SE539126C2 - Electronic door lock transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

24 ABSTRACT An electronic door lock transmission (100) is provided. The door locktransmission comprises a fixed housing (110) enclosing a rotatable input member(130) and a rotatab1e output shaft, Wherein said door lock transmission (100)further comprises an e1ectronica11y controlled coupling mechanism (120) beingmoveable in an axial direction for connecting said output shaft (150) With saidinput member (130). To be published With Fig. 1

Description

AN ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK TRANSMISSION Technical Field The present invention relates to an electronic door lock transmission.More particularly, the present invention relates to a door lock transmission forconnecting a rotatable output shaft With a rotatable input member, as Well as fordisconnecting said output shaft from said input member. The present invention also relates to a door case and a door, as Well as to a system and a method.

BackgroundDoors are commonly provided With locks for preventing unauthorized access to the area behind the door. Such locks are often provided as lock casesinserted into the door, Whereby the lock case has a lever handle folloWer forallowing a latchbolt to be retracted from the surrounding door frame When theconnected handle is rotated such that the door may be opened. Moreover, adeadbolt may also be provided in the lock case for securely locking the door tothe frame.

The deadbolt may be operated, i.e. pulled in and out from the lock case,by a dedicated lock cylinder connected to a lock folloWer ofthe lock case.During the recent years there has been an increasing demand for electronic doorlocks. Such door locks, preferably operated remotely by means of short-rangeradio communication, have proven to be very attractive in particular applicationssuch as elderly care facilities.

A common Way of providing electronic door locks is to make use of anelectric motor Which, upon activation, performs a rotational movement of thelock folloWer for retracting the deadbolt from the door frame. Hence, the door may be opened from the inside as Well as the outside. Although such a solution is fairly easy to install, it is bulky and noisy as Well as relatively energy consuming.

Moreover, the response time of such door locks is sometimes considered asexcessive. This may be of particular disadvantage When a person, located Withina room closed by a locked door, is urged to move out from the room quickly.Another electronic door lock presently on the market is provided byTimelox®. The door lock transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft,and a latch engaging With the input shaft and the output shaft for transmitting arotational movement betWeen the shafts. The latch is arranged radially outWards ofthe shafts and moveable radially inWards by means of a lever arm. An electrical motor is arranged within a door lock transmission housing for movingthe lever arm.

In order to decrease the power consumption of the door locktransmission, the electrical motor must operate at a low current while having asmall stroke length. Hence, the lever arm must be relatively long thus requiringan extension of the housing. The current system is therefore considered as bulkyand causes an increase of costs due to the required material.

Hence, there is a need for an improved door lock mechanism.

SummaryIn view ofthe above, an objective of the invention is to solve or at least reduce the problems discussed above.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic door locktransmission which, in its idle mode, is disengaging the door handles oftheinside and the outside from each other.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an electronicdoor lock transmission which always allows for opening of the door from theinside, while preventing opening of the door from the outside unless the doorlock transmission is activated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electronicdoor lock transmission which may be easily connected to various lock cases.

An idea of the present invention is thus to provide a door locktransmission wherein an input shaft is engaged with an output shaft by means ofan actuator which only provides engagement when activated.

According to a first aspect of the invention an electronic door locktransmission is provided. The door lock transmission comprises a fixed housingenclosing a rotatable input member and a rotatable output shaft, wherein saiddoor lock transmission further comprises an electronically controlled couplingmechanism being moveable in an axial direction for rotatably connecting saidoutput shaft with said input member.

Said coupling mechanism may comprise a wheel being rotatably securedto said input member and displaceable in the axial direction of said wheel, and anelectrically controlled actuator being insertable into said input member in a radialdirection of said wheel for preventing the wheel from moving away from saidinner surface of the output shaft such that the wheel engages with inner surface ofthe output shaft. Hence, the coupling mechanism is provided as a very simple construction thus reducing the overall cost of the door lock transmission While atthe same time reducing the dimensions of the door lock transmission.

The door lock transmission may further comprise a spring arrangedbetween the input member and the wheel for urging the wheel to engage with theinner surface of the output shaft. This is advantageous in that the wheel is alwaysreturning to an engaging position after a displacement which will occur when theoutput shaft unmeshes with the input member, such that coupling between theinput member and the output shaft is always possible.

Said actuator may comprise a plate-like member being connected to anelectric motor. Hence, activation and coupling is achieved in a simple manner.

Said wheel may comprise a plurality ofteeth projecting towardscorresponding teeth of the inner surface of the output shaft. This is advantageousin that coupling between the input member and the output shaft is provided in arobust manner, while at the same time providing circular symmetry for allowingflexible positioning of the door lock transmission relative a corresponding lockcase.

Said output shaft may be connected to said housing via a spring forcausing a return movement of the output shaft to an idle position. Hence,facilitated operation of the door lock transmission is provided.

The input member may be connectable with a manual lever handleextending through a lock case, whereby the door lock transmission is ready formounting without further modifications.

Said actuator may be controlled remotely, and the door lock transmissionmay further comprise communication means associated with controller means,said controller means being configured for controlling said actuator based oninformation received by said communication means from a key device.

According to a second aspect. a lock case is provided. The lock case comprises a lever handle follower extending through said lock case in which the input member of a door lock transmission according to the first aspect is inserted.

According to a third aspect, a lock case is provided. The lock casecomprises a lock follower extending through said lock case in which the inputmember of a door lock transmission according to the first aspect is inserted.

