EP2109128B1 - Apparatus and method for monitoring the function of a key-operated safety module - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves determining a defined operating position by two switching contacts (4, 6), and producing signals that indicates whether a carrier (2) of a safety module (10) is provided or not in the operating position. A defined resting position (3) of the carrier is monitored by a third switching contact (5) such that a signal (15) is produced that indicates whether the carrier is provided or not in the resting position. The signals that are received from the switching contacts are evaluated for recognition of manipulation or an error. An independent claim is also included for a device for monitoring function of a key-operated safety module.

Description

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the function of a security module operable with a key, which has a locking cylinder with a driver which is movable from a defined rest position into at least one defined operating position, wherein the operating position is detected by a switching contact associated with the operating position and a Signal is generated, which indicates whether the driver is in the operating position or not. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Usually, security modules are protected to protect against tampering or sabotage by a housing and special sabotaging contacts that report an opening of the housing. For casings without drill protection, however, a drilling of the housing may go unnoticed. A saboteur could, for example, drill the housing near a switch contact and actuate the switch contact with a thin pointed object, which could trigger a manipulated action.

From the DE 1640 578 is a key-operated safety switch with a closed by a lid housing in which on a base plate of the key switch is provided and in which a lock cylinder is rotatably mounted with a switching nose, which is movable from a defined rest position into a plurality of operating positions, wherein the respective operating position through the the operating position associated switching contact is detected and the switching contact provides a signal indicating whether the driver is in an operating position or not.

From the patent application US 2006/0254 330 A1 a method of the type mentioned is known. Although in the known method different operating positions are detected by these associated switching contacts, the switching contacts are not monitored with respect to a manipulation. In the prior art can thus not be determined whether a switching contact was actually operated by the driver of the lock cylinder or not. As a result, can an action is triggered by manipulation of the switching contact, without this manipulation is detected.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a method for monitoring the function of a key-operated To propose security module, in which a manipulation of the switching contacts can be reliably detected.

The object is achieved in that the rest position of the driver of the lock cylinder is monitored by a switch contact associated with the rest position and thereby a signal is generated which indicates whether the driver is in the rest position or not and that of the switching contacts of the rest and operating position signals are evaluated to detect a manipulation or an error.

With regard to the structural design of the safety module, the invention requires that the driver of the lock cylinder must leave its rest position for actuating the switching contact assigned to the operating position. In the invention, the rest position of the driver is permanently monitored by a switching contact associated with the rest position and as long as the driver is in the rest position, no switching contact of the operating position is actuated by the driver, d. H. be closed. Should this nevertheless be the case, then it concerns a manipulation and it gives an alarm message. In the event that multiple operating positions are present, each operating position is monitored by a corresponding switching contact and with simultaneous operation of multiple switching contacts an error message.

The invention thus enables effective protection against manipulation of the switching contacts without the need for a special housing with drilling protection is necessary. The security module can thus be easily and inexpensively constructed.

Preferably, the security module comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the lock cylinder with driver is arranged. In this case, the PCB can have corresponding outputs for programming the actions that can be triggered by the security module.

According to a development of the invention, the duration of the driver located in the operating position is detected and evaluated during the monitoring of the operating position by the operating duration of the operating position associated switching contact. Depending on the duration of the actuation of the switching contact different actions can be triggered, which are freely programmable by the user. As a result, the security module can be used for different operating modes, wherein the user can determine the actions that can be triggered by the security module, depending on the operating mode.

The security module can be operated, for example, alone and trigger as an action opening or closing a garage door or a temporary or permanent activation of an access to a building. The security module can also be used in conjunction with a so-called keypad, wherein the keypad accepts inputs only after activation by the security module. The security module can switch the operation of the keypad for the duration of the operation or indefinitely.

The security module can be connected, for example with an e-bus, to a burglar alarm system or alarm system, with or without keypad, whereby the safety module can trigger as an action a temporary or unlimited arming or disarming of the system.

The settings required for the respective operating mode can hereby be made on-site by an installer assigning the outputs provided on the PCB to the operating positions for programming. The possibility of free programming of the actions that can be triggered by the security module can also be blocked if this is necessary due to safety-related approval regulations.

• Figur 1 ein Funktionsblockschaltbild des Sicherheitsmoduls mit einem in der Ruheposition befindlichen Mitnehmer,
• Figur 2 und 3 ein Funktionsblockschaltbild des Sicherheitsmoduls mit einem in einer ersten und zweiten Betriebsposition befindlichen Mitnehmer und
• Figur 4 ein Funktionsblockschaltbild des Sicherheitsmoduls mit angeschlossener Einbruchsmelde- oder Alarmanlage.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the claims.
Show it:

• FIG. 1 a functional block diagram of the security module with a driver located in the rest position,
• FIG. 2 and 3 a functional block diagram of the security module with a driver located in a first and second operating position and
• FIG. 4 a functional block diagram of the security module with attached burglar alarm or alarm system.

FIGS. 1 to 3 each show a key-operated security module 10, wherein the key is not shown. The safety module 10 comprises a lock cylinder 1 with a movable driver, which can be moved by the key insertable into the lock cylinder from a defined rest position 3 into different operating positions 8 and 9. The locking cylinder 1 is preferably arranged on a so-called printed circuit board, which may be part of the security module 10.

