Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02088900 2003-O1-03
BACKGROUND OF TH$ INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to locking systems
generally and, mare particularly, to a novel intelligent
lock system which is particularly useful for locks on coin
operated telephones.
2. HackQround Art.
While the present invention is described with
reference to locks on coin operated telephones, for
illustrative purposes, it will be understood that it may be
applied as well in any application in which it is desirable
to be able to unlock a number of locks with a single
unlocking mechanism.
The coin boxes in coin operated telephones must be
removed periodically to rernave the coins. Conventionally,
this is done by giving a coin collector a large shackle of
keys which holds a unique key for each telephone which is to
be opened to remove the coin boxes therein on a particular
INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM ~ ~ ~ ~ PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
day. As prior steps, the telephone boxes to be accessed
must be identified, the appropriate keys pulled, and a route
form prepared. The coin collector goes to each telephone,
selects the proper key, uses the key to operate a lock
release mechanism, uses another key to open the coin box
access door on the telephone, removes the coin box, checks
the coin box number against the one printed on the route
form, and inserts an empty coin box. The empty receptacle
number is recorded on the route sheet and the receptacle
stub along with the time, date, and collector number. This
system is cumbersome and time consuming, since the coin
collector must take time to select the correct key for each
telephone and make proper notations to assure that a coin
box is identified to a particular telephone. The latter
step introduces opportunity for error.
It has been proposed to employ an "intelligent key"
for use in unlocking coin operated telephones. The key
would be programmed, by a main computer, to unlock, say, 100
telephones on a given day. The coin collector would use a
bar code reading wand attached to the intelligent key to
read a bar code attached to an outside surface of the
telephone to obtain the identification of the telephone.
The smart key would look up the identification in its
programmable memory to verify that the telephone is one than.
can be unlocked on that day. The intelligent key is then
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 p g 8 9 0 0 PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
inserted in the lock and the lock mechanism released by
means of data transfer between the two. Bar codes on the
full and empty coin boxes are scanned and this data is
inputted to a memory in the intelligent key. While this
system is an improvement over the conventional method of
accessing coin boxes, it has the substantial disadvantage of
having to read external indicia for verification of the
telephone. Such external indicia are subject to damage or
removal which represents a substantial maintenance cost and
which requires manual input of the information to the key.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a system for unlocking a coin operated
telephone which does not rely on reading external indicia to
identify the telephone.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
such a system in which the lock mechanism itself identifies
the telephone.
It is another object of the invention to provide such
a system which permits a single programmable unlocking
mechanism to selectively unlock a large number of locks.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide
such a system that is conveniently and easily employed.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 p g 8 9 Q 0 PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
Other objects of the present invention, as well as
particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will
be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following
description and the accompanying drawing figures.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 p $ g 9 0 0 PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
SUI~'~IARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention achieves the above objects,
among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, an
intelligent lock system which includes a wrench insertable
in a lock mechanism, the wrench transmitting a signal to the
lock mechanism from a microprocessor indicating the presence
of the wrench and receiving from the lock mechanism an
identifying signal, the lock mechanism transmitting the
identifying signal to the microprocessor through the wrench,
the microprocessor subsequently transmitting to the lock
mechanism a password through the wrench, and, the lock
mechanism receiving the password and unlocking the lock
mechanism in response thereto.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 0 8 8 9 0 0 pATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Understanding of the present invention and the various ,
aspects thereof will be facilitated by reference to the
accompanying drawing figures, submitted for purposes of
illustration only and not intended to define the scope of
the invention, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional coin
operate telephone.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of another
embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 4A and 4B illustrate details of the embodiment
of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a block/schematic diagram of the
embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a timing/logic diagram illustrating the
operation of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the hardware
components of the embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a front elevational view, partially cut
away, of an alternative lock mechanism embodiment according
to the present invention.
InventorENJamesKSSYBianco 2 0 8 8 9 0 0 lOgT131
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line "9-
9" of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the
embodiment of Figure 8.
Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a wrench for
use with the lock mechanism of Figures 8-10.
Figure 12 is a top plan view, partially in cross-
section, of the wrench of Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the
electrical/electronic circuitry of the lock mechanism of
Figures 8-10.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 0 8 8 9 0 0 pATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference should now be made to the Drawing, in which
similar or identical elements are given consistent
identifying numerals throughout the various figures thereof,
and in which reference numerals in parentheses direct the
reader to the figures) in which the elements) being
describe are best seen, although the elements) may be seen
in other figures) also.
