EP2536905B1

EP2536905B1 - Electronic cylinder

Info

Publication number: EP2536905B1
Application number: EP10713268.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlos João GOMES DE FIGUEIREDO
Original assignee: Carfi - Fabrica De Plasticos E Moldes SA
Current assignee: Carfi - Fabrica De Plasticos E Moldes SA
Priority date: 2010-02-18
Filing date: 2010-02-18
Publication date: 2015-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-18
Also published as: WO2011102745A1; EP2536905A1

Description

Field of invention

The present invention describes an electronic cylinder. This mechanism aims to allow lock or unlock a locker without the need to use a key, by inserting a numeric pin code for access.
This device uses a European standard profile cylinder, allowing easily replacement of the conventional mechanical cylinder by the electronic cylinder; 2. this mechanism enhances users security because detects violations on the electronic cylinder sounding immediately an audible alarm; 3. the mechanism allows also to block the access from the outside, except for the administrator, through and by the introduction of the original pin; 4. the possibility to manage the number of entries assigned to a given user by the administrator.
When there is a need to limit the number of accesses to a user, you can do this by simple dial via on the keyboard, without having to create or delete codes.
To do it, the administrator needs to enter the user access code which he wants to limit the number of hits, and insert the number of hits you want to assign. It is also possible to block all the access from the outside to any user except to the administrator.
The electronic cylinder was developed to ensure a maximum installation security. This device was designed with specific materials and manufacturing techniques that make it very difficult to breach the lock. The codes for opening may contain up to 8 numeric digits, which corresponds to 100 million possible combinations. To ensure even greater security, electronic components of the system detect a violation of the device outside structure, and immediately sounds an audible alarm, in order to ward off intruders. When a user enter a wrong pin code 5 times, the electronic cylinder no longer accept access codes, for a period of 10 minutes, or until the administrator code is introduced.
The developed electronic cylinder has electric power supplied by four 1.5 Volt batteries, AA type, being easy to exchange them and avoiding the need to use power from the grid.

Background of the invention

The creation of this electronic cylinder is related to the need to develop a mechanism to be compatible with the conventional mechanical cylinder by European standards, and not to use any keys or any other type of physical devices to open and close doors. Electronic cylinder locks with a mechanical cylinder and electronical control are known. E.g. US 2004/0040355 A1 discloses such a cylinder. Furthermore EP 1 795 675 A2 discloses an electronic cylinder lock that can be adapted to doors of different thikness.
The problem solved by the electronic cylinder as defined by claim 1 is to provide for an alternative electronic cylinder that can easily be adapted to doors of different thickness.
The electronic cylinder is adaptable to the different doors with thicknesses between 35mm and 60mm, and as well to left or right door orientation.

Description of the illustrations

In order to complement the detailed description of the electronic cylinder and to' provide a better understanding of the innovative features of the present invention, and as well as the technical details used in the design of this device, some figures are used, which are present in the end of the document.

Fig.1 - Frontal view of the electronics cylinder exterior structure, seeing the numerical keyboard, the signalisation LEDs and the main lock\unlock button.
Fig.2 - Frontal view of the electronics cylinder structure, seeing the interior lock\unlock keyboard, the signalization LEDs and the main lock\unlock button.
Fig.3 - Cut view of the electronics cylinder outer structure.
Fig.4 - Cut view of the electronics cylinder inner structure.
Fig.5 - Isometric view of the mechanical cylinder.
Fig.6 - View of the interior support structure seeing the solenoid and the main PCB.

