U.S. patent number 3,733,861 [Application Number 05/218,948] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-22 for electronic recognition door lock.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Recognition Devices, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert W. Lester.
United States Patent |
3,733,861 |
Lester |
May 22, 1973 |
ELECTRONIC RECOGNITION DOOR LOCK
Abstract
An electronic, door lock controlled by a passive transponder
used as a key by the person desiring to open the door. A
hand-operated electric generator is coupled by a gearing system to
the door handle, and generates power to operate a door lock
transceiver which receives coded signals from the personal
transponder to open the lock. Upon the reception of properly coded
signals, a solenoid is activated to withdraw an abutment member
from the path of a laterally slidable door bolt mechanism so that
the door may be opened. The personal transponder may be disposed
within a watch case, or have the size and shape of a conventional
writing pen. The system may be radio frequency or ultrasonic.
Inventors: |
Lester; Robert W. (Manhasset,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Recognition Devices, Inc.
(Great Neck, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22817143 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/218,948 |
Filed: |
January 19, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/153;
70/277 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C
9/00182 (20130101); G07C 9/00944 (20130101); E05B
2047/0062 (20130101); Y10T 70/7062 (20150401); G07C
2009/00801 (20130101); G07C 2009/00793 (20130101); Y10T
70/5518 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
G07C
9/00 (20060101); E05b 047/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/277,278,283,153 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Craig, Jr.; Albert G.
Claims
1. An electronic lock, for a door having movable interior and
exterior door handles, and a laterally-slidable door bolt coupled
to said handles, comprising:
means, coupled to the exterior door handle and the door bolt, for
laterally displacing the door bolt in response to movement of the
exterior door handle;
means, moveable in and out of engagement with said door bolt
displacement means, for limiting the lateral movement of said door
bolt displacement means;
means,remotely positioned from said door lock, and carried by each
individual using the door lock, for transmitting a coded signal
having a form unique with respect to the door lock;
means, coupled to said exterior door handle, for generating
electrical power in response to movement of the exterior door
handle;
means, coupled to and responsive to the activation of said electric
power generating means, for receiving said signals transmitted by
said remote signal transmitting means; and
means, responsive to the reception of said coded signals, for
positioning said limiting means in and out of engagement with said
door bolt displacement means.
2. The door lock as recited in claim 1, further comprising means
for actuating said signal transmitting means to initiate
transmission of said coded signals to said door lock receiver
means.
3. The electronic door lock as recited in claim 2, wherein said
door bolt displacement means comprises an elongated,
rectangular-shaped bar, slidably disposed and laterally moveable in
said door, and coupled to said exterior door handle by a gear rack,
provided on the top surface thereof, and a spur gear engaging said
gear rack, coupled to said exterior handle, said bar also including
a downwardly extending end portion disposed perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis thereof, for engaging said door bolt and
displacing said bolt in response to rotational movement of said
door handle.
4. The lock as recited in claim 3, wherein said control bar further
comprises an abutment member, disposed on the top surface thereof
adjacent one end of said gear rack, and wherein said limiting means
comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular-shaped member,
pivotably mounted and biased so as to engage the surface of said
control bar and said abutment member, and thereby limit the lateral
displacement of said control bar, and prevent displacement of the
door bolt when said coded signals are not received.
5. The lock as recited in claim 4, wherein said electric generating
means comprises an electric generator, coupled to said handle by a
plurality of gear-wheels, for imparting high angular speed to the
rotor shaft of said generator in response to rotational movement of
said handle.
6. The lock as recited in claim 5, wherein said signal transmitting
means comprises,
a transmitter, for transmitting said coded signals,
a battery, coupled to said transmitter, and
means, responsive to said transmitter actuating means, for coupling
said battery to said transmitter and thereby causing transmission
of said coded signals for opening the lock.
7. The door lock as recited in claim 6, wherein said signal
receiving means comprises a receiver, for receiving said
transmitted signals, coupled to and responsive to activation of
said generator, for generating an output signal in response to the
reception of said coded signals.
8. The door lock as recited in claim 7, wherein said stop member
positioning means comprises a solenoid, mechanically coupled to
said stop member and electrically coupled to said receiver, for
moving said stop member out of engagement with said control bar, so
that said bar displaces said door bolt in response to movement of
said handle.
9. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said transponder
actuating means comprises a permanent magnet, disposed in the end
of said door handle, and wherein said transponder means for
coupling said transmitter to said battery comprises at least one
reed switch, responsive to the presence of a magnetic field, for
coupling said battery to said transmitter when said transponder is
placed in proximity to said magnet.
10. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for
actuating said transponder comprises a pushbutton switch, coupled
to said battery and said transmitter, for coupling said battery to
said transmitter and thereby causing transmission of said coded
signals.
11. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said transponder
comprises a three-frequency transmitter, including three pushbutton
switches, each coupled to separate frequency generation circuits in
said transmitter, for generating a plurality of differently coded
signals in a predetermined sequence by pressing said pushbuttons in
said sequence, and wherein said door lock receiver comprises a
three-frequency sensitive signal receiver, and a shift register
coupled to said receiver, for receiving said three coded signals
and generating an output signal for activating said solenoid when
said signals are received in said predetermined sequence.
12. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said door lock
further comprises a transmitter, for transmitting coded signals
from said door lock to said transponder, and wherein said
transponder further comprises a receiver, for receiving said
signals transmitted from said door lock and actuating said
transponder to cause transmission of said coded signals to said
door lock.
13. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said transponder
transmitter comprises a three-frequency transmitter, coupled and
responsive to the depression of a single pushbutton switch provided
on the external surface thereof, and a shift register coupled to
said three-frequency transmitter, for transmitting, in a selected
sequence, three coded signals for opening said lock, and wherein
said receiver in said door lock comprises a three-frequency
receiver, and a shift register coupled to said receiver, for
generating an output pulse in response to the reception of said
plurality of coded signals in said door lock for activating said
solenoid and opening the door lock.
14. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said signals
transmitted and received are radio frequency signals, and wherein
said transponder and said door lock further comprise antennas,
coupled to said transmitters and receivers, for transmitting and
receiving said radio frequency signals.
15. The door lock as recited in claim 8, wherein said signals
transmitted and received are ultrasonic signals, and wherein said
transponder and said door lock further comprise ultrasonic
piezoelectric transducers, for transmitting and receiving said
ultrasonic signals.
16. The door lock as recited in claim 15, wherein said transponder
further comprises an elongated, tubular-shaped casing, having the
dimensions and shape of a conventional writing pen, a
cylindrically-shaped, electronic circuit module disposed within
said casing and including said transmitter and receiver, a battery
coupled to said module for supplying power to said transmitter and
receiver, and an ultrasonic transducer, coupled to said electronic
circuit module, for receiving and transmitting said coded signals.
Description
The present invention relates to electronic locks, and in
particular, to an electronic recognition lock which automatically
releases an electronically controlled door bolt in response to the
reception of a coded sequence of signals transmitted by a
transponder unit carried by a person desiring to open the lock.
Conventional key lock systems are undesirable for a variety of
reasons. For example, in the dark, a person must first find his
key, and then insert it in the lock, in order to gain entrance to
his home or apartment. If the person is carrying a number of
packages or other items, or a keychain with many keys, opening the
lock is made more difficult. Inclement weather conditions further
complicate the process. Furthermore, keys may be lost, stolen or
copied by unauthorized persons in order to gain entrance to a house
or apartment.
Accordingly, the applicant provides an electronic recognition lock
which electronically controls a door bolt in response to the
reception of a plurality of coded signals which the lock mechanism
is programmed to decode and identify to determine if the lock is to
be opened. The door handle is coupled by a gearing system to an
electric generator, which generates power in response to rotational
movement of the handle to power the electronic controls of the door
lock. A rack and pinion is coupled to the door handle, and controls
the movement of the door bolt. A pivotable stop member is slidably
adjacent the rack and pinion, and abuts a corresponding abutment
member on the rack to limit movement of the door handle. The stop
member is coupled to a solenoid, which is electrically coupled to
the electronic controls of the door lock, and mechanically coupled
to the stop member. The solenoid is activated and pivots the stop
member from its limiting position when a signal of the proper code
is received by the door lock control mechanism. The rack and pinion
then bypasses the stop member and the handle is fully rotated to
release the door bolt and admit the person to the house or
apartment.
