EP3567192A1 - Mobile lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile lock with an unlocking motor, an authentication module for authenticating a user of the lock, through which the unlocking motor for unlocking the lock can be activated upon successful user authentication, and an actuatable by the user transport locking element whose operation puts the lock in a transport locking mode, in which an unlocking of the castle is excluded. Another object is a locking system comprising such a mobile lock and a mobile terminal, by means of which a user of the lock can authenticate to this. The invention further relates to a method for unlocking a mobile lock.

Description

The invention relates to a mobile lock with an unlocking motor and an authentication module for authenticating a user of the lock, through which the unlocking motor for unlocking the lock can be activated upon successful user authentication.

Under a mobile lock is understood in this context, any type of lock that is not stationary on or in a building or vehicle, especially two-wheeler installed, but can be removed from an object to be closed, such as a padlock, padlock, cable lock or brake disc lock ,

A padlock with unlocking motor and authentication module is basically known and allows background authentication of the user on the basis of a mobile terminal, which the user carries with him, and in the case of a successful user authentication an electronic release of the lock, i. the user does not need to carry a suitable physical key with them and plug it into the lock.

Due to the unnoticed running in the background and thus for the user authentication process exists in the known padlock the possibility that this is unintentionally unlocked during transport. In particular, when a cyclist hangs the U-lock for transport purposes on his bicycle handlebar, unintentional unlocking of the lock involves the risk of not only a loss of the lock, but also an accident, namely when the falling of the bicycle handlebar lock or at least parts of the same get into the spokes of the bicycle.

The invention has for its object to make the use of a mobile lock safer.

To solve the problem, a mobile lock with the features of claim 1 is provided.

The mobile lock according to the invention comprises an unlocking motor, an authentication module for authenticating a user of the lock, through which the unlocking motor for unlocking the lock can be activated upon successful user authentication, and a transport securing element actuatable by the user, the actuation of which puts the lock in a transport securing mode, in which unlocking the lock is excluded.

In other words, the invention is based on the idea of giving the user, via the transport securing element, the possibility of intentionally excluding unintentional unlocking of the lock during transport. Thus, even if the user carries not only the lock, but also a mobile terminal required for authentication, the transport lock mode ensures that the lock can not accidentally unlock. The risk of loss resulting from an involuntary unlocking of the lock of the lock or accident is thus significantly reduced.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

Inadvertent unlocking of the lock in the transport lock mode can be prevented in a particularly effective manner by excluding user authentication while the lock is in the transport lock mode. In other words, user authentication is suppressed in transport save mode, making the authentication module passive. Since the passivated authentication module can not perform authentication operations, it consumes no or at least not significantly energy. In this way, the energy supply of the castle, for example, a battery or a battery of the castle, in spared in transport lock mode lock is also spared and minimized the risk that the lock can no longer be actuated due to a dead battery or an empty battery. In this respect, it is advisable to turn on the transport lock mode not only during transport of the lock, but also during prolonged non-use of the castle, for example, during vacation-related absence of the user or bad weather-related storage of the lock or a two-wheeler thus secured.

Preferably, by actuating the transport securing element from the transport securing mode, the lock can be set back into a normal mode, in which the unlocking motor can be activated when the user has successfully authenticated to unlock the lock. For the return of the lock in the normal mode so no separate element is required, but the lock can be switched by successive pressing the transport locking element between normal mode and transport lock mode back and forth.

The transport securing element is preferably a pulse generator, in particular a push-button, for example a push-button or push-button. However, it is also conceivable to form the transport securing element by means of an optically, capacitively or inductively acting button.

According to one embodiment, the transport securing element is formed on the lock. This allows a particularly simple and intuitive operation of the lock, without the user has to take his mobile device to hand and connect with the lock.

Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also conceivable to provide a transport securing element on the mobile terminal of the user so that the user can switch back and forth via his mobile terminal between the normal mode and the transport securing mode of the lock.