Figure 1 illustrates a conventional coin operated
telephone, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10.
Since telephone 10 is conventional, only those elements
thereof with which the present invention is concerned will
be described. It will be understood that the base of
telephone 10 includes a coin box (not shown) into which fall
coins inserted into the telephone to permit operation
thereof. Telephone 10 includes a lock mechanism, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 12, which has a tumbler
slot l4 into which a wrench (not shown) can be inserted to
permit a slide bolt 16 to be withdrawn into the housing 18
of the mechanism. Once slide bolt 16 is so withdrawn, an
internal mechanism (not shown) permits access door 24 to be
opened by insertion of a key (not shown) into key slot 26.
This operation gives access to the coin box as is more fully .
described above.
INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM PATENT
Inventor : James S . Bianco ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 108-131
Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of a lock
mechanism according to the present invention, generally
indicated by the reference numeral 30. Lock mechanism 30
includes a housing 32 in which is disposed for sliding back
and forth movement a slide bolt 34. A support pin 36
having a threaded distal portion 38 and an intermediate
unthreaded portion 40 is inserted through an opening 42
defined in the rear wall of housing 32, with the unthreaded
portion engaging the wall of the opening. Disposed on
unthreaded portion 40 are a cam 46 and a printed circuit
board 48. The threaded end of support pin 36 engages a
barrel 50 so that, unless otherwise impeded, the support pin
and the barrel will rotate together. A shear pin 54 fixed
to cam 46 extends through an opening 56 defined in printed
circuit board 48 and into barrel 50 so that those elements
will rotate with the barrel and support pin 36.
Barrel 50 extends through an opening 62 defined in a
anti-removal retainer 64 which is fixedly attached to the
face of side panel 60 of a telephone (not shown) and through
an opening 58 defined in the side panel. A cover plate is
fixedly attached over anti-removal retainer 64 so, that with
the elements of lock mechanism assembled as described above,
those elements cannot be extracted from the telephone
without disassembly of the telephone.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 Q g g g 0 0 PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
The rotatable elements of lock mechanism 30 are
prevented from rotation in the direction indicated by the
arrow shown on Figure 2 by means of a latch pin 68 fixedly
attached to cam 46 which latch pin engages the bottom of a
latch bar 70 rotatably attached to side panel 60 by means of
a shaft 72. Latch bar 70 is held in the position shown by
means of a return spring 74 attached to side panel 60. Also
attached to side panel 60 is a solenoid 76 operatively
connected to the upper end of latch bar 70 to withdraw the
latch bar from engagement with latch pin 68 and permit the
rotatable elements of lock mechanism 30 to rotate.
The means by which lock mechanism 30 is unlocked
includes a wrench, generally indicated by the reference
numeral 80. Wrench 80 includes a housing 82 with a data
probe 84 and a pin 86 extending therefrom. Data probe 84
and pin 86, are insertable into lock mechanism 30 through
channels 88 and 90, respectively, defined in barrel 50.
Data probe 84 extends through barrel 50 and contacts printed
circuit board 48, while pin 86 terminates in the barrel.
Probe 84 is of the spring loaded type. Wrench 80 is
connected to a computer (described below) by means of a
cable 92.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ a O PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
In operation, wrench 80 is inserted in lock mechanism
30 so that probe 84 contacts printed circuit board 48. When
appropriate signals have been exchanged over cable 92,
solenoid 76 is activated causing the disengagement of latch
bar 70 from latch pin 68 and the wrench can then be rotated
clockwise as indicated by the arrow. Such rotational
movement causes sliding engagement of a cam surface 94 with
a shoulder 96 formed on slide bolt 34 causing the slide bolt
to withdraw its distal end into housing 32, thus releasing
an internal mechanism (not shown) in the telephone as
described above with reference to a conventional telephone
lock mechanism. Data probe 84 includes an annular channel
98 which engages the edge of a cut-out 100 in opening 62 to
prevent removal of wrench 80 when lock mechanism 30 is in
its unlocked state.
Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of a lock
mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral
30'. Elements of lock mechanism identical, or nearly so, to
those of lock mechanism 30 of Figure 2 are given primed
reference numerals. Lock mechanism 30' includes a support
pin journalled for rotating motion in opening 42' and having
a smooth shaft portion 110 on which is mounted cam 46'.
Lock mechanism 30' further includes a barrel 112 fixedly
attached to side panel 60' and having an axial channel 114
defined centrally therethrough. An anti-rotation retainer
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM PATENT
Inventor: James S . Bianco ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 108-131
116 having a slotted opening 118 defined therethrough and
aligned with channel 114 is fixedly attached to side panel
60'. Cam 46' has holes 124 and 126 defined therethrough for
fasteners (not shown) which pass through holes 128 and 130
defined through printed circuit board 48' and into a
rotation ring 134 to fasten those three elements together so
that they are rotatable as a unit. Rotation ring 134 has a
channel 136 defined therethrough axially aligned with
channel 114 and opening 118. Extending radially into
channel 136 is a shear pin 138.
Unlocking of lock mechanism 30' effects the same
result as the unlocking of lock mechanism 30 (Figure 2);
however, lock mechanism 30' employs a different wrench,
generally indicated by the reference numeral 444. Wrench
444 includes a housing 446 and a probe, generally indicated
by the reference numeral 448. With reference also now to
Figures 4A and 4B, probe 448 includes a shaft portion 450
and a distal tip portion 452, between which is an annular
channel 454. Distal tip portion 452 includes two flats 454
arid 456 spaced apart by 180 degrees on opposite sides of the
tip portion and two channels 458 and 460 spaced apart by 180
degrees on opposite sides of the tip portion intermediate
the flats. A spring loaded probe tip 464 extends from tip
portion 452.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM ~ ~ ~ ~ PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
The elements of lock mechanism 30' are configured so
that distal tip portion 452 may pass through channel 114.
Flats 454 and 456 permit passage of tip portion 452 through
slotted opening 118 in one orientation, but not if wrench
444 is rotated from that orientation. Tip portion 452 may
be inserted in channel 136 and, when the orientation of the
tip portion to rotation ring 134 is as shown on Figure 3,
shear pin 138 will be captured in one of channels 458 and
460. When wrench 444 is so inserted in lock mechanism 30',
probe tip 464 will contact printed circuit board 48'.
With wrench 444 so inserted in lock mechanism 30' and
the appropriate signals having been exchanged over cable
92', solenoid 76' will be activated, withdrawing latch bar
from engagement with latch pin 68' and cam 46' may be
rotated clockwise as indicated by the arrow, by virtue of
the engagement of shear pin 138 with one of channels 458 and
460 (Figures 4A and 4B).
Lock mechanisms 30 and 30' cannot be unlocked by brute
force with a tool fabricated for that purpose, since shear
pins 54 and 138, respectively, will be severed by rotation
of the tool, absent activation of solenoids 76 and 76' which
breaks mechanical communication between a tool inserted in
the lock mechanisms arid cams 46 and 46'. Shear pins 54 and
138 are selected of such diameter and material that they can
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM ~ ~ ~ PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
be forcibly severed much more easily than latch pins 68 and
68', respectively. Were the situation reversed, the latch
pins would be severed, the cams would be rotatable, and the
respective lock mechanisms 30 and 30' could be unlocked by
brute force.
Reference now to Figures 5 and 6 together will aid in
understanding the operation of the present invention.
While the reference numerals on Figure 5 are given for
the embodiment shown on Figure 2, it will be understood that
the schematic applies as well to the embodiment on Figure
3. On Figure 5, a computer 150 includes a microprocessor
152 which receives operating power from a voltage regulator
144 which is connected to internal battery 148 when computer
150 is configured as a portable unit. The power source,
here, battery 148, is also connected to a communication line
154 in cable 92 through a resistor 156. Microprocessor 152
provides outputs to a maximum power switching transistor 160
and to a data transmitting switching transistor 162.
Microprocessor 152 has SENSE and RECEIVE DATA inputs.
Communication line 154 is connected through probe 84
to a microcontroller 170 in lock mechanism 30, the
microcontroller receiving operating power from a voltage
regulator 172 which is connected to the communication line
154 through an isolation diode 174. A capacitor 176
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
2088900
connected between voltage regulator 172 and diode 174 is
connected to ground. Microcontroller 170 provides outputs
to a~data transmitting switching transistor 180 and to a
power switching transistor 184 connected between solenoid 76
and ground. Microcontroller 170 has a RECEIVE DATA input
connection to communication line 154.
