CA2242837A1 - Access control devices and systems including same - Google Patents

Abstract

Security systems (10) are provided in which a plurality of different lock devices (19, 21, 20, 22) are all responsive to a single key (12). Outdoor lock devices (19, 21, 20, 22) which may not be used for a period of years are unlocked by the key (12) in cooperation with a manually-applied unlocking force (74). A key nest (22) is provided which can controllably apply an unlocking signal to any electronically-controlled device.

Description

ACCESS CONTROL DEVICES ANI) SYSTEMS ~CLUDING SAME

Related Ap~lication Data This application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/009,920, byLarson, filed January 12, 1996, entitled "Electronic Padlock Assembly."

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electronic access control devices and systems employing same' including those wherein different types of devices can be accessed by a common 10 electronic key, and those wherein certain locking devices are adapted for extended periods of non-use in an outdoor envho~ nl.

Back~round and Summary of the Invention The field of electronic access control is a mature one, with several distinct classes 15 of systems.
One class of electronic access control system is commonly used in hotels and includes a plurality of guest room door locks operated in conjull.:lion with a control station, often at the front desk. The door locks are powered either by an internal battery or by central wiring, but generally are not otherwise conn~ t~d to the control station. In use, the control station is used 20 to program an access card (often a magnetic stripe card) with data enabling it to access a particular door lock. In some systems, when such a card is first used with a door lock, the card/lock interaction serves to reprogram the lock so that it will no longer respond to the m~gnPtiC stripe card of an imm~Ai 'y-preceding occupant. In this manner, some li_ited repiuE;ldlllllling of such locks can be accomplished. Additional reprogl~l~,l hlg can be accomplished by an accessory prog,i~.. i.. e device which can be taken door-to-door and interfaced with each lock to alter certain instructions or data therein.
In one variant of the r~l~E,ui-l~ system, each door lock may be wired or otherwise coupled to the central control station. In another, plastic "punch" cards may be employed instead of m~g~Pti~ stripe cards.
Exemplary hotel access systems are shown, e.g., in U.S. Patents 5,422,634.
5,397,884, 4,811,012, 4,760,393, and 4,614,862.
Another class of electronic access control system is the CardKey system and its competitors, used at industrial facilities and the like. In such systems, doors throughout the facility are equipped with electronically-releasable latches. When a person desires access through such a door, an access card is held next to a reader. The reader interrogates the card and, if it is found to be valid, momentarily actuates the door latch to allow passage. (In some systems, the user is additionally required to enter a personal id~ntifi~ ~tion number on a keypad ~oci~ted with the lock.) The reader is generally wired to a central eontrol station so that a log identifying persons passing through each door can be m~ inP~l Power to operate the readers and the door latches is generally provided through central wiring. ~Y~rnplrc of such systems are more particularly detailed, e.g., in U.S. Patents 3,958,105, 3,970,824, 4,142,674 and 5,093,861.
Yet another class of electronic access control system is the Supra Advantage Express system and other electronic real estate lockbox systems. In such systems, thousands of identical lockboxes are mounted on houses listed for sale within a geogr~phir l1 area. Each contains the key to the house with which it is associated. The lockboxes can be opened by keys carried by real estate agents. In operation, a real estate agent first enters a personal idrn~ifir~ion number on a key to activate it, and then engages the key with a lockbox to gain access to the house key contained therein. Both the key and lockbox have memories in which details of the access are logged. This data can later be l~ r~lJed to a central database, e.g. over a telephone line using an audio tr~n~cf~l~clor in the key, to track lockbox accesses throughout the system. In most such systems, power to operate the lockbox is provided from the key. A~ nql details on such systems are found in U.S. Patents 4,777,556, 4,800,255, 4,851,652, 4,864,115, 4,967,305, 5,046,084, 5,090,222, 5,280,518, 5,475,375, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Each of the foregoing electronic security systems is tailored for a particular application, and serves that particular application well. Many other applir~ion.c, however, have not been addressed by the electronic security industry.
Consider a power company. It may have distribution stations throughout a state --each enclosed within a fence secured by a padlock. A linernan crew needing to access these distribution stations must have a key to each padlock (or a single key if the padlocks are c~ ly keyed~. But this raises the specter of the power stations becor~ing acoessible to anonymous ne'er-do-wells if this key is lost or .' p'ir~ d Despite the prevalence of such outdoor padlocks, and the long-known availability of eloel.~ ~~ security systems, no one has applied electronic security technology to this ~pplie~ n.
Consider also a fire d~.lt.l.~n~. When ~ ~ 1 to a building after-hours by a fire alarm, firemen must generally break down a door to gain access to the building. Once in, they may need to have keys to gain control of the building's elevators.
To avoid the need for breaking down the door, and to supply needed elevator keysand the like, some ..~ ;p~litiPc require that building owners mount an exterior vault high on the building (accessible only by ladder) conLai~llg keys for use by fire d~.~ nL personnel. Such 35 vaults, in the past, have been secured by m~rh~nir~1 locks, opened by a conventional master key.
Again, despite the widespread use of such fire d~ a~ cnl vaults for many years, and the long-known availability of electronic security systems, no one has applied electronic seeurity technology to this application.
One problem posed by each of the foregoing applications is that the lock may rest, unused, for a period of years. With the tc~ f ~fU~ extremes of outdoor en~ u~ r,~ coupled 5 with the ten~Pn~i~s of weathered lubricants to lose their errL~liv~iless over a period of years, the locking mPrh~licm may tend to stick in the loeked position. Since battery-powered loeking systems ean provide only limited aetuation forees (i.e., unloeking forces~, battery-powered loeks may have been considered u,-~uilable for sueh applieations. Moreover, batteries age and can become unusable in outdoor en~/hollll~ . Further, the battery must be quite large for carrying 10 sufficient energy to operate when the locking mPrh~ni.cm is affected by snow and ice.
Consider further a ~ hlllall at a large industrial site. In the course of his rounds, the watchman may need to access a multitude of different security devices including interior door locks, exterior door locks, outside padlocks, etc. While some doors may bc accessible by a CardKey or similar system, such a key cannot be used with, e.g., padlocks. So the watchman is 15 re~uired to carry a large collection of mPrh~-lic~l and/or electronic keys.
A similar situation arises in the case, just rli~ cc/~d, of a power company linernan.
In addition to ~cpccin~ padlocks securing fence gates, a lineman may need to unlock c~u;l...-. ., vaults, building doors, and accessoli~,s on power eornpany trucks (e.g. controls for a cherry picker arm). Again. each generally requires its own l~ey; a common electronic key for all these 20 access deviees has not generally been thought possible.
Other cinl~tiollc in which eleetronic access control systems might be advantageously employed, but haven't been, inelude: after-hours janitorial services whieh need aceess to many different doors, armored car loeks, water district employees who need aecess to remote roads and water gates, I,u~;n~ces in which usual field service pe,~ollllcl are on strike, n-~ce~ i.,g aceess 25 by ~ - or ~ Uldly help; eellular phone eompany m~inten~nt e workers who need access to third party sites in order to maintain lldll~ l eqnirmPnl night delivery serviees whieh need to aceess customer premises to make deliveries; elevator serviee lerhnirj ~nc making after hours calls, etc., etc. Generally, the diversity of these different applications, and the different locks encountered in each, is believed to have contributed to the p~l,istence of these needs.
One hindrance to meeting many of the ~l~,g~ lg needs has been the unavailabilityof suitably secure electronic padlocks -- especially those adapted for extended periods of non-use in outdoors ~,IlVilOlllll~
The security problems with prior art padloeks generally concern their latch mP~h~i.cnnc. Lateh mf l~h~nicnnc employing ele~;lr~ ~ : are susceptible to magnPtic fields 35 which can be induced by holding magnets close to the lock. A magnetic field of sufficient mqgnitll-3e can eause the padlock to release. As a result, extra IllC~>~ such as added chiekling must be added to the lock, at added expense.

