EP3926130A1 - Portable electronic lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable electronic lock has a lock body with a locking device and a striker which is movable relative to the lock body between a closed position and an open position, the striker being lockable on the lock body in the closed position by means of the locking device. The lock has at least one electrical unit, an electrical energy source, a signal transmitter and a control unit. The control unit is designed to monitor the state of charge of the electrical energy source and to activate the signal generator to output a state of charge warning signal sequence in the form of the letter sequence "S-O-S" according to Morse code if the state of charge of the electrical energy source falls below a predetermined limit value.

Description

The invention relates to a portable electronic lock which has a lock body with a locking device and a striker that is movable relative to the lock body between a closed position and an open position, the striker being lockable in the closed position by means of the locking device on the lock body.

Such a lock can be used in mobile applications to fix an object - for example a two-wheeler - to a stationary object, or to make the object immobile. Such a lock can also be used to optionally be attached to a security device of a stationary object - for example to a hold on a building door - in order to secure access.

Such a lock can also have an electrical unit, an electrical energy source, a signal transmitter and a control unit. The control unit can be connected to the electrical unit, the electrical energy source and the signal transmitter, in particular to control the electrical unit and the signal transmitter and to be supplied with energy by the electrical energy source. The electrical unit can be part of the locking device of the lock or independent of it. By integrating an electrical unit in the lock, in particular in the lock body, an expanded functional scope of the lock can be made possible, for example in the case of an electromechanical locking device electronic control of the locking device through local authentication (e.g. by means of a biometric Sensor, or by means of an RFID transmitter / receiver unit, or by entering a code directly on the lock or via a mobile device). As an alternative or in addition, an extended range of functions of the lock can also include an alarm function, remote status query or remote control. In the case of a mobile lock, this requires its own electrical energy source, in particular a battery, for example an electrical accumulator. The control unit can be designed to monitor a state of charge of the electrical energy source.

For example is off DE 10 2018 111 302 A1 a U-lock with an electromechanical locking device and an alarm device is known. Out DE 10 2017 105 031 A1 a portable folding lock for two-wheelers with an alarm device is known.

When the lock is in operation, acknowledgment or warning signals can be output to the user, in particular as acoustically or optically perceptible signals. For this purpose, the lock can in particular have an acoustic signal transmitter (for example a piezo signal transmitter) or an optical signal transmitter (for example a light-emitting diode). An acoustic or optical signal transmitter can easily be accommodated in a portable lock and is robust, which is particularly advantageous if the portable lock is also to be used in an outdoor application. For example, it can be provided that the user receives acknowledgment signals for the states "Unlocking command received / executed", "Locking command received / executed", "Command to activate the alarm device received / executed" and / or "Command to deactivate the alarm device received / executed" are issued. However, the number of acknowledgment or warning signals that can be distinguished by the user is limited.

If, in the course of the operation of the portable lock, the energy content stored in the electrical energy source gradually runs out - what in comparison to the locking and unlocking processes is a relatively rare event - and if this is to be indicated to the user by another (e.g. acoustic or optical) signal, this warning signal may not be recognized or misinterpreted by the user. In contrast, a display device (display) that could reproduce a corresponding informational text is often too complex, too large, too sensitive to the effects of the weather and consumes too much energy in the case of portable locks.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable lock of the type mentioned, which gives the user a more perceptible warning in the event that the state of charge of the electrical energy source is about to run out.

This object is achieved by a portable electronic lock with the features of claim 1, and in particular in that the control unit is designed to control the signal generator to output a charge status warning signal sequence in the form of the letter sequence "SOS" according to the Morse alphabet, if the charge status the electrical energy source falls below a predetermined limit value.

With such a lock, the control unit can therefore monitor whether the remaining capacity of the electrical energy source falls below a predetermined limit value. This can be done, for example, by monitoring a voltage limit value, or by balancing an amount of energy taken against an amount of energy supplied. The predetermined limit value can in particular correspond to a value in the range from 5% to 20%, for example a value of 10% or 15% or 20%, of the nominal capacity of the electrical energy source.

