EP3567192B1 - Mobile lock - Google Patents

Description

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

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

A padlock with an unlocking motor and authentication module is known in principle and enables the user to be authenticated in the background using a mobile device that the user has with him and, in the case of successful user authentication, an electronic unlocking of the lock, i.e. the user does not need a suitable physical one Carry a key with you and insert it into the lock.

Due to the authentication process running in the background and thus unnoticed by the user, there is a possibility with the known U-lock that it is unintentionally unlocked during transport. In particular, if a cyclist hangs the U-lock on his bicycle handlebar for transport purposes, unintentional unlocking of the lock carries the risk not only of losing the lock, but also of an accident, if the lock falling from the handlebars or at least parts of it get into the spokes of the bicycle.

From the US 9,495,820 B1 For example, an electronic combination lock is known which has a button for activating or deactivating the electronic system, so that the lock can only be unlocked when the electronic system is activated,

The DE 20 2016 002 087 U1 shows an electronic bicycle lock which has an ID reader that can be activated by means of a switch and only allows user authentication and thus unlocking of the lock when the ID reader is activated.

The invention is based on the object of making the use of a mobile lock more secure.

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, by which the unlocking motor for unlocking the lock can be activated if the user authentication is successful, and a transport securing element that can be actuated by the user, the actuation of which puts the lock in a transport securing mode in which unlocking of the lock is excluded. According to the invention, the lock has an actuating element which can be actuated by the user and by means of which the unlocking motor for unlocking the lock can be activated if the user authentication is successful. When the lock is in normal mode, the user is authenticated in the background, unnoticed by the user. In order to prevent unintentional unlocking of the lock despite successful authentication of the user, for example if the user is within a distance from the lock that enables authentication, but has no intention of unlocking the lock, the user must, in the event of an actually desired unlocking of the Castle therefore still perform a conscious action by operating the actuator.

In other words, the invention is based on the idea of using the transport securing element to give the user the option of deliberately preventing unintentional unlocking of the lock during transport.

Even if the user is not only carrying the lock but also a mobile device required for authentication, the transport security mode ensures that the lock cannot be unlocked accidentally. The risk of loss of the lock or an accident resulting from involuntary unlocking of the lock is significantly reduced in this way.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims, the description and the drawing.

Unintentional unlocking of the lock in the transport security mode can be prevented in a particularly effective manner by excluding the implementation of user authentication as long as the lock is in the transport security mode. In other words, the user authentication is suppressed in the transport security mode, so the authentication module is, so to speak, made passive. Since the passive authentication module cannot carry out any authentication processes, it consumes no energy, or at least not significantly. In this way, the energy supply of the lock, for example a battery or an accumulator of the lock, is saved when the lock is in the transport lock mode and the risk of the lock no longer being operated due to an empty battery or an empty accumulator is minimized. In this respect, it is advisable to switch on the transport lock mode not only when the lock is being transported, but also when the lock is not in use for a long time, for example when the user is absent due to vacation or when the lock or a two-wheeler secured with it is stored due to bad weather.

By actuating the transport securing element, the lock can preferably be switched back from the transport securing mode into a normal mode, in which the unlocking motor can be activated to unlock the lock if the user authentication is successful. No separate element is required for returning the lock to normal mode, but the lock can be switched back and forth between normal mode and transport lock mode by successively actuating the transport securing element.

The transport securing element is preferably a pulse generator, in particular a button, for example a push button or slide button. However, it is also conceivable that the transport securing element can be formed by an optically, capacitively or inductively acting button.

According to one embodiment, the transport securing element is formed on the lock. This enables a particularly simple and intuitive operation of the lock without the user having to pick up his mobile device and connect it to the lock.

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

In order to be able to carry out the authentication of the user in the background unnoticed by the user when the lock is in normal mode, the authentication according to the invention takes place wirelessly. The user does not need to bring out a mobile device that enables authentication and which he carries with him for authentication, such as a remote control, a smartphone or a smartwatch, for authentication purposes, but can leave it in his pocket, for example.

The authentication module advantageously includes a transmitting / receiving unit in order to establish a wireless connection with a mobile terminal of the user. The mobile terminal can be a remote control assigned to the lock or a portable computer that the user normally has with him anyway, for example a smartphone, a smartwatch or a tablet.