W 097125503 PCT/US96nO040 - Padlocks employing solenoid-activated release mech~ni~rnc are susceptible to release by applying an impact, such as a hammer blow, to the lock. Solenoid-activated release mfch~licm.c are also susceptible to ex~ernally induced magn- tic fields.
If left unused for several years in an outdoor envilu~ nt~ electronic padlocks tend 5 to stick, making them unreliable. This is generally due to lack of motive power (whether from a motor, a solenoid, an clc~LIulllL~ , etc.) s~lffi~ient to aetivate a release m~h~licm made sluggish by aging of lubricants, ice, foreign matter, eu.
In accordance with a pl~f~ d embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing and ~ 1ition~1 dlawlla~ of the prior art are ov~UlUC.
According to one aspect of the invention, outdoor lock deviees which may not be used for a period of years are ulllock~ by an eleetronic key in cooperation with a manually-applied unlocking force.
According to another aspect of the invention, security systems are provided in which a plurality of different lock deviees are all responsive to a single key.
According to another aspect of the invention, a key nest is provided which can controllably apply an unlocking signal to any electronically-controlled device.
The foregoing and ~ tion~l features and advantages of the present invention willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with lc;fe~el~,c to the accol~ ~lying drawings.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawin~s Fig. 1 shows an ~ aly security system according to one ~mho~imPnt of the invention, employing a plurality of different lock deviees operable by a common electronic key.
Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the key shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a bloek diagram of an cl~llOniC lock deviee, such as the vault shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of a lid culll~ollelll of an exterior vault embodying a manual unlocking feature acco,~ling to an ~.I.o l;~..- ..1 of the present invention.
Fig. S is a front cutaway view of the lid colllpul~
Fig. 6 is a back cutaway view of the lid cùll~oll"llt.
Figs. 7-9 are plan, top and side views of an electronic padlock embodying a manual unlocking feature according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a section view of the Cle,~,llUllic pa~llock of Figs. 7-9, taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged excerpt of Fig. 10, showing the coul~,~ in a different position.

