Programmable electronic time lock

US5594430A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• La Gard, Inc. · US
• Ciposa Microtechniques SA · CH

Inventors

• Larry I. Cutter · Torrance, US
• Klaus W. Gartner · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• Dieter Butterweck · Dortmund, DE
• P. Vuilleumier · Gletterens, CH
• Jean-Luc Monnier · La Chaux-de-Fonds, CH
• P-A Sermet · Neuchâtel, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 23, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 14, 1997
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T70/7079
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A programmable time lock includes a microprocessor, which senses the angular position of a key shaft via a sensor/encoder. The microprocessor includes ROM and RAM memory circuits, a timer, and a clock, and it can activate a stepper motor to control the position of a detent pin. The microprocessor is also connected to a display, which has fields for hours, minutes and seconds, as well as for the days of the week, for a cursor for each day, and for a low-power indicator. System time, as well as opening times for the lock may be set and changed simply by turning the key according to predefined routines. A method for operating the lock includes sets of steps for each of several routines: setting real time, setting opening times for each selected day of the week, and specialty routines including adding an intermediate opening time, cancelling the opening time for selected days, adjusting the system time, for example to change to or from daylight savings time, and verifying the version of the time lock in use. For all routines, the user first arms the lock by turning the key, and then selects a routine and enters the desired parameters by turning the key either continuously clockwise or …