EP4062014A1

EP4062014A1 - Key including a mechanical coding part with inner cavities, lock for said key and method for fabricating said key by means of an additive manufacturing process

Info

Publication number: EP4062014A1
Application number: EP20807056.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alejandro Ojeda
Original assignee: UrbanAlps AG
Current assignee: UrbanAlps AG
Priority date: 2019-11-20
Filing date: 2020-11-19
Publication date: 2022-09-28
Also published as: WO2021099485A1

Abstract

The key includes a mechanical coding part (10), which comprises inner cavities (20) defining a coding of the key. The inner cavities are limited by boundaries defined by walls made in one piece. The walls enclose the inner cavities such that the boundaries are invisible from outside, A lock configured to be used in combination with the key comprises at least one first sensor configured to detect the inner cavities of the key to determine the coding of the key and a comparator for comparing the determined coding with stored coding information to determine whether the determined coding is authorized or not.

Description

KEY INCLUDING A MECHANICAL CODING PART WITH INNER CAVITIES, LOCK FOR SAID KEY AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAID KEY BY MEANS OF AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

PROCESS

The present invention relates to a key including a mechanical coding part.

Keys known in the art, which are configured to be used in an electronic access control system, include some electronic means defining the coding of the key in form of a digital ID. Though, the addition of such electronic means makes the control system more flexible and convenient versus the classic mechanical key, it is more complicated and more expensive than a purely mechanical control system.

A low cost possibility would be the usage of a bar code, such as used e.g. in receipts and parking tickets, as a digital ID. However, this is a visual mean, which can be easily photographed, read and duplicated, and thus is not useful for security applications.

From DE 3423 714 Cl it is known to provide a key which includes an inner plate, which has holes defining a coding and which is covered at both sides by side plates. The inner plates and the side plates have to be made of different material in order to detect the holes. Fabrication of such a key is complicated as it composed of several parts and of different material. In addition, the connection between the plates may loosen so that the key may be become unusable.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide for a key including a mechanical coding part which can be easily fabricated, but is safe against unauthorized duplication.

For solving this aim, a key according to claim 1 is provided. Also, a lock according to claim 11 is provided.

The further claims specify additional embodiments of the key as well as a lock and a method for fabricating the key. The key according to the invention includes a mechanical coding part, which comprises inner cavities defining a coding of the key. The inner cavities are limited by boundaries defined by walls made in one piece. Since the walls enclose the inner cavities such that the boundaries are invisible from outside, the coding part cannot be read e.g. by taking a photograph and is therefore safe against unauthorized duplication.

The inner cavities may be configured such that they encode information on the key coding in a similar way as e.g. a bar code would do.

Preferably, the coding of the key defined by the inner cavities is predetermined. Thereby, a key having a reproducible coding can be provided. Thus, it is possible to provide for two or more keys having the same coding.

Preferably, the walls defining the boundaries of the inner cavities are of the same material, e.g. they are produced by an additive manufacturing process.

Preferably, the key comprises an outer surface, which is structured to define an additional coding of the key. Thereby, the coding possibilities of the key can be enhanced. It is possible to provide a purely mechanical key which has the same security level and flexibility as a mechatronic key, which is a key combining a mechanical coding with electronic means. The purely mechanical key with its 2^nd authentication level is free of any electronics and therefore can be easily provided in a waterproof manner. It may bring together the security of the pure mechanical code (classic mechanical key) and the access control, convenience and flexibility of an electronic ID by using a "digitally read" mechanical code instead of a classical chip. A lock configured to be used in combination with the key comprises at least one first sensor configured to detect the inner cavities of the key to determine the coding of the key, a memory for storing predetermined coding information related to the coding of the key, and a comparator for comparing the determined coding with the stored coding information to determine whether the determined coding is authorized or not.

Preferably, the at least one first sensor is configured to detect the inner cavities limited by boundaries defined by walls made in one piece of the same material.