In order to perform the authentication of the user in the normal mode lock for the user unnoticed in the background, the authentication is preferably wireless. The user therefore needs an authentication-enabling mobile terminal, which he carries with him for authentication, such as a remote control, a smartphone or a smartwatch, for authentication purposes not to fetch extra, but this can, for example, in his pocket.

Advantageously, the authentication module comprises a transceiver unit for establishing a wireless connection with a user's mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be a remote control associated with the lock, or may also be a portable computer which the user normally carries with him, such as a smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet.

The wireless connection is preferably a Bluetooth connection. Bluetooth connections have proven themselves in terms of range and universality.

According to a further embodiment, the lock has an actuatable by the user actuator, by means of which the unlocking motor for unlocking the lock can be activated upon successful user authentication. As already mentioned, the authentication of the user takes place in the normal mode lock for the user unnoticed in the background. In order to prevent unintentional unlocking of the lock despite successful authentication of the user, for example if the user is within a distance enabling the authentication to the lock, but he has no intention to unlock the lock, the user must in case of actually desired unlocking of the lock Castle therefore still perform a deliberate act by pressing the actuator.

The wireless authentication allows the user in principle in the normal mode lock can already be authenticated when approaching the lock, so that the unlocking motor can be activated upon actuation of the actuator without delay, which contributes to increased ease of use. It is understood that for such an early authentication of the user, the authentication module must always be kept in a waking state, in which it in turn sends out signals for the detection of possibly nearby users and / or can answer authentication requests from nearby users.

Therefore, an embodiment in which the authentication module can be activated by actuating the actuating element is preferred. In this case, the authentication module consumes energy only when it is actually activated, thereby protecting a power supply of the lock. First By actuating the actuating element, the authentication module is, as it were, woken up in order to make a pairing with an optionally nearby mobile terminal of the user and to carry out an authentication process. Depending on how quickly the wake up of the authentication module, the pairing of authentication module and mobile terminal and the actual authentication takes place, the lock is unlocked in this case only after a certain time delay after actuation of the actuator.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating element is formed by a movement sensor arranged in the lock and connected to the authentication module for detecting a movement of the lock. In this case, the user must actively move the lock to trigger the authentication process or activation of the unlocking motor. As mentioned above, the triggering of the authentication process is inhibited when the lock is in its transport lock mode. This can be done, for example, that the sensor is not read while the lock is in its transport lock mode.

Alternatively, the actuating element may also be formed by a pulse generator, in particular a pushbutton, preferably a push or push button, and / or by an optically, capacitively or inductively acting button. In addition, it is conceivable to provide an actuating element on the mobile terminal of the user.

According to yet another embodiment, the lock comprises an alarm module connected to the motion sensor and the authentication module, which emits an alarm, in particular an acoustic alarm, in the event of movement of the lock detected by the sensor and unsuccessful user authentication. By such an alarm function, the theft protection is considerable elevated. If the motion sensor is not read when the lock is in the transport lock mode, the alarm function is also deactivated in the transport lock mode.

The unlocking motor is preferably an electric motor. It is understood that the mobile lock preferably has energy via an energy store for supplying the unlocking motor, the authentication module and optionally the actuating element. For example, the energy store can be a battery or an accumulator.

Furthermore, it is understood that not only the unlocking of the lock with successful user authentication and operation of the actuator is possible, but in the same way, a lock of the castle is conceivable.

Another object of the invention is a locking system with a mobile lock of the type described above and a mobile terminal, by means of which a user of the lock can authenticate to this. The advantages mentioned above in connection with the mobile lock apply correspondingly to the locking system according to the invention.

In order for the mobile terminal to be able to communicate with the authentication module of the lock, the mobile terminal advantageously also comprises a transmitting / receiving unit in order to establish a wireless connection with the authentication module of the lock.

As already mentioned, the mobile terminal can be a remote control or a portable computer, in particular a smartwatch, a smartphone, a tablet etc.