Detailed description of the invention

Mechanical and electronic description: The electronical cylinder was projected thinking about easy installation and simplicity in use. In total the device is composed by tree main components: the mechanical cylinder, the outer keyboard supporting structure and the inner keyboard\electronics support structure.
The mechanical cylinder ( fig.5 ) is the mechanism which blocks\unblocks the doorlock in which it is inserted. The lock possesses a standard European shape, compatible with DIN 18251 norm. The mechanical cylinder is made out of Zamac, which confers the mechanism strength and resistance enough to withstand the lock being violated. To prevent the lock from being forced there is a mechanical fusible cylinder (26) made in brass, which breaks when the strength made in the extremities (30) and (33) is high, thus disabling the opening of the lock. To avoid the mechanical cylinder being drilled in a way to extract it, there are tempered steel pins (39) and (40) placed in strategical zones, in order to disable the drill of the support points and the opening latch (25). There's a screwed hole (28) to fix the mechanical cylinder to the lock, which presses the cylinder sideways against the lock structure, just like the assembling of a conventional cylinder. Observe that after the mechanical cylinder is placed there isn't any anti rotational mechanism for the extremities (30) and (31), which means that by rotating the mentioned components, the latch (25) will rotate jointly with the extremities (30) and (33) and will lock or unlock the door lock depending on the applied rotational motion. To disabling the lock from being unlocked there is a hole (29) where a shaft is introduced, which disables the rotation of the extremities (30) and (33), as well as the latch (25) in the sense of rotation to unblock the lock. In this case when the mechanical cylinder is forced, the entire pressure is applied to the hole (29) and in the cylinders structure, being this set dimensioned to withstand enough strength, so that the fusible cylinder breaks first. In fact, to rotate the cylinder in the closing sense, it's not necessary to withdraw the shaft introduced in the hole (29), which blocks the cylinder, because the hole (29) possesses a ramp that allows the shaft to slide freely in that sense. Thus being, it's noticeable that to lock the door lock it's not necessary to dial a code, just rotate the mechanism in the blocking sense. To allow the cylinder being assembled in right and left doors, there's a hole equal to the hole (29) placed in the other extremity of the mechanical cylinder and in the other side. Thus to place the cylinder in a left or right door , one only need to pay attention to the orientation of the mechanism so that, the hole (29) or its symmetrical, stays in the correct position, so that the lock doesn't rotate freely in the sense of opening. The shaft (36) which is placed in the hole (29) is a part of a solenoid (34), which is place in the interior structure of the electronic cylinder. Thus being only when the introduced code by the user is valid, the main board activates the solenoid (34), which retracts the shaft (36) and enables the latch to rotate and open the door. That being, so that the user knows where the assemble between the solenoid shaft (36) and the hole (29) is made, there is a sphere with a spring (27), which allows a fixing effect in the referred area, allowing the user to know how to leave the cylinder orientated, after utilization.
Since it's necessary the existence of an electric connection between the exterior structure (fig.1) and the interior (fig.2) of the electronic cylinder, there are two electric plugs (32) placed on the extremities of the mechanical cylinder, which allow the passing of electrical signals between the two referred components. The plugs are female type, and allowing the male pins (14) and (17), connected to the circuit boards to pass through them freely, enabling the mechanical cylinder to adapt to different door thicknesses. In practice, the mechanical cylinder as a dimension identical to the doors of larger thickness, where the male pins (14) and (17) stay only a few mm inside the female sockets (32). When a door as a smaller thickness, the mechanical cylinder stays more protuberant, which means that when the exterior and interior structure are in place the male pins (14) and (17) pass through the female sockets (32), in a way that the structures stay in contact with the surface of the door. In this system one can manage a perfect coupling between the exterior and interior structures which form the electronic cylinder and the door for measures between 35mm and 60mm. To conveniently fix the structures to the mechanical cylinder there's a threaded hole (31) where a screw is placed to fixate the referred structures.
The exterior structure (2) ( fig.1 ) is placed in the outside of the door, in a way so that the user to enter the room must dial the access code. Too dial the access codes there's a 12 position numerical keyboard, which contemplates a numerical area (5), a programming button (6), and an unlocking button (7). To lock or unlock the door there's a rotational button (1) which is connected to the extremities (30) and (33). To signal the validity of the operations there's a red LED (3) and a green LED (4). The exterior structure (2) is joint with the support (16), being the two components plastically welded, so that the user cannot accede the electronical part (15). The electronical part (15) is used to decode the numerical keyboard, and provide power to the signalling LEDs, being the information transferred to the main board (35), thought the male connector (14). To fixate the exterior structure, (2) to the mechanical cylinder, there's a screw (13) which screws in the hole (31) of the mechanical cylinder. Notice that in the installation of the exterior structure (2), the rotating button (1), should not be fixed in it, in order to allow the fixation of the screw (13). Only after this operation the button (1) should be putted in place, by sliding it in the extremity (30) or (33) of the mechanical cylinder until it locks in the exterior structure (2).
