EP1184814B1 - Device for locking and/or unlocking of electrical and/or mechanical function of lockable and/or unlockable item - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for locking and / or unlocking an electrical and / or mechanical function of an unlockable and / or unlockable object, in particular a firearm, a real or virtual access door, with a module for detecting a pattern individualizing a user ,

Such a device is also called biometric access authorization. With such a device can ensure that only an authorized person may use the object or, for example, a computer system or network or receives free access there. In order for this device to check the authorization of the user, biological features of the user who wishes to lock or unlock the item are compared with stored reference feature sets of one or more authorized users by the biometric access authorization. If a match is found, the desired function is enabled, i. for example, in a weapon is ready to fire, access to an entrance door and a computer portal also granted access.

Many applications for biometric access are of a mobile nature, such as a door key, a lock, or a gun, and therefore, due to their small size, do not have a generous display with one Input keyboard, as is often the case for example with an access door to a data center. For this reason, it is therefore difficult, without additional accessibility, such as a PC, a secure storage of the reference feature sets and their management (rights assignment, deletion and the like) to achieve.

From the European patent application 0 976 897 A1 discloses a lock for an object, such as a locker, which employs a fingerprint sensor. In the present device, it is provided to store this fingerprint of a user and to open the locker during an agreed / paid rental period exclusively for the user whose fingerprint has been deposited as stored. After the end of the useful life, this fingerprint remains stored without the need for further interaction between the user and the safe. With this permanent storage of the fingerprint, above all, a certain traceability of the use is to be achieved, as this is desired, for example, for the investigation of criminal acts. From this document, however, it is also not clear how an object on the one hand temporarily personalized to an arbitrary user, but on the other hand, any user can be permanently personalized.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a device for locking and / or unlocking an electrical and / or mechanical function of an unlockable and / or unlockable object, which allows a device and administration of user authorizations particularly easily and without additional devices, where it is desirable to have certain user permissions only temporary and other user permissions permanently.

1. a) die diesem Muster zugeordnete temporäre Berechtigung nach einer vorbestimmten Löschzeit t_lösch erlischt, und
2. b) zur dauerhaften Einrichtung der Berechtigung dieses Musters die Erkennung des Musters nach-Ablauf einer vorgebbaren Zeitdauer t_renew erneut vorgenommen werden muss, wobei t_renew kleiner ist als t_lösch und wobei die erneute Erkennung des Musters genau in einem Zeitfenster von t_renew bis t_lösch vorgenommen werden muss.

This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned in accordance with the invention that a device of authorization for the user to unlock or lock is provided such that the authorization for the user to unlock or lock is set up in a way that the the user individualizing pattern is first recognized by means of the module and thus this pattern is assigned a temporary authorization, wherein the module is configured such that

1. a) the temporary authorization associated with this pattern expires after a predetermined deletion time t _er , and
2. b) in order to permanently establish the authorization of this pattern, the recognition of the pattern must be made again after a predeterminable period of time t _renew , wherein t _{renew is} less than t _erase and wherein the re-recognition of the pattern is exactly in a time window from t _renew to t _delete must be made.

In this way it is possible to be able to initialize a user authorization on the object itself. The specification of the expiration of the user authorization after a predetermined period ensures that only a manageable number of user authorizations must be managed. Furthermore, it is ensured that due to a first-time registration of the pattern that individualizes a user, no administrative user authorization arises that would at the same time constitute an authorization in the sense of a super user or supervisor. This permanent authorization is thus only achieved if a new recognition of the pattern is made exactly in the predefined time window. So it is also possible the recordable example in a To show a sales pitch to a customer without the item having been initialized exclusively for this user after running through a pattern acquisition cycle. Furthermore, the purchaser of the object can play through the pattern acquisition cycle as often as desired and also with other persons for demonstration and / or training purposes, and then _decides on a user with the very deliberate repetition of a detection _cycle after the predetermined time t _renew , whose authorization then _becomes permanent is set up.

In order to make it easier for the user of the object to find the addressed time window, it is provided in an advantageous development of the invention that an acoustic and / or optical signaling device is provided which can be activated continuously or discontinuously for the duration of the time window. It is also conceivable that the reporting device is a vibrating device, as this example is also integrated in mobile phones.

In this case, it may also be advantageous if the user can set a flag during the first detection of the pattern which individualizes him, as a result of which the device is indicated that this user is permanent Would like to register the entitled person. Accordingly, the flag set in this way controls the reporting device in such a way that the user thus noted is pointed to the time window for the repetition of the pattern acquisition which is relevant for this user who has been marked in this way.