If the monitoring shows that the state of charge of the electrical energy source falls below a predetermined limit value, the control unit can (immediately or as a result of a further trigger) control the signal transmitter of the lock to output a charge status warning signal sequence. This charge status warning signal sequence corresponds to the letter sequence “SOS” according to the Morse code.

The letter sequence "S-O-S" (as an abbreviation for "Save Our Souls") is familiar to many people, easily identifiable as an acoustic or optical signal, and easily assigned to a critical condition. In connection with a portable lock, the transmission of an "S-O-S" signal is unusual and the user can easily associate it with an "emergency call" from the lock itself. The use of the letters "SOS" for the relatively infrequent occurrence of a low energy supply of the electrical energy source is particularly memorable and easy to recognize for the user, so that misinterpretations and the failure to replace or recharge the electrical energy source in time can be better avoided . This ensures long-term functionality of the electronic lock and its electrical unit, with the use of an easily recognizable and easily recognizable charge status warning signal sequence requiring little structural effort as far as the signal transmitter or a (thus dispensable) display device of the lock is concerned.

The charge status warning signal sequence can in particular be output with a volume or intensity that corresponds to a perception range (e.g. hearing range or visual range) of a few meters, for example a maximum of 20 meters or a maximum of 10 meters or a maximum of 3 meters or a maximum of 2 meters under normal ambient conditions. This prevents the charge level warning signal sequence from alerting people other than the user in the vicinity of the lock to the low charge level or unnecessarily alarming them. In the case of an acoustic signal generator, the volume at which the charge status warning signal sequence is output can in particular be lower than the volume at which an alarm signal of an alarm device of the lock is output.

The charge status warning signal sequence can in particular comprise a sequence of three short, three long and three short signals, in particular a sequence of three short, three long and three short tones (with the same or different pitch).

Further embodiments of the invention are explained below.

In some embodiments, the signal transmitter can be designed as an acoustic signal transmitter, for example as a piezo signal transmitter, for outputting signal tones. The charge status warning signal sequence can then be formed by a charge status warning tone sequence.

As an alternative or in addition to an acoustic signal transmitter, the lock can also have an optical signal transmitter, for example one or more light-emitting diodes.

In some embodiments, the lock can be designed without a display device on which an informational text corresponding to the state of charge of the electrical energy source could be reproduced.

• eine elektrische Antriebseinrichtung, die dazu ausgebildet ist, einen Riegel der Verriegelungseinrichtung anzutreiben;
• eine elektronische Alarmeinrichtung, die dazu ausgebildet ist, einen Manipulationsversuch zu detektieren und über den Signalgeber ein akustisches Alarmsignal auszugeben; und/oder
• eine Funkkommunikationseinrichtung.

In some embodiments, the electrical unit of the lock can comprise at least one of the following devices:

• an electric drive device which is designed to drive a bolt of the locking device;
• an electronic alarm device which is designed to detect a manipulation attempt and to output an acoustic alarm signal via the signal transmitter; and or
• a radio communication device.

An electromechanical locking device can be implemented by providing an electric drive device. The bolt of the locking device can lock the striker of the lock directly (for example by engaging in the striker) or indirectly (for example via a driven or engaged locking element). In a locking position, the bolt can lock at least one end of the striker to the lock body and, in a release position, release the respective end of the striker for release from the lock body. The electric drive device can have an electric motor, in particular a gear motor, or an electromagnet.

When using an electric drive device, the control unit can be designed to refrain from activating the electric drive device for driving the bolt into a locking position if the state of charge of the electrical energy source falls below the aforementioned predetermined limit value or another limit value. This can prevent the lock from being locked, although it is likely that there will no longer be enough energy available to subsequently unlock the lock again. Said other limit value can in particular correspond to a lower state of charge than the stated predetermined limit value for outputting the state of charge warning signal sequence.

