EP0816601A2 - Optoelektronisches Schloss mit optischen Wellenleitern - Google Patents

Optoelektronisches Schloss mit optischen Wellenleitern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0816601A2
EP0816601A2 EP97670003A EP97670003A EP0816601A2 EP 0816601 A2 EP0816601 A2 EP 0816601A2 EP 97670003 A EP97670003 A EP 97670003A EP 97670003 A EP97670003 A EP 97670003A EP 0816601 A2 EP0816601 A2 EP 0816601A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical
aforementioned
key
lock
optoelectronic
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Granted
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EP97670003A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0816601B1 (de
EP0816601A3 (de
Inventor
Paulo Joaquim Neves Dos Santos
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Neves dos Santos Paulo Joaquim
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Individual
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C9/00182—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C2009/00753—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by active electrical keys
    • G07C2009/00769—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by active electrical keys with data transmission performed by wireless means
    • G07C2009/00785—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by active electrical keys with data transmission performed by wireless means by light
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/00174—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys
    • G07C9/00658—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by passive electrical keys
    • G07C9/00706—Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys operated by passive electrical keys with conductive components, e.g. pins, wires, metallic strips

Definitions

  • the present invention is an optoelectronic lock which uses optical guides. It is designed to protect access to areas, vehicles and machines and is specially suitable for uses requiring high degrees of security.
  • the optoelectronic locks and security systems currently in existence can basically be grouped into three different categories, all of which incorporate a lock cylinder fitted with one or more photoelectronic pairs and operate by means of a (usually remote) electronic circuit.
  • Each photoelectronic pair operates by means of a light-emitting diode positioned on one side of the keyhole. On the opposite side is a photodetector. When the key is introduced into the lock, the beam of light between the LED and sensor is broken.
  • the first type of lock a description of which may be found in European Patent Application no. 84106299 by Naoyoki, Sugimoto, operates by means of a linear arrangement of various photoelectronic couples whose LEDs and photodetectors are positioned as described above.
  • the second type differs from the first principally in that the photoelectronic couples are usually arranged on a plane position, as proposed in European Patent Application no 85440011 by Radosavljevic, Milenko. Both types operate by means of a key with perforations in certain places which correspond to the arrangement of the photoelectronic couples. When inserted in the lock, the key allows some photodetectors to light up while covering others.
  • the electronic circuit interprets the configuration of lit and unlit photodetectors to decide whether the key introduced is the correct one or not.
  • the third type of optoelectronic lock adopts a different approach, as described in International Patent Application PCT/US88/03345 by Pinnow, Douglas. This type operates by means of a single photoelectronic couple which electronically reads the contours of a conventional key.
  • the first and third type of locks nevertheless have the disadvantage of allowing only a very small number of combinations, i.e. of the different keys which can be made for a certain lock. This is due to the fact that the number of photoelectronic couples which can be fitted in a lock cylinder in a linear arrangement is necessarily very limited; similarly, the number of different contoured parts which one key can possess is also limited.
  • the third lock type has the added disadvantage of requiring a highly complex electronic circuit which is difficult to calibrate and requires a microprocessor. This makes it prone to malfunctions and also reduces the security : price ratio.
  • the new lock overcomes the disadvantages and inconveniences of the optoelectronic security systems and locks currently in use by means of optical guides fitted in the lock cylinder and its connection to a remote optoelectronic circuit, and furthermore by the use of another device which we shall designate as an optical guide "collector" which has the following advantages:
  • the present lock basically comprises a lock cylinder (24), normally fitted to the object to be protected, a remote optoelectronic module (12), a set of optical guides (8), usually grouped by one or two wires linking the lock cylinder (24) to one or more optical guide collectors (9) and the optoelectronic module (12), and one or more keys (25).
  • the principal component of the lock cylinder (24) is a device which we shall designate a lock-identifier (1).
  • This lock-identifier (1) has a lengthwise hole which can be square, rectangular, circular or hexagonal (or other) in section and is the hole (16) in which the key (25), or part of the key, is inserted, except for the flat variety of the present lock, which has a different keyhole type.
