Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B49/00—Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor
• • 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
  • G07C9/00944—Details of construction or manufacture
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B19/00—Keys; Accessories therefor
  • E05B19/04—Construction of the bow or head of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank
  • E05B19/046—Construction of the bow or head of the key; Attaching the bow to the shank the shank being slidingly mounted on the bow, e.g. for storage
• • 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
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
  • E05B2047/0048—Circuits, feeding, monitoring
  • E05B2047/0057—Feeding
  • E05B2047/0062—Feeding by generator
• • 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
  • G07C2009/00579—Power supply for the keyless data carrier
• • 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
  • G07C2009/00777—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 by induction

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of electromechanical or electronic keys and locks for preventing access to a given place or prohibiting the operation of a given device, for example a rack or an electronic cabinet.
• Locks have been developed for several years associating a mechanical coding carried out for example by notches, with an electronic coding transmitted between the key and the lock.
• Patent application EP 0277432 shows an example of such an electromechanical lock, the key of which comprises, in addition to a mechanical coding for developing the lock, an electronic circuit which transmits to the lock, when the key is introduced, a code d preprogrammed identification. The key is supplied with energy from the lock, which is itself supplied from an external source.
• application FR 2561 292 shows an electronic key that can be implemented with an electromechanical lock and comprising both notches for mechanical coding and an electronic microprocessor circuit supplied with current by a battery disposed directly in the key.
• both of the aforementioned locks have a major defect resulting from the fact that the type of cylinder used is particularly complex to produce and therefore of very high cost. Indeed, in this type of lock, it is the difficulty of copying the mechanical profile of the cylinder which guarantees maximum security and not the additional electronic coding. As a result, if the key is lost, the cylinder must be systematically replaced, whether or not it is associated with an electronic circuit.
• the present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an entirely autonomous electronic key-lock assembly requiring no independent power supply, whether external or in the form of one or more rechargeable batteries by means of an external device.
• An object of the invention is also to propose a lock cylinder and a key which are each of a relatively simple and inexpensive embodiment and which guarantee complete security of the device.
• an electronic key comprising, mounted in a key body, a key rod intended to be introduced into a corresponding housing of a lock cylinder to ensure unlocking, the cylinder having a stator part and a part rotor integral with a bit and comprising first mechanical means and first electronic means and the key comprising second mechanical means and second electronic means for cooperating with the first corresponding means of the cylinder when the key is completely inserted into the cylinder and for control the unlocking of the lock when an identity between an identification code of the key and a corresponding code of the lock is verified, characterized in that the power supply to the electronic means of the key is ensured from an autonomous means of energy generation which is actuated by a simple displacement of the has key shank in the key body.
• the power supply of the electronic means of the key to ensure the exchange and the verification of the identification codes and possibly the control of unlocking of the lock can be carried out by a single module actuated simply by moving the key shank independently of any external power supply device.
• the power generation means of the key is connected at the level of a power link to a rectification and storage means which develops a direct supply voltage from alternating signals delivered by the means of energy generation, this rectification and storage means being itself connected to a processing means which ensures, at the level of a communication link connecting it to the energy generation means, an exchange of the data necessary for unlocking the cylinder.
• the power link and the communication link can form a single link at the level of the energy generation means and in that the second electronic means then comprise a multiplexing / demultiplexing means for connecting the energy generation means both by means of rectification and storage and by means of treatment.
• the second electronic means further comprise a communication interface means disposed between the processing means and the energy generation means for adapting and filtering the signals delivered at the output of the processing means.
• the straightening and storage means is also connected to the energy generation means to also allow power to be supplied to the cylinder of the lock when the key is inserted into the lock.
• the cylinder can have autonomous operation without the use of any internal energy source (battery or network for example).
• the energy generation means comprises at least one piezoelectric element intended to generate electric charges from successive flexions generated by the displacement of the key rod.
• this piezoelectric element consists of a single piezoelectric blade embedded at one of its two ends in the key body and which can either have a notched profile intended to cooperate with at least one contact point of a piezoelectric element of the cylinder, during the introduction of the key into the cylinder, or the end of which is left free of said piezoelectric blade comprises a contact point and is intended to cooperate with a notched profile of the rod key, when extracting / retracting the rod from the key body.
• the key rod may further include an additional piezoelectric element connected to the processing means and intended to ensure the exchange of data between the key and the cylinder of the lock after the introduction of the key rod into this cylinder.
• the key rod may also further comprise at least one contact pad connected to the processing means and intended to ensure the exchange of data between the key and the cylinder of the lock after the introduction of the key rod in the cylinder.
• this contact pad is then connected at the outlet of the rectification and storage means to allow supply of the cylinder from the lock after the introduction of the key rod into the cylinder.
• the key stem may have a cruciform shape.