The alarm device can have an acceleration sensor. In particular, such an acceleration sensor can be configured as a shock sensor, by means of which vibrations, which the portable electronic lock typically experiences during an attempted break-in, can be detected. This makes it possible to recognize attempts to break in and thereupon to trigger an alarm signal, in particular acoustically perceptible, or via the signal transmitter to spend. The control device of the lock can be designed to control the alarm device. In particular, the control device can be designed to activate or deactivate the alarm device in order, for example, to prevent an undesired alarm signal from being triggered.

The radio communication device can have a radio transmitter and / or a radio receiver, for example to receive control commands and / or authentication signals from the authorized user and / or to send out status information or confirmation signals. The radio communication device can communicate in particular with a radio remote control or with a mobile terminal of the user (for example smartphone).

In some embodiments, the control unit can be designed to control the signal transmitter for outputting the charge status warning signal sequence only when the control unit detects actuation of the lock. Thus, the charge status warning signal sequence is not necessarily output immediately when the predetermined limit value is reached or determined, but only when the portable lock is actuated to output the charge status warning signal sequence, in particular when it is actuated by an authorized user. This ensures that the charge status warning signal sequence is only output when a user, in particular the authorized user, is in the vicinity of the portable lock.

The monitoring of the charge state of the electrical energy source by means of the control unit can take place regularly or also only when the control unit detects an actuation of the lock that triggers the checking of the charge state, in particular an actuation by an authorized user.

In connection with the invention, an authorized user can be a user who has the locking secret of the lock (electronic locking secret, for example as a numerical code or as a transponder, or mechanical locking secret, for example as a mechanical key) and / or his biometric data in the lock are stored so that authentication can be carried out (e.g. fingerprint).

• eine Betätigung eines biometrischen Sensors des Schlosses, beispielsweise eines Fingerabdrucksensors, wobei bei einigen Ausführungsformen eine "Betätigung des Schlosses" insbesondere nur dann vorliegt, wenn die Betätigung des biometrischen Sensors zu einer erfolgreichen Authentisierung des Benutzers führt;
• ein Empfangen eines Funksignals (z.B. Mobilfunk, Bluetooth, WLAN, RFID), welches einen Entriegelungsbefehl oder einen Verriegelungsbefehl repräsentiert und/oder welches einen berechtigten Benutzer ausweist; und/oder
• eine Betätigung eines Schalters des Schlosses;
• eine Betätigung eines Schließzylinders der Verriegelungseinrichtung mittels eines zugeordneten Schlüssels.

An actuation of the lock which can be determined by the control unit and which triggers the output of the charge status warning signal sequence and / or the checking of the charge status of the electrical energy source can include, for example:

• an actuation of a biometric sensor of the lock, for example a fingerprint sensor, wherein in some embodiments an "actuation of the lock" is present in particular only if the actuation of the biometric sensor leads to a successful authentication of the user;
• receiving a radio signal (eg cellular radio, Bluetooth, WLAN, RFID) which represents an unlocking command or a locking command and / or which identifies an authorized user; and or
• actuation of a switch of the lock;
• an actuation of a lock cylinder of the locking device by means of an assigned key.

In some embodiments, the striker of the portable lock can comprise a rigid shackle (for example a U-shaped shackle in a padlock) or a flexible shackle, in particular a hinged bar shackle (for example in a folding lock), a wire rope or a chain.

In some embodiments, the striker of the portable lock can have at least one free end that can be locked to the lock body is to form a closed loop. In some embodiments, the striker can have another end that is permanently connected to the lock body.

In some embodiments, especially a portable lock designed as a padlock, a U-shaped striker with two legs of different lengths can be provided, the long leg being permanently secured to the lock body and in the open position only the short leg being detached from the lock body . This can make it possible to pivot the U-bracket about the axis of the long leg so that the U-bracket can be guided through an object starting from the short leg without the striker having to be completely detached from the lock body.

In some embodiments, the striker of the portable lock can have a clamp which is released from the lock body in the open position and is inserted into the lock body in the closed position. For example, such a lock can be designed as a brake disk lock for motorcycles.