  • the lock-identifier (1) is also fitted with a series of N 2 cross keyholes (7) (N 2 being any whole number greater than zero) arranged either in a pattern or at random and different for each lock-identifier, each of which perforates the keyholes from the external surface to the aforementioned keyhole (16).
  • Each cross keyhole is positioned in a way which can generally be defined as perpendicular to the plane of the internal surface of the keyhole which they perforate.
  • each cross keyhole (7) will lie perpendicular to the plane which it perforates.
  • the cross keyholes are normally circular in section with a diameter ranging from two to five millimetres.
  • each cross keyhole (7) is the end of on optical guide (8), the other end of which is connected to an optoelectronic device (10) or optical guide collector (9) (see fig. 1A).
  • Optoelectronic devices (10) e.g. photodiodes, phototransistors, photoresistors etc.
  • photodetectors They are normally incorporated into the optoelectronic module (12).
  • each photodetector is associated to an electrical circuit which pre-amplifies the electrical signals produced.
  • the optical guide collector(s) (9) is (are) optical or electro-optical device(s) which combine in a single output - normally an optical guide - the electromagnetic radiation produced by anv of the optical guides (8) connected to the input.
  • the key-identifier (2) is of a shape and dimensions which allow it to be neatly inserted into the keyhole (16). It is normally made of material(s) similar to those used for the lock-identifier (1) and has a longitudinal keyhole (4) which does not generally span the length of the key.
  • the longitudinal keyhole (4) intercepts a series of N 1 radial keyholes (3) in the key-identifier (2) which are generally arranged so as to be perpendicular to the plane of the surface which they perforate.
  • These radial keyholes (3) are identical in format to the cross keyholes (7) and have a diameter which is equal to or slightly less than the latter.
  • Their number N 1 is, in the basic version, smaller than the number N 2 of the aforementioned cross keyholes (7) (often half or less than half the number).
  • the radial keyholes (3) are positioned on the surface of the key-identifier (2) in such a way that when the key-identifier is inserted fully and correctly into the lock-identifier (1) for which it was made, its radial keyholes will coincide with some of the cross keyholes (7) of the latter.
  • the key (25) belonging to a certain lock will in these conditions incorporate a key-identifier (2) with eight radial keyholes (3), which will coincide with eight of the sixteen cross keyholes (7) of the lock-identifier (1) of the corresponding lock (when the key (25 ) is correctly inserted).
  • the N 1 cross keyholes (7) which coincide with the N 1 radial keyholes (3) of the correct key-identifier (2) are those whose optical guides (8) are connected directly and individually to photodetectors (10), while the remaining N 2 -N 1 cross keyholes (7) are those whose optical guides (8) are connected to the inputs of the optical guide collector(s) (9).
  • Each radial keyhole (3) contains in its interior an optical guide (83). Together in a beam these form the optical guide (82), located in the interior of the longitudinal keyhole (4) of the key-identifier (2).
  • Both the optical guides (8) and the optical guides (83) are of a diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the keyholes in which they are inserted (the cross keyholes (7) and the radial keyholes (3) respectively, except in versions containing microlenses) and normally comprise one or more optical waveguides designed to conduct electromagnetic radiation from the optical spectrum, i.e. light radiation from either the visible or invisible spectrum.
  • optical waveguides normally operate by means of the principle of total internal reflection, i.e. what is normally designated as optical fibers, with discontinuous and multimode refractive indices, except in the versions referred to earlier, where they may also be of the single-mode type. More economical versions may use plastic fibres.
  • the key-identifier (2) may be made as follows: first a star coupler is made of glass, or, if the optical guides are to be of plastic, of polystyrene or certain metacrylic resins such as metacrylate or polymethyl, where the optical coupler is made by the commonly-used mixer-rod technique.