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

The wireless authentication enables the user to be authenticated when the lock is in normal mode when the lock is approached, so that the unlocking motor can be activated without a time delay when the actuating element is actuated, which contributes to increased user comfort. It goes without saying that for such an early authentication of the user, the authentication module must always be kept in an awake state in which it in turn sends out signals to detect users who may be nearby and / or can answer authentication requests from users who are nearby. An embodiment is therefore preferred in which the authentication module can be activated by actuating the actuating element. In this case, the authentication module only consumes energy when it is actually activated, which saves energy supply to the lock. First by actuating the actuating element, the authentication module is, as it were, woken up in order to pair it with a possibly nearby mobile terminal of the user and to carry out an authentication process. Depending on how quickly the authentication module is woken up, the pairing of the authentication module and the mobile device and the actual authentication takes place, the lock is only unlocked in this case with a certain time delay after the actuation element has been actuated.

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 movement of the lock. In this case, the user must actively move the lock in order to trigger the authentication process or the activation of the unlocking motor. As already mentioned, the triggering of the authentication process is prevented when the lock is in its transport security mode. This can be done, for example, in that the sensor is not read out as long as the lock is in its transport lock mode.

Alternatively, the actuating element can also be formed by a pulse generator, in particular a button, preferably a push or slide button, and / or by an optically, capacitively or inductively acting button. It is also conceivable to provide an actuating element on the user's mobile terminal.

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

The unlocking motor is preferably an electric motor. It goes without saying that the mobile lock preferably has an energy store for supplying the unlocking motor, the authentication module and, if necessary, the actuating element with energy. For example, the energy store can be a battery or an accumulator.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that not only the unlocking of the lock is possible with successful user authentication and actuation of the actuating element, but also locking of the lock is conceivable in the same way.

The invention also relates to a locking system with a mobile lock of the type described above and a mobile terminal device, by means of which a user of the lock can authenticate himself to the lock. The advantages mentioned above in connection with the mobile lock apply accordingly to the locking system according to the invention.

So that the mobile terminal can communicate with the authentication module of the lock, the mobile terminal advantageously also comprises a transceiver 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 should be completely dead or dead, for example because a battery in the lock is defective or the user has failed to charge a battery in the lock in good time. In other words, the energy storage of the mobile terminal ensures an emergency power / voltage supply.

To implement such an emergency power / voltage 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 for supplying the lock with energy.

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

In particular, if the mobile terminal is a remote control assigned to the lock, the connection element of the mobile terminal can be moved between a passive position, in which it is protected in a housing of the mobile terminal, and an active position, in which it is at least partially off the housing protrudes and can be coupled to the connection element of the lock.

Another object of the invention is a method for unlocking a mobile lock, which has an unlocking motor, an authentication module and a transport security element that can be actuated by a user, as well as an actuation element that can be actuated by the user, in which method the authentication module authenticates the user when the lock is in a normal state , the authentication module for successful user authentication and when the actuating element is actuated, the unlocking motor for unlocking of the lock is activated and the lock is put into a transport lock mode by actuating the transport locking element, in which unlocking of the lock is excluded. The advantages listed above can be achieved accordingly by the method according to the invention.

The unlocking of the lock in the transport security mode can be excluded particularly effectively if the implementation of a user authentication is prevented as long as the lock is in the transport security mode. In other words, the user authentication is suppressed in the transport security mode, so the authentication module is, so to speak, made passive.

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

Furthermore, when the lock is in normal mode, the authentication module can be activated by a movement of the lock detected by means of a movement sensor. Even in normal mode, the authentication module can therefore go into an energy-saving idle state when the lock is idle and can be woken up again by moving the lock to carry out an authentication process.

If, when the lock is in normal mode, the authentication module is activated in the event of a movement of the lock detected by a motion sensor and the resulting user authentication is unsuccessful, an alarm, in particular an acoustic alarm, can be output.