Said failure to lock the lock when the charge state of the electrical energy source is too low forms an independent aspect of the present invention and is also useful if the control unit does not trigger the signal transmitter of the lock to output the "SOS" charge state warning signal sequence. In this respect, the invention also generally relates to a portable electronic lock which has a lock body with a locking device and a striker that is movable relative to the lock body between a closed position and an open position, the striker in the closed position by means of the locking device on the lock body can be locked, the locking device having at least one bolt for locking the striker in the closed position and an electrical drive device (for example an electric motor or electromagnet) for driving the bolt, wherein the lock has an electrical energy source and a control unit, wherein the control unit is designed to monitor a charge state of the electrical energy source, and wherein the control unit is designed to to refrain from activating the electrical drive device for locking the striker (in particular for driving the bolt into a locking position) if the state of charge of the electrical energy source falls below a predetermined limit value. In this way, as explained, the lock can be prevented from being locked, although it is likely that there will no longer be enough energy available to subsequently unlock the lock or the striker again.

Said predetermined limit value can correspond to a value in the range from 5% to 20%, for example a value of 15% or 10% or 5%, of the nominal capacity of the electrical energy source.

This failure to lock the lock or the striker can in particular be provided even when a locking command is received, for example on the basis of the signal from a sensor which represents the insertion of the striker into the lock body.

In addition, further embodiments of such a lock can be provided, as explained for the lock with the output of the "S-O-S" charge status warning signal sequence.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines als Hangschloss ausgebildeten tragbaren elektronischen Schlosses.

The invention is explained in the following purely by way of example using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic representation of a portable electronic lock designed as a padlock.

Fig. 1 shows a portable or mobile lock with a lock body 11 and a U-shaped striker 13. In the lock body 11, an electromechanical locking device 15 is arranged. The locking device 15 comprises an electric motor 17, a rotary bolt 19 in the form of a cam driven by the electric motor 17, and two blocking elements 21. The striker 13 is thus in the in Fig. 1 locked position shown and forms a closed loop. In a release position of the rotary bolt 19, the blocking elements 21 are released for retreating radially inward, so that the striker 13 can be moved from the shown closed position into an open position. Starting from the open position, the striker 13 can be moved manually into the closed position and then locked again electromechanically.

An acceleration sensor 25, an acoustic signal transmitter 27, a fingerprint sensor 29, a radio communication device 31 and an electrical energy source in the form of a battery 33 are also arranged in the lock body 11. The battery 33 supplies the electric motor 17, the acceleration sensor 25, the signal transmitter 27, the fingerprint sensor 29 and the radio communication device 31 with electrical energy. In addition, an electronic control unit 35 is provided which controls the electric motor 17 in response to signals from the fingerprint sensor 29 and to command signals received via the radio communication device 31 in order to unlock the striker 13. The control unit 35 is also designed to evaluate the signals of the acceleration sensor 25 with regard to vibrations in an alarm mode in order to control the signal transmitter 27 to emit an alarm signal when vibrations are detected. As a result, the control unit 35 is so as configured an alarm device that can be activated or deactivated as required.

The control unit 35 is also designed to control the signal transmitter 27 for outputting acoustic acknowledgment signals to the user, namely for the states "unlock command received", "lock command received", "alarm mode activated" and "alarm mode deactivated".

The control unit 35 is also designed to monitor and evaluate the state of charge of the battery 33, the control unit 35 controlling the signal generator 27 to output a state of charge warning signal sequence in the form of a sequence of charge state warning beeps if the determined (e.g. ascertained or calculated) charge state of the battery 33 is a predetermined one Limit value (e.g. 20% of the nominal capacity) falls below. This charge status warning signal sequence has the form of the letter sequence "S-O-S" according to the Morse code, ie a sequence of three short, three long and three short tones. This sequence of letters can easily be identified by the user, even if it is only rarely issued, and assigned to the underlying event, i.e. the energy supply that is running low, so that the user can take the necessary countermeasures in good time (replacing or recharging the battery 33 ).

