Communications: electrical – Selective – Intelligence comparison for controlling
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-21
2001-12-18
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Intelligence comparison for controlling
C340S005800, C340S005100, C340S870030, C070S336000, C070S393000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331812
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of electronic or mechanical-and-electronic locks, and to associated security combination keys.
PRIOR ART
At present, in dwellings, and more generally in local or professional premises there exist numerous types of mechanical lock designed to be received in the moving part of a door or of a gate and in which the cylinder complies, dimensionally, with European or international standards that are in force. Such cylinders are particularly complex to implement and they often make it possible to obtain several billion different combinations, with the best of them presenting excellent resistance to picking and to drilling.
There also exist on the market very many locking devices based on a system comprising a lock and a key, e.g. for cars (steering-column locks) or more generally in industry, in particular for authorizing or preventing operation of numerous appliances or indeed of electronic cabinets or racks.
Over the last few years, there have also been developments in locks that combine mechanical coding implemented by bitting or notches coexisting with an electronic combination that exists in the key or the lock. European patent application No. 0 277 432 shows an example of one such mechanical-and-electronic lock in which the key comprises not only conventional mechanical coding for releasing the lock, but also an electronic circuit that, when the key is inserted in the lock, transmits a preprogrammed identification code to the lock, which code is in turn transmitted to an external control module which decodes it, said module also serving to power the lock-and-key combination. In a more elaborate version, that electronic system may comprise a non-volatile memory including an identification code for the lock with which it is associated. Application FR 2 561 292 shows an electronic key capable of being used with a mechanical-and-electronic lock and including both notches for mechanical coding and an electronic micro-processor circuit powered by a battery disposed directly in a portion of the key.
Nevertheless, each of the above-specified locks suffers from a major drawback in that their security depends essentially on the type of mechanical cylinder used for receiving the keys, with the electronic device providing no more than an additional security element. Maximum security is provided above all by the cylinder being of complex structure, with the consequence of the lock being very expensive. In addition, any loss of the key automatically requires the cylinder to be replaced (it being out of the question to modify this mechanical element), whether or not the cylinder is associated with electronic means. Naturally, in order to guarantee such high security, each cylinder is associated with one key, and with one key only.
Also, the proprietor of application EP 0 388 997 has proposed a lock that is entirely electronic in which a door is opened in the event that an identification code of the key corresponds to a code of the lock. The key includes a memory capable of receiving a plurality of codes corresponding to different locks, and the cylinder of each lock includes a power supply for its own electronic circuits and for those of the key. In addition, the cylinder described may have standardized dimensions analogous to those of a cylinder of a conventional lock.
Nevertheless, that electronic locking system still suffers from certain drawbacks, in particular in the event of the key being lost or in the event of the power supply running low, thereby greatly restricting practical application thereof and, in fact, making it unsuitable for any commercial use. For example, in the event of the key being lost, the user must necessarily turn to the manufacturer who must then make a visit in order to reprogram the codes in each of the locks. Possibly, if the manufacturer authorizes it and if the manufacturer desires to be the only source of reprogramming, the user must turn to a centralized computer device. However, under such circumstances, the complexity of the resulting system makes it particularly expensive and difficult to use for a non-professional user.
OBJECT AND DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to mitigate the above-specified drawbacks by providing a programmable electronic closure device that is particularly simple and cheap and capable of being implemented by any user, even if not professional.
An essential aim of the invention is to make it possible by individual programming of each key to provide the user thereof with access to all of the security characteristics of the lock.
Another aim of the invention is to provide an electronic device capable of replacing existing mechanical devices, particularly in order to increase security, without requiring excessive expenditure, i.e. without requiring complex intervention on the devices or the structures in which they are incorporated. Yet another aim of the invention is to propose a device whose characteristics may advantageously be compared with those of present devices but that also present additional functions.
These aims are achieved by a programmable electronic closure system comprising a lock designed to be operated by a key when an identification code of the lock and an identification code of the associated key are observed to match, the system being characterized in that:
the lock includes a cylinder provided with a portion in which at least one keyway is provided for receiving said key;
the cylinder includes at least one electrical connection means, electronic control means including at least one memory means for storing at least one identification code and connected to the at least one electrical connection means, and release means responsive to said electronic control means and designed to release the lock; and in that
the key includes first electrical connection means for co-operating with the electrical connection means of the lock when the key is inserted in the corresponding keyway, first electronic control means including at least first memory means for storing at least one identification code and connected to the first electrical connection means, and programming means for modifying the data contained in each of the electronic control means of the key and of the lock under the control of means for inputting a confidential code;
the electronic control means of the key and of the lock, and the cylinder release means being powered by power supply means.
The presence of means for programming the electronic circuits of the lock and of the key directly from the key avoids any need for the user to turn to external programming (e.g. via the manufacturer) and avoids any need to make a connection with computer means that are cumbersome and necessarily expensive.
In addition, and this constitutes an essential improvement of the invention, the above-defined technical means in combination make it possible to implement a device that is genuinely suitable for being commercialized, such that it is intended for replacing the existing mechanical devices presently on the market. Above all, the device of the invention is simple to use since it is presented like present-day systems and therefore does not require any change in the habits of the user. Further, compared with such prior art systems it has the advantage of requiring only one key for opening a plurality of locks, instead of a bunch of keys as is required at present, with the single key being capable of containing the identification code of a plurality of locks. Also, the presence of different electronic circuits and of individual programming means for said circuits makes it possible not only to reinforce the security provided by the device of the invention very simply and in significant manner, but also to provide access to numerous functions that are not presently available using mechanical keys or even electronic keys. Finally, the fact that the electronic circuits of the lock are all localized within its cylinder make it possible for anyone to replace instantly mechanical closure
Dalencourt Yves
Electronic Key Systems (E.K.S.) S.A.R.L.
Horabik Michael
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