US 5,507,162 AGranted

Eurocylinder-type assembly for electronic lock and key system

AssigneeIntellikey Corporation

InventorKn S. Chhatwal

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A `Eurocylinder` configuration for an electronic lock and key system has a plug fitted into a main body housing which is readily mounted into a mortise of standardized dimensions. The plug has a keyway at one end and a deadbolt-engaging cam at the other end. To operate the lock, an electronic key is inserted into the keyway and, when given permission as a result of an opto-electronic communication exchange between a control processor in the key and a control processor in the lock, the key is rotated so as to operate a deadbolt. A spring biased translatable contact serves as a conductive interface between a flex circuit and a contact on the keyblade. The body also includes a solenoid device which is energized by way of the flex circuit. The solenoid device operates a plunger away from the plug to allow rotation of the plug by the key. The body and plug also include a segmented pin arrangement such that when the key and the plug are rotated from a key insertion position, the key cannot be removed. A front end portion of the elongated portion of the housing contains an opto-electronic communication unit which communicates with a complementary opto-electronic communication unit in the key handle.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An assembly for an electronic lock and key system, said key having a handle portion housing an electronic circuit, and a conductive blade portion extending from said handle portion and including a conductive terminal portion mounted upon and insulated from said conductive blade portion, said conductive blade portion and said conductive terminal portion being electrically connected to said electronic circuit, said assembly comprising:

a generally cylindrical body having a keyway therein, said keyway being sized to receive the conductive blade portion of said key, said generally cylindrical body further having a slot extending through a wall portion of said cylindrical body, said slot having a first axis generally transverse to and intersecting said keyway;
an electrically insulating contact insert disposed within said slot;
a translatable electrically conductive contact disposed within said electrically insulating contact insert so as to be translatable along said first axis and engageable by said conductive terminal portion of said key, when said key is inserted into said keyway;
an electrically conductive fixed contact element supported adjacent to said slot and positioned to be conductively engageable with said conductive terminal portion of said key by means of said translatable electrically conductive contact, when said translatable electrically conductive contact is engaged by said conductive terminal portion of said key, when said key is inserted into said keyway;
a flexible insulated conductor link conductively coupled to said electrically conductive fixed contact element;
and
a solenoid device having a movable plunger that is translatable along a second axis that intersects said generally cylindrical body, and wherein said generally cylindrical body has a first bore that is alignable with said second axis, and is sized to receive said movable plunger, such that said movable plunger, when inserted into said first bore, prevents rotation of said cylindrical body until said movable plunger is translated out of said first bore by the operation of said solenoid device.

4 more elements

a conductive housing having a generally cylindrical first housing portion and a generally elongated second housing portion solid with said first housing portion, said first housing portion having a longitudinal bore into which a cylindrical key-receiving plug is inserted, said plug having a keyway being rotatable by the turning of said key that has been inserted into said keyway and electronically verified to have permission to operate the lock;
a lock operating element mounted with said plug, said lock operating element being rotatable in a cavity formed in said second housing portion;
an insulating contact element holder disposed in said longitudinal bore, said contact element holder containing a fixed metallic contact element and a flex circuit connected thereto;
said plug having a slot which intersects said keyway, said slot containing a translatable electrically conductive contact which is electrically connected with said fixed metallic contact element and supported in said slot for contact with said conductive terminal portion of said key but not said blade portion of said key;
and
a solenoid device to which said flex circuit is electrically coupled, said solenoid device having a moveable plunger that is arranged to be translatable into and out of a plunger-receiving bore in said plug, said moveable plunger being biased to normally be inserted into said plunger-receiving bore, so as to engage said plug and thereby prevent rotation of the plug, but, in response to energization of said solenoid device, being translated out of said plunger-receiving bore in said plug, so as to allow rotation of said plug in the longitudinal bore in said first housing portion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/184,024Filed 24 Jan 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 11 Oct 1990
Granted: 16 Apr 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

E05B 47/063
Radially: with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
E05B 17/22
Accessories in connection with locks: means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening…
G07C 9/00309
Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers…:…
G07C 9/00944
Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers…:…