The control unit 35 only controls the signal transmitter 27 to output the charge status warning signal sequence when a signal is received from the fingerprint sensor 29 or the radio communication device 31 and it can therefore be assumed that the authorized user is in the vicinity of the lock and the charge status warning signal sequence as well perceives.

According to an independently advantageous aspect, the control unit 35 is also designed to even when receiving a locking command (for example via the fingerprint sensor 29, the radio communication device 31 or another Sensor, which can in particular represent an insertion of the striker 13 into the lock body 11) to refrain from activating the electric motor 17 to lock the striker 13 if the determined state of charge of the battery 33 falls below a predetermined limit value. This can prevent the striker 13 from being locked, although it is likely that there will no longer be enough energy available to subsequently unlock the striker 13 again.

While the invention was explained above using a lock in which the striker 13 is manually moved from the open position to the closed position, it is also possible within the scope of the invention to drive not only the rotary bolt 19, but also the striker 13 by means of the electric motor 17 (to a movement from the open position to the closed position and / or the closed position to the open position).

List of reference symbols

11th

Lock body

13th

Striker

15th

Locking device

17th

Electric motor

19th

Quarter-Turn

21

Blocking element

23

Intervention deepening

25th

Accelerometer

27

Signaling device

29

Fingerprint sensor

31

Radio communication device

33

battery

35

Control unit

Claims (14)

Portable electronic lock which has a lock body (11) with a locking device (15) and a striker (13) which is movable relative to the lock body (11) between a closed position and an open position, the striker (13) in the closed position can be locked on the lock body (11) by means of the locking device (15),
wherein the lock has at least one electrical unit, an electrical energy source (33), a signal transmitter (27) and a control unit (35),
wherein the control unit (35) is designed to monitor a state of charge of the electrical energy source (33),
characterized,
that the control unit (35) is designed to control the signal generator (27) for outputting a charge status warning signal sequence in the form of the letter sequence "SOS" according to the Morse code if the charge status of the electrical energy source (33) falls below a predetermined limit value. Portable electronic lock according to claim 1,
wherein the charge level warning signal sequence comprises a sequence of three short, three long and three short signals. Portable electronic lock according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the signal transmitter (27) is designed as an acoustic signal transmitter (27). Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the lock is designed without a display device on which an informational text corresponding to the charge status of the electrical energy source (33) could be reproduced. Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the electrical unit has an electrical drive device which is designed to drive a bolt (19) of the locking device (15),
wherein the electric drive device has in particular an electric motor (17) or an electromagnet. Portable electronic lock according to claim 5,
wherein the control unit (35) is designed to refrain from activating the electrical drive device for locking the striker (13) if the state of charge of the electrical energy source (33) falls below the predetermined limit value or another limit value. Portable electronic lock according to claim 6,
wherein the other limit value corresponds to a lower charge state of the electrical energy source (33) than the predetermined limit value for outputting the charge state warning signal sequence. Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the electrical unit has an electronic alarm device which is designed to detect a manipulation attempt and to output an acoustic alarm signal via the signal transmitter (27), the electronic alarm device in particular having an acceleration sensor (25). Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the electrical unit has a radio communication device (31),
wherein the radio communication device has in particular a radio transmitter and / or a radio receiver. Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the control unit (35) is designed to control the signal transmitter (27) for outputting the charge status warning signal sequence only when an actuation of the lock is detected, in particular an actuation of the lock by an authorized user. Portable electronic lock according to claim 10,
wherein the control unit (35) is designed to detect an actuation of the lock in the event of one of the following events: - an actuation of a biometric sensor of the lock; - Receiving a radio signal which represents an unlocking command or a locking command and / or which identifies an authorized user; - an actuation of a switch of the lock; and or - An actuation of a lock cylinder of the locking device by means of an assigned key. Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the striker (13) comprises a rigid bracket or a flexible bracket, in particular a hinged bar bracket, a wire rope or a chain. Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the striker (13) has at least one free end which can be locked on the lock body (11) in order to form a closed loop. Portable electronic lock according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the striker has a clamp which is released from the lock body (11) in the open position and is inserted into the lock body (11) in the closed position.

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