the total effort is suitable), with the card lock according to the invention nevertheless a relatively high level of security against unauthorized persons Use of a with a card lock according to the invention provided electrical device should be achievable and above unauthorized third parties who may have an opportunity take a look at the key card, a detection of the (relatively simple) actual code  or should be made practically impossible.

The solution to this problem is, according to the invention, that the key card has at least one light reflecting (first) Has coding, which is arranged so that it is in introduced state of the key card one in the lock housing arranged light source is essentially opposite, so that the inserted up to the stop in the insertion slots To light the key card at the (first) coding point beat, at least one only when light is applied Conductive phototransistor or the like is provided, so in Lock housing is arranged so that it with a light reflecting coding point applied to light is, and being in a line leading to the relay cut the circuit a switching transistor or the like is ordered that he then and the relevant line section only connects to the relay when the phototransistor by applying reflec from the (first) coding point oriented light is conductive; and that the key card on their front and / or back with additional Scheinko is provided.

With reference to the above, it is said referenced that a logical combination of multiple light receiving coding elements in principle from the EP 01 53 263 B1 and DD 60 710 is known.

Although an embodiment of the card lock with a only corresponding coding of the key card and accordingly, basically a single photo transistor sufficient to equip a card lock according to the invention, are to increase security against unauthorized use preferably several coding points on the key card and correspondingly many phototransistors provided, before  also prefers a corresponding number of light sources can be seen, each one coding point (and thus one Photo transistor) are assigned to stray light effects avoid, the arrangement being such that from light emitted by one light source is not transmitted to another Coding point and thus with appropriate reflection a different light source than that assigned Photo transistor can hit.

Accordingly, at least two are preferably connected in series (First) phototransistors provided, each one light-reflecting coding point of the key card are arranged.

In addition, it has been used to increase security proven to be most useful if the key card above it in addition at least one non-light reflecting second Has coding, which is arranged so that it is the Light source in the inserted state essentially against  and that at least one in line with the little one least a first photo transistor switched, with the Switching transistor connected second photo transistor vorese hen, which is arranged in the housing so that it is the two th coding point is essentially opposite, the second phototransistor connected to the switching transistor is that the latter then and only then to the relay tet when the second photo transistor blocks.

In this regard, too, it has proven to be extremely useful sen, if at least two such second photo transistor ren are provided, which preferably to be connected in parallel are.

For the card lock according to the invention has an infra proven red light source as particularly useful, the Light source for the reasons already mentioned, highly useful moderately, preferably essentially point-shaped det.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are in further subclaims are described.

The invention is based on exemplary embodiments below Further explained with reference to a drawing. It shows

Figure 1 is a somewhat simplified, partially schematic, substantially perspective view of a card lock according to the invention when inserting the lock card.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram for a particularly simple design of a card lock according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram for a preferred embodiment of the card lock according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the non-coded front side of the key card for the card lock according to FIG. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the coded back of the key card according to FIGS. 1 and 4, namely in Fig. 5a) the actual view of the back, and Fig. 5b) the back with (for the purpose of explanation) with dotted lines supplemented coding ;

Fig. 6 is a front plan view of the card closed according to Figure 1 without a key card and with the cover removed in the direction of arrow VI in Fig. 7 seen. and

Fig. 7 shows a section through the representation of FIG. 6 in the direction of section line VII-VII seen with additionally shown lock cover and inserted key card.

Fig. 1 showed a whole by 1 designated card lock for switching an electrically-operated device (which may be a door opener, an alarm or other electrically operated device) 2 via an intermediate relay 3 by means of a coded key card 4 will be described in detail below.

The card lock 1 comprises a lock housing 5 (see Fig. 6 and 7), which consists essentially of a base plate 6 and a cover 7 and card for insertion of the key has, in its lid 7 an insertion and guide slot 8 4. In addition, the cover 7 has a stop 9 for the key card 4 , which is the inside of the lower side wall of the cover 7 .

It can be seen that the stop 9 is arranged or the key card 4 is dimensioned such that after the complete insertion (up to the stop 9 ) into the insertion slot 8 at the end 10 opposite its introducer, it is still outwardly via the lock housing 5 or the cover 7 protrudes.

The card lock 1 also has a plurality of readers, each arranged in a reader housing 11 (see FIGS. 6, 7), for reading the coding of the inserted key card 4 , both on the design of the reader and the training of the coding in more detail below is received.

In addition, the card lock 1 contains an electrical circuit connected to a voltage source (see FIG. 3) which, when a key card 4 is inserted with the correct coding, switches the voltage applied to the relay 3 and thus switches the device 2 on.

Was before the material embodiment of the card lock 1 according to FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 7 and the key card shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is made in detail, with reference to FIG. 2, the components even and circuitry basic principle of the card lock according to the invention for a particularly simple design explained.