Figure 6 is a timing/logic diagram for the circuitry
shown on Figure 5. A complete unlock/lock sequence is
divided into seven segments, A-G. Segment A is wrench '
insertion, going from an out position to an in position.
During that time, communication line 154 (Figure 5) and
resistor 156 are at full battery voltage V1. At the point
that probe tip 164 (Figure 4B) makes contact with printed
circuit board 48, the voltage on communication line 154
drops to a value determined by a voltage divider network
comprising resistors 156 and 178, here, voltage V3. A
comparator (not shown) at SENSE input to microprocessor 152
receives voltage V3 and, since V3 is between voltage limits
v2 and V4, the output of the comparator goes positive
providing a presence sense signal in the microprocessor.
The presence sense signal stays at that condition until
removal of the wrench. The comparator window is provided so
that, if there is a short circuit on insertion of the
wrench, the sequence will be not be started.
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2088900
INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
Once the presence sense signal is established,
microprocessor 152 starts charging, segment C, by turning on
transistor 160 which shorts resistor I56 and charges
capacitor 176 through diode 174. Voltage regulator 172
starts to provide operating power for microcontroller 170.
Capacitor 176 maintains a charge on voltage regulator 172
during the communication cycle and diode 174 isolates the
voltage on capacitor 176 from being discharged. At the end
of segment C, transistor 160 is turned off.
Segment D is the communication segment in which
transistors 162 and 180 are alternately turned on depending
on whether microprocessor 152 or microcontroller 170,
respectively is transmitting during bidirectional
communications. Turning on either transistor 162 or 180
pulls down resistor 156 which becomes a pull up resistor.
Microprocessor 152 first sends microcontroller 170 an
interrogation signal. Microcontroller 170 answers with the
serial number of lock mechanism 30. If the serial number
corresponds with one stored in microprocessor 152, that is,
it identifies a lock that is to be unlocked at this time,
microprocessor 152 transmits a password to microcontroller
170 and then turns on transistor 160 to provide power for
solenoid 76. When microcontroller 170 verifies the
password, it turns on transistor 184, activating solenoid 76
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM ~ ~ PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
and releasing latch bar 70 from cam 46. Cam 46 can then be
rotated, forcing slide bolt 34 (Figure 2) into housing 32.
Rotation of wrench 80 during segment E leads to unlock
segment F during which transistor 184 is turned off. During
this segment, the presence sense signal is still positive
and microcontroller 170 continues to output an unlocked
signal to microprocessor 152. Wrench 80 cannot be removed
from lock mechanism 30 unless the wrench is rotated back to
the zero position.
In the final, unlock, segment G, wrench 80 is rotated
and removed, while communication line 154 is again pulled up
to battery voltage, V1, and the presence sense signal drops
to zero.
A number of methods may be used to provide the
password to microcontroller 170 from microprocessor 152.
For further security, microcontroller 170 may be provided
with a real time clock so that a time encryption method may
be used advantageously. Such a method is described in
copending US Patent Application Serial Number 07/520,763,
filed May 9, 1990, by James S. Bianco et al, titled "Method
and Means to Limit Access to Computer Systems," now US
Patent Number 5,067,155, issued November 19, 1991, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference hereinto.
In the method described therein, an accessing device
encrypts identification information with real time so that
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 9 O Q 108T131
Inventor: James S. Bianco
the resulting password can be used only for a limited,
predetermined period of time.
Figure 7 illustrates a hardware embodiment of the
present invention, including wrench 80 attached to computer
150 by cable 92 to form a compact, easily carried unit.
Computer 150 has attached thereto a bar code reading wand
190 which may be used to scan bar codes on coin boxes and
for other input functions. Computer 150 further includes a
data display 192 and a keyboard 194 for manual input of
data. Also included in computer 150 is an LED 198 which
provides a visual indication when solenoid 76 (Figure 5) has
been energized and wrench 80 can be rotated to unlock lock
mechanism 30.
Prior to the beginning of collection rounds, data as
to route, serial numbers of telephones to be accessed, and
other information can be downloaded by a main computer to
computer 150. At the same time, battery 148 in computer 150
can be replaced or recharged as necessary.
