WO2006097769A1

WO2006097769A1 - Electronic lock

Info

Publication number: WO2006097769A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/050052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan James Maple; Ian Martin Lennard
Original assignee: Alan James Maple; Ian Martin Lennard
Priority date: 2005-03-14
Filing date: 2006-03-14
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: GB0505275D0

Abstract

An electronic lock includes an electronic controller having a smartcard reader and a housing (10) supporting a lock mechanism (11 ,12) which may be released by the controller on presentation of the smartcard thereto. An over- ride arrangement for the card reader includes an input button such as a touch panel (20), a sequencer and an indicator device (21, 22, 23) arranged to permit the entry of a multi-digit over-ride code. Touching the panel 20 causes the sequencer to increment a count displayed on the indicator device (21, 22, 23) such as LEDs or possibly a seven-segment display. Successive multiple taps on the panel (20) permit the entry of the multi-digit over-ride code.

Description

ELECTRONIC LOCK

This invention relates to a lock including a lock mechanism and an electronic controller for that lock mechanism.

Electronic locks are becoming widely used, in view of the greater security for lower costs that these can offer, as compared to simple mechanical locks. Typically, such an electronic lock has a lock mechanism located within a housing and a lock member which may be locked by the mechanism in a particular setting, the lock mechanism including an electronic controller which is operated by the entry of a particular code to free the lock member. The code may be directly entered into the controller for example by means of a keypad, but increasingly commonly, the code is carried on a smartcard which may be interrogated by the electronic controller. For example, the electronic controller may have a slot into which the card is inserted for static reading of data carried by the card, or the card may include a swipe strip which may be read by passing the card through a reader. More recently, proximity readers have been developed where data carried on a smartcard may be read merely by bringing the card sufficiently close to the reader. This has several advantages, including the possibility of making the lock weatherproof.

A problem associated with an electronic lock controlled by a smartcard is that it can be very difficult to release the lock either without the smartcard or should the data on the smartcard become corrupted. Either of these events can occur significantly more easily than with a mechanical lock which employs a rigid metal key to perform the unlocking function. For example, the data on a smartcard may be corrupted by a strong magnetic field or if a card is subjected to electromagnetic radiation of a particular frequency. Also, it is more easy to mislay a thin, light and small plastic card carrying a data chip, than a rigid mechanical key which frequently is attached to a fob with other keys.

There are various proposals which attempt to address this problem. For example, it is known to provide a mechanical release arrangement which may be operated by an appropriately coded mechanical key. Also, it is known to provide a port to which a suitable input device (such as a keypad) may be connected, to permit data to be entered directly to the lock controller from the input device, rather than by way of the smartcard and reader.

A particular problem might arise when an electronic lock is fitted to a commercial vehicle to control access to the goods carrying compartment of that vehicle. Usually, the driver will be issued with a time-limited smartcard able to operate the lock only for the expected duration of the journey to be undertaken by the vehicle. If the driver should lose the smartcard, or should the journey take much longer than anticipated, it may not be possible for the driver then to open the compartment as he is unlikely to have a mechanical key or the required input device, should either of the above solutions be implemented. If the vehicle is carrying perishable goods, by the time a suitable key for opening the electronic lock has been brought to the vehicle, the goods may have deteriorated to an unacceptable extent.

The provision of a keypad on an electronic lock of a commercial vehicle is not particularly practical, in view of the conditions under which a vehicle may operate. The keypad must be resistant to all climatic conditions including rain and snow as well as salt water, and must be able to operate at temperatures from -2O⁰C to +4O⁰C. Such a keypad would be extremely expensive and moreover liable to challenge by vandals. As such, it is necessary to find alternative techniques for the emergency opening of an electronic lock for a vehicle. This invention aims at addressing this problem.