The at least one first sensor may detect the inner cavities of the key by ultrasound, X-ray, magnetic resonance, magnetic induction and/or by determining the electrical conductivity. The at least one first sensor may include for instance an eddy current sensor. The at least one sensor may emit an electromagnetic field and may detect changes in the field when the key shank is introduced into the keyway of the lock.

Preferably, the memory serves for storing information on the time periods when the key is authorized to open and close the lock. The time periods define e.g. one or more particular instants of time during a day, particulars day of a week, particular dates and/or other times. In one embodiment the lock may be configured such that information on the instant of time when the lock was opened and/or closed by the key is registered in the memory. Such information may serve as an entry logs recording.

Preferably, the lock comprises at least one third sensor to determine the velocity with which the key shank is introduced into the keyway. To this end, a pattern may be included on and/or in the key shank and may be detected by the at least one third sensor. The at least one first sensor may serve as the at least one third sensor or may be different from the at least one third sensor. The lock may comprise a control unit which is configured to receive signals from the at least one first sensor and from the at least one third sensor and to determine the shape, the dimensions and/or position of each inner cavity of the key based on these signals.

In one embodiment the lock comprises an energy source e.g. a battery. In another embodiment the lock comprises means for energy harvesting. Such means may be configured to power the lock by energy produced when inserting the key into the keyway .

Following, further embodiments are described with reference to Figures. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a key according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows the key of Fig. 1 in a transparent mode so that the inner configuration is visible; Fig. 3 shows the key of Fig. 1 sectioned along its longitudinal side;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the sectioned key of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows the front part of a first variant of a key in a transparent mode;

Fig. 6 shows the key of Fig. 5 sectioned transversally to its longitudinal side; Fig. 7 shows the front part of a second variant of a key in a transparent mode;

Fig. 8 shows the key of Fig. 7 sectioned transversally to its longitudinal side;

Fig. 9 shows the front part of a third variant of a key in a transparent mode; Fig. 10 shows the key of Fig. 9 sectioned transversally to its longitudinal side;

Fig. 11 shows another variant of a key; Fig. 12 shows the key of Fig. 11 in a transparent mode;

Fig. 13 shows part of a lock, in which the key of Fig. 1 is inserted;

Fig. 14 shows the part of the lock of Fig. 13 sectioned along the middle plane, wherein also the housing is shown;

Fig. 15 shows another part of the lock of Fig. 13; Fig. 16 shows still another part of the lock of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 shows a detail of the lock of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 18 shows a door with a key and an embodiment of a lock with components separated from each other.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a key, which has a handling part 9, e.g. a bow, and a key shank 10 extending from the handling part 9 in the extension direction X. The latter corresponds to the direction along which the key can be inserted into the keyway of a lock. The key shank 10 has a middle portion 11, which is provided with inner cavities. The latter are indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted weak lines. Fig. 2 shows the key in a transparent mode so that the boundaries of the inner cavities 20 are visible. As is also apparent from Fig. 3 and 4, the inner cavities 20 are arranged along the X-direction. The dimension A of a cavity 20 measured in the X-direction may vary. In the example shown in Fig. 4 e.g., cavities 20, which are longer and are shorter with regard to the dimension A are arranged in an alternating manner along the X-direction. The distance between two adjacent cavities 20, denoted by B in Fig. 4, may also vary or may be constant.

According to the choice of A for each cavity 20 and/or the distance B a corresponding coding of the key can be predetermined. The inner cavities 20 may encode information in a similar way as a bar code which may be made up of lines and spaces of various widths.

It is possible to use other geometrical dimensions of the cavities 20 to encode information, e.g. its dimension transversally to the extension direction X, e.g. its width and/or its height.

An inner cavity 20 may be fully enclosed by inner walls or it may have one or more openings extending to the outside.

Fig. 5 and 6 show an example, in which each cavity 20a is limited by closed walls 21a-21f. Here, each cavity 20a is limited by side walls 21a-21d, which are arranged between a bottom wall 21e and a top wall 21f.

