US 6,552,650 B1 · Coin collection lock and key

Abstract

A mechanical lock and key includes an electronic access control feature for preventing opening of the lock unless prescribed conditions are met. The lock cylinder, preferably the cylinder plug, is fitted with a small ID or “serial number” chip which is read when a voltage is applied. A connected addressable switch is connected to a solenoid capable of withdrawing a blocking pin, when the switch is activated. The mechanical key has a key head with a battery, microprocessor and database. When the key is inserted into the lock, a one-wire bus connection sends the lock ID to the key's microprocessor, a comparison is made by the microprocessor to determine whether the lock is authorized to be opened, and if so; a code for the addressable switch, determined from the key database, is sent via the one wire bus to the switch, powering the solenoid, withdrawing the blocking pin and enabling opening of the lock. A record is made in the database as to each instance of opening of each lock which the key fits. In electric parking meters, for example, cash count data can be read by the key and recorded for auditing the route. Rewritable memory can be included in the lock to store the cash count data gathered by the key for subsequent audit or, in situations involving several keys and a simple lock, to store a series of previous entry events for audit.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A mechanical key device formed as a solid unit and fitted for insertion into a lock cylinder, comprising;

(a) a key blade with mechanical bitting to fit a pattern of a lock cylinder,
(b) a key head fixed to the key blade,
(c) the key head including electrical contact means for engaging with a contact of a lock cylinder, leading to electronics in the lock cylinder and to an electrically-operated blocking device in the lock cylinder, in a one-wire bus connection, and a battery in the key head,
(d) microprocessor means in the key head, powered by the battery, and data storage means connected to the microprocessor means,
(e) a keypad on the key head with means for data entry,
(f) the battery being connected to power the microprocessor means and keypad and data storage means, and
(g) the microprocessor means and data storage means having means for reading an electronic ID code of a lock when the one-wire bus connection is made, and for looking up the read ID code in the data storage means and for making a yes or no decision, based on the content of the data storage means, as to whether the lock is authorized to be opened, and if so, for sending a prescribed data signal to the lock electronics and power from the battery to the lock's blocking device, to allow opening of the lock.

4 more elements

A series of corn collecting implements with lock devices in combination with a mechanical key device formed as a solid unit and fitted for insertion into a lock cylinder, comprising:

mechanical kpy device including:
(a) a key blade with mechanical bitting to fit a pattern of a lock cylinder,
(b) a key head fixed to the key blade,
(c) the key device including electrical contact means for engaging with a contact of a lock cylinder of a lock device, leading to electronics in the lock cylinder and to an electrically-operated blocking device in the lock cylinder, in a one-wire bus connection,
(d) a battery in the key head,
(e) microprocessor means in the key head, powered by the battery, and data storage means in the key head connected to the microprocessor means,
(f) the battery being connected to power the microprocessor means and data storage means,
(g) the microprocessor means and data storage means having means for reading an electronic ID code of a lock device when the one-wire bus connection is made, and for looking up the read ID code in the data storage means and for making a yes or no decision, based on the content of the data storage means, as to whether the lock device is authorized to be opened, and if so, for sending a prescribed data signal to the lock cylinder electronics and power from the battery to the lock's blocking device, to allow opening of the lock device, and
(h) an infrared reading device on the key head connected to the microprocessor means and capable of reading an infrared signal emitted by the implement when held adjacent thereto for storage in the microprocessor means;
the coin collecting implements and lock devices compromising:
each lock device having a said lock cylinder with said electronics and said electrically-operated blocking device,
each lock device having an electronic ID storage device as a part of said electronics and storing said electronic ID code,
the lock device also having a mechanical bitting pattern of said lock cylinder fitted to the key blade, each lock device securing a coin storage area of said coin collecting implement,
each coin collecting implement further including a coin counter device for electronically counting the coins entering the coin storage area and the coin counter device having means for electronically storing a total representing the number of coins which are stored, and
the implement additionally including infrared transmitter means connected to the coin counter device for emitting an infrared signal representing the number of coins collected in the coin storage area, said coin counter device and infrared transmitter means being separate and independent and not connected to the lock device or the lock electronics.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coin collection lock and key

Life of this patent

Coin collection lock and key

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15