GB2299613A - A self contained electronic lock with proximity reader - Google Patents

Description

2299613 1 A SELF CONTAINED ELECTRONIC LOCK WITH A PROXIMITY READER SCOPE

OF INVENTIO The invention relates to an electronic lock with a proximity reader. The new electronic lock to which this invention relates offers particular advantages for applications in which self contained operation of each installation point is desired, i.e. in which no permanent electrical power supply is available, the electrical supply having to be provided by means of electric battery cells. A typical example of this self contained operation is that of the locks of hotel rooms.

PRIOR ART

In electronic locks, for use with cards incorporating a magnetic strip ("magnetic card"), reading of the card is effected, at the time when it is passed and in physical contact with, a reading head. In this lock technology it is only possible to read fixed and permanent information which has previously been coded on the card and which, without any other requirement, is available to be read at any time.

This type of magnetic card technology is nowadays most widely used in hotels and similar establishments, since in order to render them selfcontained it is sufficient to provide an electrical cell and an electric switch so that the insertion of the card will actuate the switch and the cell will supply the electric power required to effect the reading of the magnetic tape, the device being rearmed by the extraction of the card. In the inoperative periods the cell provides the very small consumption required by the digital circuits of the reader in order to ensure that they will remain in a "standby" or "dormant" state while awaiting the activation signal from the switch.

A further electronic lock technology of more recent application makes use of proximity readers, so called because the communication of data between the reader and the card ("proximity card") or other equivalent code carrier (e.g. a key-holder) is effected by radio-frequency signals, without any need for physical contact. In this 2 technology the card incorporates a programmable chip capable of emitting a signal modulated with coded information, which is demodulated and read by the proximity reader, for which purpose, however, it requires a power supply. This is provided by the proximity reader itself, via a radio- frequency signal which it emits continuously. In general, a proximity reader incorporates an antenna in the form of a flat coil positioned under a plastic protective cover permeable to the electromagnetic radio- frequency waves and an electronic circuit which excites this coil electrically by means of a two wire connection.

Within this proximity technology, the flow of data can be bi-directional (interactive) between the card (or carrier concerned) and the reader, offering an ample range of interesting potential applications for electronic locks.

However, the need for the proximity reader to be permanently emitting, and thus consuming operating power, is the reason why there are at present no electronic locks with a proximity reader which are self contained (supplied by battery cells), their use being confined to installations which, for security considerations and other reasons, have a permanent power supply.

Consequently, the important market provided by the hotel industry and others is at present deprived of this advantageous technological option unless it is prepared to incur very high installation costs, which are not justified for new installations, let alone for replacements of the equipment of conventional locks in hotels in what are in need of modernization in this respect.

3 EXPLANATION OF INVENTION and ADVANTAGES OFFERED The present invention provides nothing new in relation to the techniques used in the transmission or reception of radio-frequency signals or to integrated circuits (such as the chip with which the proximity card is equipped) capable of being activated by a power supply of a low frequency such as provided by the electromagnetic field produced by the proximity reader, or again, in relation to the techniques which make it possible to accommodate such, in a card of the size of a "credit card", or the antenna and the electronic circuits required for storing the coded information and for communicating with the reader via radio-frequency.

The invention is aimed rather at a constructional principle making it possible to provide an electronic lock with proximity reader, capable of functioning in a self contained manner and fed by an electric cell and having a technical and structural configuration rendering it suitable, not only as a new installation but as a replacement, subject to minor modifications, for existing locks equipped with magnetic or punch card readers.

According to the invention, there is provided a self contained electronic lock with proximity reader, particularly an electronic lock which, by means of radio-frequency waves, is operable by a proximity card, with a programmable chip, interactive or otherwise, in which the corresponding proximity reader unit is associated on the one hand with a self contained feed unit based on electric cells and designed to supply electrical energy required for the operation and maintenance of the digital circuits in a "standby" state of minimum consumption while waiting to come into operation, the reader unit being associated on the other hand with an electric switch which, on the presentation of the proximity card is actuated mechanically, causing the activation of the standby digital circuits and consequent emission, by the coil-antenna integral with the reader unit, of a radio-frequency signal which feeds the chip of the card, so that, via the coil-antenna, it will convey coded information to the reader unit and possibly interact with this latter.