• the energy generation means comprises on the one hand a magnetized rod forming a magnetic core and on the other hand several windings connected in a ring, separated by walls of a material with high magnetic permeability, and contained in a body itself of a material with high magnetic permeability and forming a sheath for said magnetized rod, an ejection system for example with a spring being provided to ensure the extraction / retraction of this rod from its sheath.
• the magnetized rod comprises several bipolar annular magnets regularly separated by walls made of a material with high magnetic permeability, the distances separating these walls being determined so that they correspond exactly on the one hand with the distances separating the corresponding walls of the body forming the sheath of the key and on the other hand with those separating said tube from the cylinder.
• the bipolar annular magnets have polarities determined so that two adjacent magnets repel each other, the North-South axes of these magnets being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod.
• the magnetized rod further comprises a wall made of a material with high magnetic permeability such as soft iron and intended, by coming into contact with an external magnetic separation wall of the body forming the sheath of the key, to close the magnetic circuit when the key is completely inserted into the cylinder.
• the winding direction of two adjacent windings of these four windings being opposite to that of the other two windings.
• the four windings comprise two separate electrical contact terminals through which the power link for the supply of the second electronic means of the key is respectively provided and the communication link for the exchange of data with the cylinder of the lock.
• the invention also relates to the lock intended to receive the electronic key described above and the cylinder of which comprises at least one energy generation means actuated during or after the introduction of the key to allow power to be supplied to the first electronic means of the cylinder.
• the energy generation means also ensures coupling between the key and the cylinder of the lock to allow an exchange of data, in particular identification codes, between the cylinder and the key after the introduction of the key rod into the cylinder.
• the energy generation means also makes it possible to control the movement of a bit blocking element in order to unlock the lock.
• the energy generation means is connected at the level of a power link to a rectification and storage means which develops a direct supply voltage from alternating signals delivered by the energy generation means, this means rectification and storage itself being connected to a processing means which ensures, at a communication link connecting it to the energy generation means, an exchange of data necessary for unlocking the cylinder of the lock, this means processing further ensuring the control of a control means which delivers by means of energy generation, at its communication link, a control pulse of a determined duration sufficient to ensure the release of the element of blocking of the bit and consequently unlocking the lock.
• the first electronic means of the cylinder also comprise a switching means which makes it possible to connect the energy generation means, at its communication link, both to the processing means and to the control means.
• the means for generating energy from the cylinder comprises at least one piezoelectric element having electrical contact terminals and the successive flexions of which, when the key is introduced, generate electrical charges at the level of these contact terminals.
• This piezoelectric element can be constituted by a single piezoelectric blade embedded at one of its two ends in the rotor part of the cylinder or by a piezoelectric bimetallic strip whose central part is embedded in the rotor part of the cylinder.
• Each free end of the piezoelectric element comprises at least one contact point intended to cooperate with the key rod and at least one blocking element intended, in a rest position, to prevent any rotation of the bit relative to the stator part of the cylinder.
• the means for generating energy from the cylinder is mounted around the housing, at the inlet of this cylinder, and comprises in a tube with high magnetic permeability, like soft iron, several windings connected in a ring and separated by walls of a material with high magnetic permeability regularly spaced, these coils being intended to cooperate on the one hand with a magnetic rod forming a magnetic core and carried by the key and on the other hand with a key-chasing piston capable of sliding in the housing and provided with said bit blocking element.
• the windings are four in number, the winding direction of two adjacent windings of these four windings being opposite to that of the other two windings and these four windings have two separate electrical contact terminals through which are respectively provided a power link for supplying the first electronic means and a communication link for exchanging data and actuating the blocking element.
• the bit comprises on the one hand a cylindrical body and on the other hand a fin extending radially with respect to this body, this body comprising an opening for receiving two hollow annular parts formed in a material with high magnetic permeability and placed one against the other while leaving between them an empty record space, the internal dimensions of these parts corresponding to the external dimensions of the housing, and in that each internal wall of these annular parts in contact with this empty space comprises a blocking slot intended to receive said blocking element.
• This fin comprises a centering means formed for example of a ball-spring assembly and intended to cooperate with corresponding means of the stator part of the cylinder, for example receiving cavities for these balls.
• the key-hunting piston has a central core made of a material with high magnetic permeability, and at each of the two ends of which is mounted around an axis said blocking element formed by a slightly magnetized rotating blade, this blocking blade being able to pivot to come to be placed in one of said bit blocking slots during actuation of the energy generation means.
• the central core is covered with a non-magnetic material and terminated at its two ends by a mechanical interface element intended to cooperate with the mechanical interface means of the key to transmit the torque.