  • the mixer rod or cylinder constitute the optical guide (82) and receives light radiation at one of its extremities, emitting from the opposite end of the ramifications, each of which forms the core of an optical waveguide which in turn functions as an optical guide (83) and which are arranged in a size and dimensions suited to their purpose.
  • optical coupler is then inserted into a hollow piece of steel, brass or another material with the shape and dimensions required for the key-identifier, which has already been perforated with the radial keyholes (3) in the desired places.
  • the latter is then placed in such a way that the extremity of each of its branches coincides with a radial keyhole (3).
  • the remaining space is then filled with a material whose refraction index is lower than that of the material of which the optical coupler is made, such as acrylic fluorinate or silicone rubber, which in addition to functioning as a filler material shall also serve as a sheath for the optical waveguides which make up the optical guides (83), and thus the key-identifier is complete.
  • a material whose refraction index is lower than that of the material of which the optical coupler is made such as acrylic fluorinate or silicone rubber, which in addition to functioning as a filler material shall also serve as a sheath for the optical waveguides which make up the optical guides (83), and thus the key-identifier is complete.
  • the key-identifier (2) fits entirely into the lock-identifier (1) and the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) is activated.
  • This source may consist of one or more LEDs, one or more small lasers or even a small light bulb. In every instance, the wavelength of the radiation emitted is suited to the type of optical waveguides used.
  • the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) located in the key (25), the optoelectronic module (12), the lock cylinder (24) or elsewhere, with the latter instance requiring an additional optical guide
  • the radiation emitted is focused by one or more lenses (5) onto the extremity of the optical guide (82), which, by means of the optical guides (83) which comprise it, transmits it to the interior of the key-identifier (2), from where it is propagated via the radial keyholes (3).
  • the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted to the respective optical guides (8) and from here to the corresponding photodetectors (10) or the optical guides collector (9), depending on the case. Propagation does not occur when any of the radial keyholes (3) does not coincide with a cross keyhole (7).
  • each of the radial keyholes (3) will coincide with a cross keyhole (7), whose optical guide (8) is directly connected to a photodetector (10), while none will coincide with a cross keyhole (7) connected to the optical guide collector (9).
  • all the photodetectors (10) except the one connected to the output of the collector will be activated.
  • the electrical signals generated by the photodetectors will then permit the electronic circuit of the optoelectronic module (12) to determine whether the correct key has been inserted or not and the required functions shall then be activated.
  • the key inserted is not the right one, not all the photodetectors (10) connected directly via the optical guides (8) to cross keyholes (7) will receive radiation, and/or the photodetector (10) connected to the output of the optical guides collector (9) shall be activated. This means that one or several of the radial keyholes (3) coincide with cross keyholes (7) connected to their inputs via optical guides, and the output of the optoelectronic module (12) shall fail to perform the desired functions.
  • some versions of the present lock are fitted with microlenses in their cross keyholes (7) and the radial keyholes (3) of the key-identifier incorporated into the key (25).
  • microlenses may either be conventional spherical lenses or graded-index rod lenses.
  • Fig. 1B shows a simplified longitudinal section of a given key-identifier equipped with the latter lens type, which is inserted into a given lock-identifier similarly equipped with the same lens.
  • the lenses have a focal distance equal to the distance between their faces, which means that the ends of the optical guides are in direct contact with their inside faces. In this way the diverging beam of radiation at the end of each optical guide is collimated by the corresponding lens (86), which is located in the respective radial keyhole (3).
  • optical guides (8) and optical guides (83) consist of only one optical waveguide which may even be of the single mode optical fibre variety.
  • the radial keyholes (3) and cross keyholes (7) have narrower parts (3B and 7B respectively) where the end of the optical guide is located and parts of wider diameter (3A and 7A respectively) in which the lenses are located.
  • the diameter of these wider parts is from two to five millimetres, while the diameter of the narrower parts is equal to or slightly wider than that of the optical guide they contain.
  • the radial keyholes (3) and cross keyholes (7) may have small discs (90) of a transparent material such as organic glass which protect the lenses while reducing the accumulation of dust and grime.