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 is described below purely by way of example using 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;

Figure 2A

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

Figure 2B

Front view of the remote control of Figure 2A ;

Figure 2C

Side view of the remote control from Figure 2A with extended connection element;

Figure 2D

Side view of the remote control from Figure 2A with retracted connection element;

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

The striker 12 is locked in the lock body 14 by means of locking elements 16 movably mounted in the lock body 14, which engage in corresponding locking recesses 18 of the striker 12 and thereby prevent the striker 12 from being pulled out of the lock body 14.

To unlock the lock 10, the locking elements 16 can be operated by means of an unlocking motor 20 arranged in the lock body 14, here in FIG Form of an electric motor, can be released from the locking depressions 18, for example against the restoring force of locking springs, not shown, which preload the locking elements in the direction of the locking depressions 18.

Since the locking of the striker 12 in the lock body 14 is effected by the locking springs, which move the locking elements 16 into the locking recesses 18, and the unlocking motor 20 ultimately only ensures 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 is also conceivable, in which the unlocking motor 20 ensures both unlocking and locking.

An energy store 22 is accommodated in the lock body 14 to supply energy to the unlocking motor 20. 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 process, an actuating element 26 is accommodated in the lock body 14, here in the form of a movement sensor. The actuation element 26 is actuated in this case by a movement of the lock 10. Alternatively, the actuation element 26 could also be an optically or inductively acting button or a button, in particular a push button or slide button.

The actuation element 26 is connected to an authentication module 28 accommodated in the lock body 14, 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 to say by the detection of a movement of the lock 10, and the authentication module 28 carries out an authentication process. For this purpose, the authentication module 28 first uses a transmitting / receiving unit 29 to establish a Bluetooth connection to a mobile terminal device 30, which a user of the lock 10 has with him for this purpose.

In the present exemplary 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 can also have a movement sensor (not shown), for example a 3D position sensor, for detecting a movement of the remote control, which enables the remote control to be woken up when a movement is detected after it has switched to an energy-saving idle state after use.

Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 30 can be formed by a smart watch, a smartphone or another Bluetooth-enabled portable computer.

As soon as the authentication module 28 has established a Bluetooth connection to the mobile terminal device 30, it authenticates the mobile terminal device 30. In the event of a positive authentication, the authentication module 28 sends a release signal to the unlocking motor 20 so that the latter can disengage the locking elements 16 and the striker 12 to unlock the lock 10.

If, on the other hand, 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 therefore cannot be unlocked by the user be opened. Instead, the authentication module 28 causes an alarm module 40 connected to the authentication module 28 to output an alarm, in particular an acoustic alarm.

To protect against unintentional unlocking of the lock 10, the lock 10 also has a transport securing element 42 which can be actuated by the user and with which the user can put the lock 10 into a transport securing mode.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport securing element 42 is a slide button which is formed at a suitable point on the lock body 14 and is accessible from the outside. In principle, however, other types of pulse generators are also possible, such as, for example, push buttons or optically, capacitively or inductively acting buttons.

By actuating the transport securing element 42, the lock can be switched from the normal mode described above to a transport securing mode in which the movement sensor 26 is not read. 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, an authentication process necessary for unlocking the lock 10 can neither be carried out nor an alarm can be output. Apart from the fact that in this way an unintentional unlocking of the lock 10 is excluded, the energy store 22 is at most minimally loaded when the lock 10 is in the transport lock mode.

A switchover of the lock 10 from the transport lock mode back to the normal mode is also carried out by actuating the transport lock element 42, ie the lock 10 can be activated by successive actuation of the transport securing element 42 can be switched back and forth between the normal mode and the transport securing mode.

It goes without saying 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 store 22 is discharged in such a way that authentication and / or unlocking is no longer possible, the mobile terminal 30, which is designed as a remote control, has an emergency energy store 34, for example in the form of a power bank, and a connection element 24 of the Lock 10 complementary connection element 36, here in the form of a USB plug, to connect the emergency energy storage 34 of the mobile terminal 30 to the connection element 24 of the lock 10 and to charge the energy storage 22 of the lock 10 at least enough that the authentication is carried out and the lock 10 can be unlocked.

To protect the connection element 36 of the mobile terminal 30 from dirt and / or damage, the connection element 36 can be moved into a housing 38 of the mobile terminal 30 by means of a slide 37 ( Figure 2D ) and can be moved out of this if necessary ( Figure 2C ).