In one embodiment of the invention, the door lock is controlled by
a wrist watch including a radio frequency signal transmitter, which
transmits the coded sequence of signals to the door lock. The watch
is biased in a "passive" or deactivated state, and is activated by
a magnet disposed in the door handle which vibrates a pair of reed
switches in the watch when it is placed in proximity to the magnet.
The switches connect the power source to the transmitter to start
transmission of the signals. An antenna is disposed in the door
adjacent the handle for receiving the signals transmitted from the
watch.
In another embodiment of the invention, a radio frequency signal
transmission unit, having three external buttons projecting from
its case, is used to control the lock instead of the watch. The
three buttons are coupled to three separate transmitter circuits
which transmit signals separately at three different frequencies.
The door lock control system has a three frequency receiver and a
shift register coupled to the receiver, for receiving the
transmitted signals and processing them to determine if they were
transmitted in the proper sequence. The door lock is released by
the electronic apparatus when signals of the predetermined
frequencies are received in the proper coded sequence.
In other embodiments of the invention, a single push button switch,
projecting from the casing of the radio frequency transmitter, is
used to switch the transmitter from a normally passive to an active
state, in which the transmission of the coded signals is
automatically carried out by the electronic circuitry of the
transponder. The personal transmitter may also be completely
automatic, transmitting the coded signals in response to a signal
generated by the electronic door apparatus.
In still other embodiments of the invention, the system may be
ultrasonic, using ultrasonic transducers to transmit the signals
required to open the lock.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an
electronic recognition lock which is opened by a remote transponder
which identifies the person carrying the unit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
electronic recognition lock which is completely automatic, and
which requires no conscious effort on the part of the user to open
the lock.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
electronic recognition lock which is simple in design, easy to
manufacture, and efficient and reliable in operation.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several
embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that
the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only, and
are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the
invention.
Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters
denote similar elements throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic door lock constructed
in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wrist watch sized transponder
for controlling the door lock of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and mechanical
elements of the door lock and personal transponder;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a personal transponder and the
electronic components of the receiver of an ultrasonic door lock
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional vieww of one embodiment of a personal
transponder for controlling view door lock of the present
invention; and
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the electronic components of the
personal transponder of FIG. 5.
FIG. 5B is an end view, in phantom, of the piezoelectric transducer
section of the personal transponder of FIG. 5.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of personal
transponder and of the electronic components of the receiver of a
radio frequency electronic door lock constructed in accordance with
the present invention.
Referring to the drawings, in particular FIG. 1, there is shown an
L-shaped, rotatable door handle 10, disposed through an annular
door plate 11, having gear teeth 12 provided on the end of the
handle disposed through the door. Gear teeth 12 are slidably
disposed within a cylinder 13 mounted on the end of a shaft 14, and
mesh with gear teeth 15 provided on the inside surface of cylinder
13. A coarse pitch spur gear 16 is also mounted on shaft 14, and
meshes with a gear rack 17 of the same pitch provided on a slidable
control bar 18, which moves laterally in the direction of arrow 19.
A stepup gearing system, consisting of gears 20, 21 and 22, and
drive gear 23 attached to extension 24 of shaft 14, couple the door
handle with the rotor shaft of a permanent magnet, AC generator
25.
A door bolt 26 is slidably disposed beneath control bar 18, and has
a coarse pitch rack 27 provided on the bottom surface thereof,
which meshes with the spur gear 28 mounted on a rotatable shaft 29
to which an inside door knob 30 is attached. Door bolt 26 moves
laterally in the direction of arrow 27 when door knob 30 is rotated
to open the door. Both control bar 18 and door bolt 26 have
abutment members 31, integrally formed at their ends perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the bar and door bolt, for engaging
each other when handle 10 is turned, and causing control bar 18 to
pull door bolt 26 from the door latch. Compression springs 32
engage the ends of the control bar and door bolt, for returning
them to their illustrated positions after the door is opened. The
springs are secured in place engaging the ends of the door bolt and
control bar by L-shaped retaining members 33.
