EP0388997A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic locking system
Assignee: Emhart Industries Inc
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Filing: 1987-03-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronic locking system comprising a lock having a keyway (57) to receive the blade (33) of a key (30; 160), and an electronically actuated mechanism (70; 210; 230; 250; 470) for operating the lock when lock combination data contained within said key corresponds to lock combination data contained within said lock. More particularly, the system comprises a key (30; 160) including a memory device (40) containing said lock combination data and said key blade including exposed, electrical contact means (45) in communication with said memory device, and electrical connector means (59) within said lock and having one or more contact members (59 a to d ) biased into said keyway (57) for communicating with said key memory device (40), the or each contact member (59 a to d ) having a conductive contact surface to wipe against said key blade (33) as said key blade is inserted into said keyway and the or each contact member (59 a to d ) being supported such that its contact surface engages the electrical contact means (45) of said key blade (33) to make an electrical connection therewith without rotation of said key blade when said key blade is fully inserted in said keyway.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce A. Clarkson
- 👤 Ronald Joseph Frere
- 👤 Thomas Gregory Loughlin
- 👤 William Waverly Taylor, Jr.
- 👤 Peter Mongeau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:03
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00857; E; E05; E05B; E05B49/00; E05B47/00; E05B47/06; E05B47/0611; E05B47/0619; E05B47/0626; E05B47/063; G07C9/00182; E05B47/0001; E05B47/0002; E05B2047/0007; E05B2047/0008; E05B2047/0092; E05B47/0003; E05B47/0004; E05B47/0006; E05B47/0012; G07C2009/00753; G07C2009/00761; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7051; Y10T70/7057; Y10T70/7062; Y10T70/713; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/7486; Y10T70/7508; Y10T70/7559; Y10T70/7588; Y10T70/7593; Y10T70/7599; Y10T70/7605
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A key for an electronic lock comprising a cylinder housing and a cylinder core rotatable within said housing, said core including a keyway for receiving said key, an electronically actuatable release assembly within the cylinder housing, said release assembly having a locking member which selectively engages the core to prevent rotation thereof, and disengages the core in response to an actuating signal to allow rotation thereof, control logic for generating said actuating signal in response to a match between electronically coded key information on said key and electronic cylinder codes contained within said control logic, and first ohmnic contact means within said lock for communicating with said control logic, characterised in that said key comprises an electronic memory device supported within a cavity within the key, which cavity is substantially surrounded by metal, leads for communicating with the electronic memory device, a metal key blade insertable through the keyway, second ohmic contact means located on said blade but electrically insulated from said blade, and electrically connected to the leads of the memory device for mating with said first ohmic contact means upon insertion of the key in the keyway, whereby the control logic is able to communicate with the memory device, and electrostatic discharge protection means connected between memory cells within said memory device and said second ohmic contact means for protecting said memory cells against static charge entering said cavity means via said second ohmic contact means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A key for an electronic lock comprising a cylinder housing and a cylinder core rotatable within said housing, said core including a keyway for receiving said key, an electronically actuatable release assembly within the cylinder housing, said release assembly having a locking member which selectively engages the core to prevent rotation thereof, and disengages the core in response to an actuating signal to allow rotation thereof, control logic for generating said actuating signal in response to a match between electronically coded key information on said key and electronic cylinder codes contained within said control logic, and first ohmnic contact means within said lock for communicating with said control logic, characterised in that said key comprises an electronic memory device supported within a cavity within the key, which cavity is substantially surrounded by metal, leads for communicating with the electronic memory device, a metal key blade insertable through the keyway, second ohmic contact means located on said blade but electrically insulated from said blade, and electrically connected to the leads of the memory device for mating with said first ohmic contact means upon insertion of the key in the keyway, whereby the control logic is able to communicate with the memory device, and electrostatic discharge protection means connected between memory cells within said memory device and said second ohmic contact means for protecting said memory cells against static charge entering said cavity means via said second ohmic contact means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A key according to claim 1, characterised in that the memory device within the key comprises non-volatile, electronically eraseable, programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A key according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the cavity is located within the key blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A key according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the memory device within the key is housed in a surface mounted package.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A key according to claim 1, characterised in that the memory device within the key is mounted on an electrically insulated substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A key according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the key blade is substantially flat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A key according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the key head is substantially flat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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