• the present invention also relates to the locking device provided with an electronic key and the associated lock.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a double cylinder of a lock used in the electronic locking device according to the invention
• FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the electronic means of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are two exemplary embodiments of the straightening and storage means of the means of FIGS. 1 and 2,
• FIGS. 6a to 6e and 7a to 7c show the different signals available at the level of the electronic means of the cylinder and of the key in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively,
• FIG. 8 is a functional diagram of a first example of the energy generation means of the locking device
• - Figure 9 is a first embodiment of an electronic key with piezoelectric module whose rod is in a first retracted position
• - Figure 10 is second embodiment of an electronic key with piezoelectric module whose the rod is in a second position
• FIG. 11 shows in section an embodiment of the rod of the electronic key
• FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of a lock cylinder capable of cooperating with the electronic key of FIG. 10,
• FIG. 13 is a functional diagram of a second example of the energy generation means of the locking device according to the invention.
• FIG. 14 represents a schematic view in longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the cylinder of FIG. 2
• FIG. 15 represents a view in section along the plane XV-XV of FIG. 14
• FIG. 16 represents a schematic view in longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the cylinder of FIG. 2
• FIG. 17 represents a sectional view along the plane XVII-XVII of FIG. 16, - FIG. 18 represents a schematic view in longitudinal section of another exemplary embodiment of the cylinder of FIG. 2,
• FIGS. 19a and 19b illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the bit of the cylinder of FIG. 18,
• FIGS. 20a and 20b illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the key-chasing piston of the cylinder of FIG. 18,
• FIGS. 21a and 21b show, for the embodiment of FIG. 18, the key-cylinder interaction in two successive positions of the key
• - Figure 22 schematically shows the key-cylinder interaction after a complete introduction of the key
• - Figure 21 shows schematically the key-cylinder interaction when the bit is released.
• the present invention relates to an electronic key, an electronic lock and to the key / lock assembly entitled in the present application electronic locking device.
• the lock conventionally comprises a cylinder provided with a housing for receiving the key and mechanical and electronic elements for unlocking the lock when the key is inserted in this housing and that an identity enters an identification code of the key and a corresponding lock identification code is checked.
• FIG. 1 very schematically shows a key 10 which conventionally comprises a first end forming a rod having a shape and dimensions conforming to the housing of the cylinder of a lock whose bolt is to be actuated (not shown) and a second end constituting the key body and forming a head to allow by rotation ractioning of a bit of this cylinder and therefore the operation of the bolt of the lock (through conventional mechanical means of the lock not shown).
• This key includes a second mechanical interface means 12 for transmitting the torque from the key to the lock and allowing actuation of the bolt when, after coupling the key with the lock, the conditions for opening this lock are met (identity of the respective identification codes of the key and the lock).
• first energy generation means 14 for ensuring, at the level of communication and power links, both a data communication between the key and the lock and an energy supply of the key and possibly also of the lock cylinder.
• a first rectification and energy storage means 16 connected (at the power link) to the energy generation means is further provided for receiving and accumulating the energy generated by this energy generation means by example when the key is inserted into the lock.
• This rectification and energy storage means is connected to a first processing means 18, advantageously with microprocessor and memory, of which it provides the energy supply and which ensures the management (in particular the comparison of the identification codes of the key and lock) and the control of the transfer of data corresponding to these identification codes.
• the exchange of these coded data is possibly carried out through a first communication interface means 20 (which ensures, if necessary, an adaptation and a filtering of the signals coming from the processing means) connected on the one hand to the processing means 18 and on the other hand by means of energy generation 14 (at the level of the communication link) through which this exchange is carried out.
• a complementary link at the outlet of the rectification and storage means 16 makes it possible, through the energy generation means 14, to return the energy thus stored to the lock. supply the cylinder.
• FIG. 2 is a very schematic longitudinal view of a first embodiment of a cylinder 30 with symmetrical European profile with double entry (double cylinder) whose shapes and external dimensions are similar to those of conventional mechanical double cylinders, which its replacement very easily, and which provided with autonomous energy generation means is more particularly suitable for cooperating with a key of the aforementioned type itself provided with its own energy generation means.
• This double cylinder conventionally comprises an upstream part 32, a downstream part 34 and an intermediate rotary part, or bit 36, which can be driven in rotation by the key, thanks to the second mechanical interface means 12, when this key is introduced into one of the two housings 38 of the double cylinder and that the condition of identity of codes is verified.
• This cylinder includes a movable shutter means 40 forming a key-hunting piston and intended to prohibit any external intervention on the bit 36 and to cooperate with the second mechanical interface means 12 to ensure the rotation of the bit. It also includes second and third energy generation means 42, 44 which are identical and associated respectively with the upstream part 32 and the downstream part 34 of the double cylinder which also provides a power supply function for the lock (at the level of a power link), on the one hand a communication function between the key and the lock (at the level of a communication link) and on the other hand a function of unlocking the lock (by dissociating its bit ) through the communication link.