According to a fourth aspect, a door comprising a lock case according tothe second or third aspect is provided.

According to a fifth aspect, a door lock system is provided. The systemcomprises an electronic door lock transmission according to the first aspect, and one or more key devices. Further, the door lock transmission of said door lock system may comprises memory means for storing lock access data includingrespective key device identifiers of said one or more key devices, and whereinsaid controller means is configured for controlling said actuator by: determining,via said communication means, the key device identifier of a key deviceappearing at the door lock system; and controlling said actuator based on at leastthe determined key device identifier and the lock access data stored in saidmemory means.

According to a sixth aspect, a method for locking or unlocking a dooraccording to the fourth aspect is provided. The method comprises the steps ofproviding one or more key devices; providing lock access data in a memorymeans of said door lock transmission, the lock access data including respectivekey device identifiers of said one or more key devices; determining, by short-range wireless data communication, the key device identifier of a key deviceappearing at the door; and controlling said electronically controlled couplingmechanism based on at least the determined key device identifier and the lock access data in said memory means.

Brief Description of Drawings The above, as well as additional objectives, features and advantages ofthe present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrativeand non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention,reference being made to the appended drawings.

Fig l is an end view of a part ofa door including a door locktransmission according to an embodiment; Figs. 2a-c are side views of lock cases to be connected to a door locktransmission according to the described embodiments; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a door including a lock case and a doorlock transmission according to an embodiment; Fig. 4a is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing of a doorlock transmission; Fig. 4b is a perspective view of an embodiment of an input member of adoor lock transmission; Fig. 4c is a perspective view of an embodiment of a wheel of a door locktransmission; Fig. 4d is a perspective view of an embodiment of a part of an actuator of a door lock transmission; Fig. 4e is a perspective view of an embodiment of an output shaft of adoor lock transmission; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of an access control system in whichembodiments of the present invention may be exercised; Fig 6 illustrates an access control method which may be performed in theaccess control system of Fig 5; Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a key device which may interactwith a door lock transmission in the access control system of Fig 5; and Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a door lock transmission according to one embodiment.

Detailed DescriptionStarting with Fig. l, an end view of a door l0 including a lock case 20 and a door lock transmission l00 is shown. The door has an inner side l2, anouter side l4, and a lateral end l6 including a recess in which the lock case 20 isinserted such that the lock case 20 aligns with the end 16 of the door l0.

The door lock transmission l00 is arranged at the outside l4 ofthe doorand provides a connection between an inner level handle l02 and an outer levelhandle l04 via a lever handle follower ofthe lock case 20.

In order to prevent damage and for providing a tamperproof lock of thedoor l0, end plates 18, 19 may be provided on the inner side l2 and the outerside l4 to protect the lock case 20 and the door lock transmission l00.

As will be further described below, the door lock transmission l00 iselectronically controlled for engaging the inner level handle l02 with the outerlevel handle l04. That is, in an idle mode the inner level handle l02 is directlyconnected to the level handle follower ofthe lock case 20 such that the door l0may always be opened from the inside. However, in the idle mode the outer leverhandle l04 is disconnected from the lever handle follower of the lock case suchthat the door l0 is prevented from being opened from the outside.

Upon activation of the door lock transmission, a coupling mechanisminside the door lock transmission l00 engages the outer lever handle l04 with thelever handle follower ofthe lock case such that the door l0 may be opened fromthe outside. Also in this case, the inner lever handle l02 is directly connected tothe level handle follower ofthe lock case 20 such that the door l0 may always beopened from the inside.

Now turning to Figs. 2a-c, different embodiments of lock cases 20a-c are shown which may be used in combination with the door lock transmission l00.

Starting with Fig. 2a, the lock case 20a has a lever handle follower 22a arrangedat the lower portion ofthe lock case 20a and being operatively connected to alatchbolt 24a. A lock follower 26a is provided at the upper portion of the lockcase 20a and is operatively connected to a deadbolt 28a. The lever handlefollower 22a and the lock follower 26a are norrnally provided as rectangularthrough holes in which the lever handles 102, 104 may be inserted.

One particular lock case 20a is constructed such that the lock follower26a is also operatively connected to the latchbolt 24a. Such kind of lock case 20ais frequently installed in toilet room doors, wherein the inside lever handle isconnected to the lock follower 26a, while the outside lever handle is connected tothe lever handle follower 22a. Hence, an occupant locks the door by turning theinside lever handle upwards such that the deadbolt 28a protrudes. Since theoutside lever handle is disconnected from the lock follower 26a, the toilet roommay not be accessed from the outside. When finished, the occupant simplereturns the inside lever handle to its horizontal position for retracting thedeadbolt 28a, and continues turning the lever handle downwards for alsoretracting the latchbolt 24a.

In Fig. 2b another lock case 20b is shown, being structurally similar tothe lock case 20a of Fig. 2a but for which the position ofthe lever handlefollower 22b, as well as the latchbolt 24b, has exchanged the respective positionsofthe lock follower 26b and the corresponding deadbolt 28b.

Fig. 2c shows a yet further embodiment of a lock case 20c, whichincludes a lever handle follower 22c being operatively connected to the latchbolt24c, as well as two lock followers 26c, 27c being operatively connected to thedeadbolt 28c. Such lock case is advantageous in that a turning knob may bearranged on the inside and being connected to either one ofthe two lockfollowers 26c, 27c. The other lock follower 26c, 27c may be connected to a lockcylinder on the inside as well as the outside. Hence, facilitated locking from theinside is provided since it is not necessary to use a key for the lock cylinder inorder to lock the door.

