Electronically-controlled removable core lock
AssigneeMedeco Security Locks, Inc.
InventorsJames Bench, Lance Schoell, Doug Trent, David Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic small format interchangeable core (“SFIC”) lock is configured so that core locking features are electronically controlled, and keys can be electronically programmed to operate either as a normal user key able to open the lock or as a control key able to open the lock and to remove the SFIC cores. The same key will operate as a normal access key or as a control key, depending on how the key is programmed.
Claims15
An interchangeable, electromechanical lock core, comprising:
- a shell;
- a plug rotatably positioned within said shell;
- an electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism configured to selectively permit or block rotation of said plug within said shell;
- a control element configured for selective movement between a core lock position and a core release position, wherein when the control element is in the core lock position the lock core is held securely within a lock housing, and when the control element is in the core release position the lock core is removable from the lock housing;
- and
- an electronically-controlled control element coupling mechanism configured to electronically control a state of said control element, wherein, in a first state of said control element, said control element is operatively uncoupled from said plug and, in a second state of said control element, said control element is operatively coupled with said plug, and wherein the position of the control element is controlled by rotation of said plug when said control element is in the second state,
- wherein, upon presentation of a valid control credential, said electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism is electronically activated to permit rotation of said plug, and said electronically-controlled control element coupling mechanism is electronically activated to place said control element in the second state.
An interchangeable, electromechanical lock core, comprising:
- a shell;
- a plug rotatably positioned within said shell;
- an electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism configured to selectively permit or block rotation of said plug within said shell;
- a control element configured for selective movement between a core lock position and a core release position, wherein when the control element is in the core lock position the lock core is held securely within a lock housing, and when the control element is in the core release position the lock core is removable from the lock housing;
- an electronically-controlled control element coupling mechanism configured to electronically control a state of said control element, wherein, in a first state of said control element, said control element is operatively uncoupled from said plug and, in a second state of said control element, said control element is operatively coupled with said plug, and wherein the position of the control element is controlled by rotation of said plug when said control element is in the second state;
- and
- a microcontroller configured to distinguish between a first valid control credential and a second valid control credential, wherein the first valid control credential enables activation of only said electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism so as to permit rotation of said plug within said shell and the second valid control credential enables activation of both said electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism so as to permit rotation of said plug within said shell and said electronically-controlled control element coupling mechanism so as to change the status of said control element from said first state to said second state.
An electronic, interchangeable core lock system comprising:
- a core with electronically-controlled locking features configured to lock the core within a housing;
- an electronically operable lock within the core;
- at least one key electronically programmed to operate only as a user key able to operate the lock;
- and
- at least one key electronically programmed to operate as a control key able to both operate the lock and to actuate the locking features of the core.
A key configured to operate an interchangeable, electromechanical lock core that comprises a shell, a plug rotatably positioned within the shell, an electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism configured to selectively permit or block rotation of the plug within the shell, and a control element configured for selective movement between a core lock position and a core release position, wherein when the control element is in the core lock position the lock core is held securely within a lock housing, and when the control sleeve is in the core release position the lock core is removable from the lock housing, said key comprising:
- contact elements configured to engage contacts of the electromechanical lock core and transmit signals between the key and the electromechanical lock core;
- and
- programmable memory programmed with executable instructions configured to:
- transmit signals to the lock that will activate the electronically-controlled plug locking mechanism to permit rotation of the plug;
- and
- transmit signals to the lock that will enable the control element to be moved from the core lock position to the core release position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.