Fig. 7 and 8 show an example of a key having closed cavities 20a as in the example of Fig. 6 and cavities 20b with openings 22a, 22c. Here, a cavity 20b is limited by closed side walls 22b and 22d, which are arrsuiged between a closed bottom wall 22e and a closed top wall 22f. Between the ends of the side walls 22b and 22d there is sui opening 22a and 22c, respectively, which is connected to a groove 25a and 25b, respectively. The groove 25a, 25b is formed on the underside of the key shank 11. As is also apparent from Fig. 8, wall portion 12a and 12b, respectively are arranged transversally to the cavity 20b covering the openings 22a, 22s such that they are invisible from outside. Thus, though the groove 25a, 26b is open, it is not possible to see through an opening 22a, 22c to identify the boundaries of the cavity 20b.

Fig. 9 and 10 show an example, in which no closed cavities are provided, only cavities 20b with openings 22a, 22c such as in the example of Fig. 7.

In order to facilitate the detection of the cavities 20, when the lock reads a key, it is conceivable to provide the key with a pattern 28 which allows e.g. the determination of the velocity with which a user introduces the key into the lock. Fig. 11 and 12 show an example, in which the key shank 10 is provided with a pattern 28, formed by dots, which are arrsuiged along the X-direction, preferably in an equidistant manner. Instead of having a pattern formed on the key shank 10 or additionally thereto, it is also conceivable to provide a pattern in the key shank 10 by providing e.g. inner cavities forming the pattern.

The inner cavities 20 shown so far are only one example for encoding information. It is conceivable to shape and/or arrange them in another way, so that a coding is defined by the shapes, the dimensions and/or the positions of the inner cavities. The inner cavities 20 may be arranged along a line with a predetermined length, in a two-dimensional area with a predetermined length and a predetermined width or in a three-dimensional space with a predetermined length, a predetermined width and a predetermined height.

Apart from the coding defined by the inner cavities 20, the embodiment shown here has a second mechanical coding by structuring an outer surface of the key shank 10. The key shank has a semi-closed profile enclosing at least partially the second mechanical coding part. As is e.g. apparent from Fig. 5 and 6, the key shank 10 has an arcuate middle portion 11 connecting two side portions 12a, 12c each being connected to a return portion 13a, 13b. Thus, the key shank 10 is shaped towards its middle of the key shank 10, e.g. U- shaped. The portions 12a and 13a as well as the portions 12b and 13b enclose an outer coding cavity 14a and 14b, respectively, in which the second mechanical coding is formed, e.g. in form of one or more coding tracks. A coding track extends along the key shank 10 and may have e.g. a wavelike course, see the coding tracks 15a, 15b in Fig. 2,

5, 7 and 9. A coding track 15a, 15b may be formed e.g. by a line of successive channel portions and/or ridge portions.

In contrast to the inner cavities 20, an outer cavity 14a, 14b is not fully hidden, so that e.g. the boundaries defining the forward end as well as a lateral side of the outer cavity 14a, 14b is visible from outside. However, when looking at the key itself, the portions 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b prevent that e.g. the full coding track 15a, 15b mentioned above can be identified from outside.

The walls 21a-21f, 22b, 22d-21f defining the boundaries of the inner cavities 20, 20a and optionally other parts of the key may be produced as a single piece by an additive manufacturing process, e.g. selective laser melting (SLM), laser sintering, laser melting, electron beam melting, fused deposition modeling, material jetting, photopolymer jetting, binder jetting, stereolithography and injection. In case a cavity 20 is in the form of a fully closed cavity 20a, then the powder or the like used in the additive manufacturing process may be remain in the cavity 20a. In case a cavity is in the form of a cavity 20b with one or more openings 22a, 22c the power can be extracted therethrough e.g. by vacuuming so that the cavity 20b is emptied.

In a preferred embodiment the key is a purely mechanical key such that it is free of electronics, in particular of a chip.