According to this invention, there is provided a lock comprising: a housing supporting a lock member movable between locked and free positions; a lock mechanism located at least partially within the housing and adapted to lock the lock member in its locked position; an electronic controller for the lock mechanism which controller includes a card reader adapted to read a smart card presented thereto, the controller being arranged to free the lock mechanism if a code read from the card is validated; and over-ride means permitting the manual entry of a multi-digit code to the controller thereby to free the lock mechanism without the use of the smart card, which over-ride means comprises an input button, a sequencer and an indicator device arranged so that the input button may be pressed to cause the sequencer to increment a count and to indicate that count on the indicator device, whereby successive pressings of the button permits the entry of said multi-digit code.

The over-ride means permits the electronic controller to free the lock mechanism without the use of a smartcard, but only so long as the operator firstly knows how to accomplish this and secondly knows the multi-digit code which is to be entered into the controller. The operator (such as a truck driver) may obtain that multi-digit code from a centralised issuing authority which issued the lost or corrupted smartcard, for example by telephone. Further, the operator may obtain instructions from the issuing authority, as to how to use that code, if the operator has not been trained, beforehand. In this way, the operator may manage to open the lock even though that cannot be achieved with the lost or corrupted smartcard.

In a preferred implementation, the multi-digit code may only be used once, the electronic controller automatically requiring the input of a different multi-digit code once a first code has been used. This may be achieved in several different ways. For example, the electronic controller may be preprogrammed by the issuing authority with a random or pseudo-random series of multi-digit codes. The issuing authority will therefore know the next code to be used in the event that the lock is to be opened other than with the smartcard and may transfer this information to the operator. Once that code has been used, it will not work again and a subsequent opening of the lock without the smartcard may be achieved only by entering a new multi-digit code.

Particularly for a lock having a card reader in the form of a proximity detector, it is preferred that said button comprises a touch sensitive panel on the exterior of the housing. The indicator device advantageously comprises a light source exposed for viewing externally of the housing and in this case the sequencer may be arranged to cause the light source to flash for as long as the button remains pressed. When the light source has flashed the required number of times, to indicate the digit of the multi-digit code to be entered, the button is released. Then, after a short delay, the button may be pressed again - A -

so that the sequencer causes the light source once more to flash, and the button is released after the required number of flashes for the next digit of the code. Instead of maintaining pressure on the button, the button could be tapped once for each count with a longer delay after entering a required digit.

As an alternative, a plurality of light sources may be provided, one for each digit of the code. In this case, the light sources may be of distinct colours. A further possibility is for the indicator device to comprise a multi-segment LCD or LED display, on which a numeric count may be displayed, so obviating the need for the operator mentally to count the number of flashes.

Many electronic locks are arranged as a self-contained unit, including an electrical power source such as a conventional dry cell battery. For such a lock of this invention, the controller may be arranged to enter a sleep mode after the expiry of a pre-set period following the last operation of the lock, in which the controller draw only a very low current or no current. The controller may be woken from that sleep mode by briefly pressing the button of the over-ride means. Then, to permit the entry of a manual over-ride multi-digit code, the button may be pressed for more than a set period - for example, five seconds.

The lock of this invention may be adapted for mounting on a surface such as a door to the goods compartment of a commercial vehicle, or on a fixed part of the goods compartment for interaction with the door. Another possibility is to construct the lock as an entirely self-contained unit and so generally to correspond to a conventional key-operated padlock. Yet another possibility is for the controller, including the card reader and over-ride means, to be provided within a housing separate from that supporting the lock member and the lock mechanism, the controller being connected to the lock mechanism housing by means of an electric cable. This arrangement is particularly suitable for use with a commercial vehicle, where the lock mechanism may be provided in association with a door to the goods compartment and the separate housing for the controller and card reader being mounted on a convenient and accessible surface of the vehicle. In this case, the lock mechanism may require a coded electrical signal in order to operate, so as to prevent unauthorised operation merely by cutting the wires and applying a voltage source thereto.