• each of these two energy generation means is connected, at its power link, to a second (respectively third) rectifier and energy storage means 46 (respectively 48) for rectifying and accumulate the energy generated by these means 42, 44 at the time of the introduction of the key into the lock.
• This second (third) rectification and energy storage means is connected to a second (third) processing means 50 (52), advantageously with microprocessor and memory, which it supplies with energy and which manages and the control of the transfer of data corresponding to the identification codes of the key and the lock.
• This transfer of coded data (between the key and the lock) is provided optionally (when an adaptation and filtering of the signals supplied by the processing means is necessary) through a second (third) communication interface means 54 ( 56) connected on the one hand to the second (third) means of energy generation (at its communication link) and on the other hand to the second (third) processing means.
• first and second control means 58, 60 (for example of the transistor switch type) are provided for controlling the unlocking of the lock, respectively under the orders of the second (third) processing means 50, (52), by causing an impulse discharge of the energy accumulated in the second (third) rectification and energy storage means 46 (48), at the level of the communication link of the third (second) energy generation means 44 (42) .
• the energy accumulated in the straightening and storage means of a determined part of the cylinder is discharged into the generation means. of energy from the other part of this cylinder (in this case the downstream part) and vice versa.
• the energy discharge being carried out through the communication link, it is preferable to providing a switching means 62, 64 (for example a discriminating filter) controlled by the processing means 50, 52 which switches the communication output from the energy generation means either to the communication interface means 54, 56 or to the control means 58, 60.
• second and third processing means have been described, it is obvious that nothing is opposed, and this is even preferable for reasons of bulk, to use only a single means of processing (see for example circuit 51 in FIG. 12).
• the present invention is illustrated essentially by a double cylinder structure, it is entirely possible to implement it with a structure of the simple button cylinder type with international profile for example or any other similar mechanical structure.
• the arrangement in the body of the cylinder of the various aforementioned electronic means is not exclusive and that it is entirely conceivable, even preferable, that all of these means be grouped in the bit (as shown for example in Figures 12 and 14).
• Figures 4 and 5 show two embodiments of the rectifying and energy storage means 16; 46, 48 associated with each energy generation means of the key or of the cylinder 14; 42, 44.
• this means 16; 46, 48 can simply constitute a diode bridge 200 followed by a filtering and energy storage element, such as a capacitor 202.
• This bridge receives on an input 210 an alternating voltage coming from the means for generating energy 14; 42, 44 and generates an output voltage at an output 212 continuous intended on the one hand, for example for controlling the unlocking of the bit (in the case of means for generating energy from the cylinder 42, 44) or for supplying the cylinder from the key (in the case of the corresponding means 14 of the key) and, on the other hand, via a voltage divider 204, to the supply of the processing means 18; 50, 52.
• Another possible solution for the realization of this rectification and storage means is to use a voltage multiplier with diodes 220 (FIG. 5).
• This voltage multiplier conventionally comprises several rectifier and step-up stages, for example six stages 222 to 232 each formed by a diode and a capacitor.
• the supply of energy to the processing means 18; 50, 52 is, with this structure, produced directly from the output 234 of a stage of this multiplier, for example the second stage 224, the voltage of which corresponds to the desired supply voltage for the processing means, the other intermediate outputs of this multiplier making it possible to deliver continuous voltages of different values for, for example at the level of the key, the power supply to the cylinder (by analogy with FIG. 1).
• FIGS. 6 and 7 represent histograms of current signals available at the output of the various electronic means described above for the particular case where the generation of energy at the level of the key as of the lock is obtained by the introduction of the key into the cylinder of the lock.
• FIG. 6a is shown the current at the output of the energy generating means 42, 44 of the lock, after the key 10 has been introduced into the cylinder 30.
• FIG. 6b shows the current at the output of the rectifying means and storage 46, 48 (the dotted curve representing the charging voltage).
• FIG. 6c illustrates, at the output of the communication interface means 54, 56, the exchange of codes between the lock and the key.
• FIG. 6d shows the control signal generated at the output of the processing means 50, 52 to enable the bit to be released by the discharge of the energy accumulated in the storage means 46, 48 during the introduction of the key towards the coupling means 42, 44 (see in FIG. 6e the signal at the output of the control means 58, 60).
• Figure 7a shows the current at the output of the energy generation means 14 of the key.
• FIG. 7b shows the current at the output of the rectification and storage means 16 (the dotted curve representing the charging voltage)
• FIG. 7c illustrates, at the output of the communication interface means 20, the exchange of codes between the lock and the key. Examination of these histograms makes it possible to note that the operations carried out by these various electronic means take place in three successive phases.