Fig. 13 to 16 show an embodiment of a lock which can be operated by the key described above. The lock comprises a plug 40, which includes a keyway configured to receive the key shank 10 of the key, a housing 41 with a circular cylindrical opening, in which the plug 40 is accommodated, at least one blocking bar 42, which is arranged between the plug 40 and the housing 40 to prevent a rotation of the plug 40 with respect to the housing 41 when the lock is not in the fully unlocked state, and one or more validating elements 43 configured to cooperate with the key introduced into the keyway to read the second mechanical coding part 15a, 15b.

The lock comprises also a device for reading the first coding part defined by the inner cavities 20 of the key and for blocking/unblocking the lock. The device includes the following components:

— A sensor ("scanning probe") 51 for detecting the inner cavities 20 and for providing a corresponding signal. Here, the sensor 51 is configured to sense a limited space of the key shank 10 only. Thus, the sensor 51 senses consecutively the inner cavities 20 as the key shank 10 is introduced into the keyway and moved along the sensor 51. The sensor 51 may be configured differently, so that it detects more than one cavity at the same time. The sensor 51 is configured to detect the inner cavities 20 by ultrasound, X-ray, magnetic resonance, magnetic induction and/or by determining the electrical conductivity. — A control unit 52 for receiving the signal from the sensor 51 and for determining the coding based on said signal. The control unit 52 may include electronic components, e.g. a memory for storing predetermined coding information, and a comparator for comparing the determined coding with the stored coding information to determine whether the determined coding is correct or incorrect.

— An actuator 53 for blocking or unblocking a locking element 54. The actuator 53 is coupled to the control unit 52 to receive a signal therefrom when the determined code of the cavities 20 is correct. In this case the actuator 53 is operated to free the locking element 54.

The device 50 may be provided with one or more supplemental sensors, e.g.

— a sensor for detecting the pattern 28 on the key shank 10 and for sending a corresponding signal to the control unit 52. Based on this signal, the control unit 52 may determine the velocity, with which a user has introduced the key shank 10 into the lock. Based on the determined velocity, the control unit 52 may determine the shape/position of an inner cavity 20 more accurately.

— a sensor configured to analyse the material composition of the key shank and for sending a corresponding signal to the control unit 52. The latter may compare the information on the analysis of the material conposition with material information stored in the memory for determining whether the key is a duplicate or not. The sensor may be configured such that it can determine deviations of the measured material conqposition from a given material composition defining the "genuine" key. To operate the device 50, an energy source (not shown) is provided, e.g. a battery. It is also conceivable to provide the device 50 with means for energy harvesting, which are configured to power the lock by energy produced when inserting the key shank 10 into the keyway.

Fig. 17 shows an example of the blocking mechanism of the device 50 in more detail. The actuator 53 is e.g. in the form of a step motor and includes a movable shaft, which is provided with a cam 55. The latter acts on the blocking element 54, which is spring loaded, such that it enters into a recess 56 of a ring 57, which is fixed to the plug 40.

When the control unit 51 signals that the inner cavities 20 of the key has the correct coding, the shaft of the actuator 53 is moved to rotate the cam 55. Thereby, the blocking element 54 is retracted from the recess 56.

In the present embodiment the second coding part 15a, 15b of the key must also be correct in order to open the lock. Once the key shank 10 is fully introduced into the keyway, the validating elements 43, which are arranged e.g. in a rotatable manner around a rotations axis, have a specific position. If these positions are the correct ones, then the validating elements 43 form together with a recess in the plug 40 a receiving space in which the blocking bar 42 can be received so that it is freed out of the groove in the housing 41. In the completely unlocked state the plug 40 together with components 42, 43 and the key can be rotated with respect to the housing 41.

In the embodiment of Fig. 13 all components of the lock are arranged at the same location. It is possible to configure the lock such that components at different locations interact. Fig. 18 shows an example with a door D, which includes a first lock part 61 which may include e.g. the components 40- 42 of the lock of Fig. 15 and a second lock part 62, which is a reading unit and which may include e.g. the components 51, 52 of the device 50.