As for the user of the device are particularly suitable time values that are manageable and easily noticeable for him. Such time values are when t _{renew is} about 12 to 48 hours and t _{erase is} equal to t _renew plus for a period of one to five hours. In particular, the integer multiples of half a day (12 hours) are particularly well memorable. Particularly suitable values for t _renew about 24 hours and _{t-extinguishing} be about 26 hours.

In order to be able to design the storage unit of the device appropriately, it is provided that, although a plurality of authorizations can be stored, storage for the non-permanent and / or permanently stored authorizations is based on "first-in, first-out" principle is provided. This also makes it possible to limit the amount of electrical energy required for the storage of the authorizations, which is particularly desirable in mobile applications in particular.

A particularly costly device for storing and capturing the patterns provides that the pattern individualizing the user is a fingerprint of the user. The fingerprint capture module is therefore a so-called "fingerprint module".

Another particularly easy to design technical user functionality of the device provides that a first permanently established authorization is authorized to allow more non-permanent and / or permanently set permissions and / or delete. This will the user whose authorization is the first to be permanently recorded, so-called super-user or supervisor. It can be provided that the device allows only a single user as a superuser or supervisor. A further preferred embodiment variant can provide in this regard to allow only a single authorization as permanently configured authorization. Thus, the step to a so-called "Erstfinger authorization" completed, which is especially for unlocking and / or locking a weapon of paramount importance to ensure only the intended use of the same.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the remaining subclaims.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows a schematic representation of a firearm 2, which has a device 4 for locking and unlocking a trigger 6. In this case, a lock 8 is a part of the device 4, wherein the lock 8 blocks or releases a push rod 10 attached to the pull-off hook 6.

The lock 8, i. strictly speaking, the position of the lock 8 is controlled by means of an electronic module EM, which represents the heart of the device 4. A supply of the device 4 with electrical power is ensured by means of a battery B and a power supply unit PSU. Furthermore, the device 4 comprises a fingerprint detection module FEM with associated finger guide FF, whereby a fingerprint of a user can be detected and transmitted to the electronic module EM and stored there.

For operation, ie especially for the actual detection of non-permanent and permanently set permissions, the electronic module EM control buttons N, D, L and U, two LEDs G, R and an acoustic signal A on. These above-mentioned operating and display elements allow the entire user-side operation of the device 4, which will be explained below with reference to a memory structure that has not previously been assigned permissions of any kind:

The firearm 2 is delivered in a locked state, i. the pull-off 6 is not movable thanks to the locked push rod 10. In order to be able to release the firearm, at least one of the ten possible authorizations in the exemplary embodiment must be set up in the current memory state. For this purpose, the control button N is pressed, which is then signaled by the lighting of the red LED R. The user now has to generate the fingerprint intended for detection by placing the corresponding finger on the fingerprint acquisition module FEM, the finger guide FF assisting him. When the fingerprint capture module FEM has sufficiently scanned the fingerprint for future recognition and the fingerprint has been stored, the red LED R goes out and the green LED G lights up for a few seconds. With the disappearance of the green LED G, the first fingerprint, i. now more the first permission, saved. However, this permission is only temporarily stored and automatically expires after a period of 26 hours in the embodiment. Further authorizations can now also be set up according to the preceding pattern, whereby the first authorization is overwritten when an eleventh authorization is stored, and so on.

With these currently not permanently established permissions unlocking the firearm 2 is now possible. To do this, press the control key U (unlock), which is then displayed when the red LED R lights up. Now a finger is on the fingerprint capture module FEM, wherein the fingerprint is subsequently compared with the stored fingerprints or the. If the electronic module EM detects a match with a stored fingerprint, the firearm is unlocked by the blocking of the push rod 10 is released in the lock 8, which is now also indicated by the brief illumination of the green LED G. In order to secure the firearm 2 again, this procedure has to be repeated insofar as instead of the operating key U (unlock) the operating key L (Lock) has to be pressed. As an additional security feature, a forced locking is implemented in the electronic module EM, which automatically locks the firearm 2 when the trigger 6 has not been operated in the embodiment over a period of eight hours. In addition, the electronic module can continue to be so refined that the time until forced locking can be specified by the user.