• the structure of the electronic means of the cylinder can be simplified by eliminating the rectifying means 46, 48, the voltage at the output of the energy generation means of the lock being in fact delivered directly in the form of a DC voltage (but it is also possible to add a DC / AC converter in the key without affecting the structure of the cylinder).
• Figure 8 illustrates very schematically and functionally a first embodiment of the energy generation means of the lock and the key in the form of piezoelectric elements.
• the energy generating means of the lock, 42 or 44 consists essentially of a piezoelectric element such as a piezoelectric blade 68 provided with its electrical contacts 68a for ensuring the communication and power links, embedded in one of its two ends in the body of the cylinder 30, and comprising at its other free end a contact point 68b subject to pivoting and intended to cooperate with a particular profile with notches 70b of the key.
• a piezoelectric element such as a piezoelectric blade 68 provided with its electrical contacts 68a for ensuring the communication and power links, embedded in one of its two ends in the body of the cylinder 30, and comprising at its other free end a contact point 68b subject to pivoting and intended to cooperate with a particular profile with notches 70b of the key.
• the energy generation means 14 of the key also comprises a piezoelectric blade 70 provided with electrical contacts 70a, embedded at one of its ends in the body of the key 10, and supporting the notched profile 70b, its other end remaining free to move alternately under the pressure of the contact tip 68a.
• Piezoelectric blades are components known to those skilled in the art and therefore do not require specific developments. It will only be noted that these blades, which are piezoactive multilayer ceramic compounds, offer a sufficient deflection amplitude to allow autonomous energy generation (therefore without the use of an energy source additional as a rechargeable battery, without this possibility of recourse being of course excluded, in particular when the key has advanced programming functions) capable of obviously satisfying the supply of the means for processing the lock as well as the key (which require very little energy) but also, and above all, that of the control means allowing the unlocking of the lock. Indeed, a small blade (40 x 10 x 1 mm) can bend by an amplitude of +/- 0.5 mm under the effect of a stress and allow the accumulation of significant energy.
• these piezoelectric blades can also be used as a means of communication to allow the exchange of data between the lock and the key.
• the piezoelectric blade 70 of this key like the piezoelectric blade of the lock 68 are both under bending and therefore mechanically coupled.
• Such a structure which then forms a coupled oscillator has a natural resonant frequency which can be used as a communication carrier frequency. This frequency will be memorized for example in the means of processing the lock which will be able to give the starting signal of the exchange of data by a short period of excitation of this oscillator at this frequency and the key will then be able to assign to this reference a logic value 0.
• Communication of a logic value 1 from the key to the lock or vice versa can therefore be carried out conventionally by a simple modification of the phase or of the frequency of this reference signal, of course for a sufficient duration. to allow the detection.
• the bandwidth of the communication will correspond to that of the mechanical coupling.
• FIG. 9 A preferred embodiment of an electronic key in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9.
• This key is in the form of a housing (the key body 80) containing a rod 82 extractable by any manual means (for example a known button or automatic) and intended to be introduced into the housing 38 of the lock.
• the rod shown in a retracted position has an external profile with notches 82a intended to cooperate with at least one contact tip 84a of at least one piezoelectric element (the blade 84), one end of which is embedded in the housing 80 , the other end being free and mobile under the displacement of the contact tip 84a.
• the extractable rod 82 has a profile with symmetrical notches on two of its opposite faces and the piezoelectric elements are four in number, two elements being actuated simultaneously by the same contact tip 84a.
• this configuration is given by way of illustration and depends essentially on the electrical energy which it is desired to produce.
• Figure 11 shows for example a cruciform type rod 86 exciting four piezoelectric elements 88a, 88b, 88c, 88d.
• the key also includes a circuit for converting the electrical charges generated by the piezoelectric elements (the rectification and storage circuit 16 which may include a high capacity capacitor, an accumulator or a rechargeable battery) and an integrated circuit for microcontroller or microprocessor type control 18 supplied directly by the circuit 16 to which it is connected.
• the processing circuit 18 which can integrate the communication interface circuit 20 is connected to the piezoelectric element 70 mounted on the rod 82 and intended to cooperate with a corresponding piezoelectric element of the lock (the element referenced 68 in Figure 8) to exchange the identification codes.
• Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the key of the previous figure in which the rod 82 is shown in a second deployed position.
• the communication link for the exchange of codes is carried out through at least one contact pad 82b of the rod 82 (advantageously one per side for use regardless of its direction of introduction) which is also used to transfer the energy required to power the lock and taken from the output of the rectification and storage circuit 16 (such a contact pad is also present in the variant of the figure 11).
• the other elements of the key which are identical to those already mentioned with regard to FIG. 9 will not be described again.
• the embodiments illustrated are in no way limiting and that, for example, it is possible to envisage, at the level of the key rod 82, the presence of at least one contact pad 82b for supplying the lock from the key and a piezoelectric element for data exchange.