The rest position 3 is associated with a switching contact 5 and the operating positions 8 and 9, the switching contacts 4 and 6 are assigned. The lock cylinder 1 is structurally constructed so that in perfect operation always only a single switching contact can be actuated or closed by the driver 2.

The rest position 3 of the driver 2 is permanently monitored by the switching contact 5, wherein the switching contact 5 is closed when the driver 2 is in the rest position 3. In this case, the signal 15 supplied by the switching contact 5 is evaluated by means of those signals 14 and 16 supplied by the switching contacts 4 and 6 of the operating positions 8 and 9 by a microcontroller 7 for detecting a manipulation or an error. The evaluation of the signals supplied by the switching contacts 4, 5 and 6 by the microcontroller 7 is shown in the following table. Operating contact 4 Operating contact 6 Normally closed contact 5 explanation open open closed Rest position of the driver, there is no action. open open open Driver moves, there is no operating contact closed, there is no action closed open open Operating contact 4 is closed, triggering the programmed action open closed open Operating contact 6 is closed, triggering the programmed action closed open closed Manipulation detected, triggering of an alarm message. open closed closed Manipulation detected, triggering of an alarm message. closed closed open Invalid state, triggering an error message. closed closed closed Invalid state, triggering an error message.

In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 to 3 the security module 10 is operated alone and can trigger as an action, for example, an opening or closing a garage door or a temporary or permanent activation of the access to a building.

FIG. 4 shows that in FIG. 1 shown security module 10, which is connected via an electrical line or an e-bus 17 to a burglar alarm or alarm system 20. In this mode, the security module can trigger a time-limited or permanent arming of the respective system 20. The security module can also be used in conjunction with a keypad, not shown here.

Claims (10)

1. Method for monitoring the function of a key-operated safety module (10), which has a lock cylinder (1) with a tappet (2) that is able to be moved from a defined rest position (3) into at least one defined operating position (8, 9), with the operating position (8, 9) being detected by means of a switching contact (4, 6) assigned to the operating position (8, 9) and a signal (14, 16) being generated which specifies whether the tappet (2) is in the operating position (8, 9) or not, characterised in that the rest position (3) of the tappet (2) is monitored by means of a switching contact (5) assigned to the rest position (3) and during this process a signal (15) is generated which specifies whether the tappet is located in the rest position (3) or not, and that the signals (14, 15, 16) received from the switching contacts (4, 5, 6) are analyzed to detect a manipulation or an error.
2. Method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tappet (2) is able to be moved into number of defined operating positions (8, 9), with each operating position (8, 9) being monitored by a switching contact (4, 6) and a signal (14, 16) being generated during this process which specifies whether the tappet (2) is located in the operating positions (8, 9) or not, and that the operating positions (8, 9) trigger different actions.
3. Method in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the actions represent a time-limited or permanent enabling of access to a building or a time-limited or permanent activation of an intruder alarm system or alarm system.
4. Method in accordance with one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, if signals (14, 15, 16) are present which simultaneously indicate an idle and an operating position (15; 14, 16) of the tappet, an alarm is signalled, or if signals (14, 16) are present which simultaneously indicate a number of operating positions 8, 9) of the tappet (2) an error is signalled.
5. Method in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, during monitoring of the operating position (8, 9) by the switching contact (4, 6), the duration of the actuation of the switching contact (4, 6) by the tappet (2) located in the operating position (8, 9) is detected and analyzed and, depending on the period of actuation of the switching contact (4, 6), different actions are triggered.
6. Apparatus for carrying out the method in accordance with one of claims 1 to 5, with a key-operated safety module (10), which has a lock cylinder (1) with a tappet (2), which is able to be moved from a defined rest position (3) into one or more operating positions (8, 9), with the respective operating position (8, 9) being detected by the switching contact (4, 6) assigned to the operating position (8, 9) and the switching contact (4, 6) delivering a signal (14, 16) which specifies whether the tappet (2) is located in an operating position or not, characterised in that the rest position (3) of the tappet (2) is monitored by a switching contact (5) assigned to the rest position (3) and the switching contact (5) delivers a signal (15) which specifies whether the tappet (2) is in the rest position or not and that a microcontroller (7) analyses the signals (14, 15, 16) delivered by the switching contacts (4, 5, 6) in order to detect a manipulation or an error.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that, if signals (14, 15, 16) are present which simultaneously indicate an idle position and an operating position of the tappet (2), the microcontroller (7) generates an alarm message, or if signals (14, 16) are present which simultaneously indicate a number of operating positions (8, 9) of the tappet (2), the microcontroller (7) generates an error message.
8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the time during which the tappet (2) is located in the operating position (8, 9) is detected by the switching contact (4, 6) and is analyzed by the microcontroller (7).
9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that, depending on the time, the microcontroller (7) controls different actions.
10. Use of the apparatus in accordance with one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the apparatus is used in conjunction with an intruder alarm or alarm system (20) or a keypad, wherein the keypad can be enabled by the safety module.

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