Fig. 12 shows an exploded view of an electrified lock set which can be operated in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing data flow between certain components of an illustrative embodiment.
s l)etailed Description Referring to Fig. 1, an exemplary access control system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic key 12, and a plurality of electronic devices 14 which respond to key 12. Tlll.~tr- :r' devices 14 include an outdoor vault 16, an outdoor padlock 19, an electrified lockset device 21, and a key nest 22. (It should be understoocl that the illl.~tr~ed devices 14 are exemplary only, and in other systems according to the invention other devices can be used.) A feature characterizing the illustrated system 10 is that a collection of disparate devices 14 all cooperate with a common key 12.
Key 12 serves not only as an access key for each of devices 14, but also serves as a data link -- relaying data to and from devices 14. In some respects, the devices 14 may be viewed as t~ rmi~ls of a network, with key 12 selving as the hub. Sudl a perspective may view system 10 as a key-centric network.
Moreover, for many devices 14, key 12 also serves as the o~erative source of electrical power.
As shown in Fig. 2, illn~tr~t~d key 12 includes a keypad 24, a CPIJ 26, RAM and ROM ~ s 28 30, a primary battery 32, a calendar/clock circuit 34, a piezoelectric transducer 36 with ~or~ d modulator 38, an~l a c~ ~ ons interface 40. The illll~tr, co..~ ions interface employs two electrical contacts 42a, 42b, but other coupling arrangements (e.g., more than two contacts, inductive coupling, optoelectronic coupling~ etc.) can alt.l~ti-ely be used. In other embodiments, key 12 can include a small ~ h-~ l - ;c display (e.g., LCD) andlor one or more indicator lights (e.g., LEDs).
Contacts 42a, 42b are used to connect to colle~onding elements on a device 14.
Illustrated interface 40 bidirectionally couples data signals between the key 12 and device 14 in the form of mnd~l~tion on a power signal provided from the electronic key 12 to device 14.
CPU 26 can be an Intel microcomputer (e.g., 80C52) which controls operation of the key ~c~;o, li"g to progrrnmin~ instructions ~;L.Ill~l~. .-lly stored in ROM 30. The calendar/clock circuit 34 provides data col~ ,u~lhlg to the year, month, day, and time.
The illll~tr~ d RAM 28 is c~-mrriied of a small RAM memory inside the calendar/clock circuit 34, together with 2 EEPROMS, the latter of which can store 2048 (2K) 8-bit bytes of data.