According to one embodiment, the mobile terminal has an energy store, by means of which the lock can be supplied with at least sufficient energy for emergency unlocking. In this way, the lock can still be unlocked even if it itself should be completely de-energized or de-energized, for example, because a battery of the castle is defective or the user has failed to charge a battery of the castle in time. The energy storage of the mobile terminal thus ensures in other words an emergency power / voltage supply.

In order to realize such an emergency power supply, the lock and the mobile terminal preferably have complementary connection elements, by means of which the mobile terminal can be connected to the lock with power to this.

The connection elements may comprise, for example, a USB plug and a USB socket.

In particular, if the mobile terminal is a remote control associated with the lock, the terminal of the mobile terminal may be movable between a passive layer in which it is protected in a housing of the mobile terminal and an active layer in which it is at least partially the housing protrudes and can be coupled to the connection element of the castle.

Another object of the invention is a method for unlocking a mobile lock, which has an unlocking motor, an authentication module and a user-actuatable transport locking element, in which method the authentication module in a normal state of the lock performs an authentication of the user, the authentication module on successful user authentication the Unlocking motor for unlocking activated the lock and the lock is set by operation of the transport locking element in a transport locking mode in which an unlocking of the lock is excluded. By the method according to the invention, the advantages listed above can be achieved accordingly.

The release of the lock in the transport lock mode can be particularly effectively excluded if the execution of a user authentication is prevented while the lock is in the transport lock mode. In other words, user authentication is suppressed in transport save mode, making the authentication module passive.

As already mentioned, the lock can be put back into the normal mode by actuating the transport securing element from the transport securing mode, in which the unlocking motor can be activated upon successful user authentication in order to unlock the lock.

Furthermore, the authentication module can be activated in a normal mode located in the lock by a detected by a movement sensor movement of the castle. Even in the normal mode, the authentication module can thus enter into an energy-saving idle state when the lock is at rest and be woken up again by moving the lock to perform an authentication process.

Should the authentication module be activated in the event of a movement of the lock detected by a motion sensor in the case of a lock located in normal mode and a resulting user authentication not be successful, an alarm, in particular acoustic, can be issued.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Schließsystems gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 2A

Draufsicht auf eine Fernbedienung des Schließsystems von Fig. 1;

Fig. 2B

Frontansicht der Fernbedienung von Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2C

Seitenansicht der Fernbedienung von Fig. 2A mit ausgefahrenem Anschlusselement;

Fig. 2D

Seitenansicht der Fernbedienung von Fig. 2A mit eingefahrenem Anschlusselement;

The invention will be described purely by way of example with reference to possible embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a locking system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2A

Top view of a remote control of the locking system of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 2B

Front view of the remote control of Fig. 2A ;

Fig. 2C

Side view of the remote control of Fig. 2A with extended connection element;

Fig. 2D

Side view of the remote control of Fig. 2A with retracted connection element;

This in Fig.1 Locking system shown comprises a mobile lock 10 in the form of a U-shaped lock, with a U-shaped striker 12, the ends of which are received in a locked state of the lock 10 in a lock body 14 and locked therein.

The locking of the striker 12 in the lock body 14 by means of the lock body 14 movably mounted locking elements 16 which engage in corresponding locking recesses 18 of the striker 12 and thereby prevent the striker 12 can be pulled out of the lock body 14.

To unlock the lock 10, the locking elements 16 by means of an unlocking motor 20 arranged in the lock body 14, here in Shape of an electric motor, are released from the locking recesses 18, for example, against the restoring force of unillustrated locking springs, which bias the locking elements in the direction of the locking recesses 18.

Since the locking of the striker 12 is effected in the lock body 14 by the locking springs, which displace the locking elements 16 in the locking recesses 18, and the unlocking motor 20 ultimately provides only for the unlocking of the lock 10, the lock 10 is also used as a semi-automatic lock 10 designated. In principle, however, a fully automatic lock 10 in which the unlocking motor 20 provides both the unlocking and the locking is also conceivable.

For energy supply of the unlocking motor 20, an energy storage 22 is housed in the lock body 14. In the present exemplary embodiment, the energy store 22 is an accumulator which can be charged by means of an externally accessible connection element, here in the form of a USB socket. Alternatively, the energy store 22 could also be a battery, which can be replaced if necessary.