  • the interior of the lock keyhole (16) and the exterior of the key-identifier (2) may be coated with a high-durability material, such as plexiglass or lucite, which is transparent to the radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation source (6) but coloured to prevent the location of the radial keyholes (3) and cross keyholes (7) from being visible to the naked eye.
  • a high-durability material such as plexiglass or lucite, which is transparent to the radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation source (6) but coloured to prevent the location of the radial keyholes (3) and cross keyholes (7) from being visible to the naked eye.
  • This material would also replace the discs (90) in their protective function of the optical guide ends or the lens.
  • a filler material (88) may also be used in certain cases to fill the empty space in the interior of the key-identifier and to hold the optical guides in place.
  • Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C show a frontal view, cross section and longitudinal section of a lock cylinder (24) for the present lock.
  • the lock cylinder (24) illustrated has a hexagonal keyhole (16) incorporating a retractable shutter (21) which conceals the lock cylinder when the key (25) is not inserted.
  • Lock keyholes (16) of any other format are also possible, though for circular keyholes the lock cylinder (24) and/or the shutter (21) will have to incorporate a mechanism which restricts the angle of rotation of the key (25) and ensures that the key-identifier always operates in the same position in relation to the lock-identifier to prevent error readings.
  • This mechanism could for example be a nib on the key (25) which has to fit into place in a groove in the interior wall of the keyhole (16).
  • Small pins are located in the interior of perforations (17) and (17B) (the lock cylinder and shutter respectively) to prevent the dislocation of the shutter (21) by the action of objects other than the key (25).
  • the shutter also incorporates a slot into which the tip (29) of the key (25) is inserted.
  • the key is inserted in two different stages. First its tip (29) is inserted into the shutter (21) slot; if the contoured edge or indentations of various depth of the key are correct, the small pins (18) will align and allow the shutter (21) to slide back. In the second stage the key is inserted further, which forces the shutter to retract further and activate the switch or microswitch (22) which aligns the key-identifier of the key with the lock-identifier. The switch or microswitch (22) then activates the optoelectronic circuit and the key is identified.
  • the lock cylinders (24) in the present invention also incorporate a mechanism which holds the key firmly in place after it is inserted.
  • this mechanism is a lever (100) in the microswitch (22) of appropriate shape and with two chamfers, (101) and (102), which clicks into place in a recess (103) in the shutter (21) when the key (25) is properly inserted.
  • This recess has sloping extremities (104) and (105) which, together with the lever (100), permit the shutter (21) - and therefore the key (25) - to be held firmly in place.
  • the output of the optical guide(s) (11) leading from the lock-identifier is the keyhole (13), which in certain versions is replaced by one or two suitable contacts which permit their semi-permanent connection with the cable or cables connected to the optoelectronic module (12) or the optical guide collectors (9).
  • the lock cylinder also incorporates an additional pin (106) which slots into the shutter (21) recess (107), which has a sloping front edge to allow the shutter to retract and prevent its subsequent dislocation.
  • FIG. 3A shows a top view of the key, while fig. 3B shows a longitudinal section.
  • this key also incorporates the source of electromagnetic radiation (6), and thus in addition to the key-identifier (2) and the tip (29) for opening the shutter (21) it also contains the lenses (5), a source of electrical energy (26) (e.g. a small electrical cell) for the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) and a microswitch (28) which activates the source when the key is inserted in the lock.
  • a source of electrical energy e.g. a small electrical cell
  • the optical guide collector :
  • the optical guide collector (9) can be fitted in a number of ways. The simplest way is obviously to collect the ends of all the optical guide (8) inputs in one bundle and locate the end of the latter in such a way that the radiation produced focuses, directly or via one or more lenses, on the photosensitive surface of a photodetector (10) which is linked to the output of the optical guide collector (9).
  • lenses can be employed to refract in parallel beams the radiation leaving each of the optical guides and to focus this collimated radiation on the tip of a single optical guide or on the photodetector (10).