The interior structure (9) ( fig.2 ) is placed on the inside of the door, where there isn't the need to dial any code to open the door. To enabling the opening of the door, there's a button (10) which informs the main board (35) to retract the solenoid shaft (36), allowing thus the rotational button (8) to effectuate the door opening. To lock the door it's not necessary to dial any code, just rotate the button (8) in the closing sense. To disable the opening of the door from the outside there's a button (11) that informs the main board (35), to invalidate any code introduction, with exception for the administrator code. The interior structure (9) is fixed into the support (21), where is placed the main board (35) and the solenoid (34). To prevent the user to gain access to the systems electronics the interior structure (9) and the support (21) are welded. The main board contains a microcontroller (20) which processes the access codes data and that contains an internal memory where they are recorded. To signalise the operations as well as the breach of the exterior structure (2) there's a buzzer (19) which sounds an alarm in the referred situations. To collect information from the outside keyboard there is a male connector (17), which effectuates the electrical connection to the female socket (32) of the mechanical cylinder. To power the device there's a plastic cover (12) in the interior structure (9) where on its inside there's a removable battery support (23) where 4 AA batteries. (22) are placed. To fix the structure (9) to the mechanical cylinder there's a screw (18) that screws in the hole (31). Notice that in the installation of the exterior structure (9) the rotating button (8) should not be fixed in it. Only after this operation the button (8) should be fixed, by sliding through the extremities (30) or (33) of the mechanical cylinder until it locks in the interior structure (9).
Description of the users interface: There's a keyboard applied in the exterior structure (2) composed by 10 numerical keys (5), a programming key (6) and a opening key (7) which confirms all the action taken. The electronic cylinder contains a administrator code by which one can aced to all the functionalities that the mechanism allows. The electronic cylinder allows to store up to 60 different codes up to a maximum of 8 digits a code. To add a new access code it's necessary to press the P key (6) during 3 seconds, insert the administrator code and confirm it with the opening key (7), enter the new access code, and confirm it again with the opening key, insert again the new code and confirm it again with the opening key. To eliminate a access code it's necessary to press the P key (6) during 3 sec. input the administrator code and confirm with the opening key (7), insert the access code to be eliminated and confirm with the opening key (7) insert again the code to be eliminated and confirm it again with the opening key (7). So that the administrator controls the number of access of a user, particularly to allows just a certain number of entries it's necessary to press the P key (6), insert the administrator code and confirm with the P key (6), the insert the access code to be limited, confirm it whit the P key (6), insert the number of accesses and confirm again with the O key (6).
All the performed actions are signalized by a audible signal emitted by a buzzer (19), simultaneously with lightning signals emitted by the LEDs (3) and (4). When a valid code is inserted the operation is signalized by a green LED (4), otherwise the action is signalised by a red LED (3), simultaneously with a sound indication through the buzzer (19). After inserting 5 times a invalid access code the device doesn't accept any more codes during a period of 10 minutes.
Each time one presses the keys (5), (6) or (7) a LED is activated to ensure the illumination of the keyboard.
When a valid access code is inserted the solenoid shaft (36) stays retracted during a period of 4 seconds, thus allowing the user to unlock the door by rotating the button (8) in the correct sense. After this 4 second period the solenoid shaft (36) moves to its original position. If the time isn't enough the user can press one of the buttons (5), (6) or (7) to retract the solenoid shaft (36) again and have more 4 seconds to unlock the door. Once this timing is over it's only possible to unlock the door by inserting the code again. To lock the door the user needs only to rotate the button (8) in the correct sense, not being necessary to input any code.
The electronic circuit (35).which composes the cylinder was developed to have the lowest power consumption possible and thus increasing the longevity of the batteries (22), allowing a bigger number of utilizations of the electronic cylinder. When the batteries (22) are almost discharged a light signal is produced by the red LED (3) which blinks and alerts the user to replace the batteries (22). After this signal the uses has at least 50 more times to use the Electronic Cylinder.
In the inner structure (9) a two key keyboard is assembled which is composed by two keys: the double locking key (11) and the opening key. When the user presses the double locking key (11) during 3 seconds, the red LED is activated by two seconds, and all the accesses from the outside became blocked, except for the administrator. To deactivate this functionality one just need to press se same key (11), activating the green LED (38) by two seconds. The opening key (10) allows the user to have more 4 seconds to unlock the door each time it's pressed allowing rotate the button (8) in the sense of rotation, being this phase signalised by the green LED (38). To lock the door it's only necessary to rotate the button (8) in the correct sense. When the outside structure (2) is forced or damaged the device generates a warning sound thought the buzzer (19).
The electronic circuit (35) which composes the cylinder was developed to have the lowest power consumption possible and thus increasing the longevity of the batteries (22), allowing a bigger number of utilizations of the electronic cylinder. When the batteries (22) are almost discharged a light signal is produced by the red LED (3) which blinks and alerts the user to replace the batteries (22). After this signal the uses has at least 50 more times to use the Electronic Cylinder.
In the inner structure (9) a two key keyboard is assembled which is composed by two keys: the double locking key (11) and the opening key. When the user presses the double locking key (11) during 3 seconds, the red LED is activated by two seconds, and all the accesses from the outside became blocked, except for the administrator. To deactivate this functionality one just need to press se same key (11), activating the green LED (38) by two seconds. The opening key (10) allows the user to have more 4 seconds to unlock the door each time it's pressed allowing rotate the button (8) in the sense of rotation, being this phase signalised by the green LED (38). To lock the door it's only necessary to rotate the button (8) in the correct sense. When the outside structure (2) is forced or damaged the device generates a warning sound thought the buzzer (19).

