Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
tJNMERSAL KEY AND MEC.CI3ANI['.,A,LrELE(,'TRONZC LOCK WITIR
S'TAN'bARUIS"LE COMPONEN'.CS
1 The mvention described below consists of a code-based mechanical-electronic
system for locking and unlocking doors and windows and actuating locks.
It is designed so that the componeaats forming the interface (iteyslot)
between
the lock and the command and control component (key) can constitute a
"standard" that can supplant the current arrangements which envisage an
infinity of types of these components (keyslots and keys).
'I'hese arrangements, which necessitate possessing and carrying a considerable
nuxnber of keys, cards and so forth in order to access on.e's various premises
(house, alsrm system, safe, car, garage, gate, computer, cupboards, office,
boat,
ia clubs and premises with access controls, etc.), besides being impxactxcal
and out
of step with current technology, have a degree of security which is inadequate
for the times and current levels of lrnowledge and for the ease with which
they
can be circumvented by duplication, theft etc.
Starkxng from the assumption that systems of access by keying in a nurnerical
code at the time of need are much more secure, are very practical and fully
guaran,tee person-to-person equal opporhmity, between man and woman, smark
and intelligent, honest and dishonest, husband and wife, parents and children
etc., because the code can be stored solely in the mind and therefore well
hidden from others so as to keep one's own property safe.
The decision was taken to put foxward the present patent proposal.
As is well-known, mechanical-electronic code-based locks consist essentially
of
the following:
i. a mechanical system for physically closxzag a latch, generally with a
handle,
which includes an electrical releasing mechanism which prohibits or, if
2.5 activated, permits its operation (a mechanisna, generally consisting of a
movable
(retractable) piston, activated by a solenoid controlled by an electrical
current,
with a return spring which, in the state of rest, specifically prohibits the
functionality of the mechanical part);
2. an electronic card for decoding the preset code which aetivates (changes
the
status of) the mechanism for releasing the mechanical part;
3. components for acquiring acmss codes (generally numerical keypads with
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I buttons) connected directly to the electronic decoding card.
The mechanical locldng systems and electrunic decoding mrds can be of any
type, comple.yity, degree of security and, the cards, ca.n; be prograrnmable
and
even capable, possibly, of providing further sexvices (e.g. access control
with the
possibility of differentiating access codes by person). The compouents, on the
other hand, which are called above "components for acquiring access codes"
represent elements which, as a result of being made in conformity vvith the
types
proposed in this patent application or another similar one, and as a result of
the
process of stanclazcli.sing them, r.ould en,abXe the achievement of the hoped-
for
xa results of the use of a single "component for acquiring access codes", a
single key
(therefore) for all the locks to a11 one's own premises. To achieve this, it
was
thought advisable to divide the "component for acquitxng access codes" intc,
twQ
elements:
i. the interface (keyslot) (Fig. 3), interposed between the electronic
decodi.ng
card (Fig. 2) and the aclval, component for entering the access codes (key)
(Fig. 5), to be located exclusively on the outside of the frames, daors and
articles to be protected or to which one wishes to limit access;
2. the actual component for entering the pccess codes, is a znobile and
portable
numerical keypad (Fig. 5) on which to key the codes, physically connecHng
20 the component in intimate contact with the interface (keyslot) (Fig. 3)
which,
in turn, will connect to the pxQgrammable decoding card (Fig. 2).
The keypad (or command and control component) constitutes the essential and
salient element of the invention, having a sufficient number of keys (buttons)
and' electrical contacts and/oir other interfacing devices (ex.: infrared,
radio
25 frequency, DTMF tone and modulated light systems etc.) for communicating
with the interface (or keyslot). '1'his keypad can contain systems for pre-
entering
the codes, and, whoe high levels of security are reyuired, this pre-entering
can
be perfortned in a different place from where the interface (or keyslot) is
located. The codes are held in a flash memory in the keypad (or com.mand and
30 contrvl component) until xt is entered into the keysldt (or interface),
which also
causes the deletion of the flash memory).
The inte~Fõ~'ace (Fig. 3)
The interface complies with standard conventions, can be m.ade of any type of
na.aterial suitable for the purpose.
35 zt is provided with electrical slot (Fig. 3c), with a layout that complies
with the
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standard conventions, which can come into contact with the complementary
connector (Fig. 5a) of the componetet for entering the access codes, that is
the
mobile and portable keypad (Fig. 5).
In addition, this slot is provided of electrical cootacts for input/output
electric
current, and at least eotataets, for any fwffier funcdonalities or future
integxa.tions.
The interface is equipped with four different-coloured indicating LEDs (ex.:
electrical current present [g,reenJ, unlock activated. [yellow], error [red],
other
function L'bluel) (Fig. 3b),-
It is configured, in line with standard conventions (Fig. 3d and Fig. 6), to
accept,
according to need, the elements (such as phototransistors, antennae,
transducers etc.) to connect to other devices in order to control the lock,
also
through coded infrared signals (produced for example by ceXlpixones or mobile
computer apparatus), by meats of moduiated light signals, by radio signals
1.5 complying with the standards adopted for cellphones and computers, or by
signals generated by apparatus generating DTiVIF tones.