The door D has e.g. a movable latch which engages the door frame and which may be manipulated by the first lock part

61.

In addition, there are provided an evaluation unit 63, which is mounted e.g. on a wall, and a supplemental locking device 64, which cooperates with the door D to block or unblock it.

The units 62 and 63 are connected with each other by cables or in a wireless manner. The unit 63 and the locking device 64 are connected with each other by cables or in a wireless manner.

Once the key shank 10 of a key is inserted, the reading unit 62 reads the coding defined by the inner cavities 20, 20a, 20b and sends a corresponding signal to the evaluation unit 63. The latter can signal to the locking device 64 to unblock in case that the coding is correct.

It is also conceivable to use the evaluation unit 63 as a memory device which registers the code of the key inserted.

In a simplified configuration the evaluation unit 63 is left away and the locking device 64 is connected to the lock part 62 by cables or in a wireless manner.

Having the door D locked at two different locations make it particular safe against an unauthorized opening of the door.

The key shank 10 of the key described so far serves for a mechanical coding part of the key. It is not mandatory that the key has a key shank. It is conceivable that the key has another form, which includes a mechanical coding part with inner cavities, which form is not necessarily configured to be introduced into a keyway of a lock. The key may be e.g. in form of a card which can be hold against a scanning device of the lock to read the key coding.

Some of the main aspects of embodiments of the key and the lock can be summarized as follows:

The key includes a key coding which may be based on cavities whose boundaries are hidden. The key may be configured as an access control's carrier and may also serve as a token. It can be used with an electronic or a mechanical locking system. In comparison to an ordinary key with a fully visible coding or a concealed mechanical code, this coding is completely hidden. This makes it almost impossible to duplicate the key by ordinary means, since the cavities are not accessible from the outside or only in a very limited way, so that no ordinary method may be used for an unauthorized copying.

The key may be produced by an additive manufacturing, e.g.

3D metal printing, which allows in just one manufacturing step e.g. to produce a mechanical key with a state of the art physical coding and, at the same time, inner cavities representing the "digitally-read "/machine-read coding. Thus, the overall cost of a mechatronic/electronic key production may be reduced by a considerable factor, typically of more than ten times, as well as the number of parts, number of suppliers, assembly steps and production space needs. Furthermore, it would enable to produce a substitute of mechatronic keys (having mechanical and electronic functions) wherever a 3D metal printer is deployed and in one single manufacturing step. There is no need for any complex supply chain, expensive components or their assembly. Highly advanced mechatronic keys can be produced at low cost and close to customer at major urban locations, also reducing the delivery times significantly. Mechatronic keys are mainly produced today in a limited number of highly specialized factories with multiple expensive components, manufacturing and assembly steps.

In comparison to the ordinary carrier of an electronic coding's information (that can be hacked and a virtual copy can be made) the present embodiments offer an advanced level of protection against a potential threat of an unauthorized copying of the coding information. One advantage is that no direct duplicate of a code is possible. In case the key code will be read, a real key must be produced. At the same time it brings all the convenience features of electronic systems : key logs, banning, etc.

Conceivable non-destructive methods to read/detect the patterns of the enclosed cavities may be ultrasonic-, X-ray-, magnetic resonance-, magnetic induction- or electrical conductivity (eddy current)-probes.

A comparative method of an authorization evaluation is based on a process where the original electronic pattern scanned by the device from the master key/token is compared to the electronic pattern scanned from an actual key.

Some of the detection methods are unavailable in a portable version driven by a battery or another autonomous source of energy. It makes the coding even less available for an unauthorized copying.

Some of the devices stated above may be capable to discern not only the geometry of the cavity in various directions but even other parameters determining if the key is an authorized carrier of access rights for unlocking a matching locking system. This procedure is independent on a velocity of a key inserting into the lock and thus no additional electronic device for various velocity's compensation is needed.