To trigger an unlocking an actuator 26 is housed in the lock body 14, here in the form of a motion sensor. The actuation of the actuating element 26 in this case thus takes place by a movement of the lock 10. Alternatively, the actuating element 26 could also be an optically or inductively acting button or a pushbutton, in particular a push or push button.

The actuating element 26 is connected to an accommodated in the lock body 14 authentication module 28, which in turn is connected to the unlocking motor 20. If the lock 10 is in a normal mode, the authentication module 28 is activated by actuation of the actuating element 26, that is, by the detection of a movement of the lock 10, and the authentication module 28 performs an authentication process. For this purpose, the authentication module 28 by means of a transmitting / receiving unit 29 initially a Bluetooth connection to a mobile terminal 30 ago, which leads a user of the lock 10 for this purpose.

In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 30 is a Bluetooth-enabled remote control (see also Fig. 2 ), which in turn has a transmitting / receiving unit 31 and can be switched on by means of a switch-on element 32. The remote control may also include a motion sensor, not shown, for example, a 3D position sensor for detecting a movement of the remote control, which makes it possible to wake the remote control upon detection of a movement, after this has passed into an energy-saving idle state after their use.

Alternatively, the mobile terminal 30 may be formed by a smartwatch, a smartphone, or other Bluetooth-enabled portable computer.

Once the authentication module 28 has established a Bluetooth connection to the mobile terminal 30, it performs authentication of the mobile terminal 30. In the case of a positive authentication, the authentication module 28 sends a release signal to the unlocking motor 20, so that it can disengage the lock 10, the locking elements 16 and the striker 12 disengaged.

On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 30 is not positively authenticated, the authentication module 28 does not send a release signal to the unlocking motor 20, ie the lock 10 is not unlocked and thus can not be accessed by the user be opened. Instead, the authentication module 28 causes an alarm module 40 connected to the authentication module 28 to issue an alarm, in particular an audible alarm.

To protect against unintentional unlocking of the lock 10, the lock 10 also has an actuatable by the user transport locking element 42, by means of which the user can put the lock 10 in a transport locking mode.

In the present embodiment, the transport securing element 42 is an externally accessible sliding switch which is formed at a suitable point on the lock body 14. In principle, however, other types of encoders come into question, such as push buttons or optically, capacitively or inductively acting buttons.

By operating the transport securing element 42, the lock can be put into a transport securing mode from the normal mode described above, in which the movement sensor 26 is not read out. The motion sensor 26 is so to speak made passive. This in turn means that neither the authentication module 28 nor the alarm module 40 can receive activation signals. Accordingly, neither a necessary for the unlocking of the lock 10 authentication process can be performed, nor an alarm can be issued. Apart from the fact that in this way an unintentional unlocking of the lock 10 is excluded, the energy storage 22 is minimally charged when located in the transport lock mode lock 10 at best.

A switchover of the lock 10 from the transport lock mode back to the normal mode is also carried out by an actuation of the transport locking element 42, ie the lock 10 can by successive operation of the transport securing member 42 between the normal mode and the transport locking mode are switched back and forth.

It is understood that both the authentication process and the actual unlocking process require that the energy store 22 has sufficient energy. In the event that the energy storage device 22 is discharged in such a way that an authentication and / or unlocking is no longer possible, the mobile terminal 30 embodied as a remote control has an emergency energy storage 34, for example in the form of a power bank, and one to the connection element 24 of FIG Lock 10 complementary connection element 36, here in the form of a USB connector to connect the note energy storage 34 of the mobile terminal 30 to the connection element 24 of the lock 10 and the energy storage 22 of the lock 10 at least so far charged that carried out the authentication and the castle 10th can be unlocked.