For each one ofthe lock cases described above, as well as other lockcases known in the art, the door lock transmission described herein may provideadditional advantages.

From now on the door lock transmission 100 will be described in furtherdetails. The door lock transmission 100 may be connected to a variety of different lock cases 20, such as the lock cases 20a-c described above.

In Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of an embodiment ofthe door locktransmission 100 is shown. The door lock transmission 100 is arranged on theoutside 14 ofthe door 10 (see Fig. 1) and includes a housing 110 enclosingdifferent components ofthe door lock transmission 100. The housing 110 isprotected from the outside by means of a drill protective plate 112 provided tocover the outer end of the housing 110. Further to this, a covering 114 isprovided to ensure a complete cover for the entire door lock transmission.

A coupling mechanism 120 of the door lock transmission 100 is enclosedwithin the housing 110 and includes an input member 130 being receivable by alever handle 102 inserted into the lever handle follower from the inside. Hence,when rotating the lever handle 102 for retracting the latchbolt, the input member130 will rotate correspondingly. From this, it is apparent that the door locktransmission 100 will always allow opening ofthe door 10 from the inside.

A wheel 140 is received within the input member 130 and is rotatablyfixed to the input member 130 such that the wheel 140 will always rotate with theinput member 130. The outside ofthe wheel 140, i.e. the side facing away fromthe input member 130, is abutting an output shaft 150 but is displaceable in theaxial, i.e. normal direction of the wheel 140. The output shaft 150 is thus enabledto rotate with the input member 130 only when the wheel 140 is prevented frombeing displaced in the axial direction. The output shaft 150 is further connectablewith an outer lever handle 104.

The displacement of the wheel 140 within the input member 130, andthus relative to the output shaft 150, is provided by means of a spring 160. Thespring 160 is thus biasing the wheel 140 towards the output shaft 150 but allowsthe wheel 140 to move further into the input member 130 and away from theoutput shaft 150.

With respect to the description so far, a rotation of the outer lever handle104 will thus induce a rotational force on the wheel 140 and the input member130. However, as the wheel 140 is allowed to move away from the output shaft150 the wheel 140 will slip against the output shaft 150 whereby no rotationalmovement ofthe input member 130, and thus the lever handle follower of thelock case 20, will be achieved. Hence, the door 10 may not be opened from theoutside.

The wheel 140 may however be prevented from moving in its axialdirection by means of an electronically controlled actuator 170. The actuator 170 includes an electric motor 180 being connected to a controller (not shown) which is configured to provide power to the electrical motor 180 upon a remotely sentcommand, as will be described further below.

Upon rotation of the electric motor 180 an elongated rotational shaft 182will cause a translation movement of a guide spring (not shown). The guidespring is further connected to a plate like member 172 which is insertable into theinput member 130 for preventing the wheel 140 to be axially displaced from theoutput shaft 150. Upon deactivation ofthe actuator 170 the electric motor 180 iscommanded to perform a counter wise rotation thereby withdrawing the plate likemember from the input member 130.

Further to this, the output shaft 150 may be provided with a turningspring 152 which allows the output shaft 150, once rotated, to return to its idleposition.

Now turning to Figs. 4a-e different components ofthe door locktransmission 100 will be described in further detail.

A perspective view ofthe housing 110 is shown in Fig. 4a. The housing110 is preferably made of a durable and rigid material, such as stainless steel, andhas a cylinder-shaped portion 112 which is configured to be inserted into adrilled recess ofthe door 10 being aligned with lever handle follower or the lockfollower. The cylinder-shaped portion 112 has a through hole 114 for receivingthe input member 130. Further to this the housing 110 includes several areas 116for accommodating the actuator 170, the output shaft 150, as well as throughholes 118 for securely attaching the housing 110 to the door 10 as well as toprotective plates on the outside. The outer end ofthe housing, i.e. the open endfacing outwards, is protected by a drill protective plate when mounted. In orderto fulfill current requirements of different authorities, a specific area 119 of thehousing has thus been provided in order to enclose the electrical circuits of thedoor lock assembly 100. As such electrical circuit is then protected from fraud bythe drill protective plate, a more secure and robust door lock assembly isprovided.

Now turning to Fig. 4b, the input member 130 of the couplingmechanism 120 is shown. The input member 130 includes a cylindrical portion132 provided at its lateral end facing the lever handle follower ofthe lock caseand being constructed to fit with the through hole 114 of the housing 110. Thecylindrical portion 132 comprises a recess (not shown) at its lateral end forengaging with a lever handle. A wheel receiving portion 134 is provided at theend of the cylindrical portion 132, wherein the wheel receiving portion 134 has an increased diameter compared to the cylindrical portion 132. Hence, the wheel receiving portion 134 Will slide against the housing 110 When rotating. The Wheelreceiving portion 134 includes a slit 136 Which alloWs insertion ofthe actuator170 into the input member 130, as Well as radial grooves 138 for preventing theWheel 140 from rotating inside the Wheel receiving portion 134. Preferably, thegrooves 138 are of different Width such that the Wheel 140, including protrusionscorresponding to the grooves 138, may only be fitted in one position With respectto the Wheel receiving portion 134.