A pattern scanning procedure can be based on an absolute value of a distance of cavities from the point of origin determined on a key related to the exact spot where the reading sensor is situated in the lock.

Key manufacturing methods can be diverse, but the most effective is an additive manufacturing providing the highest grade of flexibility as well as the highest grade of accuracy.

There are various parameters to be used for codes creating and in comparison to the ordinary bar code principle they provide much more variations. Cavities used within a key shank can differ in length, width, depth as well as material of a key is discernible. It means that even in case all cavities would be dimensional identical in a potential duplicate key, the scanning unit would reject the new key if there is a deviation from the original key material¹s chemical conposition.

One embodiment of the key is to adapt a key as disclosed in the patent CZ 306981B6, which is equipped with a pair of coding waves situated on both flanks of the key shank providing free space for hidden cavities. The free space without any surface unevenness provides favourable conditions for scanning by an electronic unit as mentioned above.

Claims

1. A key including a mechanical coding part (10), which comprises inner cavities (20, 20a, 20b) defining a coding of the key, the inner cavities are limited by boundaries defined by walls (21a-21f, 22b, 22d-21f) made in one piece, the walls enclosing the inner cavities such that the boundaries are invisible from outside.

2. The key according to claim 1, wherein an inner cavity (20a) is fully closed or an inner cavity (20b) includes at least one opening (22a, 22c) extending to the outward of the mechanical coding part (10).

3. The key according to claim 2, further including at least one of the following features Ά1 to A4:

Al) an outer wall portion (13a) is arranged in front of the at least one opening (22a, 22c),

A2) the at least one opening (22a, 22c) is covered by an outer wall portion (12a, 13a) such that it is invisible from outside,

A3) the at least one opening (22a, 22c) leads to a groove (25a, 25b) formed in the mechanical coding part (10), A4) the at least one opening (22a, 22c) leads to a groove (25a, 25b) formed in the mechanical coding part (10), the groove extending in an extension direction (X), in which the mechanical coding part extends.

4. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding of the key is defined by the shapes, the dimensions, and/or the positions of the inner cavities (20, 20a, 20b), and/or by a material, preferably a powder, included in one or more of the inner cavities (20a), preferably the inner cavities are arranged along a line with a predetermined length or in a two-dimensional area with a predetermined length and a predetermined width.

5. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical coding part (10) extends in an extension direction (X) and an inner cavity (20, 20a, 20b) extends along the extension direction over a predetermined first distance (A), the inner cavities being arranged consecutively along the extension direction, two adjacent inner cavities being spaced apart from each other with a predetermined second distance (B), the first and/or the second distances (A, B) define the coding of the key.

6. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical coding part is part of a key shank (10) to be introduced into a keyway of a lock, preferably the key shank has a profile including an arcuate wall portion (11).

7. The key according to claim 6, wherein the key shank (10) includes a pattern (28) to determine the velocity with which the key shank is introduced into the keyway, preferably the pattern includes markings which are arranged equidistantly on and/or in the key shank, most preferably the markings are dots.

8. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an outer surface, which is structured to define an additional coding (15a, 15b) of the key, preferably the outer surface being arranged in an outer cavity (14a, 14b), which has at least one opening so that the outer cavity is accessible from outside, most preferably the outer cavity being formed by a hollow profile which is closed or semiclosed.

9. The key according to claim 8, wherein the outer cavity (14a, 14b) is formed by a semiclosed profile, which includes an arcuate main wall portion (11) and a pair of side wall portions (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) extending inward from opposite sides of the main wall portion, the arcuate main wall portion comprising the inner cavities (20, 20a, 20b) and at least one of the side wall portions (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) forming the outer structured surface to define the additional coding (15a, 15b) of the key.

10. The key according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a mechanical key such that it is free of electronics, in particular a chip.

