Patent · US Expired

Electronic locking system and key therefor

US4712398A · kind A · utility

107Cited by
9References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 1986
Grant dateDec 15, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T70/7605
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An electronic locking system including a lock cylinder having an electronically actuable release assembly which is selectively enabled to disengage a pin from a cylinder plug, to permit the rotation of the plug by an inserted key. The lock cylinder and key each contain non-volatile, electronically alterable memory devices, such as EEPROM integrated circuits, which house keying system codes. The key EEPROM is preferably housed within the key blade, in a key design which closely resembles a traditional mechanical key without the usual bitting. The release mechanism incorporates a locking pin which is moveable between plug-engaging and non-engaging positions, along a radius of the lock cylinder. The release mechanism may include a primary actuator which directly moves the locking pin, or may act indirectly upon the locking pin via a latching member.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.