Electronic combination lock with covert entry detection feature and method of covert entry detection
US5493279A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T70/7113
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic combination lock is provided with and incorporates the enhanced feature of covert entry detection and notification. Whenever the bolt of an electronic lock provided with this enhancement is retracted to its withdrawn or unlocked position and whenever the lock has not received an authorized combination enabling the movement of the bolt, movement of the bolt is detected and the electronics of the lock is powered for a time sufficient to record an indication of the covert entry in its non-volatile memory. Upon normal operation at a subsequent time, the indication of covert entry is read from the non-volatile memory and a visual indication is displayed to the operator to inform the operator that covert entry has occurred. The lock may be configured either to permit the lock to open with an authorized combination after display of the covert entry indication to the operator; or alternatively, the lock may be configured to be disabled as a result of the detection of a covert entry such that the lock will refuse to accept all authorized combinations until such time as the lock has been reset or reconditioned to remove the covert entry indications stored in the memory.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.