Combination electrical and mechanical lock system

Claim 2

A lock system comprising: a lock having a lock cylinder and a key slug rotatable within said cylinder, a pin contacting a surface on said key slug for normally preventing said lock from being opened, electrical means adapted for movement of said pin, a key having first and second series of discrete coded portions formed therein, said first series being laterally offset relative to said second series, means in said lock, for detecting the passage of said coded portions upon insertion of said key and for generating first and second electrical signals in response thereto, said first electrical signals comprising a series of data pulses spaced apart according to a predetermined configuration and said second electrical signals comprising a series of clock pulses spaced apart by a common interval, one edge of said clock pulses occurring concurrently with ones of said data pulses, means for sampling said data pulses in response to said one edge of said clock pulses, and means responsive to a predetermined sampled sequence of said data pulses for activating said electrical means for movement of said pin to permit opening said lock.

Claim 3

The lock system of claim 1 wherein said coded portions comprise series of apertures formed through said key, said apertures in said first series being spaced apart in a predetermined coded configuration relative to said apertures in said second series, means for transmitting light through said apertures, and means fOr detecting light passed through said apertures.

Claim 4

The lock system of claim 1 and further comprising: a second key having coded lands and grooves and operable to open said lock only when the electrical power supply for said lock is inoperative.

Claim 5

The lock system of claim 1 and further comprising: means within said lock for permitting insertion of said key when said lock is in the locking position, and means for preventing removal of said key from said lock when said lock is not in the locking position.

Claim 6

A lock system comprising: a lock having a lock cylinder and a key slug rotatable within said cylinder either in a first or second direction wherein the lock system may be opened by rotation said key slug in said first direction, a pin contacting a surface on said key slug for normally preventing rotation of said key slug in said first direction, a key for being received by said key slug and having s first series of apertures along the length thereof and further including a second series of apertures located below said first series, light source means mounted in said lock for transmitting light through said apertures as said key is inserted into said key slug, first light sensitive means for generating an electrical data signal representative of light transmitted through one of said series of apertures, second light sensitive means for generating an electrical clock signal representative of light transmitted through the other of said series of apertures, circuitry for sampling said data signal in response to said clock signal and for generating an enable signal upon detection of a predetermined sampled signal sequence, and means for moving said pin in response to said enable signal to allow said key to rotate said key slug in said first direction to open the lock system.

Claim 7

A lock system comprising: a lock having a lock cylinder and a key slug rotatable within said cylinder either in a first or second direction wherein the lock system may be opened by rotation said key slug in said first direction, a pin contacting a surface on said key slug for normally preventing rotation of said key slug in said first direction, a key for being received by said key slug and having s first series of apertures along the length thereof and further including a second series of apertures located below said first series, light source means mounted in said lock for transmitting light through said apertures as said key is inserted into said key slug, first light sensitive means for generating an electrical data signal representative of light transmitted through one of said series of apertures, second light sensitive means for generating an electrical clock signal representative of light transmitted through the other of said series of apertures, circuitry for sampling said data signal in response to said clock signal and for generating an enable signal upon detection of a predetermined sampled signal sequence, and means for moving said pin in response to said enable signal to allow said key to rotate said key slug in said first direction to open the lock system.

Claim 8

The lock system of claim 5 and further comprising: a first set of tumbler pins in said lock cylinder, a second set of tumbler pins in said key slug alignable with said first set of tumbler pins upon rotation of said key slug in said lock cylinder, a second key having coded lands and grooves thereon for positioning said second set of tumbler pins in said key slug at the interface between said key slug and said lock cylinder thereby maintaining said second set of tumbler pins at said interface during rotation of said key slug within said lock cylinder so that said key slug may be rotated in said second direction, a cam surface on said key slug for camming said pin away from said surface on said key slug when said key slug is rotated in said second direction, and means for maintaining said pin away from said surface on said key slug to allow rotation of said key slug in said first direction thereby opening the locking system.

Claim 9

The lock system of claim 5 wherein said moving means comprises a solenoid for moving said pin in response to said enable signal.

Claim 10

A lock system comprising: a first key having coded discrete portions therein and a second key having a coded series of lands and grooves along one edge, a lock having a rotatable key slug with a key aperture for receiving either of said first or second keys, electrical circuitry responsive to said coded discrete portions when said first key is inserted into said lock for enabling said key slug to be rotated to an unlocked position, mechanical means operable only when said electrical circuitry is deenergized for enabling said second key to be inserted into said key slug and said key slug to be rotated to an unlocked position, and means for preventing said key slug from being rotated to an unlocked position by said second key when electrical power is available to said lock system.

Claim 11

A lock system comprising: a first key having coded discrete portions therein and a second key having a coded series of lands and grooves along one edge, a lock having a rotatable key slug with a key aperture for receiving either of said first or second keys, electrical circuitry responsive to said coded discrete portions when said first key is inserted into said lock for enabling said key slug to be rotated to an unlocked position, mechanical means operable only when said electrical circuitry is deenergized for enabling said second key to be inserted into said key slug and said key slug to be rotated to an unlocked position, and means for preventing said key slug from being rotated to an unlocked position by said second key when electrical power is available to said lock system.

Claim 12

The lock system of claim 8 wherein said discrete portions comprise apertures formed through said key and further comprising: means for transmitting light through said coded apertures, means for generating electrical siGnals in response to light transmitted through said apertures, said electrical circuitry responsive to said electrical signals for enabling said key slug.