  • a suggested optical guide collector (9) for this type is shown in simplified form in fig. 5A.
  • This consists of a set of bi-convex lenses (62) on a suitable mounting and located at a distance from the tip of the optical guides (61), which in this case correspond to the optical guides (8), approximately equal to their focal distance.
  • the position of each optical guide on the mounting is such that their axis is an extension of the axis of the tip of the corresponding optical guide (61).
  • the diameter of the lenses (62) is such that the whole beam of radiation is captured.
  • a third approach is to use a certain number of optical couplers of the combiner type, which can be employed in any of the better-known fibre optics techniques. Microlenses of variable refractory index or optical waveguide couplers are used to focus the radiation leaving the input optical guides on the output optical guide.
  • an optical coupler/combiner with nine inputs and one output (9 x 1) can be used by means of ten lenses with variable refractory index of the parallel surfaces, i.e. a parallelepiped configuration, of a focal distance equal to the distances between their two surfaces, as fig. 4 illustrates.
  • Each optical guide connected at one of its nine inputs is coupled to a lens (110) of the type which refracts the beam of radiation leaving the optical guide into a beam of parallel rays.
  • These nine lenses (110) are placed parallel to each other with the opposite face in direct contact with a lens face (111), the dimensions of which allow its simultaneous contact with the whole area of the lens faces to which it is coupled and which focuses the electromagnetic radiation received by optical guide (112), which is the output of the present optical waveguide coupler.
  • Fig. 5B is a schematic illustration of an optical waveguide coupler with three inputs (3 x 1) - though it could have a considerably higher number of inputs - which combines in the output optical guide (57) the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the input optical waveguides (56).
  • optical waveguide couplers may be of the passive type, where the optical waveguides are positioned on a plaque (50) made of certain types of glass or other isotropic materials such as silicon dioxide or certain polymers, or active, where the plaque is made of e.g. LiNbO 3 .
  • the coupler will take the designation of electro-optical optical waveguide coupler or electro-optical interferometric combiner and will be fitted with a set of electrodes (54) positioned on or beside the optical waveguides, to each of which a certain potential differential is assigned in such a way as to obtain phase synchronisation between the electromagnetic waves or to modulate/demodulate the optical signal resulting from the combination of the latter.
  • a certain number of optical waveguide couplers of one type or the other can be positioned on the same plaque (50) to form a "tree", as illustrated in fig. 5C, and to obtain an optical waveguide star coupler with the required number of inputs and only one output.
  • a set of plaques (50) corresponding in number equal to the number of optical waveguides comprising each optical guide (8) is used.
  • Each of the latter has a star coupler optical waveguide combiner obtained as described above and with a number of inputs equal to that required for the optical guide collector.
  • each optical waveguide is connected to an input of the optical guide collector and from here to the input (52) of a different plaque (50), i.e. for each optical guide (8), one optical waveguide will be connected to one of the inputs (52) of the first plaque (50), another to an input (52) of the second plaque (50) and so on successively.
  • the optical guide connected to the output of the collector will have each of its optical waveguides (58) connected to the output (53) of a different plaque (50), as shown in fig. 5D. In this way the radiation entering the inputs of the optical waveguide collector is transmitted to its output.
  • the collector is constructed in a similar way, via optical couplers/combiners with microlenses of variable refractory index.
  • a set of microlenses is interconnected to form the necessary number of star-type optical couplers-combiners with the required number of inputs. These couplers are then connected to the optical waveguides which make up the optical guides (8) as described above.
  • the optoelectronic module is a thermoelectric module
  • the optoelectronic module is an optoelectronic circuit which usually incorporates photodetectors (10) and, in certain cases, the optical guide collector(s) (9). It analyses the signals generated by the photodetectors to determine whether the key inserted is the correct one or not. If the key is the correct one, and in the existence of certain pre-established conditions, one or more functions are activated via its output, such as an electromagnetic relay which in turn activates an electric latch, or an electric lock where the present optoelectronic lock protects a certain space.