Claims

An electronic cylinder having an European shape mechanical cylinder, with electronic control access codes by a keyboard, comprising:
- said mechanical cylinder,

- an outer keyboard supporting structure (2),

- an inner keyboard and electronics support structure (9),
characterised in that for an electric connection between the exterior structure and the interior of the electronic cylinder it comprises :
- two male and female sockets (14, 17, 32), wherein the male pins (14, 17) that are connected to circuit boards may pass through the female plugs (32) placed on the extremities of the mechanical cylinder freely, and which coupling is such that the outer structure (2), the inner structure (9) and the mechanical cylinder fit doors of different thicknesses.
The electronic cylinder according to claim 1 such that it fits a door between 35mm and 57mm.
The electronic cylinder according to claim 1 such that it fits a door between 35mm and 60mm.
The electronic cylinder according to any one of previous claims comprising a three 3 screw mounting system (28, 31, 13, 18).
The electronic cylinder according to any one of previous claims comprising a mechanical fusible (26) such that it breaks in case of a lock cracking try.
The electronic cylinder according to any one of previous claims comprising an alarm system which detects a violation of the outer structure (2) and consequently emits an alarm sound.
The electronic cylinder according to any one of previous claims configured such that it enables the invalidation of introduced access codes, even if they are valid, with exception to the administrator code.
The electronic cylinder according to any one of previous claims wherein said mechanical cylinder is a symmetrical mechanical cylinder which allows the assembly of the device in left and right doors.
The electronic cylinder according to any one of previous claims comprising steel tempered pins (39, 40) placed in strategical zones of the mechanical cylinder to avoid the drilling and cracking of it.