Figures 8-10 illustrate an alternative preferred
embodiment of a lock mechanism, generally indicated by the
reference numeral 300.
Referring primarily to Figures 8 and 9, lock mechanism
300 is characterized in that it is very simple, having only
three moving parts: a slide bolt 302, a cam 304 fixedly
mounted on a drive shaft 306 by means of a shear pin 308,
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco
2088900 108-131
and a solenoid plunger 310 on the distal end of which is
fixedly mounted a stop 312. Solenoid plunger 310 moves up
and down within a solenoid body 314 (Figure 8).
The foregoing moving parts are disposed in a housing
320 having extending therefrom mounting flanges 322 and
324. An internal cavity 326 is defined internally of
housing 320, which internal cavity is closed by means of a
cover plate 328 attached to housing 320 by means of screws
330 and 332 (Figure 10). A printed circuit board 340 is
disposed against the inner surface of cover plate 328. A
cylindrical wrench retainer 350 (Figures 9 and 10) is
fixedly attached to and extends orthogonally outwardly from
cover plate 328 and drive shaft 306 is journalled in, and
extends between, in the wrench retainer and the rear wall
352 (Figure 9) of housing 320. A spacer 254 is disposed
parallely between slide bolt 302 and rear wall 352. Slide
bolt 302 is disposed for back-and- forth horizontal motion
within housing 320.
In use, lock mechanism 300 operates in a very similar
manner to the way lock mechanisms 30 and 30' (preceding
figures) operate, except for two very important features.
The first feature is that slide bolt 302 has mounted thereon
a wiper contact 360 which contacts printed circuit board 340
to permit sensing of the position of the slide bolt. This
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM
Inventor: James S . Bianco 2 0 $ s 9 v o PATENT
108-131
is important for it allows sensing that bolt 302 is in the
locked position notifying external electronics of that
tact. The information can be duly noted in the transaction
data that lock mechanism 300 was physically unlocked and
then locked. This is required for audit purposes.
The second feature is that stop 312 engages a contact
on printed circuit board 340 when lock mechanism 300 is in
the locked position (Figures 8 and 9). Thus, it can easily
be sensed that solenoid plunger 310 has returned to. the
locked position and is not stuck inside solenoid body 314,
leaving slide bolt 302 in the locked position but without
stop 312 in the locked position such that lock mechanism 300
could be unlocked without the necessary electronic
clearance. If some one should tamper with stop 312 or
plunger 310, that fact would be duly noted when the next
time lock mechanism 300 were used and the data collected.
Another of the important features of lock mechanism
300 is that it is sealed at the point of exposure to the
outside and, therefore, extremely protected against
tampering. As is shown on Figure 9, drive shaft 306 seals
against the inner wall of wrench retainer 350 and an
electrical contact 362 is disposed concentrically within the
wrench retainer external to housing 320.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 2 p 8 8 9 O O PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, there is
illustrated a wrench, generally indicated by the reference
numeral 370, for use with lock mechanism 300 (Figures 8-10.
Wrench 370 includes a generally cylindrical housing 372
having a two-conductor wire extending from the proximal end
thereof and a drive pin holder 374 extending from the distal
end thereof. Mounted in and extending axially from drive
pin holder 374 are two drive pins 376 and 378 which are
insertable in drive sockets 380 and 382 (Figures 9 and 10)
defined in the end of drive shaft 306.
Drive pin holder 374 has two, opposed tabs 386 and 388
in which drive pins 376 and 378 are mounted, respectively,
extending outwardly from the central portion of the drive
pin holder so as to form a bar shape interrupted by the
central portion of drive pin holder. A spring-loaded
contact pin 392 is disposed axially centrally of wrench 370
and is connected to the positive of the two conductors of
wire 374. The ground conductor of wire 374 is connected to
at least one of drive pins 376 and 378.
So configured, drive pin holder 374 is insertable into
wrench retainer 350 so that tabs 386 and 388 engage a wrench
slot 390 (Figure 10) defined in the wrench retainer, drive
pins 367 and 378 are inserted in drive sockets 380 and 382,
and spring-loaded contact 392 engages contact 362.