The Wheel 140 is further shoWn in Fig. 4c. The Wheel 140, having anaxial thickness being substantially less than the axial length of the Wheelreceiving portion 134 of the input member 130, is radially dimensioned such thatit fits Within the Wheel receiving portion 134. Radial protrusions 142 areprovided at the periphery ofthe Wheel 140 Which fit in the correspondingrecesses 138 ofthe input member 130. Further to this, a plurality of axial teeth144 are provided at the outer surface 146, i.e. the surface facing the output shaft150. In the shoWn example, five teeth 144 are arranged at an equal angulardistance from each other. HoWever, another number of teeth may also bepossible. Each one ofthe teeth 144 is preferably provided With inclinedsideWalls, i.e. each sideWall is extending from the outer surface 146 at an anglebeing less than 90° relative the plane of the outer surface 146. Each sideWall isfurther inclined radially inWards.

Before the Wheel 140 is inserted into the input member 130, a spring 160(see Fig. 3) is arranged in the Wheel receiving portion 134 for biasing the Wheel140 outWards, i.e. toWards the output shaft 150. The spring 160 Will thus alsoalloW the Wheel 140 to be displaced further into the Wheel receiving portion 134unless the actuator 170 is inserted into the Wheel receiving portion 134.

The actuator 170 includes a plate like member 172 Which is shoWn inFig. 4d. The plate like member 172 includes means 174 for connecting it to theelectric motor 180 via the guide spring. Further, an elongation 176 is constructedsuch that it may be inserted into the slit 136 ofthe input member 130. Hence,once inserted the elongation 176 prevents displacement ofthe Wheel 140 alongits axial direction.

As has been previously described the Wheel 140 is engaging With theoutput shaft 150 Which is further shoWn in Fig. 4e. The output shaft 150 has aprotrusion 153 Which forms the outer lever handle 104, thus extending outsidethe housing 110. Further, a cylindrical part 154 extends from the protrusion 153toWards the input member 130, and has an inner diameter Which corresponds to, or is less than, the outer diameter ofthe Wheel receiving portion 134 of the input member 130. Preferably, the inner diameter of the output shaft 150 issubstantially larger than the outer diameter of the wheel receiving portion 134 ofthe input member 130 such that a turning spring 152 may be arranged in theradial distance between the output member 150 and the input member 130.Hence, the cylindrical part 154 receives the wheel receiving portion 132 and isenclosed along its outer periphery by the housing 110. The cylindrical part 154has an inner surface 156 which is connectable with the wheel 140. For thispurpose, the inner surface 156 is provided with axial teeth 158 facing the teeth144 ofthe wheel 140. Hence, the teeth 158 may be arranged between the teeth144 such that a rotation ofthe input member 130, and the wheel 140, istransmitted to the output shaft 150. For this, each one ofthe teeth 158 ispreferably provided with inclined sidewalls, i.e. each sidewall is extending fromthe inner surface 156 at an angle being less than 90° relative the plane of theinner surface 156. Each sidewall is further inclined radially inwards such that theteeth 156 may slide relative the teeth 144 ofthe wheel 140 if the plate likemember 172 is retracted from the slit 136. The described shape ofthe teeth 144,158 allows complete contact between the teeth 144 and the teeth 158, i.e. fullcontact also between the respective sidewalls. Hence, if the wheel 140 is allowedto be axially displaced within the input member 130 the teeth 158 will slipagainst the wheel 140 whereby no rotational movement from the output shaft 150to the lever handle follower is transmitted.

The number ofteeth 158, 144 ofthe wheel 140 and the output shaft maybe selected in order to define suitable engagement positions of the output shaft150 relative the input member 130. Preferably the number ofteeth 158, 144 isselected in accordance with the maximum rotational angle of the handle lever.For example, providing four teeth 158, 144 allow the output shaft 150 to beconnected to the input member 130 at four different positions, corresponding to amaximum rotation of the handle lever by 90°. Accordingly, providing five teeth158, 144 allow the output shaft 150 to be connected to the input member 130 atfive different positions, corresponding to a maximum rotation of the handle leverby 72°.

The wall of the cylindrical part 154 preferably includes a cutout 157providing two opposite anvils 159a, 159b for the turning spring 152, allowing anautomatic return movement of the output shaft after rotation. Hence, automaticreturn may be provided in a clockwise direction as well as a counter clockwise direction. ll Due to its symmetrical construction, the door lock transmission 100 maybe arranged at different angles relative to the lock case, still providing the samefunctionality. Further, the door lock transmission may be provided for both righthand doors and left hand doors without further modifications.

In the following, some comments on the functionality ofthe door locktransmission 100 will be given although it is readily understood from theconstructional description above.

The main purpose ofthe door lock transmission is to always allowopening from one side, while allowing opening from the other side ofthe dooronly when the actuator has been activated.

When the actuator 170 is commanded to engage the input member 130with the output shaft 150 via the coupling mechanism 120, the following situations may occur: i) The inner lever handle 102 and the outer lever handle 104 are botharranged horizontally, i.e. with no outside force acting. The wheel 140is thus urged towards the output shaft such that the teeth 146 mesh inwith the teeth 158. Here, the electric motor will move the plate likemember 172 ofthe actuator 170 into the input member 130 thusproviding engagement between the input member 130 and the outputshaft 150. ii) The outer lever handle is pressed down, i.e. someone is trying to openthe door 10 from the outside. In this situation the teeth 158, 144 may beunmeshed such that the wheel 140 is displaced somewhat away from theoutput shaft 150. Hence, it will not be possible for the plate likemember 172 to be inserted into the input member 130 (since the wheel140 is arranged just inside the slit 136) until the outer lever handle isreturned to a position in which the teeth 158 mesh in with the teeth 144.The compression of the guide spring will thus urge the plate likemember 172 into the input member 130, which means that themovement ofthe electrical motor 180 is stored in the guide spring. Atthis point, engagement is provided between the input member 130 andthe output shaft 150. iii) The inner lever handle is pressed down, i.e. someone is trying to openthe door 10 from the inside. In this situation the teeth 158, 144 may beunmeshed such that the wheel 140 is displaced somewhat away from theoutput shaft 150. Hence, it will not be possible for the plate like 12 member 172 to be inserted into the input member 130 (since the wheel140 is arranged just inside the slit 136) until the outer lever handle isreturned to a position in which the teeth 158 mesh in with the teeth 144.The compression of the guide spring will thus urge the plate likemember 172 into the input member 130 in the same manner as described with respect to ii).