W O 97125~03 PCT/US96/20040 Transducer 36 is used to provide audible feedback to the user cign~lling a variety of key conditions The transducer is also used for frequency shift keyed relaying of data from the key to external devices (e.g. through an audio tcl~holle circuit).
Battery 32 co~ es three AAA cells which provide power to the key circuitry and, through ,,.. ~ ing elements 42, to devices 14 as well. An auxiliary battery 35 or storage capacitor (not shown) can be employed to provide power to the calendar/clock circuit 34 when battery 32 is removed and replaced.
Additional inforrnation on key 12 can be found in U.S. Patent 5,280,518 hereby incorporated by l~r~l,ce, and in the appendices.
Desirably, key 12 is constructed in a trim polycarbonate enclosure sized to fit conveniently in a user's pocket.
One l~p-~s~nlalive type of lock device 14 is an outdoor vault 16. The vault body 20 may be that of a conventional exterior vault, such as is available from The Knox Company of Irvine, California, for cc.~ i.lg building access keys for fire d~dlLlllcnt and 15 C~ g~ y personnel.
Referring to Fig. 3, circuitry 48 in the lid 18 of vault 16 includes a CPU 50, amemory 52, an actuator 88, and a u~ .nica~ rl.c interface 56. The illustrated co~ ions interface 56 employs two electrical contacts 58a, 58b, that are exposed in the top of the bezel 70 of the lid, described more below. Other coupling dll .~., .f .IY (e.g., more than two contacts, 20 inductive coupling, optocle~LI-~nic coupling, etc.) can be used. The illustrated vault lid 18 additionally includes an indicator LED 60.
Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of lid 18. As illustrated, lid 18 includes a back cover 62, a pair of cooperating lock blades 64, a chassis 66, a base 68, and a bezel 70.
The outer edges of the lock blades 64 define tabs 72 that normally extend beyond25 the sides of lid 18 and serve as locking l~ f..~ or bolts that fit into col~ .o~l;uely shaped openings in the side of the vault body 20 to secure the lid in place on the body. Elevator keys or the like may be stored inside of the vault 20. Preferably, the lid 18 is attached to the body 20 via a cable or chain.
Movement of the lock blades 64 toward each other retracts the tabs 72, thereby 30 allowing the lid to be removed from the body. Such movement of the lock blades is effected by ~urning a thumb lever 74, as detailed below.
Interposed between the cover 62 and the lock blades 64 are a printed circuit board bumper 76, a printed circuit board 78, and a lock blade cover 80. Printed circuit board 78 contains the circuitry 48 ~licc~ d above in conn~ction with Fig. 3, except for actuator 88. The 35 circuit board 78 is fastened by screws to ba~L~ lly ~ rudillg (i.e., to the left in Fig. 4) posts 67 integrally formed with the chassis 66. The lock blade cover 80 is a rigid plate that is fastened by a shoulder screw 81 e~enfling through a central aperture and into a threaded centra]

W O 97/25~03 PCT/US9612004U

- hub 69 on the chassis 66. The lock blade cover 80 bears against the back-facing surfaces of the lock blades to ensure that the motion of the lock blades generally remains in a single plane.
As best shown in Fig. 6, the inner ends of the lock blades 64 t~rmtn~P in legs 65 that are configured and arranged about the central hub 69 in the chassis so that the motion of the S lock blades 64 is restricted to limited tr~r~Cl~tionDl motion for ext~n~iing and retracting the tabs 72.
Interposed between lock blades 64 and chassis 66 is a tie plate 84. The tie plate 84 is a generally elongate member having a clear central aperture 128 through which the shoulder screw 81 passes. As a result, the tie plate is rotatably mounted to the chassis 66 about hub 69 and resides within a recess formed in the back surface of the chassis 66.
The tie plate 84 carries at each end a bushing 82 that protrudes from the chassis recess and fits within a slot 130 formed in a lock blade 64. As best shown in Fig. 6, the long axis of the slots 130 are oriented to be angled relative to the direction of lllO~."ll~.lt of the lock blades 64 so that clockwise (with respect to Fig. 6, counterclockwise with respect to Fig. S) rotation of the tie plate 84 effects a limited cam (tie plate) and follower (lock blades) action such 15 that the rotational movement of the tie plate is t~ ,d to the translational sliding of the lock blades to retract the tabs 72.
The mPrh~ni~ms for effecting rotation of the tie plate (hence, retraction of the lock blades) include a link 95 that is carried on the front of the chassis 66. One end of the link 95 carries two posts, one of which, 126, receives the end of an extension spring 94. The other end 20 of the extension spring 94 is hooked to a post on the chassis 66, thus the link is normally urged by the spring 94 upwardly (Fig. 6). The other post 127 in the end of the link pivotally fits into a hole 129 formed in the tie plate 84 at a location eccentric to the central aperture 128.
The other end of the link 95 includes a hook 96 that normally rides along the external surface of a code wheel 104. The code wheel 104 is rotatably mounted between the 25 base 68 and the front of the chassis 66. More particularly, the code wheel 104 is a generally annular-shaped member having a central sleeve 103 that receives one end of a pivot lock l l0 that fits through a hole in the base 68. That end of the pivot lock 110 is generally cylindrical except for a flat that engages a flat formed inside the sleeve 103 so that the pivot lock is keyed to the code wheel 104. A washer 108 is positioned between the pivot lock 110 and the base 68.
The outer radial surface of the code wheel 104 is continuous except for a gap 105 formed therein as best shown in Fig. 5.
A generally annular recess is defined in the back side of the code wheel between the sleeve 103 and the outer surface of the wheel. A torsion spring 102 fits within the recess. One end of the torsion spring is anchored within the code wheel and the other end of the torsion spring 35 protrudes from the recess along a line parallel to the rotational axis of the code wheel 104. That end of the spring fits into a hole formed in a cover plate 100.