By way of example only, two specific embodiments of lock of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the lock in a closed position;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the lock in an open position; and

Figures 3A to 3F is a diagrammatic flowchart showing the steps used to effect unlocking of a second embodiment of the lock, by using a remote override arrangement.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an embodiment of electronic lock of this invention and which is normally operated using a smartcard, but which is adapted to permit the opening of the lock by using an over-ride facility. The lock comprises a housing 10 within which is mounted a staple 11 , arranged for movement between a closed position (Figure 1 ) and an open position (Figure 2). The staple has a main shaft 12 which is both slidably and rotatably carried within a bore 13 in the housing, the free end 14 of the staple being received in a further bore 15 when the lock is in its closed position. The lock is opened by the staple moving axially out of the housing so releasing the free end 14 of the staple from the further bore 15, whereafter the staple may be rotated in order to permit it to be connected to some other item to be locked - for example, a door handle of a goods compartment door associated with a commercial vehicle.

When in the position shown in Figure 1 , the staple 11 is automatically locked closed, for example by means of a push-button assembly 16 which has a portion engageable with a groove formed in the main shaft 12 of the staple. The push-button assembly is spring-urged to the position shown in Figure 1 so that on moving the staple to its closed position, said portion (not shown) automatically moves into the groove in the main shaft 12 and the staple may be released from its locked position only by pressing the push-button assembly to the position shown in Figure 2, so permitting the staple to move away from the housing.

Contained within the housing is an electrical power source such as a dry battery (not shown), along with an electronic controller (not shown) and an actuator (also not shown) arranged to control operation of the push-button assembly 16. For example, the actuator may comprise a solenoid having a pin spring-urged to engage with the push-button assembly, so that the push-button may be depressed to the position shown in Figure 2 only when the solenoid has been energised to withdraw the pin from the assembly. The solenoid is controlled by the controller such that it is energised by the power source only when the controller has received an appropriate input.

Associated with the electronic controller is a proximity smartcard reader, arranged to read data from a smartcard presented to a display panel 19 provided in the housing 10. That display panel includes touch-sensitive area 20 labelled "Touch to wake up", and three light sources 21 ,22,23 of different colours. For example, the light sources may comprise LEDs visible through a transparent area of the panel. The display panel may also include wording to indicate the function of the light sources and such other information as might be required.

In use, the lock may be secured to a commercial vehicle goods compartment door, such that the staple 11 may interact with the door handle or other locking arrangement, to control the operation thereof. In the alternative, the lock may be used as an entirely self-contained item in the manner of a conventional mechanical padlock, with the staple being used to interconnect together two parts of the door locking arrangement. The operation of the lock will be described below, though in relation to a second embodiment.

Figures 3A to 3F, is a flowchart showing the steps followed in performing unlocking of the lock mechanism by using a manual over-ride code, rather than a smartcard presented to the card reader. However, in the case of Figures 3A to 3F, these show a second embodiment where the display panel and electronic controller are mounted in a separate housing remote from the lock itself and connected thereto by an electrical cable in order that the solenoid might be operated by the controller, when it is appropriate to do so. Normally, this would be when a smartcard carrying the required code is presented to the proximity card reader, but may also be when an emergency unlock code is manually entered into the controller. An appropriate digital signal must be supplied from the controller to the lock mechanism so that mere cutting of the cable and applying a voltage thereto will not operate the solenoid.

When it has been determined that the smartcard cannot be used to unlock the lock, a multi-digit code (referred to in the drawings as a pin number) is obtained from a central bureau (Figure 3A). That number typically will have three digits and is in the form of a rolling code that may be used only once.

The controller is brought out of an essentially no-current consumption sleep mode by briefly touching the "Touch to wake up" area 20, and then touching and maintaining contact with that area until LED 21 illuminates (Figure 3B). In this example, LED 21 is coloured red. The first digit of the multi-digit code is then entered by briefly tapping area 20 the required number of times for the first digit, and on each tap, LED 21 turns off and then re-illuminates.

After the first digit has been entered as described above, the area 20 is not touched again until LED 22 (which may be an amber LED) illuminates (Figure 3C), which typically will happen a few seconds after the last tap on area 20 for entering the first digit. The process is then repeated for the second digit of the code, though this time it will be LED 22 which turns off and on. The process is repeated once more for the third digit of the code, which this time will be indicated by LED 23, which may be a green LED (Figure 3D).