• the generation of energy of the key now comes from the extraction (or retraction) of the rod from its housing, manually or automatically, (and not from the introduction of this rod in the lock) which by causing an excitation of the piezoelectric elements 84 of the key ensures an accumulation of energy in the corresponding storage means 16. This energy is then used to supply the processing means 18, 20 ensuring the management of communications between the key and the lock and in a variant for transferring to the lock the energy necessary for its own power supply.
• FIG. 12 very schematically illustrates a lock cylinder more particularly intended to receive an electronic key such as that described previously with regard to FIG. 10.
• the energy generation means 42, 44 can be reduced to simple contact pads 42a and 44a intended to cooperate with the contact pad 82c of the key and through which is transmitted both the energy necessary for supplying the lock and the data necessary for checking the identification codes.
• the electronic processing circuit 51 advantageously with microprocessor and memory will manage these codes and, in the event of identity, will release the control of means for unlocking the cylinder.
• FIG. 13 very diagrammatically and functionally illustrates a second embodiment of the energy generation means of the lock and of the key in the form of magnetic elements.
• the energy generation means of the lock 42, 44 is constituted simply by several identical windings, for example 90, 92, 94, 96, conventionally connected in a ring and mounted in a tube with high magnetic permeability, by example a soft iron carcass 98, also providing a magnetic separation function between these windings, the first two windings 90, 92 having a winding direction (represented by a cross) opposite to the two immediately following windings 94, 96 (including windings are represented by a point in a circle).
• a first electrical contact 100 to ensure the power connection, is taken between a first connection point between the first and fourth windings 90, 96 and a second connection point between the second and third windings 92, 94 and a second electrical contact 102, to ensure the connection communication, is taken between a third connection point between the first and second coils 90, 92 and a fourth connection point between the third and fourth coils 94, 96.
• These coils 90, 92, 94, 96 are intended to cooperate with a magnetic core external to the cylinder to form a magnetic circuit, the cyclically switched magnetic flux of which will make it possible to induce an alternating current at their electrical contacts 100, 102.
• the energy generation means of the key 14 has an identical structure, in particular in its dimensions, with four coils 110, 112, 114, 116 also connected in a ring and mounted in a soft iron carcass 118 (the body of the key ) likewise comprising magnetic separation walls between the windings and whose winding directions and connections are similar to those previously described.
• First and second electrical contacts 120, 122 are likewise provided for ensuring the power and communication links.
• the means 14 of the key further comprises, at one end of the rod 124 of this key, four bipolar annular magnets 130, 132, 134, 136 placed side by side and separated by rings of soft iron forming magnetic separation walls 138, 140, 142, 144, the polarities of these magnets being chosen such that two adjacent magnets repel each other (the North / South axes of these magnets being parallel to the axis of the rod 124).
• the dimensioning of these annular magnets is perfectly adapted to that of the carcasses surrounding them 98, 118, so that the separation walls between the magnets exactly coincide with the separation walls between the windings of these carcasses, thus creating in a way four closed magnetic boxes, each containing a magnet and a coil.
• the mounting of the magnets and the washers on the rod 124 is ensured for example by means of a threaded pin 146 integral with the rod and on which the magnets and washers are aimed.
• a complementary soft iron washer 148 is mounted at the other end of the rod 124, at a distance from the nearest washer 144 determined so that when the key 10 is fully inserted into the cylinder 30 of the lock (and therefore a complete magnetic coupling is achieved), this complementary washer, also forming a magnetic separation wall, comes to coincide exactly with the external separation wall of the carcass 118 of the key to completely close the magnetic circuit, preventing any fraudulent electromagnetic action and generating very powerful induced currents.
• a conventional type of rod ejection means symbolized simply by a spring 150, makes it possible to release the magnets from the part of the key forming a sheath in which they are initially locked (in their rest position) before their introduction into the cylinder (in working position) at the soft iron frame of the lock 98 (and its coils 90 to 96) of which it will come to form the magnetic core.
• the magnetic circuit consisting of the windings of the key, the windings of the cylinder and the magnetized rod of the key forms a transformer coupled without loss having a natural frequency of resonance.
• the exchange of codes can then be done by high frequency inductive coupling without recourse to any direct electrical contact by conventional phase or frequency modulation.
• FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a double cylinder 30 intended to receive an electronic key 10 provided with a piezoelectric means for generating energy.
• This cylinder conventionally comprises a rotor element 300 integral with the bit 36 and surrounded by a stator element 302. The rotor element is traversed on either side by the housings 38 intended to receive the key 10 and in which a hunting piston can slide.
• -key 304 is traversed on either side by the housings 38 intended to receive the key 10 and in which a hunting piston can slide.