- The cover plate 100 is a generally disc-shaped member having most of its outer diameter correspanding to that of the code wheel 104. More partieularly, the outermost radial surface of the eover plate 100 is interrupted with an areuate-shaped noteh 107, best seen in Fig.
6. The cover plate fits around the sleeve 103 of the eode wheel and generally eneloses the recess within which the torsion spring 102 is carried. The cover plate is held in place by a snap ring 98 that engages the innermost end of the pivot lock 110 and the chassis 66. The cover plate is free tO rotate somewhat about the sleeve relative to the pivot lock 110.
As best shown in Fig. 5, a eu~ ssion spring 90 is fit within a recess in the chassis 66 and oriented so that it continuously urges the hook 96 of the link 95 to ride along the outer radial surfaces of the code wheel 104 and cover plate 100.
The cover plate 100 is movable relative to the eode wheel 104 for alternately blocking and unblocking movement of the hook 96 into the gap 105 that is defined in the outer surface of the code wheel. In this regard, the torsion spring 102 normally urges the eover plate 100 to rotate into an orientation sueh that noteh 107 in the outer radial surfaee of the eover plate is spaced from the gap 105 in the code wheel, thereby preventing the hook 96 from fitting within the gap 105. The back-facing surface of the cover plate 100 includes a projeeting stop 109 that can be in abutting contaet with one end of an actuator latch 92 for the purpose of p~ g rotation of the eode wheel 104 relative to the eover plate 100 so that the hook 96 ean engage the gap 105 in the eode wheel as ~l~".;hed next.
The actuator latch 92 (a portion of whieh is broken away in Fig. 6 for clarity) is pivotally mounted to the ehassis (shown as pivot point 93 in Fig. 6). One end of the lateh includes a pivot pin 97 that fits into a l1~15~C.~C hole in a normally e~t~n~1inf~ shaft 99 of a solenoid 88 that is mounted to the baek of the ehassis beneath the lock blades 64. The solenoid 88 colllplises, in coope,.llion with the actuator lateh 92, the actuator assembly for f~ilit~ting the applieation of manual unlorl~ing foree to the lid as will become elear.
Whenever the solenoid 88 is provided with a suitable electrieal signal (whieh isderived from the clc~ .nie key 12 as ..~ d above), the solenoid shaft 99 is retraeted (to the right in Fig. 6) and pulls with it the pivotally attaehed pin 97 of the actuator lateh. As a result, the opposing end of the lateh 92 moves into a position (Fig. 6) for abutting the stop 109 on the cover plate. As a result, rotation of the pivot lock 110 and connected code wheel 104, which rotation is generated by manually applied force to a c.~ ed thumb lever 74 as deseribed later, while the aetuator is in the just-deseribed position (whieh rotation appears eloekwise in Fig. 6) moves the gap 105 of the wheel toward P ~eaC~ l l with the hook g6 of the link 95. The stop 109 on the eover plate, however, will abut the lateh 92 so that rotation of the cover plate 100 is halted with the noteh 107 of the eover plate being generally adjacent the hook 96.
Continued turning of the eode wheel 104 will move the gap 105 in that wheel nextto the region of the notched part of the cover plate and adjacent the hook 96 so that the hook is W O 97/25503 PCT~S96/20040 g -- forced by the co~ ssion spring 90 to fit into the gap. When this occurs, further rotation of the code wheel 104 pulls the link 95 downwardly, thereby rotating the tie plate 84 for retracting the tabs 72 of the lock blades. The tabs 72 retract by an amount sufficient to remove them from the corresponding-shaped openings in the vault body 20 so that the lid 18 can be removed to expose the contents of the vault.
The back cover 62 and the base 68 are fas~ened together by screws 122. A gasket 106 is applied to the lid 18 and coll-~ ,sed between the vault 20 and lid when the lid is closed, thus sealing the entire vault interior from the outdoor envi~ . Inwardly protruding flanges 132 on the back of the base 68 serve to protect the sides of the components that are enclosed by the back cover. The flanges 132 also surround the extended tabs 72 of the lock blades when the lid is closed, thereby resisting bending or shearing of the lack blades that rnight otherwise occur as a result of an attempted forced opening of the vault by prying the lid from the vault. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the electronic components carried by the lid are normally housed within the sealed vault, protected from the outdoor e~lvilOlL~
Preferably, a bracket 133 protrudes &om one flange 132 for the purpose of providing a mrch~ icm for :~tt~rhing the lid to one end of a cable that is also attached to the vault body.
The be~el 70 is anchored to the front of the base 68 by screws 120. Between the be~l and base is a thin plastic (polyca.l,ollate) plate 111 that includes a flange 112 to which is mounted a small printed circuit board 114 that carries the above-mentioned contacts 58a, 58b.
That board 114 also carries the LED 60. The flange and printed circuit board fit into a correspondingly shaped pocket formed by two spaced-apart walls in the upper end of the bezel 70.
The innerrnost wall includes openings, one of which is shown at 115, through which protrude the contacts 58a and 58b for eng,~ with the contacts 42a, 42b of the key 12. Wires (not shown) between the board and the solenoid 88 deliver the electrical signal from the key to the solenoid for retracting its shaft as d~crrihed earlier.
The thumb lever 74 is fastened via screw 118 through the bezel 70. The innermostend of the lever 74 engages the outer end of the pivot lock 110 so that rotation of the thumb lever 74 is directly ~la~ d to the pivot lock 110. In a preferred embodiment, a detent spring 116 is fit between the bezel and the thumb screw to hold the thumb screw in a normal position such that a nest 124 defined by the bezel remains clear for receiving the key.
In operation, a key 12 is fitted into the nest 124 defined by the bezel. In thisposition, contacts 42a, 42b on the key engage with contacts 58a, in the 58b lid. Preferably, an electronic h~ntlcll~king sequence then ensues, followed by a request from the key to access the lock.
If the vault CPU 50 d~ s that the key properly authorized entry to the vault body 20, the CPU causes an ~rt ~ti~.n signal to be sent to solenoid 88 and to the LED 60.