The switching terminals 12 and 13 are connected to a 9 V direct voltage source, for which, for example, a commercially available plug-in power supply is well suited. With 14 a switching transistor is designated, which is then switched through by a (first) phototransistor 15 when this is struck with light, since it is only then and then conductive while it is otherwise blocking. This light is emitted by an infrared LED 16 , but not directly to the phototransistor 15 . Because the LED 16 is, as will be described in detail below, immediately next to the phototransistor 15 in the same plane. Rather, the photo transistor 15 is only acted on with light and is accordingly speaking conductive if, when the light 16 is emitted by the LED 16, a bright, light-reflecting coding location is opposite, the bright coding locations also being referred to below as white coding locations. A use (invisible) infrared radiation for security devices is known from GB 21 27 479 A per se.

If, accordingly, a suitably designed card 1, a correspondingly coded key card 4 is inserted into the insertion slot 8 as far as the stop 9 and, if correctly coded, the infrared light-emitting LED 16 is opposite a white or bright light-reflecting coding position, then this reflects the light the immediately next to her in the same plane (first) photo transistor 15 , which becomes conductive so that the switching transistor 14 switches through to the relay 3 and this then turns on the device 2 .

If the key card 4 is removed at the appropriate time from the lock housing 5 or an incorrectly coded key card is inserted, the photo transistor 15 thus blocks, so that the switching transistor 14 does not switch through, the relay 3 drops and the device 2 is switched off again switches or is not switched on at all.

Since such a configuration with such a (simple) coding is generally not secure enough, it is preferable to use a plurality of first phototransistors 15 (designated 15.1 and 15.2 in FIG. 3), each of which is assigned to a light or white coding point, and which each have an infrared LED 16 (designated in FIG. 3 with 16.1 and 16.2 ), and in addition, second photo transistors 17 (referred to in FIG. 3 with 17.1 and 17.2 ) are also used, each of which also has an infrared -LED 16 (designated in Fig. 3 with 16.3 and 16.4 ) is assigned.

As can be seen from the circuit diagram according to FIG. 3, here again the switching or connecting terminals 12 and 13 are connected to a corresponding direct current source, while a switching output 18 is connected or has to be connected to a relay 3 , which is also connected to the Switch terminal 12 leading line section 12 'is connected or to be connected.

A switching transistor 14 is, moreover, as in the circuit of FIG. 2 are provided, the first of two photo transistors 15.1 and 15.2 via a resistor 19 by being switchable, if the first two photo transistors 15.1 and 15.2 with a white coding field 20 (see FIG. . 5b) abge covers are such that - in the fully inserted key card 4 (see Fig 5) -.. which of the two infrared LEDs 16.1 and 16.2 emitted light from the white Kodierfeldern 20, 20 on the first photo-transistors 15.1 and 15.2 is reflected so that they become conductive.

It can be seen that a second phototransistor 17.1 is arranged in series with the first two phototransistors 15.1 and 15.2 , and a further second phototransistor 17.2 is arranged in parallel with the other second phototransistor 17.1

These two second phototransistors 17.1 and 17.2 must be covered (at the same time) with a black coding 21 or a black coding field so that they do not become conductive but block. This is because if one of the two second phototransistors 17.1 and 17.2 (or both) are not covered in black and accordingly become conductive when light is emitted, they clearly block the switching transistor 14 .

The card lock 1 only works if the four named individual codes are available in combination at the same time.

Accordingly, the key card 4 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is correspondingly coded on its rear side (see white coding fields 20 and black coding fields 21 ), the white coding fields 20 not being recognizable as such (see FIG. 5a) and in Fig. 5 b) are only surrounded by a dash-dotted line for clarity.

In addition, both the coded back and the front still have all possible bill codes that are intended to make it difficult for an unauthorized third party to detect the actual code, namely a bar code 22.1 on the front of the key card 4 (see FIG. 4), a bill Password 22.2 also on the front of the key card 4 and other note barcodes 22.3 and 22.4 on the (coded) back of the key card and a note code number, so that reading the actual code with such or similarly designed key card is almost impossible is.

It should also be noted that other electrical elements such as resistors and. Like. In Figs. 2 and 3 (except for the resistor 19 ) for the sake of clarity have been continued since they are irrelevant for the explanation of the switching principle.

With regard to the structural design of the card lock, reference is also made in particular to FIGS. 6 and 7 in addition to the representation according to FIG . Like. Are omitted for the sake of simplicity and also the (printed) circuit is not shown in detail, which is located essentially on the back of the board 23 shown in FIG. 6, which with fastening screws 24 on spacer cams 25 (see FIG. 7) the base plate 6 is held.

In particular, from FIG. 6, in which the other, spiegelsymme tric half of the card lock (without cover 7 and key card 4) is not shown, it is seen that the four photo-transistors 15.1, 15.2, 17.1 and 17.2 in each case directly in the same plane adjacent to an infrared -LED 16.1 or 16.2 or 16.3 or 16.4 arranged and designed as a tandem optocoupler, with each a single opto coupler (z. B. 15.1, 16.1 ) from an adjacent single optocoupler ( 15.2, 16.2 ) by a Partition 26 and side walls 27 of the same height are separated and shielded from the environment, so that the individual opto-reflective couplers do not affect each other when the key card 4 is inserted (see FIG. 7).