• the rotor element 300 comprises a cavity 306 for receiving a piezoelectric element formed by a single blade 308 passing longitudinally through the cylinder 30 over practically its entire length and integral at its center 310 with this rotor element.
• the bimetal thus formed by upstream parts 308a and downstream 308b separated by a neutral central zone comprises at each of its ends on the one hand a contact tip 312, 314 which passes through, in a rest position (that is to say in the absence of excitation), an opening 316, 318 extending from the cavity 306 to the housing 38, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and d on the other hand a blocking element forming a trihedral pin 320, 322 which, in the abovementioned rest position, secures the rotor element 300 of the stator element 302 by being inserted into an opening 324, 326 of this stator element and thus any rotation of the bit.
• the bending of the upstream or downstream part of the piezoelectric blade 308, during the introduction of the key 10 into the housing 38, can be carried out against an elastic means, for example a spring 328, 330, placed at each free end of this blade 308, on the opposite face from that receiving the contact tips 312, 314.
• an elastic means for example a spring 328, 330, placed at each free end of this blade 308, on the opposite face from that receiving the contact tips 312, 314.
• the upstream and downstream parts of the piezoelectric blade 308 each include electrical contacts (not shown) which are connected to the electronic means of the cylinder represented schematically by the reference 332 and advantageously arranged in the bit 36.
• the key also comprises a piezoelectric blade 334 which is embedded at one of its ends in the body 336 of this key and one face of which supports a notched profile 338, its other face being free, so that this blade 334 is subjected to an alternating pivoting with respect to its anchoring point resulting from the pressure of the contact tip 312, 314 along the notched profile 338 during the introduction of the key in the cylinder.
• the blade 334 of the key has electrical contacts 340 connected to the electronic means 342 of this key.
• This cylinder comprises, as previously, a rotor element 400 integral with the bit 36 and surrounded by a stator element 402.
• the rotor element is traversed on either side by the housings 38 intended to receive the key 10 and in which can also slide a key-hunting piston 404.
• the piezoelectric element consists of a single piezoelectric blade comprising a neutral central zone, in this new example of embodiment, this piezoelectric element consists of two separate piezoelectric blades 406, 408 arranged in two cavities 409, 410 of the rotor element 400 and each extending substantially over the entire length of the cylinder.
• the energy generated by the piezoelectric element being proportional to its dimensions, it is easy to understand the advantage of such a structure which allows for the same key to recover energy substantially double the previous one.
• Each blade 406, 408 is embedded at one of its ends in the rotor element, its other end comprising on the one hand two opposite contact points 412, 414; 416, 418 which open, in a rest position (that is to say in the absence of excitation), on either side of the housing 38 and on the other hand a locking element forming a trihedral pin 420, 422 which, in the abovementioned rest position, secures the rotor element 400 to the stator element 402 by being inserted into an opening 424, 426 of this stator element.
• each of the piezoelectric blades 406, 408, during the introduction of the key 10 into the housing 38 can optionally be carried out against an elastic means, for example a spring 428, 430, placed at each free end of this blade 406, 408, on the opposite face from that supporting the locking means 420, 422.
• each of the piezoelectric blades has electrical contacts (not shown) which are connected to the electronic means of the cylinder (not shown).
• the key 10 more particularly intended to cooperate with the type of cylinder which has just been described is illustrated in FIG. 16.
• This key also includes a piezoelectric blade 434 having a notched profile 438 (this profile can be produced simply by example by covering this blade with a profiled resin) and embedded at one of its ends in the body 436 of the key, so that during the introduction of the key into the cylinder, the pressure of the opposite contact points 412 , 414; 416, 418 along the notched profile 438 causes an alternating pivoting movement of this blade 434 relative to its anchoring point.
• the blades 406, 408 of the cylinder the blade 434 of the key has electrical contacts 440 connected to the various electronic means of this key designated under the unique reference 442.
• FIGS. 18 to 20 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a cylinder 30 and of a key 10 in which the energy generation means are produced in a magnetic form.
• This cylinder illustrated in FIG. 18, consists essentially of a stator element 502 surrounding on both sides a rotor element 500 reduced in this embodiment to the only rotating bit 36 whose different constituents will be detailed with reference to the figures 15a and 15b.
• the stator element 502 comprises two similar modules 506, 508 each housed at the inlet of the cylinder 30 and traversed by the housings 38 intended to receive the key 10 and in which a key-chasing piston 504 can also slide, the structure of which will be described later. with regard to Figures 16a and 16b.
• Each module 506, 508 simply consists of a soft iron tube 510, 512 provided with several washers, also made of soft iron, regularly spaced so that they ensure a separation between four coils 514, 516, 518, 520; 524, 526, 528, 530 arranged in this tube around the housing 38.
• the winding of these windings and their connection are made as previously indicated (see Figure 13) as well as their connection with the various electronic means 46 to 64 (see figure 2).