w o 97n5503 PCT~US96120040 . Solenoid 88 responds by pivotally moving actuator latch 92 into position for abutting stop 109 so that the hook 96 may engage the gap 105 in the code wheel 104, thus rotating the tie plate 84 to retract the lock blades, as described above, when thumb lever 74 is rotated.
It should be noted that the thumb lever 74 is shaped so that movement of thumb lever 74 to unlock the lid also serves to block removal of key 12 from the nest 124. Accordingly, the key cannot be withdrawn from the lid until the lid is again returned to its locked position (i.e., by counter-rotating the thumb lever).
It will be recognized that the opening procedure just detailed has two stages: a first low-force stage and a second high-force stage. The low force in the first stage is provided by the key-powered movement of the actuator latch. The high force in the second stage is provided by a human operator via manipulation of the thumb lever.
Another type of lock device 14 is an electronic padlock 19, particularly detaiied in Figs. 7-11. As shown, padlock 19 includes a shackle 202 which can be removably fixed within body 201. A set-of balls 204 slidingly engage slots 206 on shackle 202 to prevent relative movement between the shackle and the body 201.
A plug 205 slidingly engages balls 204 to prevent relative movement between balls 204 and slots 206. A pawl 207 has a dog-legged profile and defines a hole 226 at its top end through which a pin 221 is inserted, pivotably a~t~hing plug 205 to pawl 207. The lower end of pawl 207 defines a hole 228 through which a drive pin 210 is securely fitted. A spring 214 rests on the shoulder of plug 205 on one end, and on the shoulder of pawl 207 and a retaining plate 222 on the other end. Spring 214 yieldably holds plug 205 in the position shown in Fig. 10, while forcing pawl 207 to rotate about pin 221 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. lO).
Referring to Fig. 7, a lever 203 is rotatably mounted to body 201 by a pivot pin219. Referring to Fig. lO, pivot pin 219 engages a drive wheel 20~ by means of a keeper pin 223. As lever 203 rotates within body 201l drive wheel 208 rotates, pl~sG~ lg a drive groove 209 to the drive pin 210. A motor 216 has a drive shaft on which a blocker wheel 215 is attached. Blocker wheel 215 has a transverse groove 217 shaped to receive pawl 207 when motor 216 is unenergized. When motor 216 is c.,c.~i~d, blocker wheel 215 rotates, plc;~c~Lillg groove 217 in a parallel rPIPtion~hip to pawl 207.
Pin 210, which rides on the outside radial surface of drive wheel 20B under spring load from spring 214, is prevented from ~ne~ging drive groove 209 during rotation of drive wheel 208 by blocker wheel 215, as shown in Fig. 10.
When motor 216 is energized, blocker wheel 215 rotates, p~ ntil,g groove 217 in parallel ~lignm~nt with pawl 207. Shackle 202 can then be released from balls 204 by rotating lever 203 from the clockwise position, as shown in Fig. 7, in a counterclockwise direction. Drive wheel 208 thereby drives groove 209 into ~ gnmPnt with drive pin 210, and spring 214 rotates pawl 207 until drive pin 210 rests in drive groove 209. Further rotation of drive wheel 208 -Il-- draws plug 205 down against spring 214 until a chamfer 226 allows balls 204 to move from engagement with slots 206, as shown in Fig. 11. With balls 204 moved inward as shown in Fig.
11, shackle 202 is moved upward to a released position.
It will be ~~coklliz~d that the opening ploce-lule just detailed has two phases: a first 5 low force phase and a second high force phase. The low force in the first stage is provided by an ele~llo",~ l release ~"rC~ n~". The high force in the second stage is provided by a human operator.
Padlock 19 has an opening 224 into which the end of the electronic key 12 is inserted, making contacts with metal contacts 225, Electronically, padlock 19 is Pccf-.nti~lly 10 identical to vault lid 18, ll,ccllcc~d above, except the actuator is a motor instead of a solenoid.
Yet another type of lock device 14 employs a conventional elPctrifiçd lockset of the sort shown, e.g., in Fig. 12. The illustrated lockset device 21 includes a prior art product 300 collL,n~l~ially available from companies such as Schlage and Best Lock. To actuate lockset 300, circuitry of the sort shown in Fig. 3 is housed near the lockset for applying an unlocking signal to 15 the lockset actuator only after the key and lock CPUs 26, 50 d~tç-llli~ that such access is authorized. In this embodiment, the actuator 54 is a small relay through which a power signal is controllably applied to the lockset.
In the illustrated c .llbodhll. nt, this power signal is provided by a three, nine-volt batteries 325 housed within a coll~ Llll~.lL 326 of a box 321. The box is preferably secured to the interior surface of a door by screws 322 that are threaded into spacers 313 that pass through the door thi-~kn~cs. The spacers 313 are fastened to an exterior plate 309, which is thus held against the exterior surface of the door.
Preferably, the CO111~ 326 of the box, once mounted to the door, is sllbst~nti:~'ly sealed. Access to the batteries is obtained through a removable lid 317 that is held against an opening in the box by threaded fasteners, with a gasket 316 to facilitate sealing the opening to the cOI~ t.
With the batteries in place and connectors 324 attached, power for the lockset actuator, controllably applied as described below, is conducted via wires 305 to a male connector 314 that mates with a female co~ )r 306 within which wires 304 from the actuator of the lockset 300 t~r-nin~te via crimp-type terminals 305. Preferably, the wiring 304 is covered with heat-shrinkable tubing 302 for protection.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that by varying the length of the wire 304 the lockset device 21 may be placed at any convenient location, not necessarily adjacent the lockset 300. Preferably, the wires 304 between the lockset 300 and the lockset device 21 are enclosed, for example, by having those wires extend through the interior of the door. Preferably, the box 321 includes clamps 315 for securing the wire 305 thereto.