When all three digits of the code have been entered correctly in the manner described above, the controller will supply current to the solenoid to unlock the lock (Figure 3E) and then, a few seconds later, the supply of current will be discontinued and the controller will return to its initial state awaiting locking of the compartment once more. In the period that current is supplied to the solenoid, the operator must depress the push-button assembly 16 of the lock so as to free the staple 11 , to move to its unlocked setting (Figure 2). As indicated in Figures 3B to 3D, the display panel could include a three-digit seven-segment display, for displaying the entered digits of the code. In this case, the operator does not need to count the number of taps on the area 20, as the number displayed will be incremented on each tap. A further possibility is for the controller to cause the LEDs automatically to flash at a relatively slow rate, for so long as an operator touches the area 20. Then, after the required number of flashes, the operator may cease contact with the area 20 so enabling the acceptance of the number as the relevant digit of the code.

Though in Figures 3A to 3E, the controller is shown as a separate unit from the lock itself, the controller, display device and so on may all be incorporated within the housing 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Functionally, the operation will be identical.

Claims

1. A lock comprising:

- a housing supporting a lock member movable between locked and free positions;

- a lock mechanism located at least partially within the housing and adapted to lock the lock member in its locked position;

- an electronic controller for the lock mechanism which controller includes a card reader adapted to read a smart card presented thereto, the controller being arranged to free the lock mechanism if a code read from the card is validated; and

- over-ride means permitting the manual entry of a multi-digit code to the controller thereby to free the lock mechanism without the use of the smart card, which over-ride means comprises an input button, a sequencer and an indicator device arranged so that the input button may be pressed to cause the sequencer to increment a count and to indicate that count on the indicator device, whereby successive pressings of the button permits the entry of said multi-digit code.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said button comprises a touch sensitive panel on the exterior of the housing.

3. A lock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the indicator device comprises a light source exposed for viewing from outside the housing.

4. A lock as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sequencer is arranged to cause the light source to flash for as long as the button remains pressed, the number of flashes indicating the entered count.

5. A lock as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sequencer causes the light source to flash a plurality of times, each time representing one digit of the multi- digit code.

6. A lock as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sequencer is arranged to increment the count by one each time the button is pressed and to cause the light source to flash on each pressing of the button, thereby to indicate the entered count.

7. A lock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the indicator device comprises a plurality of light sources each exposed for viewing from outside the housing.

8. A lock as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sequencer is arranged to cause each light source to flash in turn one after the other, each source flashing for as long as the button remains pressed, and the number of flashes of each source indicating the entered count for that source.

9. A lock as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sequencer is arranged to cause a light source to flash once each time the button is pressed to permit entry of a digit of the multi-digit code, the sources being flashed in turn to indicate the entered count for that source.

10. A lock as claimed any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the sequencer is arranged to flash the next light source in the sequence thereof to be flashed whether or not the correct number of flashes has been entered for the previous light source.

11. A lock as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the indicator device comprises three or four light sources each of a distinct colour, to permit the entry of a three or four digit code.

12. A lock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the indicator device comprises a LCD or LED display.

13. A lock as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the card reader comprises a proximity detector which reads the code embedded in the smart card where the smart card is held sufficiently close to the reader.

14. A lock as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a battery power source is provided in the housing for powering the electronic controller.

15. A lock as claimed in claim 14, wherein lock mechanism includes an electric actuator and the battery power source provides power for the actuator.

16. A lock as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the controller has a sleep mode in which the controller draws a very low or no current, the controller being arranged to enter the sleep mode a pre-set period after the lock was last operated and said button of the over-ride means serves when briefly pressed to reactive the controller.

17. A lock as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller is arranged to enter a manual over-ride mode when said button is pressed for more than a pre-set period.

18. A lock as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is adapted for mounting on a surface whereby the lock member may control the opening of a door associated with said surface.

19. A lock as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the lock comprises a padlock, the lock being is self-contained within the housing.

20. A lock as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the sequencer comprises an integral part of the controller.

21. A lock as claimed in claim 20, wherein the electronic controller is provided within a separate housing from that of the lock mechanism and is connected thereto by an electric cable whereby the controller may control operation of the lock mechanism.