The fact is that it is now no longer necessary for the proximity reader to be 4 permanently active in the emission of radio-frequency, continuously consuming its normal operating current in order to be able to function effectively to cover the short periods when a lock opening operation is being performed. On the contrary, the digital circuits of the proximity reader (as in the case of the magnetic card readers) are now made dormant (without emitting radio-frequency) with only minimum consumption of the electrical cell, until the switch is actuated, which coincides with the presence of the chip inside the electro-magnetic field created by the proximity reader, with the result that the chip is supplied with power and performs its function of data communication with the proximity readers in a normal operation which, by reason of its short duration (the card being withdrawn on its completion and the "dormant state of minimum power consumption" restored) can be ensured by one cell repeatedly throughout one or more years without any need to replace it.

Furthermore, the simplicity of the proposed construction enables it to be easily incorporated into the functional systems, dimensions and geometrical shapes of the existing electronic locks.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the presentation of the proximity card takes place in the base of a slot or groove which is provided in the frame of the lock and on which the coil-antenna of the proximity reader unit acts, the operating lever of the electric switch being positioned either in the base of the slot, encroaching upon the insertion path of the proximity card, or on the outside of the frame, in a suitable place, from the ergonomic point of view, to be operated manually by the user holding and presenting or inserting the card.

This preferred solution offers the advantage that the coil-antenna of the chip of the card is opposite and very close to the coil-antenna of the proximity reader, resulting in highly efficient interchange of energy between them, enabling the card to be read with the use of a very weak signal from the reader and making it possible for the coil-antenna of the latter to be provided with an extremely simple exciter circuit, the service life of the cell being prolonged.

A further advantage of this solution is that the use of the low power with radiofrequency, combined with the fact that the communication takes place inside the frame, ensures much greater intrinsic security than with readers exposed to the outside, since it is thus impossible, even with sophisticated receivers, to "spy" on the interchange of data between reader and card.

Constructionally this solution offers the further important advantage of enabling a magnetic card lock to be easily converted for the reading of proximity cards. Mechanically, the magnetic reading head simply has to be replaced by the flat coil, which will occupy a similar position, while electrically all that is required is to adapt the electronic circuits so that they will generate the radio-frequency signals to the coil, while the two wires connecting the magnetic reading head to its control circuit will be the same ones which will now connect the coil to its radio- frequency oscillator circuit.

Attention should also be drawn to the advantage that the method of operation, with the insertion of the card in a slot, is one which users are already familiar.

In a further preferred method for the performance of the invention the operation of presenting the card is effected outside the frame by means of a separate push-button provided on the front of the frame, acting on the lever of the aforementioned electric switch and containing the said coil-antenna of the reader unit. To open the lock all that is required is to press the push-button in one of the following ways: directly, with the face of the proximity card; by hand, after having suitably taken hold of the card; with the hand which has not been used for presenting the card.

Among the advantages of this second solution it should be noted that it is less likely to be rendered unusable by objects introduced into the slot, since the latter is absent, and the possibility of a "reading" chip carriers or transporters different from the cards, such as a kind of "tag" adapted for a key-holder.

6 DRAWINGS AND REFERENCE NUMBERS The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows, in perspective, an electronic lock according to the invention, built into a door; Fig. 2 shows schematically and on a larger scale a front view of the detail 10 ringed in Fig. I and corresponds to a first preferred version of the invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken in the direction (11) of Fig. 2 and includes a card about to be inserted; Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 but with the card inserted; Fig. 5 is a view equivalent to Fig. I but showing a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken in the direction (12) in Fig. 5, a card being presented in order to be read, and; Figs. 7 and 8 show a third preferred embodiment. The reference numbers used in these diagrams are as follows 1: Electronic proximity lock la: Frame of lock (1) 2: Proximity card 2a: Programmable chip of card (2) 3: Proximity reader unit 3a: Digital circuits of reader (3) 3b: Coil-antenna of reader unit (3) 4: Electrical supply cells 5: Switch 5a: 6: 7: 8: 9:

Lever of switch (5) Slot or groove Push button Indicator pilots Door 10: ll: 12: 13: 14:

7 Amplified detail Indication of direction of sectional diagram Indication of direction of sectional diagram Keyboard Fixed support 8 EXPLANATION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The attached drawings illustrate two preferred embodiments of an electronic lock which, being of the type which makes use of a proximity reader, have the particular characteristic of operating autonomously, providing a design structurally and functionally compatible with that of electronic locks having a magnetic card.