For ii) and iii) above, the guide spring will store a force corresponding tothe linear motion ofthe plate like member 172. Hence, if the handle lever ispressed down to early for allowing connection between the input member 130and the output shaft 150, it will not be necessary to reactivate the door locktransmission as connection is provided as soon as the guide spring is allowed totransfer its force to the plate like member 172. If the guide spring would not becapable of storing such force a user would need to provide access ID for the doorlock transmission repeatedly until the door handle was released to its neutral, orhorizontal position.

When the actuator 170 is commanded to disengage the input member 130with the output shaft 150 via the coupling mechanism 120, the following situations may occur: i) The inner lever handle 102 and the outer lever handle 104 are botharranged horizontally, i.e. with no outside force acting. The wheel 140is thus urged towards the output shaft such that the teeth 146 mesh inwith the teeth 158. Here, the electric motor will move the plate likemember 172 of the actuator 170 out from the input member 130 thusproviding disengagement between the input member 130 and the outputshaft 150. ii) The outer lever handle is pressed down, i.e. someone is trying to openthe door 10 from the outside. In this situation the outer lever handle hasforced the inner handle member into a corresponding position, wherebythe plate like member 172 is prevented from moving out from the inputmember 130 due to friction. However, the electrical motor 180 willcompress the guide spring, which will retract the plate like member 172as soon as the outer lever handle is returned to its idle position. iii) The inner lever handle is pressed down, i.e. someone is trying to openthe door 10 from the inside. In this situation the outer lever handle has forced the inner handle member into a corresponding position, whereby 13 the plate like member 172 is prevented from moving out from the inputmember 130 due to friction. However, the electrical motor 180 willcompress the guide spring, which will retract the plate like member 172 as soon as the outer lever handle is returned to its idle position.

As mentioned previously, the door lock transmission 100 is applicablefor the different lock cases 20a-c described with reference to Figs. 2a-c. Forexample, the lock case 20a having a lock follower operatively connected to thelever handle follower, the door lock transmission 100 may be arranged on theoutside such that the input member 130 and the output shaft 150 are connected tothe lock follower. Hence, the door is always possible to open from the inside,while outside access is only allowed when the output shaft 150 is coupled to theinput member 130.

In a yet further embodiment the door lock transmission 100 isadvantageously utilized with a lock case (not shown) providing additionalsecurity and comfort for the resident. For example, the particular lock case mayhave a lock follower for a lock knob on the inside for controlling the movementofa lock bolt, as well as a lever handle follower for connecting a door handle tothe lock case and for controlling the movement of a latch bolt. From the inside,the lock follower is disengaged from the lever handle follower. The outside ofthelock case includes a lock follower for a lock cylinder for controlling themovement of the lock bolt via a key, as well as a lever handle follower forconnecting a door handle to the lock case .From the outside, the lock follower isengaged with the lever handle follower such that the latch bolt as well as the lockbolt are controlled upon depressing the outer door handle. Such lock cases aree.g. available as split spindle lock cases. By providing a door lock transmission100 to the above described lock case, a resident may always have access out fromthe interior space by turning the lock knob for retracting the lock bolt followedby depressing the door handle. Hence, a resident may always rest assured that thedoor is locked since actual locking is confirmed by the position of the inner lockknob. If the door is locked, a person wanting to enter from the outside mustactivate the door lock transmission 100 for engaging the input member 130 withthe output shaft 150. If access is denied depressing the outer door handle willhave no effect on the lever handle follower inside the lock case. However, isaccess is granted and the door lock transmission is activated, depressing the outerdoor handle will provide a connection to the lever handle follower ofthe lock case, as well as the lock follower hence retracting the lock bolt simultaneously. 14 As the door lock transmission 100 is electronically controlled, a simpleand secure control scheme may be an important issue for providing a successfulimplementation of the door lock transmission in e.g. elderly care applications.However, the presented door lock transmission 100 may also be implemented inother applications, such as hotels, storage facilities, rental apartments, etc.

Fig. 5 illustrates, in a schematic and simplified form, the layout of anaccess control system for elderly care. A first team of caregiver personnel 30 isresponsible for the elderly care of a first group of caretakers, all living in roomsor apartments covered by respective front doors 101-1011. Door lock transmissions1001-10011 are installed on the respective front doors 101-1011 and serve asgateways to the respective protected environment (i.e. room or apartment) behindeach door. A first pool of key devices 3001-300111 is available to the first team ofcaregiver personnel 30. The key devices 3001-300m may be mobile terminals.Each door lock transmission 1001-100n contains lock access data which includesthe key device identifiers ofthe key devices 3001-300m which are allowed toaccess the door lock transmission in question.