CA 02242837 l998-07-lO

W O 97125503 PCT~US96~0040 - The printed circuit board 320 is fastened to the box 321 such that most of its components are housed within a lower collllJal~ lL 327 formed in the box. The printed cireuit board 320 contains the eireuitry 48 ~ier~les~ d above in conneetion with the vault lid 18.
A bezel 370 is ~ulchol~;d to the front of the eover plate 309 by fasteners 308.
5 Between the bezel and the plate is a thin plastie (polyearbonate) plate 311 that ineludes a flange to which is mounted a small printed cireuit board 312 that earries the contacts 58a, 58b in a rnanner as 11iscucced above in coMeetion with the lid 18. Similarly, that cireuit board 312 carries an LED, and the flange and the printed circuit board fit into a coll~l,ondingly shaped pocket formed in the upper end of the bezel 370. Wires 310 extend from the board 312 to conneetors 321 on the main printed circuit board 320 for delivering the eleetrieal signal from a key 12 to the eircuitry carried on board 320 for processing to determine whether access is authorized and, if it is, for eontrolling the power signal to the loekset 300.
Finally, loek deviee 14 ean be a key nest 22 (Fig. 1). The key nest is sirnilar to that employed in the vault lid 18 and padloek 19 just ~Ii.ecllceP~ and basieally serves to reeeive the eleetronie key 12 and establish eleetriea] eontaet therewith (through, e.g., a pair of metal contacts). Again in this case, the aetuator 54 in circuitry 48 is a small relay used to control passage of an eleçtrir~l signal thc~,lhluugh. The nest 22 can be used with an electronic lock, in which case the electrical signal needed to open the lock ean be routed through the relay.
This same approaeh -- a key nest 22 eontrolling a relay 54 through whieh an electrieal signal is eontrollably applied to an external deviee -- ean be extended to a great number of applieations beyond loeks, per se. An example is the utility truek cherry picker arln noted above. The relay can be interposed at various points in the eoMrols for the cherry picker arm to prevent use of the arm until a properly ~lth~lrj7f~cl key is engaged in the nest 22. Other applieations inelude eontrolling applieation of power to an electrie gate or garage door opener, or to serve as a starter ill~ u~t~l on a forklift. Indeed, Wh~ . an eleetrical signal ~power or otherwise) is to be eontrollably applied to an eleetrical device (whether AC or DC; high or low voltage), nest 22 can be utilized.
Moreover, there are some applications of key nest 22 in which an ~eco~ f.d electrical device is not required. This oecurs, for example, in providing checkpoints at whieh night ~. ' register when patrolling a large i~du~llial faeility. By mating a key with the nest, a coll~ o~ entry is made in both the key and loek aeeess logs, c~ r~ .g a partieular waL~ 's presence at a partieular key nest at a partieular time on a particular date.
Fig. 13 gives an overview of the data flow between different co--ll)oll.,rll~ of the preferred embodiment. In addition to the key 12 and deviees 14 tliec~c.ced earlier, the illustrated system includes a telephone 152, a colllllul.,. 154~ and a programming ba,ce 156.
Operational details regarding the eomponents shown in Fig. 13, and the features thereby provided, are set forth in the present assignee's issued patents incol~,olai~d by reference CA 02242837 l998-07-lO