11. A lock configured to be used in combination with a key according to any one of the preceding claims, the lock comprising at least one first sensor (51) configured to detect the inner cavities (20, 20a, 20b) of the key to determine the coding of the key, preferably the at least one first sensor is configured to detect the inner cavities limited by boundaries defined by walls (21a-21f, 22b, 22d-21f) made in one piece of the same material, a memory for storing predetermined coding information related to the coding of the key, preferably the memory serves for storing information on the time periods when the key is authorized to open and close the lock and/or for storing entry logs of keys used with the lock, and a comparator for comparing the determined coding with the stored coding information to determine whether the determined coding is authorized or not.

12. The lock according to claim 11, further conqprising at least one second sensor configured to analyse the key to provide information on its material composition, the comparator being configured to compare the provided information on the material composition with material composition information stored in the memory for determining whether the key is an authorized key or not.

13. The lock according to any one of claims 11 to 12, further comprising a keyway into which a key shank (10) of the key can be introduced and at least one third sensor configured to detect a pattern (28) included on and/or in the key shank in order to determine the velocity with which the key shank is introduced into the keyway, preferably the at least one first sensor (51) serving as the at least one third sensor.

14. The lock according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the at least one first sensor (51) is configured to detect the inner cavities (20, 20a, 20b) by means of an analyzing method, which includes ultrasound, X- ray, magnetic resonance, magnetic induction and/or determining the electrical conductivity, and/or wherein the at least one second sensor is configured to analyse the key to provide information on its material composition by means of said analyzing method and/or by optical means, and/or wherein the at least one third sensor is configured to detect the pattern (28) included on and/or in the key shank (10) by means of said analyzing method and/or by optical means.

15. The lock according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising at least one of the following features B1 to B5:

Bl) an energy source, preferably a battery, for supplying the at least one first sensor (51), the memory and the comparator with energy,

B2) a signal generator which produces an unlocking signal when the comparator determines that the coding of the key is correct,

B3) an actuator (53) cooperating with a plug (40) such it is decoupled therefrom when receiving the unlocking signal, B4) a first locking device for blocking and unblocking a member closing and opening a passage, in particular a door (D), at a first location, the first locking device is configured to read an additional coding (15a, 15b) of the key defined by an structured outer surface of the key,

B5) a second locking device for blocking and unblocking the member (D) at a second location, the first locking and second locking devices are configured to be arranged remote from each other, preferably the second locking device is configured to cooperate with the member such it is decoupled therefrom when receiving the unlocking signal.

16. The lock according to any one of claims 11 to 15, which comprises at least one of the following features Cl to C5: Cl) a plug (40) for receiving a key shank (10) of the key and being configured to be accommodated in a housing (41), the plug being rotatable with respect to the housing in the unlocked state of the lock,

C2) at least one movable validating element (43) configured to cooperate with the key to read an additional coding (15a, 15b) of the key defined by a structured outer surface of the key, preferably the at least one validating element is movably arranged in a plane transversally to the insertion direction along which a key shank of the key can be introduced into the lock,

C3) at least one blocking bar (42), which in the unlocked state of the lock is movable between a longitudinal groove formed in the housing (41) and in a receiving space formed in the plug (40),

C4) a keyway having a transverse keyway profile which includes an arcuate portion, preferably the keyway includes at least one side portion adjacent to the arcuate portion, most preferably the keyway includes at least one return portion adjacent to the at least one side portion,

C5) a housing (41) to acconunodate a plug (40) such that the plug (40) is rotatable relative thereto in the unlocked state of the lock, preferably the housing defining a portion of the geometry of the keyway, most preferably said portion being defined by a curved wall portion of the housing.

17. A method for fabricating the key according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least the mechanical coding part (10) of the key is produced by means of an additive manufacturing process.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the inner cavities (20a) of the mechanical coding part remain filled with the powder used in the additive manufacturing process or at least one of the inner cavities (20b) is provided with at least one opening (22a, 22c) through which the powder is evacuated.