When a user in the first team starts his shift, he will check out one of thekey devices 3001-300m from a caregiver central, for instance key device 3001.During his shift, he will use key device 3001 to gain access to various ones of thefront doors 101-1011 to provide the care required by the respective caretakers. Thisaccess will be provided by way of Bluetooth® communication between keydevice and door lock transmission, as indicated at 40 in Fig. 5. Therefore, the keydevice identifiers mentioned above may advantageously be represented by theunique Bluetooth® addresses assigned to the Bluetooth® transceivers in therespective key devices.

At the end of his shift, the user will again check in and return the keydevice 3001 to the caregiver central. In addition or alternatively, some or allmembers of the first team of caregiver personnel 30 may use their own mobileterminals as key devices. Not all key devices or members ofthe first team ofcaregiver personnel 30 may be authorized to access all doors, and they need notall have the same level of authorization in terms of times and/or dates whenaccess is allowed.

The access control system of Fig. 5 further involves a second team ofcaregiver personnel 30” responsible for serving a second group of caretakers, therooms or apartments of which have respective front doors 10°1-10°n to whichdoor lock transmissions 100°1-100°n are installed. A second pool of key devices 300°1-300°m is available to the second team of caregiver personnel 30”. Of course, the access control system may in reality include additional teams ofcaregiver personnel, additional groups of caretakers, additional front doors,additional door lock transmissions, and additional pools of key devices.

In addition, security personnel 30” with key devices 300”1-300”2 areincluded in the system. Whereas the key devices 3001-300m, 300”1-300°m ofthefirst and second teams 30, 30” will be used by a relatively large number ofcaregiver persons to access a relatively small number of door locktransmissions/doors at relatively frequent occasions, the situation is the oppositefor the key devices 300”1-300”2 ofthe security personnel 30”. These key deviceswill be used by a limited number of persons (such as nurses or guards) at rareoccasions, but they nevertheless need to be able to access a very large number ofdoor lock transmissions/doors - or even all door lock transmissions/doors that areincluded in the access control system.

For enhanced security, each key device runs an access control softwareapplication in which the user must log on. Also, all communications with thedoor lock transmissions are encrypted. Further, not all users/key devices areallowed to bring updated lock access data to the door lock transmissions. Rather,in the embodiment of Fig. 5, a subset of particularly trusted users/key devices aredesignated as ambassadors; only these will be allowed to bring updated lockaccess data to the door lock transmissions.

Each team of caregiver personnel 30, 30” may be sub-divided into sub-groups, for instance a day shift, an evening shift and a night shift. Also, anindividual user may act in or for both teams 30 and 30” (for instance to serve asback-up in situations of sickness, parental leave or during popular holidayperiods), therefore having a need to use his key device for accessing door locktransmissions both in the first group of caretakers and in the second group ofcaretakers. This is illustrated in Fig. 5 for key device 300m, which will access notonly door lock transmission 100m in the first group of caretakers, but also doorlock transmission 100°1 in the second group of caretakers (see arrow 40a).

Fig. 6 illustrates how access can be granted for the embodiment shown inFig. 5. In Fig. 6, it is assumed that one ofthe key devices 3001-300m, 300”1-300°mapproaches one of the door lock transmissions 1001-1001,, 100°1-100°n in step410. This individual key device is referred to as key device, or KD, 200 in thefollowing, and the main components of the key device 300 are shown in Fig. 7.The corresponding individual door lock transmission is referred to as door locktransmission, or LD, 100, and its main components are shown in Fig. 8. The individual caregiver person that uses the key device 300 is referred to as user 30. 16 In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 7, the key device 300 is a mobileterminal, e.g. a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), smart phone,etc., which is capable of communicating with a telecommunications system.Thus, the user 30 may use the key device 300 for various telecommunicationservices, such as voice calls, Internet browsing, video calls, data calls, facsimiletransmissions, still image transmissions, video trans-missions, electronicmessaging, and e-commerce. Generally, these telecommunication services are notcentral within the context of the present invention; there are no limitations to anyparticular set of services in this respect. Therefore, only components which aresomehow pertinent to the inventive functionality are shown in Fig. 7.

As seen in Fig. 7, the key device 300 has a network interface 530 forconnecting to the Internet/telecommunications network(s) 204. The networkinterface 530 may comply with any commercially available mobiletelecommunications standard, including but not limited to GSM, UMTS, LTE, D-AMPS, CDMA2000, FOMA and TD-SCDMA. Alternatively or additionally, thenetwork interface 530 may comply with a wireless data communication standardsuch as WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network).

The key device 300 also has a man-to-machine interface (MMI), or userinterface (UI) 520, which may include a display 522 and a set of keys 524 orother input device, as well as other known UI elements like a speaker and amicrophone. The user 30 may control the operation of, and exchange data with,the key device 300 over the user interface 520.

Further, the key device 300 has an interface 540 for short-range wirelessdata communication. In the disclosed embodiment of Fig. 7, the interface 540comprises a Bluetooth® transceiver, by means which the key device 300 cancommunicate with, for instance, the door lock transmission l00 over theBluetooth® link 40. The Bluetooth® transceiver is assigned a unique Bluetooth®address KD_ID. Alternatively or additionally, the interface 540 may for instancecomprise transceiver components for IrDA (Infrared Data Association),WLAN/WiFi or NFC (Near Field Communication).

A processing unit 5l0 is overall responsible for the operation and controlofthe different components ofthe key device 300. The processing unit 5 l0 maybe implemented in any known controller technology, including but not limited toa processor (PLC, CPU, DSP), FPGA, ASIC or any other suitable digital and/oranalogue circuitry capable of performing the intended functionality.