Cbtrtpurc+snt& r ~.rntMytg access codes CFio. ~)
tn, the basic, mass-market version it consists of a removable and portable
keypad, as depicted in drawing (Fig. .5). There could be any number of buttons
on this component) and in the basic version, there is no need of electrical
power
supply.
As already said, the mobile keypad (controi component or removable key)
constitutes the essential and salient elem,ezat and the lynchpin of the
inventiazt,
and it is provided with a connector (Fig. 5a) providing a sufficient number of
eleetrical con,tacts and./c-r other interfacing devices (ex.: infrared, radio
frequency, DTMF tone and modulated light systems etc.) (Fig. 5b)
comxnunicating with the complementary slot of keyslot (or interface) (Fig. 3).
In the basic version the buttons activate pure and simple electric.aZ contacts
that
would allow a numerical code to be entered, which throttgh the interface (or
keystot) would be decoded by the electronic card (on which the identical code
wouId have been previously set so that the card xecognises it) in order to
send a
comman,d to the locking/unlocking mechanism or other type of system for the
perormance of any other service or function
in consequence or otherwise of being appropriately integrated with electiical
circuits; in which the above-me-utaQned oomponents (intexface or .keyslot -
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command component or keypad or removable key - decoding card) can be used
either siarWy or together or in combinations which could be derived ftoni them
for a fruitfu1 and useful and desired function. Normally the code must be
entered after the keypad (or control component or removable key) has been
inserted into the interface (or keyslot), and the code can be changed, for
reasons
of security, at any titne and with the frequency desired or consxdered
appropriate, by means of settings entered into the decoding card.
In more complex solutions, and according to the ]evels of security required,
in
order to facilitate use for example by old people or incapacitated people or
people wath disabilities, or for people who desire it, it can inelude systems
of
coding with dipswitches or with other methods (Xike remote controls for
motorised gates) for entering a code which is only to be altered in
exceptional
cases and which the person concerned can keep possibly outside the home or in
the care of a person they trmst, or in some other way so as to protect
themselves
from losing the "key"; in this csse the release of the locking naechanism
would be
performed by the simple introduction of the keypad (or removable key) into the
interface (or keyslot), with or without a buttQn being pressed.
To ensure greater levels of security, the keypad (or control component, or
removable key) can include a system for pre-keying the access code such that
this code can be keyed in, for example while walking along the street, or in a
car,
or elsewhere but at all events in a different place than the lock or the
entrance or
the rnechanism concerned in the manoeuvre. The code can then be held in a
special flasb memory until it is transmitted to the keyslot (or interface) by
pressing a button on the keypad (or removable key); this operation would
however also delete the flash memory so as to avoid the possibi,li,ty that
theft of
the keypad (or remtavable key) could allow outsiders to ascertain the exact
access code. The decoding cards would obviously be suitable for the purpose,
and could be provided with mechanisms for generating alarm signals after a
particular number of uacorrect attempts at entering the codes. This solution
would make it impractical for ill-intentioned people to position videocameras
or
set up other methods of finding out the codes for opening or activa.ting the
command. With this solution, as may be guessed, it is necessary to key in the
code each time one wants to aGtivate a comixa,and,
For security reasons the decoding card must be installed inside the premises
to
be protected, and it must be made inaccwsible even from the inside, at least
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x with the door closed.
Gonolu~ions
It is easy to iunaagine the advantages which would ,fallow from the adoption
of the
1 proposed solution. They can be summ.arised as follows:
* Wxeme practicality, since if all the premises of each person who requires
one were fitted with a mechanical-electronic lock (Fig. 1) equipped with the
interface (Fig. 3) described above, only one key (a keypad with buttons) (Fig.
5) would be necessary, or even a borrowed key, for access wherever it was
required. Bunches of keys, cards, smart cards etc. could all be abolished.
This
system could execute on/off corx-mands on any other type of system by using
one or more of the lock system's components (the salient components are:
interface or keyslot (Fig. 3) - keypad or control com.ponent or removable key
(Fig. 5) - decoding card (Fig. 2) - Xocking/unlorldwg mechanism (Fig. x) or
other mechanism to be operated by means of the change in status of a
locked/unlocked or on,/of condition); or it could be used for any other
operation where the keying and acquisition of a code by the use of such a
keypad (or removable key) readers a service and perfortns a fwa,ction and/or
makes practicable an operation in any field of knowledge and human
services, in consequence or otherwise of appropriate integration with
electronic circuits;
The possibility of an alternative way of operating lock,a or of executing any
other command or any other action or function, using compatible systems
which are extrexneiy widespread (cellphones, mobile computer systems etc.),
which is in keeping with the lifestyle of the young and of people who do not
want to carry even a minute keypad, once the card and the accessories of the
interface have been adapted to this optional function;
= A greater degree of security than, with current systems because of the
adoption
of an access code, alterable at will, to be keyed in at the time it is needed,
whose level of security can be graduated according to personal needs, and
which can even be stored only in one's mind, to make absolutely uafeasible the
duplication and theft which normally and, easily occur with keys and
electronic
ca.rds.