A pivotable stop member 34, movable upwardly in the direction of
arrow 35, is mounted on a stationary shaft 36, and is biased so as
to normally engage the top surface of control bar 18. As control
bar 18 is moved laterally in the direction of arrow 19, an abutment
member 37 provided at the end of rack 17 engages the end of stop
member 34 and prohibits further movement of the control bar to
displace door bolt 26 and open the door. When member 34 engages
abutment member 37, members 31 on control bar 18 and bolt 26 are
positioned almost in engagement with one another. Stop member 34
thus prevents lateral disposal of bolt 26 to open the door, unless
it is pivoted upwardly, in the direction of arrow 35, to allow the
control bar to slide laterally past it and pull the door bolt from
the door latch.
Member 34 is coupled to an electrical solenoid switch 38 by a
vertically movable cylindrical rod 39 disposed through aperture 40.
Rod 39 has an annular disc affixed to its end perpendicular to its
longitudinal axis to lift the stop member. Electrical wires 41
couple the solenoid to electrical control unit 42, which is coupled
to generator 25 by wires 43. Control unit 42 has a transmitting and
receiving antenna 44 disposed about the periphery of annular door
plate 11. Permanent magnet 45 is disposed in the end of handle 10
for controlling the remote transponder, which is described
below.
The mechanical and electrical components of the door lock are
mounted within a rectangular casing 46 which abuts the interior
surface of the door. Annular door plate 11 is disposed on the
exterior surfaces of the door, and is coupled by bolts 47, which
are threadably engaged in cylinders 48 attached to plate 11, to the
rectangular casing. When bolts 47 are tightened, the plate and
casing engage the inside and outside surfaces of the door and
secure the door lock in its mounted position. Shaft 29 for door
knob 30 is disposed through circular aperture 48, and a
rectangular-shaped notch 49 is provided in the side of the casing
adjacent the door latch 40, through which bolt 26 extends.
The electrical control system of the door lock and transponder is
shown in detail in FIG. 3. In general, the personal transponders 50
carried by the persons using the lock include a reed switch 51
responsive to the presence of a magnetic field coupled to a battery
52 to power the transponder, and an electronic transmitter 53 which
transmits coded radio frequency signals through antenna 54. The
electronic door lock includes generator 25, which is mechanically
coupled to door handle 10, coupled to a rectifier and filter 55 and
UHF receiver 56. A silicon controlled rectifier 57 couples
rectifier-filter 55 and receiver 56 to solenoid 38. The solenoid is
mechanically coupled to stop member 34 which is moved out of the
path of control ar 18 when the solenoid is activated.
FIG. 2 illustrates, in schematic form, one embodiment of a personal
transponder for controlling the electronic door lock. The
electrical components of the pocket transponder are disposed in a
watch case 58 and include an annular-shaped battery 59, an
integrated circuit transmitter 60, and a pair of reed switches 61
and 62 for coupling the battery to the transmitter when watch case
58 is placed near magnet 45. The switches are positioned
perpendicular to one another to ensure that at least one will will
be activated by the magnetic field of magnet 45 regardless of the
position of the user's hand or wrist when he grips handle 10 to
open the door. Antenna 63 is coupled to the transmitter to radiate
the rf signals from the transponder.
The personal transponder is normally set in a "passive" state, that
is, the power source is not coupled to the transmitter
continuously, but only activates the transmitter when the person
approaches handle 10 and magnet 45 causes the reed switches in the
personal transponder to close and couple the battery power source
to the transmitter and other electrical components of the
transponder unit. A modulated signal is then transmitted from the
personal transponder and is received by antenna 44 of the door lock
control unit. Simultaneously, as the person turns handle 10, the
gear system coupled to generator 25 rotates the generator shaft at
a sufficiently high angular speed so that the generator rotor
produces sufficient electrical power to operate receiver 56,
rectifier-filter 55, and solenoid 38. When a signal of the proper
code is received by the door unit, silicon rectifier 57 is switched
on to activate the solenoid. Generator 25 produces an alternating
current output, and preferably does not include brushes or a
commutator. Its AC output is converted to a DC output which
activates receiver 56 and rectifier 57 through rectifier and filter
55. When a signal having the proper code is received, and rectifier
57 is switched on to activate solenoid 38, rod 39 then pulls member
34 upwardly so that abutment member 37 may slide past and control
bar 18 may pull door bolt 26 from the door latch. When the handle
is released, compression springs 32 force the control bar and door
bolt back to their original positions, thereby locking the
door.
