Electronic combination lock

Claim 2

An actuating system responsive to a coded combination comprising: A. an entrance encoder unit including a plurality of switches, B. an electrically operated latch actuating unit, and C. a control unit including: 1. a plurality of interconnected clocked bistable stages, 2. means coupling selected ones of the said switches to individual stages, the closure of a switch connected through said coupling means generating a clocking signal for a selected clocked bistable stage, whereby a given stage assumes a first state when a switch connected to that stage is acuated and the preceeding stage has assumed the same state, 3. means responsive to all stages assuming the first state for energizing said latch actuating unit , 4. a timing circuit actuated by the first closure of a switch for defining a normal time period before which said timing circuit disables said stages, and 5. time penalty means responsive to the initial incorrect selection of a switch for reducing the the normal time period set by said timing circuit.

Claim 3

means coupling selected ones of the said switches to individual stages, the closure of a switch connected through said coupling means generating a clocking signal for a selected clocked bistable stage, whereby a given stage assumes a first state when a switch connected to that stage is acuated and the preceeding stage has assumed the same state,

Claim 4

means coupling selected ones of the said switches to individual stages, the closure of a switch connected through said coupling means generating a clocking signal for a selected clocked bistable stage, whereby a given stage assumes a first state when a switch connected to that stage is acuated and the preceeding stage has assumed the same state,

Claim 5

A system as recited in claim 1, additionally including signal means connected to said actuating means for indicating that the encoder unit is being operated and for indicating the regular, or irregular, operation thereof.

Claim 6

means responsive to all stages assuming the first state for energizing said latch actuating unit ,

Claim 7

means responsive to all stages assuming the first state for energizing said latch actuating unit ,

Claim 8

In an actuating system responsive to a coded combination including an entrance encoder unit having a plurality of entry switches, an electrically operated latch actuating unit, and a control unit for energizing the latch actuating unit in response to a proper sequence of entry switch closures, the improvement in the control unit comprising: A. a shift register with a plurality of interconnected clocked stages, B. a plurality of encoding switch means, each switch means being connected between one stage in said shift register and all switches in the entrance encoder to selectively couple one entrance encoder switch means to each of said stages, the actuation of an entry switch generating a clock signal which said encoding switch means selectively couples to a stage, said stages being interconnected so a given stage assumes a first stage when a switch connected to that stage is actuated and the preceding stage has assumed the same state, C. energizing means responsive to all stages in said shift register assuming the first state energizing the latch actuating unit, and D. first timing means for defining a first interval connected to the entry switches for beginning the interval upon the first actuation of an entry switch, said timing means resetting all stages in said shift register after the interval to disable said energizing means.

Claim 9

In an actuating system responsive to a coded combination including an entrance encoder unit having a plurality of entry switches, an electrically operated latch actuating unit, and a control unit for energizing the latch actuating unit in response to a proper sequence of entry switch closures, the improvement in the control unit comprising: A. a shift register with a plurality of interconnected clocked stages, B. a plurality of encoding switch means, each switch means being connected between one stage in said shift register and all switches in the entrance encoder to selectively couple one entrance encoder switch means to each of said stages, the actuation of an entry switch generating a clock signal which said encoding switch means selectively couples to a stage, said stages being interconnected so a given stage assumes a first stage when a switch connected to that stage is actuated and the preceding stage has assumed the same state, C. energizing means responsive to all stages in said shift register assuming the first state energizing the latch actuating unit, and D. first timing means for defining a first interval connected to the entry switches for beginning the interval upon the first actuation of an entry switch, said timing means resetting all stages in said shift register after the interval to disable said energizing means.

Claim 10

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein each said stage comprises a flip-flop circuit with a level reset input, a clocking input, first and second clocked inputs said outputs and coupling means connecting a selected switch to each of said clocking inputs and the outputs of each stage being connected to the clocked inputs of a succeeding stage whereby actuating a given switch sets a flip-flop circuit if that switch connected to the clocking input and the preceding stage is set.

Claim 11

a timing circuit actuated by the first closure of a switch for defining a normal time period before which said timing circuit disables said stages, and

Claim 12

a timing circuit actuated by the first closure of a switch for defining a normal time period before which said timing circuit disables said stages, and

Claim 13

time penalty means responsive to the initial incorrect selection of a switch for reducing the the normal time period set by said timing circuit.

Claim 14

time penalty means responsive to the initial incorrect selection of a switch for reducing the the normal time period set by said timing circuit.

Claim 15

A system as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a selector switch connected between said switches and said clocking input for each stage in said control unit.

Claim 16

A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said timing means is adapted for generating signals of a duration and a second, longer duration, said system additionally comprising means responsive to proper mutual actuation of said encoder switches for causing said timing means to generate a signal with the second duration and responsive to improper initial actuation of said encoder switches for causing said timing means to generate the first duration time signal.

Claim 17

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein said timing means includes means for varying the interval.

Claim 18

A system as recited in claim 3 wherein the entrance encoder includes a given number of entry switches, each of said encoding switch means comprising a single-pole switch with a number of positions equal to the given number of switches.

Claim 19

A system as recited in claim 5 additionally comprising a second timing circuit for limiting the time the latch unit is actuated and means for indicating when the latch unit is actuated, said first and second timing means each including means for varying the respective time intervals, respectively.