The code, furthermore, can be different for each lock and for each person even
in a family situation, to allow or prevent access and to store the codes in
znemory with control .systems. The code can be entered or keyed, in the
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majority of mses, at the time of executing the coxnmand, action or fuaaetion
desired, or, in the case of people not capable of this, preset but still
alterable,
or, for reasons of xnaximum security, keyed in earlier, in a place other than
where it is to be used, stored in memory and transmitted to the keyslot when
required and deleted from the memory which was keeping it temporarily
stored. 7'his would make it absolutely unfeasible for ill-intentioned people
to
use spy systems based on utdco recording by miniature cameras;
* Good price/quality ratio in view of the expected constant reductions in the
cost of electronic products and the relative industrial processes in their
rnanufacture, and rises in the price of inetals and the andustrial processes
neeessa.ry, for example, for manufacturing decoding systems with naeohanicsl
keys;
* It will be possible to put an end to the nightmare of losing keys, since, in
the
expectation of the hoped-for standardisation, in the basic version any
suitable keypad, even borrowed or bought in an emergency, will work for
operating the lock or mechanism -or for nnaldng possible an action or a
fius.ction, and in the more complex versions even a cellphone or a portable
computer system or a generator of DTivlF tones or suitable coded radio
systems wi11 be able to perform the command, In any event, in spite of the
fact that the maximum level of security (or graduated levels of security
ac,cnrding to need) in the execution of commands, actions or functions is
achieved by this system, considered as a whole or as a series of sub-
assemblies, there will always be the certainty in every case that it will be
possible to execute these commands, actions or functions, predsety because
of the possibility in all versions of using a rernovable key (mobile keypad),
stand.ardised in the basic version, and a more or less cornf3lex code,
memorised or kept stored in a suitable manner.
= In view of its remarkable number of physical electrical contacts and the
fact
that it is confiWed to amept any other con.necting element for data transfer,
the interface is also usable for sl.lowing dialogue between advanced systems
for securing or releasing locks or access mechanisms on the basis of
reading/analysing fingerprints, the pupil of the eye and other items
differentiating human beings. With the conception and invention of the
elements, usable individually or together or in the various sub-assamblies
which can be made, as described above (interface or keyslot - keypad or
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I control component or rem(yvable key - decoding card, more or less complex
according to need - mechanisms for control or for performing actions or
functions), I believe that I can revolutionise current methods of loeking and
unlocking doors and windows or'executing c.ommands or performing a variety
of other functions, by realising. universal solutions which others have not
been
able to devise in such a decisive xnanner,. achieving the xnaximrun in terms
of
universality, of sinxplicity of use, of pracficality, of fleitibility, of
security, of
the possibility of abolishing (as inadequate) all other systems which address
these objectives, of reducrion of cQsts of production, of aaxnpltfication, of
less
demanding production processes with consequent srnal]er environmental '
impact and of everything else that can be gained from the invention of my
rernovable key and the other sub-assemblies of my universal electronic lock
with removable key with keypad, sub-assemblies which are indicated as:
i. Mobile keypad (command cornponent or removable and standardisable key
with keypad) (Fig. 5);
2. Mobile keypad (command component or removable and standardisable key
with keypad) (Fig. 5) and standardi.sable interface (keyslot) (Fig. 3);
g. Mobile keypad (command component or removable and standaxcl%sabXe key
with keypad) (Mg- 5) and sta-adaardisable interface (keyslot) (Mg. 3) and
electronic decoding card (Fig. 2), more or less complex depending on its
functiQns;
4. Mobile keypad (command component or removable and standardisable key
witb, keypad) (Fig. 5) and standard.isable interface (keyslot) (Iig. 3) and
electronic decoding card (ft. 2) (more or -less complex deQend.ing ott its
functi,ons) and mechanisms and actuators of actions and funetions which
require the use of the above-mentioned removable key with keypad or
connector of keypad and/or slot of interface (keyslot).
BRIEF Di1SGRIMON OF DN,A.WINGS
Fig. i- Lock mechanism (example); connector (Fig. a,a);
Fig. a - F-lectronxc card or Mtem for the decoding and the prvicessing of the
codes; connectors (Fig. 2a);
Fig. 3 - Interi'ace (keyslot) front view: example of embodiment; Connector
(Fig.
3 a); signalling LEDs (M-g- 3b); cavity containing the electrical contacts,
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to connect to the keypad and windows far other coupling systems (Fig.
3c); windows for other coupling systenns (Fig. 3d) ;
Fig. 4-Outside door with initerfaLca (keyslot) and door handle: example;
Fig. s - Mobile keypad ( K.ey - command organ), exaniple, door electrical
rontacta (Fig. sa), wirldows for other connecfiQn systems (IR, DT'MF
tones, etc .) (Ag. Sb) and lerls (iai,g.'Sc). Front view (Fig. 5-1)', retro
view
(Fig. 5-2); view of tOp side (Fig. 5-3).
Fig.6 - Detail of Interface. Three-dimensional detafl of campartment
configured
for recessed housing of other coupling systems, with transpaxent
1o window or grille facing towards the Qutside (the interface has three
vw.indows):
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