The door is opened from the inside by means of door knob 30, which
is coupled directly to door bolt 26. When this knob is rotated,
only the door bolt moves, and the remaining portion of the door
lock remains stationary. Compression spring 32 returns the door
bolt to its original position as soon as knob 30 is released. If a
person not having a transponder unit attempts to open the door,
stop member 34 prevents control bar 18 from moving past it and
consequently, handle 10 cannot be turned to pull door bolt 26 from
the door latch. Member 34 is "fail-safe," since the force of
gravity always forces the stop member to engage the face of control
bar 18 whenever the solenoid is not activated.
The personal pocket unit, once activated, continuously transmits
the coded signal to the door unit. When the door opens, and the
person pulls his hand away from magnet 45, the switches in the
transponder unit are opened and the transmitter power source
disconnected. The transponder then returns to its "passive" state,
which prevents constant drain on the battery power source. Longer
battery life and less maintenance are thus assured. Activation of
the transponder unit, and transmission of the coded signals to open
the door lock occur within a fraction of a second so that the
person opening the door is unconscious of the entire unlocking
process. As the user turns the handle, if the received signal is of
the proper form, the solenoid is activated before abutment member
37 engages the end of stop member 34. Thus, the door is opened by
the person as if door handle 10 were directly coupled to door bolt
26. The door lock, however, is preferably equipped with an energy
storage capacitor, which stores the electrical energy produced by
the generator and enables the receiver circuit and the solenoid to
continue to operate for a brief period of time after the rotational
movement of handle 10 stops in case noise or other interference
causes signal processing difficulties.
Instead of using magnet 45 and reed switches 51 to activate the
personal transponder, a radio frequency transmitter 58 may be added
to the electronic control so the door lock. In combination with
receiver 56, a transceiver is formed which transmits a signal at a
selected frequency to the personal transponder and receives its
reply signal, in response to the rotational movement of the handle
and the consequent generation of electrical power. In the personal
transponder, receiver 53 is replaced with a transceiver which
receives the signal from the door unit, switches the transponder
on, and then transmits the coded signal to open the door lock. The
transponder is provided with a loop or coil, which is resonant at a
selected frequency at which radio frequency signals are transmitted
by the door unit. When these signals are received by the personal
transponder, the received alternating signals are converted by a
solid state rectifier provided in the transponder to DC power which
activates the personal transponder transmitter. The transponder
then transmits a reply signal to the door unit, at a different
frequency than that used by the door lock transmitter so that the
signals are not confused, which is received by the transceiver in
the door unit to activate the solenoid and release the door bolt.
It is preferable that the frequency of the signals transmitted by
the door unit and the signals transmitted by the personal
transponder are separated by a large portion of the frequency
spectrum so that the lock transmitter does not affect the lock
receiver.
The battery for the personal transponder is permenently connected
to the transponder transmitter in this embodiment of the invention.
However, the current drain from the battery under quiescent
conditions is negligible, since there is no forward bias on the
base-to-emitter junction of the solid state rectifier. The required
forward bias is provided by the rectified output of the pickup coil
in the transponder when a signal from the door unit is received.
This embodiment of the invention differs from the previously
described embodiment only in that the transponder is not "passive."
It is switched on continuously, in order to receive transmitted
signals from the door lock unit.
With a transponder of this type, constant recharging of the battery
is necessary. If the system is used within a business office,
hospital, etc., the employees could leave their transponders on a
charging rack each day at quitting time to recharge the batteries.
In order to remind employees who forget, the charging rack may be
equipped with a transmitter, which continuously sends out a coded
signal into the immediate area of the employee exit to activate an
audible transducer in the transponder and remind the employee to
put his transponder on the rack when the audible tone is produced.
Otherwise, the operation of this embodiment is the same as the
system described previously. In both of the above-described
systems, the personal transponder may be made passive by providing
a manual pushbutton switch on the outside of the transponder unit
casing. With this switch, the person using the lock activates the
transponder before turning door handle 10 to gain entrance. The
coded signal is then transmitted to the door unit to activate the
solenoid and release the door bolt.
