Electronic lock and input apparatus thereof

An electronic lock, comprising:

• an input apparatus including a keypad module and a processor module in communication with said keypad module, said keypad module including plural button devices each being operable to output a detection signal, wherein said button devices are arranged in plural rows extending in a first direction and in plural columns extending in a second direction;
• a lock mechanism configured to be electrically driven to switch between a lock state and an unlock state;
• and
• an electronic controller device in communication with said input apparatus and said lock mechanism, and configured to
• store a predetermined password,
• receive a series of input signals from said input apparatus during a time period to compose an input password based on the input signals,
• compare the input password with the predetermined password, and
• when the input password matches the predetermined password, drive said lock mechanism to switch from the lock state to the unlock state,
• wherein said processor module includes
• a signal-processing unit configured to switch between a sleep mode and a work mode, said signal-processing unit being further configured to, when operating in the work mode,
• repeatedly perform an emission process of inputting the detection signal to each column of said button devices, wherein in the emission process, said signal-processing unit is to input the detection signal to each column from a first column of the plural columns of said button devices to a last column of the plural columns of said button devices in an order in the first direction, the detection signal including a pulse wave composed of plural pulses, wherein said signal-processing unit is configured to cease performing the emission process in the sleep mode,
• repeatedly perform a scan process to detect whether the detection signal is outputted from one row of the plural rows of said button devices, wherein the scan process is performed each time the detection signal is inputted to one of said columns of said button devices, and wherein in the scan process, said signal-processing unit is to, for each row from a first row of the plural rows of said button devices to a last row of the plural rows of said button devices in an order in the second direction, attempt to receive the detection signal from the row of said button devices, and
• when the detection signal outputted from one row of said button devices is detected while said signal-processing unit is inputting the detection signal to one column of said button devices, generate one of the input signals corresponding to one of said button devices that is located in said one row of said button devices and also in said one column of said button devices, and output said one of the input signals thus generated to said electronic controller device,
• a sleep unit configured to switch said signal-processing unit from the work mode to the sleep mode when no input signal has been outputted by said signal-processing unit for a predetermined time period, and
• a wake-up unit configured to switch said signal-processing unit from the sleep mode to the work mode when receiving an activation signal.