List of reference symbols

10

lock

12

Striker

14th

Lock body

16

Locking element

18th

Locking recess

20th

Unlocking motor

22nd

Energy storage

24

Connection element

26th

Actuator

28

Authentication module

29

Transmitter / receiver unit

30th

mobile device

31

Transmitter / receiver unit

32

Switch-on element

34

Emergency energy storage

36

Connection element

37

Slider

38

casing

40

Alarm module

42

Transport locking element

Claims (14)

1. A portable lock (10) having an unlocking motor (20), an authentication module (28) for a wireless authentication of a user of the lock (10) by which the unlocking motor (20) can be actuated to unlock the lock (10) on a successful user authentication, and having a transport security element (42) which can be actuated by the user and by whose actuation the lock (10) can be moved into a transport security mode in which an unlocking of the lock (10) is precluded,
   characterized by
   an actuation element (26) which can be actuated by the user and by means of which the unlocking motor (20) can be actuated to unlock the lock (10) on a successful user authentication.
2. A lock (10) in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the carrying out of a user authentication is precluded as long as the lock (10) is in the transport security mode.
3. A lock (10) in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the lock (10) is movable from the transport security mode back into a normal mode by actuating the transport security element (42), in which normal mode the unlocking motor (20) can be actuated to unlock the lock (10) on a successful user authentication.
4. A lock (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the transport security element (42) is an impulse generator, in particular a button, preferably a push button or a slider button; and/or
   in that the transport security element (42) is formed by an optically acting, capacitively acting or inductively acting control surface; and/or
   in that the transport security element (42) is formed at the lock (10).
5. A lock (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the authentication module (28) comprises a transmission/reception unit (29) to establish a wireless connection to a mobile end device (30) of the user, in particular with the wireless connection being a Bluetooth connection.
6. A lock (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the authentication module (28) can be activated by actuating the actuation element (26).
7. A lock (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the actuation 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).
8. A lock (10) in accordance with claim 7,
   characterized by
   an alarm module (40) which is connected to the motion sensor (26) and to the authentication module (28) and which outputs an alarm, in particular an acoustic alarm, in the event of a movement of the lock (10) detected by the motion sensor (26) and of an unsuccessful user authentication.
9. A lock (10) in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8,
   characterized in that
   a reading of the motion sensor (26) is blocked as long as the lock (10) is in the transport security mode.
10. A locking system comprising a portable lock (10) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims; and a mobile end device (30) by means of which a user of the lock (10) can authenticate himself thereat.
11. A locking system in accordance with claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the mobile end device (30) comprises a transmission/reception unit (31) to establish a wireless connection to the authentication module (28) of the lock (10).
12. A locking system in accordance with claim 10 or claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the mobile end device (30) is a remote control or a portable computer, in particular a smart watch, a smartphone, a tablet, etc.
13. A method of unlocking a mobile lock (10) which has an unlocking motor (20), an authentication module (28), a transport security element (42) actuable by a user and an actuation element (26) actuable by the user, in which method
    the authentication module (28) carries out a wireless authentication of the user in a normal state of the lock (10);
    the authentication module (28) activates the unlocking motor (20) to unlock the lock (10) on a successful user authentication and on an actuation of the actuation element; and
    the lock (10) is moved into a transport security mode in which an unlocking of the lock (10) is precluded by actuating the transport securing element (42).
14. A method in accordance with claim 13,
    characterized in that
    the carrying out of a user authentication is prevented as long as the lock is in the transport security mode; and/or
    in that the lock (10) is moved from the transport security mode back into the normal mode by actuating the transport security element (42), in which normal mode the unlocking motor (20) can be actuated to unlock the lock (10) on a successful user authentication;
    and/or
    in that the authentication module (28) is activated with the lock (10) in the normal mode by a movement of the lock (10) detected by means of a motion sensor (26), in particular with an alarm, in particular an acoustic alarm, being output with the lock (10) in the normal mode in the event of a movement of the lock (10) detected by the motion sensor (10) and of an unsuccessful user authentication and/or the motion sensor (26) not being read as long as the lock (10) is in its transport mode.

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