In systems which require more security, a personal transponder and
door lock unit may be modified so that the door can be opened only
in response to the transmission of a finite number of radio
frequency signals of different frequency in a selected sequence. In
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, personal unit 50 is modified
so that its transmitter transmits radio frequency signals at three
different frequencies, and receiver 56 is modified so that it
receives the three frequencies transmitted from the personal
transponder and responds only to a particular sequence of these
signals. The transponder has three pushbutton switches 65
projecting from its casing, each of which is connected to a battery
power source for the transponder and one of three different
capacitors having different capacitance values. Thus, the
depression of each of the pushbutton switches couples the battery
of the transponder and each capacitor separately to the transmitter
of the transponder. Three different radio frequency signals are
thus transmitted to the door unit, and are received by antennas 66.
The antennas are coupled to receivers 67 so as to form a triple
receiver which is sensitive to each of the three frequencies
transmitted by the transponder. The receivers produce a DC pulse
output signal which is transmitted to shift registers68, and the
shift register delivers a pulse to rectifier 57 to activate
solenoid 38 only if the signals transmitted from the transponder
are received in the required, predetermined sequence. A reset timer
69 is provided in the receiver to periodically reset the shift
registers to their quiescent state to avoid interference from
random, spurious signals or improperly sequenced signals. When the
pushbuttons are not depressed, the personal transponder remains in
a "passive" state.
It should be noted that although three pushbutton switches were
used for generating three different frequencies in the
above-described embodiment, any number of switches and frequencies
may be used, depending on the security required for the particular
system. The above embodiment is intended merely as an
illustration.
An alternate method of transmitting three different frequencies is
to use a single frequency transmitter having three different tone
modulators which are actuated by the three separate pushbuttons.
The receiver is modified so that only a single receiver, having
three different tone sensitive relays or solid state switches
feeding the shift registers 68, is required. The transmission of
the three frequencies may also be accomplished automatically by
using a time delay system which causes the pocket transponders to
transmit at the three different frequencies, such as, for example,
a system which goes from one frequency to the next after depressing
a single pushbutton switch.
To provide even greater security, the system may be modified so
that the signal transmitted from the lock to the transponder is
transmitted a selected number of times over different time
intervals, and the signal transmitted in response to those signals
is transmitted back to the lock within the same time intervals,
including time for decoding, to open the door lock. A system of
this type can be constructed by providing the lock and pen
transmitters with R-C circuits for transmitting the coded signals
with a slowly rising amplitude. When the signals are transmitted by
the lock with a slowly rising amplitude of a specified time
interval, the signals received by the lock must be transmitted by
the transponder with a slowly rising amplitude of the same time
duration for the lock to open. This system can be combined with the
above-described shift register systems so that the signals are
transmitted and received at a specified frequency, in a selected
sequence, over different time intervals.
Each of the above-described embodiments of the invention may
transmit ultrasonic, instead of radio frequency signals. Antenna 44
is replaced by a piezoelectric crystal transducer 70, disposed in a
circular aperture in plate 11, and coupled to electronic control 42
of the door lock. The personal transponder is modified so that a
piezoelectric crystal is coupled to transceiver 53 instead of
antenna 54. A personal transponder using reed switches to activate
the transmitter would include a battery, coupled to an
oscillator-transmitter and a gate circuit by the reed switch, and a
piezoelectric transducer, coupled to the gate switch, for
transmitting the desired frequency and pulse modulated signals to
the door unit. These signals would be received by transducer 70 of
the electronic lock, and transmitted to a receiver-decoder whose
output activates solenoid 38 when the proper signal is received.
The reed switch may also be a pushbutton switch, coupled to the
oscillator-transmitter of the transponder, for switching the
"passive" transponder unit on.