Finally, the key device 300 has a memory 550 which is operatively connected to the processing unit 5l0. The memory 550 may be implemented by 17 any known memory technology, including but not limited to E(E)PROM,S(D)RAM and flash memory, and it may also include secondary storage such as amagnetic or optical disc. Physically, the memory 550 may consist of one unit or aplurality of units which together constitute the memory 550 on a logical level. Inaddition to storing various program instructions and data for the variousfunctions and applications which are typically available in a mobile terminal, thememory 550 also comprises the program instructions 552 and work data for theaforementioned access control software application.

With reference to Fig. 8, in addition to the mechanical componentsalready described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4a-c, the door lock transmission100 according to the disclosed embodiment generally comprises the followingmain components. A controller means or processing unit 610 is overallresponsible for the operation and control of the different components of the doorlock transmission 100. The controller means or processing unit 610 may beimplemented in any known controller technology, including but not limited to aprocessor (PLC, CPU, DSP), FPGA, ASIC, or any other suitable digital and/oranalogue circuitry capable of performing the intended functionality.

The door lock transmission 100 ofthis embodiment is a stand-alone,autonomously operating device which requires no wire-based installations,neither for communication nor for power supply. Instead, the door locktransmission 100 is powered solely by a local power unit 620 which comprisesone ore more long-life batteries. It interacts with key devices, as alreadymentioned, by wireless activities. The door lock transmission 100 therefore hascommunication means 640 which in the disclosed embodiment takes the form ofan interface 640 for short-range wireless data communication. More specifically,in the disclosed embodiment of Fig. 8, the interface 640 comprises a Bluetooth®transceiver, by means of which the door lock transmission 100 can communicatewith, for instance, the key device 300 over the Bluetooth® link 40. TheBluetooth® transceiver is assigned a unique Bluetooth® address LD_ID.Alternatively or additionally, the interface 640 may for instance comprisetransceiver components for IrDA, WLAN or NFC.

The door lock transmission 100 of the disclosed embodiment furtherincludes a real-time clock 630 capable of providing the processing unit 610 withan accurate value of the current time. However, embodiments are also possiblewhere no real-time clock is provided.

Finally, the door lock transmission 100 has a memory 650 which is operatively connected to the processing unit 610. The memory 650 may be 18 implemented by any known memory technology, including but not limited toE(E)PROM, S(D)RAM and flash memory, and it may also include secondarystorage such as a magnetic or optical disc. Physically, the memory 650 mayconsist of one unit or a plurality of units which together constitute the memory650 on a logical level. The memory 650 serves to store various programinstructions and work data for functions to be performed by the processing unit610 in order to carry out the tasks of the door lock transmission 100. Moreover,the memory 650 serves to store a local door lock transmission database (LD-DB)670, which includes lock access data 672 upon which the access control decisionsare based (as described below for Fig. 6).

Referring back to step 410 in Fig. 6, when the user 30 has brought hiskey device 300 near the door 10 which is provided with the door locktransmission 100, the user may request access by issuing a command in the userinterface of the key device 300, e.g. by invoking a function in the aforementionedaccess control software application. In alternative embodiments, this may insteadoccur automatically. For instance, if the door lock transmission 100 has access tothe output signal of a presence sensor on or at the door 10, the door locktransmission 100 may detect the presence of the user 30 and in response triggerperformance of the remaining steps. As further alternatives, the key device 300 orthe door lock transmission 100 may be configured to regularly transmit beaconsignals (e.g. Bluetooth® inquiries) which may be detected and responded to bythe other device.

In a following step 420, the door lock transmission 100 will detect thekey device identifier KD_ID by reading, from the Bluetooth® communicationtraffic between the devices, the Bluetooth® address assigned to the Bluetooth®transceiver 540 in the key device 300. It is to be noticed that it is not necessary towait until a bidirectional Bluetooth® link has been established in order to detectthe Bluetooth® address of the key device 300, since the Bluetooth® address isincluded in and can be read already from the initial Bluetooth® messages whichare sent between the devices e.g. during paging, handshaking and initiation.

Then, in a step 430, the door lock transmission 100 will check if thedetected key device identifier KD_ID matches the lock access data 672 currentlystored in its internal memory 650. If so, the door lock transmission 100 considersthe key device 300 as a known key device and proceeds to an optional step 440,in which further verification of the key device 300 may take place. Such furtherverification may include establishing and further communicating over a bidirectional Bluetooth® link 40 between the door lock transmission 100 and key 19 device 300. For instance, the access control software application in the keydevice 300 may prompt the user to enter a PIN code on a keypad of the keydevice 300, and the PIN code may be communicated over the Bluetooth® link tothe door lock transmission 100, Which may compare the received PIN code With aprestored PIN code associated With the key device identifier KD_ID in the lockaccess data 672. Alternatively or additionally, the user 30 may provide somebiometric data, such as a scanned fingerprint, by means ofthe key device 300, tobe evaluated by the door lock transmission 100 upon receipt.

In a subsequent step 450, the door lock transmission 100 determinesWhether or not the key device 300/user 30 shall be granted access or not. Thismay involve checking that the KD_ID of the key device 300 Was recognized instep 430 as a known KD_ID Which is not included in a “black list” of blockedkey device identifiers in the lock access data 672. If the optional step 440 isapplied, the determination in step 450 Will also include a check that the furtherverification in step 440 Was successful.