To clear the already stored authorizations, press the D (Delete) control key, which is indicated by the red LED R lighting up. Then place a finger on the fingerprint acquisition module FEM. Only if they match a stored fingerprint, all other stored patterns, ie fingerprints are deleted, which is indicated by the extinction of the red LED R and the brief flashing of the green LED G.

In order to be able to make a permanent authorization, it is necessary to repeat the storage procedure in a defined time window. In the exemplary embodiment, a time window is selected for this purpose, starting 24 hours after the initial storage of an authorization and ending 26 hours after the first time an authorization has been stored. When the green LED G lights up after saving again and Recognition of the first stored pattern is now this user set up as a permanently entitled. The electronic module EM can now be designed so that only a single permanently equipped user is possible.

With the establishment of the first (and depending on the execution only) permanently entitled user lose all other stored users, depending on the embodiment, at least some of their rights, for example, to delete the other claimants. In the present embodiment, it is provided that the only possible permanently established authorization can not be deleted. The firearm 2 is, so to speak, "calibrated" to this user. Only this user is in the present embodiment in a position to unlock the firearm 2 and allow more permissions.

For this purpose, it is provided that the permanently established user by pressing the key N first again reveals his own pattern and with the brief illumination of the green light emitting diode G (light emitting diode R goes out at the same time) and the subsequent re-illumination of the red light emitting diode R, the readiness of Device 4 is signaled to make the detection of a new authorization.

To make it easier for the user to set up a permanent authorization, the user can press the control key D simultaneously with the control key N when he first acquires his pattern individualizing him. Thus, the user has set a flag that triggers a control of the acoustic signal generator A in the electronic module EM in such a way that the acoustic signal generator A emits periodic beeps during the time window to remind the user to repeat the pattern acquisition necessary for the permanent establishment of the authorization.

The embodiment described above can be safely transferred to a variety of other applications. Conceivable, for example, the locking and unlocking of an access door, a check card, a ticket with automatic fare booking / route registration, a computer and / or a computer network, a vehicle, a machine, etc. Even the user-individualizing pattern does not necessarily have to be a fingerprint, but may be of any kind with the only restriction that the pattern must be suitable for the individualization of a user or a user group. For example, the iris of the human eye is a pattern that meets this criterion above.

List of reference numbers used

2

firearm

4

Device for locking and unlocking the firearm

6

trigger

8th

lock

10

push bar

A

acoustic signal generator

B

battery

D

Control key (Delete)

EM

electronic module

FEM

Fingerprint acquisition module

FF

finger guide

G

green LED

L

Control key (lock)

N

Control button (New)

PSU

Power supply unit

U

Control button (unlock)

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus (4) for locking and/or unlocking an electrical and/or mechanical function of a lockable and/or unlockable object and with a module (FEM) for recognizing a pattern individualizing a user,
   characterized in that
   the user's entitlement for unlocking or locking is arranged in a way, that the pattern individualizing the user for the first time is recognized by means of the module (FEM) and therewith a temporary entitlement is attributed to this pattern, wherein the module (FEM) is configured such that

   a) the temporary entitlement attributed to this pattern expires after a predetermined deletion time t_lösch, and

   b) for an enduring installation of the entitlement of this pattern the recognition of the pattern has to be carried out again after a presettable period of time t_renew, wherein t_renew is smaller than t_lösch and wherein the renewed recognition of the pattern has to be carried out exactly within a time slot from t_renew to t_lösch.
2. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that an acoustical and/or optical indicating device (A) is provided, which is activatable continuously or discontinuously within the duration of the time slot.
3. Apparatus (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that the indicating device (A) is a vibration device, which is able to be activated continuously or uncontinuously during the duration of the time slot.
4. Apparatus (4) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that when a pattern is detected for the first time a flag can be set, indicating an enduring installation of the entitlement and in this regard triggering an activation of the indicating device (A).
5. Apparatus (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that t_renew is about 12 to 48 hours and t_lösch is equal to t_renew plus a period of time from one to 5 hours.
6. Apparatus (4) according to claim 5, characterized in that t_renew is about 24 hours and t_lösch is about 26 hours.
7. Apparatus (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a multitude of entitlements are storable, wherein for the endurably stored entitlements a storage according to the "first-in, first-out" principle is provided.
8. Apparatus (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pattern is a finger print of the user.
9. Apparatus (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an initially endurably installed entitlement is authorized to allow and/or to delete further not endurably and/or endurably installed entitlements.
10. Apparatus (4) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that only a single endurably entitled pattern is installable.

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