It should also be pointed out that the tandem optocouplers are each chamfered on the upper edge section facing away from their fastening side (see chamfer 28 in FIG. 7), so that the key card 4 does not get caught when inserted into the insertion slot, but rather as it were via a ramp can be brought into their reading position, a guide cam 29 or the like may also be provided in addition in order to further improve the guidance, if necessary, in the cover 7 of the lock housing 5 .

Claims (15)

1.Card-operated switch lock for switching on or off electrically operated devices via an interposed relay or the like. By means of a coded key card, with a (lock) housing that has an insertion slot corresponding to the width and thickness of the key card and a stop for the Has key card, which is arranged so that the key card after complete insertion into the insertion slot at the opposite end of their introducer still protrudes outwards beyond the lock housing, with at least one reading device arranged in the lock housing for reading the coding of an inserted key card, and with an electrical circuit connected to a voltage source which, when a key card with the correct coding is inserted, switches the voltage applied to the relay or the like, characterized in that the key card ( 4 ) has at least one light-reflecting (first) K odierstelle ( 20, 20 ), which is arranged so that it is in the inserted state of the key card ( 4 ) in the lock housing ( 5 ) arranged light source ( 16, 16 ) substantially opposite, so that the stop ( 9 ) in the insertion slot ( 8 ) inserted key card ( 4 ) at the (first) coding point ( 20, 20 ) is to be acted upon with light, at least one phototransistor ( 15 ) or the like, which is only conductive when exposed to light, is provided in the lock housing ( 5 ) is arranged so that it is acted upon by a light-reflecting coding point ( 20 ) reflected light, and wherein a switching transistor ( 14 ) or the like is arranged in a line section of the circuit leading to the relay ( 3 ) so that it the line section in question then and only through to the relay ( 3 ) when the phototransistor ( 15 ) by exposure to the (first) coding point ( 20, 20 ) reflected light lei is tend; and that the key card ( 4 ) is provided on its front and / or back with additional dummy codes ( 22 ). 2. Card lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the false encodings ( 22 ) consist of further white and / or black fields, stripes or the like. 3. Card lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two series-connected (first) photo transistors ( 15.1, 15.2 ) are provided, each of which is assigned a light-reflecting coding point ( 20, 20 ) of the key card ( 4 ) . 4. Card lock according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the key card ( 4 ) has at least one non-light-reflecting second coding point ( 21 ) which is arranged so that it the light source ( 16 ) in the inserted state the key card ( 4 ) is essentially opposite; and that at least one second phototransistor ( 17 ) connected in series with the at least one first phototransistor ( 15 ) and connected to the switching transistor ( 14 ) is provided, which is arranged in the lock housing ( 5 ) in such a way that it corresponds to the second coding point ( 21 ) is essentially opposite; if the second photo transistor ( 17 ) is so connected to the switching transistor ( 14 ) that the latter then and only to the relay ( 3 ) by when the second photo transistor ( 17 ) blocks. 5. Card lock according to claim 4, characterized in that at least two parallel second phototransistors ( 17.1, 17.2 ) are provided. 6. Card lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light source ( 16; 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4 ) is substantially point-shaped. 7. Card lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one light source ( 16; 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4 ) is an infrared light source. 8. Card lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 7, characterized in that several light sources ( 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4 ) are provided, each of which (only) one coding point ( 20 or 21 ) of the Castle card ( 4 ) or a photo transistor ( 15.1 or 15.2 or 17.1 or 17.2 ) are assigned. 9. Card lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 8, characterized in that a light source ( 16 ) immediately adjacent to an associated phototransistor ( 15 or 17 ) in a pot-shaped recess ( 30 ) of a reader housing ( 11th ) is arranged, which is essentially covered by the key card ( 4 ) in the inserted state. 10. Card lock according to claim 9, characterized in that a reader housing ( 11 ) contains at least two optical reflex couplers, each consisting essentially of a light source ( 16 ) and a phototransistor ( 15 or 17 ) (= tandem opto coupler). 11. Card lock according to claim 10, characterized by two mutually spaced tandem optocouplers, the total of four individual optocouplers each one coding ( 20 or 21 ) of the key card ( 4 ) are assigned. 12. Card lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coding of the key card ( 4 ) consists of a little sensor a white field ( 20, 20 ) which of the at least one light source ( 16 ) and the at least one first photo transistor ( 15th ) when the key card ( 4 ) is inserted, essentially aligned with one another. 13. Card lock according to one or more of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the coding of the key card ( 4 ) has at least one black field ( 21 ) which has a light source ( 16 ) and a second photo transistor ( 17 ) when the key card is inserted ( 4 ) is essentially aligned. 14. Card lock according to one or more of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the coding of the key card ( 4 ) has two white coding fields ( 20, 20 ) and two black coding fields ( 21, 22 ), the key card ( 4 ) each face a light source ( 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4 ) and a first photo transistor ( 15.1, 15.2 ) or a second photo transistor ( 17.1, 17.2 ) essentially in alignment. 15. Card lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a reader housing ( 11 ) is chamfered or rounded at its upper end portion on the edge region facing away from its fastening side.