EP0290330B1 - Electronic lock - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic lock that is equipped to work together with a key equipped with a number of programmable memories, the said lock comprising an activation element, a dormant memory which contains a code, and comparison means to successively compare the said code contained in the dormant memory with the codes contained in the programmable memories of the key, characterized by the fact that it comprises means of engagement between the key and the activation element, an electromagnet equipped to control the said means of engagement as soon as the comparison means have recognized that the code of the key and the code of the lock are identical, and locking means to maintain the means of engagement in the engaged position until the key is withdrawn from the lock.

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic lock, and more particularly such a lock arranged to cooperate with a key provided with a plurality of programmable memories, said lock comprising an actuating member, a read-only memory containing a code, and comparison means. to successively compare said code contained in the read-only memory with the codes contained in the programmable memories of the key.

Such a lock is known for example from patent application FR-A-2 610 033. This request provides in particular the possibility of supplying power to the various electronic circuits of the key and of the lock from a contained battery. in the key. It also provides for the barrel of the lock to rotate freely when the latter is inactive, and to secure it to the bolt only after one of the codes of the key has been recognized.

As a result, the quantity of energy available is necessarily low since it must be compatible with the volume and the weight of a key. It is therefore not possible to keep the electronic circuits of the key and of the lock active between the moment when the code has been recognized and the moment when it is desired to operate the lock.

The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problem by providing a lock of the type described above, which behaves like a conventional lock once the code has been recognized, and whose only energy consumption results from a firstly, recognition of the code and secondly, instantaneous attachment of the barrel to the bolt when the code has been recognized.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an electronic lock arranged to cooperate with a key provided with a plurality of programmable memories, said lock comprising an actuating member, a read-only memory containing a code, and comparison means for successively compare said code contained in the read-only memory with the codes contained in the programmable memories of the key, meshing means between the key and the actuating member, an electromagnet arranged to control said meshing means when the comparison means have recognized the identity between a key code and the lock code, characterized in that it comprises blocking means for maintaining the engagement means in the engaged position until the key is removed from the lock.

Such an arrangement constitutes in a way a mechanical memory. Once one of the key codes has been recognized as valid, a single pulse is enough to engage the key and the actuator, which remains there until the key is removed from the lock .

The key can then be activated at any time without resulting in additional energy consumption.

Another advantage arises from such an arrangement. If, in fact, the key is used to lock a room from the inside, it is enough to leave it in place to be able to unlock it in all circumstances including in the event of failure of the energy source, or electronic systems, since the lock then behaves like a conventional lock, as long as the key has not been removed.

It will therefore be noted that, although the invention is in particular intended for the case where the electrical supply is carried out from the key, it also has significant advantages from the security point of view in the case where this supply is carried out at from the lock.

Furthermore, document EP-A-0 238 360 belongs to the state of the art referred to in Article 54 (3) EPC for the Contracting States DE, FR, GB, IT.

This document discloses an electronic lock arranged to cooperate with a key provided with a plurality of programmable memories and comprising an actuating member, a read-only memory containing a code and comparison means for successively comparing said code contained in the read-only memory with the codes contained in the programmable memories of the key, of the engagement means between the key and the actuating member, an electromagnet arranged to control the said engagement means when the comparison means have recognized the identity between a code of the key and the code of the lock and of the blocking means for maintaining the engagement means in the engaged position until the key is removed from the lock.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said engagement means comprise a movable member integral in rotation with the key and capable of being brought into engagement position with the actuating member under the action of means elastic when the electromagnet is activated, said movable member being arranged to prevent the electromagnet from returning to the inactivated position as long as this movable member is in the engagement position.

More particularly, the lock according to the invention may comprise a locking member arranged to be moved by the key against the action of elastic means, from a position where it prevents the movable member from coming into engagement position at a position where it authorizes the release of the movable member by the electromagnet.

• les figures 1A à 1E sont des coupes verticales axiales d'une demi-serrure selon l'invention illustrant les différentes étapes de son fonctionnement;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1A; et
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 1A.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• FIGS. 1A to 1E are axial vertical sections of a half-lock according to the invention illustrating the different stages of its operation;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1A; and
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 1A.

The half-lock shown in the drawings generally comprises a barrel 1 inside which a barrel 2 is rotatably mounted and held axially by means of a pin 3 cooperating with a groove 4. The other half -lock is symmetrical so as to allow locking and unlocking on either side of the door on which the lock is mounted.

An actuating member 5 is also mounted rotating on the barrel 2, and is provided with a drive finger 6 to drive the bolt (not shown) of the lock.

The barrel 2 comprises an orifice 7 for receiving a key 8 (FIG. 1B), this orifice comprising notches 9 capable of cooperating with projections 10 of the key to allow the barrel to be driven in rotation under the action of the key.

The key 8 comprises, as described in the aforementioned French application, a battery for the electrical supply of its own circuits and those of the lock, as well as a set of programmable memories containing codes.

