GB2079838A

GB2079838A - Lock control mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2079838A
Application number: GB8120444A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sodex Magister Societe dExploitation des Brevets Neiman SA
Current assignee: Sodex Magister Societe dExploitation des Brevets Neiman SA
Priority date: 1980-07-09
Filing date: 1981-07-02
Publication date: 1982-01-27
Also published as: ES8204035A1; IT1167466B; GB2079838B; IT8122832A0; DE3125827A1; FR2486576B1; JPS5748079A; DE3125827C2; FR2486576A1; ES503242A0; IT8122832A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling an element for locking and unlocking a lock particularly on a car, comprising an independent emitter (4) and a receiver (12) connected to the lock. The emitter comprises an emitter of a coded message and a transmitter for it the receiver comprises means for reception of the said coded message, means for comparing it with a memorized standard, means to emit a signal in the case of agreement between the said messages, and an amplifier of the said signal. The emitter (14) comprises a pair of contacts (7, 8) for electric connection to at least one pair of contacts (5, 6) connected to the terminals of the supply source (1) of the receiver (3). The arrangement is such that the terminals are in contact when the receiver (3) and the emitter (4) are opposite to one another. Thus the emitter needs no power supply of its own. As shown a switch (2) is in the receiver and is actuated by a magnet in the emitter. Transmission of the emitted signal is by optical means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lock control mechanism The invention relates to a device for controlling an element for locking and unlocking a lock, comprising an independent emitter and a receiver connected to the lock to be controlled, the said emitter comprising an emitter of a coded message and a transmitter of the said coded message, the said receiver comprising means for the reception of the said coded message, a memory containing a single coded message, a comparator of the said received message with the said memorised message arranged to emit a signal in the case of agreement of the said messages, and an amplifier of the said signal.

A device of this type is known which is utilised in the automobile industry (see French Patent No. 78.07726 of the 1 7th March 1978), in which the emitter is fed by a direct current electric supply source constituted by a battery. This form of embodiment, which offers the advantage of relative autonomy of the emitter, has however various drawbacks. In fact the presence of batteries in the emitter gives the latter significant bulk and weight which are irksome to the user. Moreover the cost of batteries and the necessity of periodically changing them constitute a restriction in use which it is desirable to eliminate. Finally the user must direct the emitter towards the receiver of the vehicle.

The present invention aims at remedying these drawbacks by means of the elimination of the emitter battery and the automatic positioning of the emitter in relation to the receiver.

To this end the device according to the invention is characterised in that the emitter comprises a pair of contacts for electric connection to at least one pair of contacts connected to the terminals of the supply source of the receiver, the receiver being positioned in such manner that the receiver and the emitter are opposite to one another when the contacts of the emitter are in contact with the said contacts connected to the terminals of the supply source of the receiver.

Thus the emitter is supplied directly by the supply source of the receiver and is positioned exactly in relation to the receiver at the moment of this supply.

A switch controlled by the emitter when it is connected to the said contacts connected to the terminals of the supply source of the receiver is preferably interposed between one of the said contacts and the corresponding terminal of the supply source of the receiver.

This avoids permanent feeding of the contacts and the emitter no longer needs to be equipped with an independent actuation device, which further reduces its bulk.

The emitter advantageously comprises a permanent magnet and the said switch is a flexible blade switch positioned in such manner as to be opposite to the said permanent magnet in the position for connection of the emitter.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is an electrical diagram of a device according to one example of embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a view in later elevation, partially in section, of the device according to Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an end view of a part of the device according to Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a front view of a device according to one variant of the invention, the emitter being in the course of being positioned; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V in Fig. 4; Figure 6 is analogous with Fig. 4, but after positioning of the emitter; Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line Vll-Vil in Fig. 6, and Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6.

The example as described below concern locks of automobile vehicles, the transmission of the coded message taking place by optical means. All other applications can of course be envisaged.

In the form of embodiment according to Figs. 1 to 3, the battery 1 of the vehicle is connected by a flexible blade switch 2 to one contact 6 of a pair of contacts 5-6 fast with the vehicle and accessible from the exterior thereof. The receiver 1 2 comprises a receiver photo-diode 3 and controis an electromechanical assembly 9 for the locking and unlocking of the lock.

The emitter 1 4 comprises an emitter diode 4 and a pair of elastic contacts 7-8, the arrangement being such that when the contact 7 is coupled to the contact 5 and the contact 8 is coupled to the contact 6, the emitter diode 4 is opposite to the photo-diode 3.

The emitter 14 further comprises a permanent magnet 10 which, in this position, is opposite to the switch 2 and causes its closure. The emitter 14 is then supplied directly by the battery 1 and its diode 4 emits a signal which is received by the photo-diode 3 and according to the previous condition of the system directly causes the locking or unlocking of the lock by the action of the assembly 9.

In the variant of embodiment according to Figs. 4 to 8 the same references designate the same parts as in Figs. 1 to 3. A slideway 11, which can for example be a door embellisher strip, carries the two elastic contacts 5 and 6 connected to the battery and the receiver photo-diode 3.

The emitter 14 comprises the emitter diode 4 and the elastic contacts 7, 8. The emitter 14 comprises two lugs 1 5 co-operating with grooves of the slideway to ensure sliding of the emitter 14 on the slideway 11.

The emitter 14, after positioning at the extremity on the left (in the drawing) of the slideway 11, is pushed back to the right (Fig.

4) until against the action of a spring it pushes back a sealed protective cover 1 7 and comes into the operating position (Figs. 6, 7, 8) in which the contact 7 is coupled to the contact 5, the contact 8 is coupled to the contact 6 and the emitter diode 4 is opposite to the photo-diode 3.

The emitter is then fed directly by the battery, possibly through the intermediary of a switch (not shown) actuated by the emitter 14 at the end of its sliding movement. Flat springs 1 9 and 20(Fig. 6) exert a pressure upon the emitter 14 in order to ensure good contact.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a circuit for the locking and unlocking of a lock, comprising: a receiver device connected to the circuit of the lock to be controlled, a coded signal generator, an emitter device for emitting said coded signal, means in said receiver for reception of the said coded signals, a memory in said receiver having stored information therein according to a predetermined code, a comparator for comparing the coded signals with the stored information and capable of emitting a signal in the event of agreement between said coded signals and stored information, an amplifier of the output signal from said comparitor, a first pair of contacts provided on said emitter device, a second pair of contacts on said receiver device connected to said supply source and capable of being contacted by said first pair of contacts, and a supply source for providing current supply to said second pair of contacts being positioned in such manner that the receiver device and the emitter device are opposite to one another when the first pair of contacts are in contact with the said contacts.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a switch provided in said receiver device which is controlled by the emitter device when the latter is engaging said receiver device, said switch being provided between one of the contacts of said second pair and the supply source.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emitter device comprises a permanent magnet and said switch is a flexible blade (reed) switch positioned in such manner as to be opposite to the said permanent magnet when the emitter device is engaged with said receiver device.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the second pair of contacts connected to the terminals of the supply source and the receiver are mounted on a slideway with which the emitter device cooperates.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second pair of contacts connected to the terminals of the supply source of the receiver and the receiver are covered by a sealed protective cover sliding on the said slideway and urged resiliently into the covering position.

8. A device for controlling a circuit for the locking and unlocking of a lock substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.