Claim 13

A combination electrical and mechanical lock system comprising: a lock having a fixed lock cylinder and a rotatable key slug having a key aperture therethrough, a first solenoid mounted in said lock cylinder and having a lock pin engaged to normally prevent rotation of said key slug to an unlocked position, a first key having coded apertures therethrough, a light source and a light detector mounted in said lock for generating electrical signals when said first key having coded apertures is inserted into said key slug, circuitry responsive to predetermined characteristics of said electrical signals for operating said first solenoid to disengage said lock pin to allow rotation of said key slug to an unlocked position, means actuated by rotation of said key slug to withdraw said lock pin from its normally locking position, a plurality of spring loaded pin tumblers mounted in said lock cylinder at an angle to vertical, a second key for insertion into said key aperture and having coded lands and grooves adapted to position said pin tumblers to allow rotation of said key slug to actuate said means for withdrawing said lock pin, and a second solenoid mounted in said lock cylinder and having a latch pin operable to be extended in response to an electrical power failure to prevent the return of said lock pin to its normally locking position thereby allowing rotation of said key slug to an unlocked position during an electrical power failure.

Claim 14

A combination electrical and mechanical lock system comprising: a lock having a fixed lock cylinder and a rotatable key slug having a key aperture therethrough, a first solenoid mounted in said lock cylinder and having a lock pin engaged to normally prevent rotation of said key slug to an unlocked position, a first key having coded apertures therethrough, a light source and a light detector mounted in said lock for generating electrical signals when said first key having coded apertures is inserted into said key slug, circuitry responsive to predetermined characteristics of said electrical signals for operating said first solenoid to disengage said lock pin to allow rotation of said key slug to an unlocked position, means actuated by rotation of said key slug to withdraw said lock pin from its normally locking position, a plurality of spring loaded pin tumblers mounted in said lock cylinder at an angle to vertical, a second key for insertion into said key aperture and having coded lands and grooves adapted to position said pin tumblers to allow rotation of said key slug to actuate said means for withdrawing said lock pin, and a second solenoid mounted in said lock cylinder and having a latch pin operable to be extended in response to an electrical power failure to prevent the return of said lock pin to its normally locking position thereby allowing rotation of said key slug to an unlocked position during an electrical power failure.

Claim 15

A lock system comprising: a lock having a lock cylinder and a key slug rotatable within said cylinder in either a first or second direction wherein the lock system may be opened by rotating said key slug in said first direction, a first set of tumbler pin holes in said lock cylinder at an angle to vertical, first tumbler pins carried in said first set of pin holes, a second set of vertical tumbler pin holes in said key slug, said second pin holes being alignable with said first pin holes, second tumbler pins carried in said second set of pin holes, means for normally preventing rotation of said key slug in said first direction, a first key for being received by said key slug and having a series of apertures disposed along the length thereof, a light source mounted in said lock for transmitting light through said apertures as said key is inserted into said key slug, light sensitive means for generating electrical data signals representative of the light transmitted through said series of apertures, circuitry for detecting said data signals and for generating an enable signal upon detection of a predetermined sample signal sequence, means for withdrawing said rotation preventing means in response to said enable signal to allow said key to rotate said key slug in said first direction to open said lock system, a second key having coded lands and grooves thereon for positioning said second set of tumbler pins in said key slug at the interface between said key slug and said lock cylinder thereby maintaining said second set of tumbler pins at said interface during rotation of said key slug within said lock cylinder so that said key slug may be rotated in said second direction, means associated with said key slug for withdrawing said rotation preventing means as said key slug is rotated in said second direction, means actuated by an electrical power failure to the system for securing said rotation prevention means in the withdrawn position to allow rotation of said key slug in the first direction to unlock the locking system.

Claim 16

A lock system comprising: a lock having a lock cylinder and a key slug rotatable within said cylinder in either a first or second direction wherein the lock system may be opened by rotating said key slug in said first direction, a first set of tumbler pin holes in said lock cylinder at an angle to vertical, first tumbler pins carried in said first set of pin holes, a second set of vertical tumbler pin holes in said key slug, said second pin holes being alignable with said first pin holes, second tumbler pins carried in said second set of pin holes, means for normally preventing rotation of said key slug in said first direction, a first key for being received by said key slug and having a series of apertures disposed along the length thereof, a light source mounted in said lock for transmitting light through said apertures as said key is inserted into said key slug, light sensitive means for generating electrical data signals representative of the light transmitted through said series of apertures, circuitry for detecting said data signals and for generating an enable signal upon detection of a predetermined sample signal sequence, means for withdrawing said rotation preventing means in response to said enable signal to allow said key to rotate said key slug in said first direction to open said lock system, a second key having coded lands and grooves thereon for positioning said second set of tumbler pins in said key slug at the interface between said key slug and said lock cylinder thereby maintaining said second set of tumbler pins at said interface during rotation of said key slug within said lock cylinder so that said key slug may be rotated in said second direction, means associated with said key slug for withdrawing said rotation preventing means as said key slug is rotated in said second direction, means actuated by an electrical power failure to the system for securing said rotation prevention means in the withdrawn position to allow rotation of said key slug in the first direction to unlock the locking system.