  • Variation C In this variation the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) is located in the key (25) and emits a modulated radiation, which can vary from key to key - and among different keys for the same lock - and allows the lock to recognise and differentiate between the different keys which can activate it and the different functions to be activated.
  • its optoelectronic module (12) is fitted with a special electronic circuit.
  • the modulation required for this variation can be obtained either via the modulation of the electronic signal which feeds the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) or via the use of an optical or electro-optical modulator located (usually) in the key between the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) and the lenses (5).
  • Figs. 6A and 6B show the longitudinal section of a suggested lock cylinder (24) of this variation and a longitudinal section of the corresponding key 25. As can be seen, their shape is pronounced of a connector.
  • the contact surface of the key-identifier (2) and the lock-identifier (1) is flat, i.e. contact occurs entirely on the same plane.
  • Both the lock-identifier (1) and key-identifier (2) of this variation have a set of perforations - (96) and (97) respectively - which are perpendicular to the plane of contact and correspond to cross keyholes (7) and radial keyholes (3) of the versions of the present optoelectronic lock which include a keyhole (16).
  • perforations (96) and (97) each contain one tip of an optical guide (8), part of optical guide (83) and sometimes - as in the example illustrated - lenses (87) and (86).
  • the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) is located in the optoelectronic module (12), with the radiation transmitted to the lock cylinder (24) by the optical guide (73).
  • the radiation is transmitted by the lens of variable refractory index (91) to the star-type optical coupler (92) and is then divided among the optical guides (83) connected to the outputs of the star coupler. These transmit the signal to the lenses (86) (in the case, of variable refractory index), from where it is transferred to the matching lenses (87) and from there to the matching optical guides (8).
  • the star-type optical coupler (92) reduces radiation loss in its transmission from the lens (91) to the optical guides (83). It can also be used in a similar fashion in versions with keyholes (16) to transmit light signals from the source of electromagnetic radiation (6) and/or lenses (5) to the optical guides (83).
  • both the lock cylinder (24) and the key (25) incorporate a plaque (71 and 81 respectively) made of a high-durability material, such as plexiglass, lucite, or even sapphire, which is transparent to the radiation emitted by the electromagnetic source (6) but coloured in such a way as to prevent the tips of the optical guides (8) and (83) - or the lenses (86) and (87), depending on the case - from being seen. They also offer physical protection for the lock-identifier (1) and key-identifier (2).
  • the key (25) has two nibs (93) which fit into corresponding grooves (94) in the lock cylinder (24) to ensure that the key is inserted properly.
  • Figs. 7A and 7B show frontal views of the lock cylinder and key respectively.
  • the lock cylinder (24) used in any versions and/or variants may also contain a physical integrity testing system consisting of a transmission segment or track which spans the interior of the lock cylinder and breaks if the lock cylinder is subject to abusive or violent attempts at access. This segment or track is connected electrically to the optoelectronic module (12). Its breakage informs the optoelectronic module of the attempts to gain illegitimate access and the lock becomes blocked for an indeterminate period.
  • activated photodetector and “activated optoelectronic device” are used for those receiving luminous radiation on their photosensitive surfaces. In the absence of such radiation they are considered inactive or non-activated.
  • the key-identifier (2) for the corresponding key(s) is made by processes not confined to moulding
  • the key-identifier may be made in two separate halves corresponding to the longitudinal section thereof The necessary components can then be placed in the interior of the halves (e.g. optical guides (83) before they are joined together and covered, if desired, by an external casing of the required shape and dimensions to make the key-identifier (2).
  • microlenses are used in the lock-identifiers (1) and key-identifiers (2), these may be located only at the tip of the corresponding optical guide, i.e. when manufacturing the optical guide the microlens could be fitted to the tip at the same time.
  • any of the optical guides used in the present lock comprise more than one optical waveguide
  • each one is formed by bringing together the waveguides in a bundle or any other arrangement and covering them in an external wrapping of any type or material.