An ultrasonic "non-passive" system, which is fully automatic, may
be constructed by providing both the electric door lock and the
transponder with a receiver-decoder and transmitter-oscillator for
transmitting and receiving signals in the same manner as described
with respect to the corresponding rf system described above. One
embodiment of a personal transponder which may be used with an
ultrasonic door control lock is shown in FIG. 5. Transponder 71 has
the dimensions and shape of a conventional writing pen, so that it
may be easily carried by the user of the door lock. A battery 72 is
disposed in the lower end of its cylindrical casing, and supplies
power to an electronic circuit module 73 disposed in the upper
portion of the pen. The circuit module comprises a gate or switch
74 coupled to a receiver 75 and a decoder 76. An
oscillator-transmitter 77, coupled to the decoder, is coupled by
gate 74 to a piezoelectric transducer 78 disposed at the top end of
the pen through pin 79. Pin 80 is the ground for the circuit
module.
The transponder has a detachable threaded cap 81 including a
three-pin coupling element on its bottom surface having pins 79, 80
and spare pin 82. The cap has a plurality of apertures 83 in its
front surface above clip 84 from which the ultrasonic signals are
transmitted to the door unit. Apertures 83 are directed towards the
front of the pen so that the signals will be transmitted directly
at the door lock. Circuit module 73 is cylindrically shaped, and
has three corresponding sockets 85, 86 and 87 which receive pins
79, 82 and 80, respectively. The module is coupled to the cap by
the pins, and the assembled structure threaded into thetubular
casing of transponder 71. Battery 72 engages a contact terminal 88
coupled to the module, and is held in place against the terminal by
means of a spring 89 disposed between the negative terminal of the
battery and the end of the tubular casing. A plurality of rotating
switches 90 may be coupled to the circuit module to allow manual
adjustment of the frequency to which the transponder will respond.
This additional feature produces, in effect, a key and door lock
with "tumblers" which may be changed as desired.
It should be noted that the transponder unit just described may
also be modified to include a manual pushbutton switch which may be
depressed to activate the transponder. With such a unit, only an
oscillator-transmitter, battery, and gate would be required to open
the door lock, since the remaining electronic components of the
control system are no longer needed.
One of the most desirable features of the ultrasonic transponder
unit described in FIG. 5 is that it may be used simultaneously with
both an electronic door locking system, and an electronic personnel
locating system, such as those described in applicant's co-pending
patent application, Ser. No. 160,851, filed July 8, 1971, now U.S.
Pat. No. 3,696,384, issued Oct. 3, 1972 entitled "Ultrasonic
Tracking and Locating System".
An ultrasonic transponder, which is both automatic and passive, may
be provided by using a transceiver in the door control unit which
transmits a high power DB ultrasonic signal, at, for example,
30,000 cycles, in response to rotation of the door handle, which
causes a reed or transducer provided in the transponder to vibrate
when the signal is received. The reception of the signal couples
the battery of the transponder to the transmitter and activates the
transponder. The transponder then transmits a range of ultrasonic
signals of varying frequencies, which equal a code sequentially
both in time length and frequency. The signals are preferably
broadbanded to allow for temperature variations when the units are
used outdoors, and should be kept approximately 3 to 5 thousand
cycles apart. Both transducers in the door lock and the transponder
should be omni-directional.
FIG. 4 illustrates an ultrasonic transponder and door lock similar
to the embodiment described with respect to FIG. 6. Transponder 91
has an exposed ultrasonic transducer 92, which transmits ultrasonic
signals to transducer 93 of receiver 56. The transponder includes a
pushbutton switch 94, coupled to an automatic shift register, which
transmits ultrasonic signals of three different frequencies in the
required sequence. The transmitted signals are received by
transducer 93, and frequency selective receivers 95, and DC pulses
from the receivers are transmitted to a shift register 96, shift
register 96 activates the lock control circuits only after signals
are received in the proper sequence. A reset timer 87 is provided
for the same purpose as in the corresponding radio frequency
system. It should be noted that substantially the same circuitry
may be used in transponder unit 91 to cause automatic transmission
of the three frequencies necessary to open the lock. In such a
transponder, the shift register controls three transmitters which
generate the desired signals through transducer 92.
If manual operation is desired, transponder 91 may be provided with
three pushbuttons, each controlling the transmission of one
selected frequency, as described previously with respect to the
radio frequency systems.
It should be noted that generator 25 may be eliminated by
electrically wiring the door so that power is supplied to the lock
when the handle is turned.
While only several embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in
the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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