The essential principle of the new electronic proximity lock resides in the arrangement of the switch 5 in such a way that, in the operation of presenting the proximity card 2 for reading, and not until then, the digital circuits 3a of the proximity reader 3 are activated and their coil-antenna 3b emits the radio-frequency signal which will feed a coilantenna (not shown) associated with a chip (2a) of a card 2. It sends its coded information to be processed by the reader (3) and, if recognised as valid, cause the lock mechanism to be opened, while if the chip (2a) is inter-active a reverse flow of data can likewise be established from the reader 3 to inform the chip 2a, reader 3. The power required for these opening operations and, naturally, for the low consumption of the "standby" state of the digital circuits (3a) is supplied by a set of electric cell 4 which, under these circumstances supply sufficient power for one or more years of autonomous operation.

Figs. 2-4 illustrate the construction and operation with reference to an embodiment which the card 2 is inserted in the interior of the slot 6, where the cam lever 5a of the switch 5 operates, leaving the chip 2a opposite and close to the coil-antenna 3b. In a variant of this solution the lever 5a rises out of the frame la and is manually operated by the user himself, who grips the card 2 when inserting it.

Figs. 5 and 6, on the other hand, relate to the version in which the lever cam 5a of the switch 5 is actuated by a push-button 7, which accommodates the coil-antenna 3b and which, on the presentation of the card 2, can be actuated by the surface of the said card 2 itself, with the use of either the hand with which it is held or the free hand. In this embodiment, in place of the card 2, the chip (2a) can be installed in a "tag" adapted key-holder.

11 9 Both solutions provide for the use of function indicator pilots 8 which will be mounted on the frame la or, in the second embodiment in the push- button 7 itself.

In Figs. 7 and 8 we illustrate a third embodiment in which, as may be seen, the reader unit 3 is also to be associated with a keyboard 13 having a possible dual function in as much as the operation of any key will activate the said "standby" digital circuits (3a), which activation is possible both with and without the introduction of a concrete personal code by the operation of the appropriate keys for validation, after which the signal required for feeding the card 2 will be emitted by the integral circuits 3a through their coil-antenna 3b.

When the feed signal has been received by the card 2, the actuation or interactuation considered appropriate can be effected.

In this case, the keyboard 13 may be of the membrane type and provided on a fixed plastic support (14) with the coil-antenna 3b accommodated in its interior.

There are numerous operative options, combining the simple operation of the keys of the keyboards 13, the latter being operated in accordance with a code, and combinations of keyboard operations with reading of the data of the proximity card.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS (1) A self contained electronic lock with proximity reader,

   particularly an electronic lock which, by means of radio-frequency waves, is operable by a proximity card, with a programmable chip, interactive or otherwise, in which the corresponding proximity reader unit is associated on the one hand with a self contained feed unit based on electric cells and designed to supply electrical energy required for the operation and maintenance of the digital circuits in a "standby" state of minimum consumption while waiting to come into operation, the reader unit being associated on the other hand with an electric switch which, on the presentation of the proximity card is actuated mechanically, causing the activation of the standby digital circuits and consequent emission, by the coil-antenna integral with the reader unit, of a radio-frequency signal which feeds the chip of the card, so that, via the coil-antenna, it will convey coded information to the reader unit and possibly interact with this latter.

   (2) An electronic lock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said presentation of the proximity card takes place in the base of the slot or groove which is provided in the frame of the lock and on which the coil-antenna of the proximity reader unit acts, the operating lever of the electric switch being positioned either in the base of the slot, extending into the insertion path of the proximity card, or on the outside of the frame in a suitable place, from the ergonomic point of view, to be operated manually by the user holding and presenting or inserting the card.

   (3) An electronic lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein presentation of the card takes place outside the frame by operating a separate pushbutton which is mounted on the front of the frame and which acts on the lever of the electric switch and which contains the aforementioned coilantenna of the reader unit.

   (4) An electronic lock in accordance with any one of claims I to 3 wherein a keyboard is associated with the reader unit in which the actuation of any key activates the aforementioned "standby" digital circuits with or without the introduction of a specific personal code by key actuation for the validation by the integrated circuits, 11 with the consequent emission, by the coil-antenna of the reader unit, or a signal which feeds the card so that it can act or interact therewith.

   (5) A self contained electronic lock with a proximity reader substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.