- above. Briefly, each access to a device 14 is recorded by storage of dala in-lir:~ting user, date and time! in memories of both device 14 and key 12. (The access memory 52 in device 14 stores data corresponding to the 35 most recent entries; the access memory 28 in key 12 can store data co~ ,onding to 272 accesses.) Each user's key can be programmed to limit its use to a specific lock, a group of locks, or a geographic area. Each key can also be programmed to expire at a given interval (daily, weekly, etc.), requiring reauthorization (by entry of a renewal code) before further use. Lock devices 14, too, can be pro~ u-led, e.g., to recognize certain otherwise-authorized keys and deny them access (by a lockout list).
The keys and locks can be pl~&~ d in a variety of ways. One is by radio signals. Another is by a programming device ~e.g., pro~lal.ullhlg base 156 of Fig. 13) that mates with the locks/keys and relays the programming instructions thereto Yet another is the viral propagation technique wherein updated instructions are passed between system Coll-pOl-~ each time a lock device/key pair interact. All of the foregoing techniques are more fuliy detailed in the patents incorporated by reference.
A key 12 can retrieve access information from a lock's memory 52, and can then re}ay this data to a database in co--ll,utel 154 by telephone 152 using audible DTMF signals.
Computer 154 can be instructed, by DTMF or voiced instructions, to FAX a co--~Jondi-lg access report influ~ling each irceccing key holder's name, date and time of access, company name/phone number, etc., to any desired FAX number.
Alternatively, access data can be retrieved from the key by engaging the key with the plU~lalllllliUg base 156 (Fig. 13).
Computer 154 is typically located at a central office and performs mosl of the ~ ";~ .dlive functions required of the system. As reviewed above, these include issuing renewal codes for the keys, establishing which keys are authorized to access which devices, establishing lockout lists, and receiving access log activity and g~nclatillg reports col.~,~,ondiulg thereto.
From the foregoing, it will be recognized that the preferred embodiment of the present invention overcomes numerous disadvantages of the prior art and provides comprehensive access control solutions well adapted for a number of diverse applications.
Having described the principles of our invention with reference to several preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in ~u.v~-g. ..- ~l and detail without departing from such principles. Although the preferred emhodimPntc have been described as including certain combinations of features, applicants' invention includes alternative embodiments that include other combinations of the features 35 disclosed herein and in the documents incorporated by reference.
Accordingly, it should be l~cog..i~d that the foregoing embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Instead, we claim as our CA 02242837 l998-07-lO

- invention all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and e~uivalents thereto.

Claims (4)

WE CLAIM:

1. A security system comprising:
an electronic key, said key including means for logging access information in a memory therein, said key further including means for becoming automatically disabled by the passage of time unless timely re-enabled;
a first electronic lock; and a second electronic lock, said second electronic lock being of a disparate variety than the first, both of said locks being responsive to said electronic key.

2. The security system of claim 1 in which said first lock is a lock deviceadapted for extended periods of non-use in an outdoor environment, said lock device including means for receiving operating power from the electronic key, said lock device further including a manually-operated member permitting the external application of a manual actuating force to unlock said device.

3. The security system of claim 2 in which said second lock device does not include a manually-operated member permitting the external application of a manual actuating force to unlock said device.

4. The security system of claim 1 in which at least one of said first and second locks is chosen from the group consisting of: padlocks, outdoor vaults, electrified door locksets, and mechanical lock covers.