• An embodiment of the key intended to cooperate with the type of cylinder with magnetic component is also shown in this figure 18.
• the key comprises a movable magnetic rod 532 (under the action of displacement means 534) comprising an iron body soft with four bipolar annular magnets 536, 538, 540, 542 and forming a magnetic core for four coils 544, 546, 548, 550.
• the bit 36 which is more precisely described in FIG. 19a (FIG. 19b is an end view of FIG. 19a) has a conventional external structure with a cylindrical body 560 from which a fin 562 extends radially. This fin is crossed by an orifice 564 in which is placed a centering device 566 formed for example of a ball-spring assembly 568, 570, 572 capable of cooperating with complementary cavities 574, 576, formed facing each other in the stator element 502.
• the body 560 is also pierced with an opening 578 to receive two hollow annular pieces of soft iron 580, 582, placed one against the other while leaving between them an empty record space 584.
• the internal walls 586, 588 of these annular pieces in contact with this empty space further comprises a slot 590, 592 for receiving, in a position for unlocking the bit, a slightly magnetized rotating blocking blade carried by the piston piston key 504.
• This piston is now described with reference to FIGS. 20a and 20b which show it from the front and from the side. It comprises a body 600 adapted to the housings 38 in which it slides and provided with a central core of soft iron 602 at the two ends of which is pivotally mounted around an axis 604, 606 the slightly magnetized rotating blade 608, 610, this blade extending partly outside this central core 602 in its extension (in its rest position).
• the assembly is covered by a non-magnetic material such as brass or a resin 612 (except of course at the level of the blade 608, 610 which is must be free to pivot around its axis 604, 606).
• a non-magnetic material such as brass or a resin 612 (except of course at the level of the blade 608, 610 which is must be free to pivot around its axis 604, 606).
• Two soft iron mechanical interface discs 614, 616 placed at each end of the piston complete its structure, these discs being adapted to receive exactly the mechanical interface means 12 of the key (a blade / slot system could for example be perfectly suitable to ensure such a connection in drive rotation).
• FIGS. 21a and 21b show the distribution of the magnetic fluxes in the windings of the cylinder 30 as a function of two different and successive positions of the key 10. It can be observed that the shift of a notch of the key reverses the flux perceived by each winding due to the reverse polarities carried by two adjacent magnets, which impose the direction of the flux. The complete insertion of the key will thus generate four half-waves of the alternating current of increasing amplitude of half-wave alternating and whose rectification will be achieved by the rectification means and storage.
• a similar process is carried out at the level of the key during the ejection of the magnetized rod from its sheath, either prior to the introduction of the key, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 relating to the piezoelectric version of this key, that is to say at the time of this introduction, allowing a power supply and an autonomous communication thereof.
• the assembly forms a perfect coupled transformer whose natural resonant frequency can be chosen as carrier frequency for the communication between the key processing means and the lock previously supplied by the rectification and storage means (a communication link by simple induction is also possible).
• the discharge of the energy accumulated during the introduction of the key at the level of the electrical contacts of the second module will generate an intense magnetic field which will cause a pivoting (to find a stable vertical position) of the rotating blade 610 of the piston hunting key 504 which by being inserted into the slots of the bit secures it to the piston, which allows a drive of the assembly by the rod the key (thanks to the mechanical interface means 12).
• the lock is again locked, the magnetic rotating blade returning to its initial horizontal position.
• the invention both in its magnetic version and in one of its piezoelectric versions, makes it possible to achieve a particularly optimized locking device since the means of generating energy of the lock associated with that of the key allows to perform three essential functions of this device by itself: the energy generation function performed by a mechanoelectric connection of a deformation (piezoelectric version) or of a displacement (magnetic version) in electrical charges stored in a means storage, the communication function performed by a high frequency coupling between the means of the lock and the key and the actuation function, due to the reversibility of the means used, performed by an electromechanical conversion of the electrical charges previously stored in deformation or displacement.
• this ultimate optimized version of the invention can also be implemented in a more limited configuration, in particular by envisaging the communication of data between lock and key or the transfer of energy from the key by a simple direct electrical contact, as illustrated for example by figurelO.

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• 1996
  • 1996-06-17 FR FR9607481A patent/FR2749875B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-06-17 US US09/202,397 patent/US6437684B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-06-16 JP JP10502427A patent/JP2000512354A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-06-16 EP EP97929362A patent/EP0922150A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-06-16 CA CA002257935A patent/CA2257935A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-16 CN CN97195617A patent/CN1129697C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-06-16 KR KR1019980710355A patent/KR20000016748A/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-06-16 WO PCT/FR1997/001085 patent/WO1997048867A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-06-16 AU AU33488/97A patent/AU720103B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-06-16 BR BR9709836A patent/BR9709836A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

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