In order to protect the connection element 36 of the mobile terminal 30 from soiling and / or damage, the connection element 36 can be moved by means of a slide 37 into a housing 38 of the mobile terminal 30 (FIG. Fig. 2D ) and if necessary be removed from it ( Fig. 2C ).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

lock

12

striker

14

lock body

16

locking element

18

locking recess

20

unlatch

22

energy storage

24

connecting element

26

actuator

28

authentication module

29

Transmitter / receiver unit

30

mobile terminal

31

Transmitter / receiver unit

32

Einschaltelement

34

emergency energy

36

connecting element

37

pusher

38

casing

40

alarm module

42

Transport safety element

Claims (15)

Mobile lock (10) with an unlocking motor (20), an authentication module (28) for authenticating a user of the lock (10), through which the unlocking motor (20) for unlocking the lock (10) can be activated upon successful user authentication, and a through the user operable transport securing element (42), by the operation of the lock (10) can be placed in a transport locking mode in which an unlocking of the lock (10) is excluded. Lock (10) according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the execution of a user authentication is excluded, as long as the lock (10) is in transport lock mode. Lock (10) according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the lock (10) can be set back into a normal mode by actuating the transport securing element (42) from the transport securing mode, in which the unlocking motor (20) can be activated to unlock the lock (10) upon successful user authentication. Lock (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the transport securing element (42) is a pulse generator, in particular a push-button, preferably a push-button or push-button; and / or the transport securing element (42) is formed by an optically, capacitively or inductively acting button; and / or the transport securing element (42) is formed on the lock (10). Lock (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the authentication is wireless; and or
the authentication module (28) comprises a transceiver unit (29) for establishing a wireless connection with a user's mobile terminal (30), in particular wherein the wireless connection is a Bluetooth connection. Lock (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
marked by
an actuatable by the user actuator (26), by means of which the unlocking motor (20) for unlocking the lock (10) can be activated upon successful user authentication. Lock (10) according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the authentication module (28) can be activated by actuating the actuating element (26). Lock (10) according to claim 6 or 7,
characterized in that
the actuating element (26) is formed by a motion sensor arranged in the lock (10) and connected to the authentication module (28) for detecting a movement of the lock (10). Lock (10) according to claim 8,
marked by
an alarm module (40) connected to the motion sensor (26) and the authentication module (28) which, in the event of movement of the lock (10) detected by the motion sensor (26) and unsuccessful user authentication, issues an alarm, in particular an audible alarm. Lock (10) according to claim 8 or 9,
characterized in that
a reading of the motion sensor (26) is blocked as long as the lock (10) is in the transport lock mode. Locking system comprising a mobile lock (10) according to one of the preceding claims and a mobile terminal (30), by means of which a user of the lock (10) can authenticate to the latter. Locking system according to claim 11,
characterized in that
the mobile terminal (30) comprises a transceiver unit (31) for establishing a wireless connection with the authentication module (28) of the lock (10). Locking system according to claim 11 or 12,
characterized in that
the mobile terminal (30) is a remote control or a portable computer, in particular a smartwatch, a smartphone, a tablet, etc. A method of unlocking a mobile lock (10) comprising an unlocking motor (20), an authentication module (10), and a user operable transport securing member (42), in which method the authentication module (28) performs an authentication of the user in a normal state of the lock (10), the authentication module (28) activates the unlocking motor (20) for unlocking the lock (10) upon successful user authentication and the lock (10) is set by operation of the transport securing element (42) in a transport locking mode in which an unlocking of the lock (10) is excluded. Method according to claim 14,
characterized in that
the user authentication is prevented while the lock is in the transport lock mode; and / or the lock (10) is put back into the normal mode by actuating the transport securing element (42) from the transport securing mode, in which the unlocking motor (20) can be activated upon successful user authentication for unlocking the lock; and or
the authentication module (28) is activated by a movement of the lock (10) detected by a movement sensor (26) when the lock (10) is in the normal mode, in particular when the lock (10) is in the normal mode and the movement sensor (26) detected movement of the lock (10) and unsuccessful user authentication on, in particular acoustic, alarm is issued, and / or the motion sensor (26) is not read, as long as the lock (10) is in its transport mode.

Images