A favorable decision in step 450 Will trigger a step 460 in Which theactual access is made to happen. This may involve actuating the electric motor180 to engage the coupling mechanism 120, so that it Will no longer disengagethe input member 130 from the output shaft 150. This is collectively referred toas door lock transmission actuator 612 in Fig 8.

An unfavorable decision in step 450 Will instead result in termination ofthe procedure of Fig. 6, Without any performance of step 460.

It is expressly to be noticed that the mechanical components ofthe doorlock transmission 100, an exemplifying embodiment of Which have beendescribed above With reference to Figs. 3 and 4a-c, may be used With otheraccess control means than the elements 610-670 described above for Fig. 8.Basically, any Wired or contactless arrangement for detecting and verifying anapproaching user 30 may be employed for controlling the actuator 170. Non-limiting examples of such arrangements include keypads, biometrical readers orscanners, magnetic card readers, smartcard readers, inductive tag detectors,barcode readers, etc., or any combination thereof. Hence, the door locktransmission 100 may be actuated by other key devices than mobile phones andsimilar portable communication devices, including but not limited to a humanfinger, eye or face; a magnetic card, a smartcard, an inductive tag, a barcode,etc., or any combination thereof.

Further, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that With the advancement oftechnology, the basic idea may be implemented in various Ways.

The invention and its ernbodirnents are thus not limited to the examples described above; instead they may vary Within the scope of the clairns.

Claims (17)

1. An electronic door lock transmission (100), comprising a fixedhousing (110) enclosing a rotatable input member (130) and a rotatable output shaft (150), wherein said door lock transmission (100) further comprises anelectronically controlled coupling mechanism (120) being moveable in an axialdirection for rotatably connecting said output shaft (150) with said input member(130).

2. The door lock transmission according to claim 1, wherein saidcoupling mechanism (120) comprises a wheel (140) being rotatably secured to said input member (130) anddisplaceable in the axial direction of said wheel (140), and an electrically controlled actuator (170) being insertable into said inputmember (130) in a radial direction of said wheel (140) for preventing the wheel(140) from moving away from said inner surface (156) of the output shaft (150)such that the wheel (140) engages with an inner surface (156) ofthe output shaft(150).

3. The door lock transmission according to claim 2, further comprising aspring (160) arranged between the input member (130) and the wheel (140) forurging the wheel (140) to engage with the inner surface (156) ofthe output shaft(150).

4. The door lock transmission according to claim 2 or 3, wherein saidactuator (170) comprises a plate-like member (172) being connected to anelectric motor (180).

5. The door lock transmission according to claim 4, wherein the plate-like member (172) is connected to the electric motor (180) Via a guide springwhich is configured to store a force corresponding to a linear motion of the plate-like member (172).

6. The door lock transmission according to any one of claims 2 to 5,wherein said wheel (140) comprises a plurality of teeth (144) projecting towardscorresponding teeth (158) ofthe inner surface (156) ofthe output shaft (150). 22

7. The door lock transmission according to any one of the precedingclaims, Wherein said output shaft (150) is connected to said housing (110) via aspring (152) for causing a return movement ofthe output shaft (150) to an idle position.

8. The door lock transmission according to any one of the precedingclaims, Wherein the input member (130) is connectable With a manual leverhandle (102) extending through a lock case (20).

9. The door lock transmission according to any one of claims 2 to 8, Wherein said actuator (170) is controlled remotely.

10. The door lock transmission according to claim 9, further comprisingcommunication means (640) associated With controller means (610), saidcontroller means being configured for controlling said actuator (170) based on information received by said communication means from a key device.

11. A lock case (20), comprising a lever handle folloWer (22) extendingthrough said lock case (20) in Which the input member (130) of a door lock transmission (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is inserted.

12. The lock case according to claim 11, having an inner side comprisinga lever handle folloWer and a lock folloWer Whereby operating the lever handlefolloWer from the inside Will only affect the movement of an associated latchbolt, and an outer side having a lever handle folloWer and a lock folloWer,Whereby operating the lever handle folloWer from the outside Will affect themovement of an associated latch bolt as Well as the movement of an associatedlock bolt, and Wherein said door lock transmission (100) is arranged on the outer side of said lock case.

13. A lock case (20), comprising a lock folloWer (26) extending throughsaid lock case (20) in Which the input member (130) of a door lock transmission (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is inserted.

14. A door (10), comprising a lock case (20) according to claim 11-13. 23

15. A door lock system, comprisingan electronic door lock transmission (100) according to claim 10, and one or more key devices (300).

16. The door lock system according to claim 15, Wherein the door lock transmission (100) further comprises memorymeans (650) for storing lock access data (672) including respective key deviceidentifiers of said one or more key devices (300), and Wherein said controller means (610) is configured for controlling saidactuator (170) by: determining, via said communication means (640), the keydevice identifier of a key device (300) appearing at the door lock system;and controlling said actuator (170) based on at least the determinedkey device identifier and the lock access data (672) stored in said memory means (65 0).

17. A method for locking or unlocking a door according to claim 14,comprising the steps of: providing one or more key devices (300); providing lock access data (672) in a memory means (650) of said doorlock transmission (100), the lock access data (672) including respective keydevice identifiers of said one or more key devices (300); determining, by short-range Wireless data communication, the key deviceidentifier of a key device (300) appearing at the door (l0); and controlling said electronically controlled coupling mechanism (120)based on at least the determined key device identifier and the lock access data (672) in said memory means (650).