  • the tips of the optical guides located in cross keyholes (7), radial keyhole (3) or perforations (96) or (97) may contain a star coupler implemented by the mixing rod process, of which the input optical waveguides constitute the optical guides in question.
  • the output of the optical guides is the opposite tip, while the mixing rod of the coupler is located in the interior of the corresponding keyhole or perforation.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP19970670003 1996-07-03 1997-06-06 Optoelektronisches Schloss mit optischen Wellenleitern Revoked EP0816601B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PT10189096 1996-07-03
PT10189096A PT101890B (pt) 1996-07-03 1996-07-03 Fechadura optoelectronica com guias opticos

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0816601A2 true EP0816601A2 (de) 1998-01-07
EP0816601A3 EP0816601A3 (de) 1998-10-14
EP0816601B1 EP0816601B1 (de) 2003-05-07

Family

ID=20085612

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19970670003 Revoked EP0816601B1 (de) 1996-07-03 1997-06-06 Optoelektronisches Schloss mit optischen Wellenleitern

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0816601B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69721638D1 (de)
PT (1) PT101890B (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001079631A1 (en) * 2000-04-14 2001-10-25 Rice Mcdonald Jeremy Christoph Security system
WO2010093389A1 (en) * 2009-02-10 2010-08-19 Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc. Optical reading system
US8127628B2 (en) 2009-02-10 2012-03-06 Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc. Gas meter reading system
CN102979382A (zh) * 2012-12-24 2013-03-20 于连贵 光控密码机械弹子锁
US8519321B2 (en) 2009-02-10 2013-08-27 Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc. Optical reading system and method of operation
IT202000007078A1 (it) * 2020-04-03 2021-10-03 Bitjam S R L Startup Costituita Ai Sensi Dellart 4 Comma Convertito Con Legge N 33/2015 Sistema elettronico per controllare l’apertura di una serratura opto-elettronica di una porta d’accesso, relativa serratura opto-elettronica e chiave opto-elettronica per l’apertura della serratura.

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3582890A (en) * 1969-12-01 1971-06-01 Leslie C Rivers Credit key
FR2293551A1 (fr) * 1974-12-04 1976-07-02 Georges Marius Serrure presentant de multiples possibilites de codage
CA1057377A (en) * 1977-01-31 1979-06-26 Angel Diez Lock opening system activated by light matching code
LU80434A1 (fr) * 1978-10-27 1980-05-07 J Bataille Serrures avec dispositif opto-electronique de lecture
FR2452559A1 (fr) * 1979-03-26 1980-10-24 Cit Alcatel Dispositif de commande optoelectronique a cle

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001079631A1 (en) * 2000-04-14 2001-10-25 Rice Mcdonald Jeremy Christoph Security system
WO2010093389A1 (en) * 2009-02-10 2010-08-19 Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc. Optical reading system
US8127628B2 (en) 2009-02-10 2012-03-06 Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc. Gas meter reading system
US8519321B2 (en) 2009-02-10 2013-08-27 Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc. Optical reading system and method of operation
CN102979382A (zh) * 2012-12-24 2013-03-20 于连贵 光控密码机械弹子锁
IT202000007078A1 (it) * 2020-04-03 2021-10-03 Bitjam S R L Startup Costituita Ai Sensi Dellart 4 Comma Convertito Con Legge N 33/2015 Sistema elettronico per controllare l’apertura di una serratura opto-elettronica di una porta d’accesso, relativa serratura opto-elettronica e chiave opto-elettronica per l’apertura della serratura.
WO2021198756A1 (en) * 2020-04-03 2021-10-07 Bitjam S.R.L. Startup Costituita Ai Sensi Dell'art. 4, Comma Convertito Con Legge N. 33/2015 Electronic system for controlling the opening of an opto-electronic lock of an access door, relative opto-electronic lock and opto-electronic key for opening the lock

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0816601B1 (de) 2003-05-07
DE69721638D1 (de) 2003-06-12
EP0816601A3 (de) 1998-10-14
PT101890A (pt) 1998-01-30
PT101890B (pt) 2004-08-31

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