A locking member 11 is slidably mounted in a recess of the barrel 2 to move in translation, upwards in the figures, against the action of two helical springs 12, arranged in compression between the member 11 and the barrel 2. This locking member comprises an inclined plane 13 capable of cooperating with a corresponding inclined plane 14 of the key so that, when it is introduced, the latter pushes the member 11 upwards by compressing the springs 12.

The lock also comprises a movable member 15 sliding in the barrel 2, movable upwards under the action of a helical spring 16 compressed between this movable member and the barrel 2.

The springs 12 have a greater stiffness than the spring 16 for a reason which will be explained below.

The movable member 15 comprises an end portion 17 located on the side of the spring and arranged to engage in recesses 18 of the drive member 5 under the action of the spring 16, after it has been released. as will be described below.

In the rest position of the lock shown in FIG. 1A, the movable member 15 is held in its low position against the action of the spring 16, as will be described below, and the locking member 11 is held by the springs 12 in its low position bearing against the movable member 15.

The lock also comprises an optical fiber 19 arranged to transmit to an electronic device 20 the codes contained in the programmable memories of the key via a reception cell 21.

As also described in the aforementioned French application, the electronics 20 comprises at least one read-only memory containing a code characteristic of the lock, and means for comparing this code with the codes received from the key.

The electronics 20 is mounted on a plate 22 which also receives an electromagnet 23 whose plunger 24 is provided so that, when the electromagnet 23 is not activated, it cooperates with a surface of the movable member 15 for retaining it and preventing it from moving upwards under the action of the spring 16.

Finally, two electrical connections 25 surrounded by an insulating sheath 26 are arranged in the barrel 2 to supply electrical power to the electronics 20 from the battery contained in the key.

Note that, in the position shown in Figure 1A, the barrel 2 can rotate freely in the barrel 1 of the lock without driving the actuating member 5, which greatly limits the risk of burglary.

When the key 8 is inserted into the orifice 7, as shown in FIG. 1B, it pushes the locking member 11 upwards, thus authorizing the release of the movable member 15 by the plunger 24.

The codes contained in the programmable memories of the key are then sent successively to the electronics 20 which compares them to the code contained in its read-only memory until the identity between two codes is recognized. A pulse is then applied to the electromagnet 23 which causes the plunger 24 to retract as shown in FIG. 1C, which thus completely releases the movable member 15.

This then begins to move upward as shown in Figure 1D. If the part 17 of this member is not opposite a recess 18 of the actuating member 5, it remains in abutment on the inner surface of the latter as is the case in FIG. 1D. It then suffices to cause a slight rotation of the barrel using the key, at most equal to a quarter turn, so that the part 17 of the member 15 engages in one of the recesses 18, thus securing the key and the actuating member via the barrel 2 and the member 15.

It will be noted that, as soon as the movable member 15 has started its upward movement, the plunger 24 of the electromagnet 23 can no longer return to the inactivated position, so that a single brief pulse applied to the electromagnet 23 is sufficient to cause the engagement of the key with the actuating member 5.

Indeed, the end of the plunger is then supported on a front surface 27 of the movable member 15 which prevents it from coming out of the body of the electromagnet 23.

It is only when the key is removed from the lock that it releases the locking member 11, so that the latter returns to its initial position under the action of the springs 12, driving the movable member downwards. 15 against the action of the spring 16. The upper stiffness of the springs 12 allows this movement.

When the movable member returns to its initial position, it releases the plunger 24 which returns to its initial position, thus preventing any further securing of the barrel 2 with the actuating member 5 until a new pulse is applied to the electromagnet 24.

Various variants and modifications can of course be made to the above description without departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Thus, in particular, only a single read-only memory containing a single code was discussed in the electronics 20. It is understood that this electronics could contain several codes capable of being activated selectively at will. of the owner of the lock.

Claims (4)

1. Electronic lock configured to interact with a key provided with a plurality of programmable memories, the said lock comprising an actuating member (5), a read-only memory containing a code and comparison means for comparing successively the said code contained in the read-only memory with the codes contained in the programmable memories of the key, a barrel (2), means (15, 17) for meshing between the barrel and the actuating member, an electromagnet (23) configured to control the said meshing means when the comparison means have recognised identity between a code of the key and the code of the lock, and blocking means (27) for maintaining the meshing means in the meshed position until the key is withdrawn from the lock.
2. Lock according to Claim 2, characterised in that it is electrically powered from the key.
3. Lock according to any one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the said meshing means comprise a mobile member (15) integral in rotation with the key and able to be brought into the position of meshing with the actuating member under the action of elastic means (16) when the electromagnet is activated, the said mobile member being configured to prevent the electromagnet reverting to the inactivated position for as long as this mobile member is in the meshing position.
4. Lock according to Claim 3, characterised in that it comprises a locking member (11) configured in order to be displaced by the key against the action of elastic means (12), from a position in which it prevents the mobile member moving to the meshing position, to a position where it permits the freeing of the mobile member by the electromagnet.

Images