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM ~ ~ ~ PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
Wrench slot 390 (Figure 10) serves as a clean-out slot
and allows chewing gum and the like to be easily removed by
a simple tool or pick. Spring-loaded contact 392 in wrench
370 is protected against static and damage for and forming
housing 372 of plastic further reduces the possibility of .
static.
Lock mechanism 300 works in a simple fashion as
follows: When wrench 370 is inserted into wrench retainer
350, drive pins 376 and 378 engage drive sockets 380 and 382
and, among other points of contact, this establishes a
ground for the electronic circuit. Spring-loaded contact
pin 392 in wrench 370 contacts the center contact in lock
mechanism 300 and establishes a path for power and
communications.
As before, with lock mechanisms 30 and 30', when power
and communications are established between wrench 370 and
lock mechanism 300, the decision is made whether access is
permitted or denied. If access is denied, it will be
impossible to rotate wrench 370 in either direction. (See
Figure 8). Rotation counterclockwise is stopped by cam 304
striking slide bolt 302 at surface 400. Rotation clockwise
causes cam 304 to strike slide bolt 302 at surface 402. Ca;~
304 then causes slide bolt 302 to slide to the right until
the bolt hits stop 312. Further travel of slide bolt 302 is
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco ~ ~ ~ ~ 108-131
prevented by the stop, for it is forced against the wall of
housing 320. Continued pressure clockwise of drive shaft
306 by the wrench will cause shear pin 308 to sever, thus
rendering the drive shaft useless and preventing forced
entry.
If access is permitted, solenoid 314 will cause
solenoid plunger 310 to retract and compress a return spring
318. Stop 312 will thereby be moved out of the way of slide
bolt and clockwise rotation of drive shaft 306 will cause
cam 304 to move slide bolt 302 to the right on Figure 8 into
the retracted or open position. As soon as wiper contact
360 on slide bolt disconnects from a sense point on printed
circuit board 340, the power to solenoid 314 is removed at
that point, greatly reducing the power drain on the
batteries energizing the solenoid. When drive shaft 306 is
turned approximately 45 degrees clockwise, a flange 344
extending from the right side of slide bolt 302 will strike
the right side of housing 320 (Figure 8). At this point,
slide bolt 302 is completely retracted and lock mechanism
300 is open. It should be noted that when the power is
removed form solenoid 314, spring 318 cannot return stop 312
to the locked position for it is held in the compressed
position by bolt flange 344. When wrench 370 is turned
counterclockwise approximately 35 degrees, stop 312 will
slide off slide bolt flange 302 into the locked position,
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM 9 ~ Q PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
thus striking the contact sense point on the printed circuit
board 340.
Wrench 370 may only be removed from wrench retainer
350 when wrench tabs 386 and 388 are aligned with wrench
slot 390 in the retainer ring. This prevents the accidental
removal of wrench 370 when lock mechanism 370 is in the open
position. Note that slide bolt 302 allows stop 312 to
return to the locked position when drive shaft 302 is only
returned 35 degrees counterclockwise. The remaining 10
degrees is to insure that the lock is closed before the
wrench is removed.
Referring now to Figure 13 there is illustrated the
electrical/electronic circuitry of lock mechanism 300.
Since the basic operation thereof is the same as described
with reference to lock mechanism 30 on Figure 5, the
description of the basic operation will not be repeated
here. The differences are that lock mechanism 300 provides
an input from wiper contact 360 to microcontroller 170' and
stop 312 also provides an input thereto. Wiper contact 360
moves between a position in contact with a sense point 420
on printed circuit board 340 (Figures 8 and 9) when lock
mechanism 370 is in its closed position (wiper contact in
solid lines) and a position out of contact with the sense
point when the lock mechanism is in its open position (wiper
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INTELLIGENT LOCK SYSTEM ~ ~ ~ ~ PATENT
Inventor: James S. Bianco 108-131
contact in broken lines). Stop 312 moves between a position
in contact with a sense point 422 on printed circuit board
(Figures 8 and 9), providing an input to microcontroller
170' when lock mechanism 300 is locked and a position not in
contact with the sense point when the lock mechanism is
unlocked.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above,
among those elucidated in, or made apparent from, the
preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since
certain changes may be made in the above construction
without departing from the scope of the invention, it is
intended that all matter contained in the above description
or shown on the accompanying drawing figures shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting
sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims
are intended to cover all of the generic and specific
features of the invention herein described and all
statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter
of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
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