US5632169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self powered electronic combination lock having comprehensive monitoring of power levels for various functions
Assignee: Sargent and Greenleaf Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-06
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2015-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A user of a self-powered electronic combination lock rotates an outer dial to cause generators to generate energy for storage in a capacitor bank. The user then rotates an inner dial to cause a microcontroller to sequentially display a combination of numbers, and presses the inner dial to select a displayed number. The microcontroller determines direction and extent of motion of the inner dial by receiving signals derived from Wiegand sensors placed in proximity to a magnetized disc which rotates integrally with the inner dial, and controls the display of numerals on an LCD display accordingly. When the microcontroller determines that a correct combination has been entered, it activates a motor to move a motor cam to act directly on a locking lever so that the locking lever can engage a drive cam integrally linked with the inner dial, to allow the inner dial to withdraw the lock's bolt. Software features, as well as power level monitoring features, cause the locking lever to be moved away from the drive cam to prevent the bolt from being withdrawn if it has not already been withdrawn within a given time window. Integral bearing/retaining members make the lock dials tamper-evident. After a given number of successive incorrect combination entries, an "override" combination, which is preferably a longer, mathematical variation of normal combinations, is necessary to open the lock.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. Clark
- 👤 Christian F. Mascaro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:23
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B49/00; E05B47/00; E05B47/06; E05B47/0676; E05B47/0684; E05B47/0688; G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00658; G07C9/00674; G07C9/00698; G07C9/00896; G07C9/00912; E05B2047/0048; E05B2047/0057; E05B2047/0062; E05B47/0001; E05B47/0012; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/85; Y10T292/869; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7051; Y10T70/7062; Y10T70/7068; Y10T70/7085; Y10T70/7153; Y10T70/7181; Y10T70/7198; Y10T70/7237; Y10T70/7243; Y10T70/7249; Y10T70/7254; Y10T70/735; Y10T70/7407; Y10T70/7418; Y10T70/7424
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A self-powered lock, comprising: a) a bolt capable of being extended from and withdrawn into the lock; b) means, responsive to entry of a correct combination, for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn into the lock, the enabling means having: 1) an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock; and 2) a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock; c) means within the lock for storing energy for operation of certain components of the lock; d) means for monitoring an energy level of the storing means; and e) means, responsive to the monitoring means, for preventing the enabling means from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the monitored energy level is below a given energy threshold; wherein the given energy threshold is greater than or equal to an amount of energy required to subsequently move the enabling means from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position after a predetermined time period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A self-powered lock, comprising: a) a bolt capable of being extended from and withdrawn into the lock; b) means, responsive to entry of a correct combination, for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn into the lock, the enabling means having: 1) an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock; and 2) a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock; c) means within the lock for storing energy for operation of certain components of the lock; d) means for monitoring an energy level of the storing means; and e) means, responsive to the monitoring means, for preventing the enabling means from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the monitored energy level is below a given energy threshold; wherein the given energy threshold is greater than or equal to an amount of energy required to subsequently move the enabling means from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position after a predetermined time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The lock of claim 1, wherein: the enabling means includes a locking lever which is selectively positionable between the bolt and a mechanism for withdrawing the bolt; the locking lever's "engage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are connected; and the locking lever's "disengage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are not connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The lock of claim 2, wherein the withdrawing mechanism includes: an externally accessible dial which is linked to the enabling means when the enabling means is in the "engage" position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The lock of claim 1, wherein: the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices; only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The lock of claim 2, wherein: the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices; only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
The lock of claim 3, wherein: the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices; only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A self-powered lock, comprising: a) a bolt capable of being extended from and withdrawn into the lock; b) means, responsive to entry of a correct combination, for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn into the lock, the enabling means having: 1) an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock; and 2) a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock; c) means within the lock for storing energy for operation of certain components of the lock; d) means for monitoring an energy level of the storing means; and e) means, responsive to the monitoring means, for preventing the enabling means from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the monitored energy level is below a given energy threshold; wherein the given energy threshold is greater than or equal to an amount of energy required after the enabling means can be moved from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position to subsequently move the enabling means from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
176 words
A self-powered lock, comprising: a) a bolt capable of being extended from and withdrawn into the lock; b) means, responsive to entry of a correct combination, for enabling the bolt to be withdrawn into the lock, the enabling means having: 1) an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock; and 2) a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock; c) means within the lock for storing energy for operation of certain components of the lock; d) means for monitoring an energy level of the storing means; and e) means, responsive to the monitoring means, for preventing the enabling means from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the monitored energy level is below a given energy threshold; wherein the given energy threshold is greater than or equal to an amount of energy required after the enabling means can be moved from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position to subsequently move the enabling means from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The lock of claim 7 wherein: the enabling means includes a locking lever which is selectively positionable between the bolt and a mechanism for withdrawing the bolt; the locking lever's "engage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are connected; and the locking lever's "disengage" position is one in which the withdrawing mechanism and the bolt are not connected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The lock of claim 8, wherein the withdrawing mechanism includes: an externally accessible dial which is linked to the enabling means when the enabling means is in the "engage" position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The lock of claim 7, wherein: the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices; only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The lock of claim 8, wherein: the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices; only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
The lock of claim 9, wherein: the means for storing energy includes plural energy storage devices; only a subset of the energy storage devices are sensed by the monitoring means for controlling the preventing means, and other energy storage devices are sensed but not for controlling the preventing means; and the subset of energy storage devices which is sensed for controlling the preventing means is separate from at least one other energy storage device which powers components of the lock other than the enabling means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of controlling operation of a self-powered lock having a bolt, a mechanism which has an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock and a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock, and an energy store for storing energy for operation of components of the lock, the method comprising: a) receiving charge in the energy store; b) recognizing entry of a correct combination; c) sensing an amount of energy in the energy store; d) comparing the sensed amount of energy in the energy store to a given energy threshold, the given energy threshold being greater than or equal to an amount of energy required to move the mechanism from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position; and e) moving the mechanism from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position only if the sensed amount of energy in the energy store exceeds the given energy threshold, and preventing the mechanism from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the sensed mount of energy in the energy store does not exceed the given energy threshold.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of controlling operation of a self-powered lock having a bolt, a mechanism which has an "engage" position in which the bolt can be withdrawn into the lock and a "disengage" position in which the bolt cannot be withdrawn into the lock, and an energy store for storing energy for operation of components of the lock, the method comprising: a) receiving charge in the energy store; b) recognizing entry of a correct combination; c) sensing an amount of energy in the energy store; d) comparing the sensed amount of energy in the energy store to a given energy threshold, the given energy threshold being greater than or equal to an amount of energy required to move the mechanism from the "engage" position back to the "disengage" position; and e) moving the mechanism from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position only if the sensed amount of energy in the energy store exceeds the given energy threshold, and preventing the mechanism from moving from the "disengage" position to the "engage" position if the sensed mount of energy in the energy store does not exceed the given energy threshold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |