Electric Locking And Unlocking Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for locking and unlocking electric lock with a magnetic key code signal recorded on a magnetic card is provided. The apparatus includes a storage device in which a predetermined signal specific to a particular lock associated is preliminarily stored, and the key code signal read out from the card inserted into a read-out device of the apparatus is compared with the predetermined signal at a logic operation device. Coincidence of the both signals at the logic operational device will actuate an associated control device for the electric lock so that the lock will be unlocked or locked depending on the locked or unlocked state of the lock.

Description

This invention relates to an electric locking and unlocking apparatus wherein an electric lock device is locked and unlocked by a magnetic key code signal recorded on a magnetic card.

While there have been already electric locks in which a light, magnetism or electricity is utilized, these include a special electric or magnetic circuit within a lock mechanism itself and is so complicated in structure and so high in price that these locks have not yet come to be generally used.

Further, in the above referred cases, it has been comparatively easy to make a master key and it has been necessary to simultaneously replace the lock mechanism itself in order to replace the master key with another.

In the apparatus of the present invention, the key is a magnetic card which is so formed that, when a magnetic key code signal recorded on this card is read out and coincides with a specific signal which is preliminarily provided in the lock mechanism, a locking or unlocking operation can be made.

A main object of the present invention is to provide an electric lock apparatus wherein a key code signal recorded on a magnetic card and a specific signal stored in the apparatus can be readily altered to a new locking or unlocking code without changing the magnetic card or lock mechanism itself when the specific signal stored in the apparatus is changed in conformity with the key code signal on the card and, further, the locking or unlocking of a plurality of locks as well as a particular lock therein can be concurrently concentrically controlled from a remote place, so that the practicability and security are high.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric lock apparatus which has an adaptability to the locking and unlocking with a plurality of different key-code signals and yet the variety of the key code signal can be easily increased without increasing the amount of information given to the lock nor even impairing the security of the lock.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electric lock apparatus wherein, by reading out a series signal of a key card and comparing the series signal as it is with a comparative signal preliminarily stored in the apparatus, so that the output terminals of the key code storage circuits and the input terminals of the comparator circuits can be minimized in number as requited without requiring a series-to-parallel converter and irrespective of the number of bits of the code signals, whereby the number of component parts to be used in the apparatus can be decreased and the formation of the circuit can be much simplified.

The present inventions shall now be explained in detail with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram showing the basic structure of the electric locking and unlocking apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of a card inserting port and lock mechanism in the present apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows a magnetic card used with the present apparatus;

FIGS. 4A-4E are practical circuit diagrams of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a practical circuit diagram of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an equivalent block diagram to the basic structure shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 8 is a block diagam of a third embodiment.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing wave forms at the respective parts in the embodiment of FIG. 8 to explain its operation;

FIG. 11A is a practical circuit diagram of the third embodiment; and

FIG. 11B shows wave forms at the respective parts in the third embodiment.

In FIG. 1A, which showing the basic formation of the apparatus of the present invention, 1 is a magnetic head to read recorded signals out of magnetic cards, 2 is an amplifier to shape and amplify pulse signals sent from the magnetic head, 3 is a logic operational device to compare pulse signals from the amplifier 2 with signals preliminarily stored in a storage device 4, and 5 is a control device to connect a power source 6 and an electric lock mechanism 7 with each other in response to the results of the comparison in the logic operational device 3. More specifically, a predetermined key code signal is recorded on a magnetic recording part 12 of a recording card 11 as shown in FIG. 3 and the magnetic card 11 is inserted into a magnetic card inserting port 8 provided on a wall 9 adjacent a predetermined door 10 as shown in FIG. 2. A recorded signal reading-out device for reading the key-code signal out of the magnetic card is provided inside the inserting port 8 so that the signal will be read out. The signal read out is shaped and amplified by the amplifier 2 and is sent to the logic operational device 3. On the other hand, a signal specific to a predetermined electric lock and separately memorized in the storage device 4 is also sent to the logic operational device 3 so as to be compared with the key-code signal read out of the magnetic card 11. In case the two signals compared in the device 3 do not coincide with each other, the signals will stop here and the lock will remain locked or unlocked. In case they coincide with each other, a controlling signal will be generated in the control device 5, which will operate to connect the electric lock 7 with the power source 6 so as to lock or unlock the same in such manner that, if the signal fed back from the electric lock 7 due to the controlling signal shows a locked state of the lock 7, the same will be unlocked and, if said signal fed back shows an unlocked state, the lock 7 will be locked.

Further, in the apparatus according to the present invention, for example, an additional means for allowing the control device 5 to generate the said controlling signal directly may be provided, so that the locking and unlocking operations may be performed without using the magnetic card, In this case, a switch means for operating such additional means may properly be set in a house room so as to render the apparatus convenient. In this case, further, it becomes possible to operate a plurality of electric locks connected to the control device all simultaneously, or a specific one or plurality of such locks, from a central control room.

In FIG. 1B showing a block diagram of a practical embodiment of the present invention, 1A is a magnetic head to read out a key code signal recorded on a magnetic card. 1A' is a magnetic head to read out a clock signal recorded also on the magnetic card, 2A, 2B, 2A' and 2B' are amplifiers, 2C and 2C' are wave-form shaping devices, 2D and 2D' are output amplifiers, 3A is a series-to-parallel converter, 3B is a comparator circuit, 4A is a storage device, 5A is a control device, 6A is a power source device, and 7A is an electric lock.

An example of practical circuitry arrangement of the first embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4A through 4E. In the present instance, the apparatus is shown as adapted to the case where the key code signal and clock signal on the magnetic card are respectively comprising 25 bits.

In FIG. 4A, a key-code signal read out by the magnetic head 1A is amplified by the amplifiers 2A and 2B and the wave form of the amplified signal is shaped by the shaping device 2C comprising in the present instance, for example, a monostable multivibrator. The shaped signal is then applied through the output amplifier 2D to "KEY" input terminal of the series-to-parallel converter 3A shown in FIG. 4B. The clock signal read out by the magnetic head 1A' in the same manner as in the foregoing is applied, on the other hand, to "CLOCK" input terminal of the converter 3A in FIG. 4B.

In FIG. 4B, the respective bits of the key-code signal applied to the "KEY" input terminal are caused to appear sequentially at the respective terminals M-01 through M-25 in response to the respective pulses of the clock signal, and are then applied respectively to "M-01" to "M-25" input terminals of a group of 25 flip-flops in FIG. 4C which forming the comparator circuit 3B together with a group of 25 diodes shown in FIG. 4D as encircled and labeled as 3B. FIG. 4C shows only a part of such flip-flops.

In FIG. 4C, by the key-code signal added to the input terminals M-o1 to M-25, the flip-flops are operated to store the key-code signal as a group of 25 bit parallel signals. In FIG. 4D, the respective storage elements of the storage device 4A are representing the respective flip-flops of FIG. 4C as simplified, and output terminals "F01" through "F50" coincide with the respective corresponding storage elements "F01" through "F50" of the storage device 4A in FIG. 4D. Therefore, for example, the output terminal "F01" of the flip-flops represents the storage element "F01" shown in FIG. 4D.

In FIG. 4D, each of the diodes encircled as 3B is preliminarily connected to either one of even-numbered and odd-numbered sides of the output terminals of the respective flip-flops in accordance with the predetermined key code signal. For example, the leftward most diode in the drawing is connected at its cathode side to either one of the output terminals "F01" and "F02" of the flip-flops, the leftward second diode is likewise connected to either one of the flip-flop output terminals "F03" and "F04" and so on. That is, the key-code signal for locking and unlocking the electric lock can be determined by the manner in which the respective diodes are connected to the selective one of the two output terminals of the respective flip-flops.

Further, the diode group 3B is forming an "AND" gate circuit, which is actuated only when the key-code singal and the predetermined key-code signal are all coincided with each other so that an output will be provided at "LS" terminal and such output will be transmitted to "LS" input terminal of the control device 5A in FIG. 4E as locking or unlock signal.

In FIG. 4E, by the locking or unlocking signal applied to the "LS" input terminal of the control device 5A, a relay RA is operated to lock or unlock the electric lock comprising a solenoid and a mechanical lock mechanism.

Detailed explanation of the control device shown in FIG. 4E shall be made in the following. In the present embodiment, a DC voltage of 24V is supplied to a terminal "24VA," and a stabilized DC voltage of 12V is supplied to a terminal "R12V." When the magnetic card is inserted in the port 8 shown in FIG. 2, a microswitch provided in said port (not shown) causes a terminal "PS" to be connected to the earth so that a relay "RP" will be actuated. Consequently, a contact rp is closed to apply the DC voltage to transistors TR1 and TR2 and, at the same time, the DC voltage of 12V is supplied to the respective parts of the present locking and unlocking device through a terminal "R12VS" coupled to the contact rp. Further, a reset signal for resetting the respective flip-flops in FIGS. 4B and 4C is provided to a "RESET" terminal as an output.

The locking or unlocking signal applied to the "LS" terminal causes the relay RA to be actuated through the transistors TR1 and TR2. Consequent thereto, a contact ra2 is closed so as to apply the DC voltage of 24V to the electric lock comprising a solenoid connected to an "ST" terminal and mechanical lock mechanism so that the lock will be locked or unlocked. A contact ra1 is of a selfholding type, which holds its operation until the contact ra2 opens after the relay RA is once actuated.

When the magnetic card is taken out of the card inserting port 8 after the electric lock is locked or unlocked, the connection between the terminal "PS" and the earth is releases. Therefore, the relay RP becomes non-operative so that the contact rp will open to interrupt the power supply to the respective parts of the locking and unlocking device, and the relay RA is also caused to become non-operative so that the contacts ra1 and ra2 will open, thereby the locking or unlocking operation for the electric lock is completed.

Relay RL is provided for the purpose of determining whether the electric lock is locked or unlocked. It terminal "DL" is to be connected to the earth when the electric lock is in the locked state. Relay RT is for the purpose of automatically locking or unlocking the lock, a terminal "AL" of which is to be connected to the earth when the lock is in its unlocked state. (Contacts rl and rt are shown in their locked position in FIG. 4E.) Another relay RD is provided so as to be utilized at the time when the power supply from the source is interrupted. In case the power supply is stopped, the contact rd is caused to be in its leftward position in the drawing so that, when the electric lock is in its locked state, a charge in a condenser C1 is supplied through the contact rl to the solenoid of the electric lock so as to unlock the same.

Terminals "ML" and "MR" are provided so as to adapt the device to manual locking and unlocking. For this purpose, the terminals are connected through a push-button or the like to the solenoid of the electric lock.

According to the thus formed electric locking and unlocking apparatus of the present invention, the magnetic key code signal recorded on the magnetic card cannot be normally recognized by sight from outside and the forgery and illegal use of the card can be prevented. Further, in case a possibility of the illegal use of the magnetic card is produced by the loss or theft of the card, the security will be able to be again secured by only a simple operation of making the storage device to store an altered new code signal and, at the same time, making a new magnetic card to store a magnetic code signal coinciding with said altered new code signal without requiring such trouble as replacing, adjusting or modifying the lock mechanism at all. Also, in case it is necessary to release a plurality of predetermined locks in an emergency case, a simultaneous unlocking operation will be able to be made at once through the above mentioned control device without making individual unlocking operations with magnetic cards. Thus the electric lock which is very practical and yet high in security can be obtained.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the variety of keys for locking an unlocking a single lock can be increased without increasing the amount of information given to the key.

In the electric lock, as well known, an information of a key code signal is given to a magnetic card or punched card which corresponds to the key, is magnetically or optically read and is compared with a key comparing information preliminarily stored in a storage circuit of the electric lock and, only when they coincide with each other, the lock will be locked or unlocked.

In such electric lock, in order that one lock may be locked and unlocked with a plurality of kinds of keys, such plurality of kinds of keys as change keys for locking and unlocking a specific lock, master keys for locking and unlocking a group of different locks of the change keys, and grand master keys for locking and unlocking a group of different locks of the master keys are prepared, or the kinds of keys are increased.

In the case of thus making a plurality of kinds of keys for one lock, for example, if the total amount of information of the keys is made 30 bits by using five kinds of keys, the amount of information will be divided into five parts for each key and, therefore, the amount of information for each key will decrease. For example, if each key is formed of 6 bits as equally allotted, the predetermined key for each lock can be found out relatively easily at a probability of 1/2.sup.6 = 1/64 and thus there will be a great problem in the security of he lock.

In order to reduce the probability of the lock being purposely unlocked, the amount of information may be increased instead of dividing and allotting the total amount of information to the plurality of kinds of keys. That is, if the total amount of information is made of 150 bits with five kinds, the probability of the lock being purposely unlocked will be 1/2.sup.30 and it will be impossible to find out the predetermined key or master key. However, such large amount as a total amount of information of 150 bits is difficult to make from the size or the like of the magnetic card for recording the key-code signal and has a defect of complicating the formation of such circuit as the comparator circuit in the electric lock.

After once setting a purality of kinds of keys, in order to increase the kinds, as the amount of information has been divided and allotted, it is necessary not only to change the design of the entire electric lock but also to change the information to be given to all the keys distributed to the users. It is substantially impossible.

In the embodiment in FIG. 5 showing in a block diagram an apparatus in which the above mentioned defects are eliminated, 21 is a code read-out circuit, 22 is a temporarily storage circuit, and 23 is a plurality of keycode storage circuits provided in parallel, which are represented by references 23-1, 23-2 - - - 23-5, respectively. 24 is a plurality of comparator circuits provided in parallel, which are represented by references 24-1, 24-2, - - - 24-5, respectively. 25 is an "OR" gate circuit and 26 is an electric lock which can be locked and unlocked with an electric signal, The code read-out circuit 21 may be provided, as required, with an amplifier in case the output is small and with a shaping circuit or the like in order to shape the wave form.

The above second embodiment of FIG. 5 is formed by fixing a total amount of information irrespective of the increase of the kinds of keys. For example, if the total amount of information is made 30 bits and the kinds of keys are made five kinds, similarly to the foregoing, 30 bits of the total amount of information will be allotted to the respective keys of five kinds and thus five kinds of keys will be made for one lock but the probability of this lock being purposely unlocked with other keys than a predetermined key will be 5/2.sup.30, it will be substantially impossible to unlock it and the security of the lock will be well secured.

On the other hand, in the circuit formation of the present apparatus, the key-code storage circuits 23 and the comparator circuit 24 may be respectively increased in response to the number of a plurality of kinds of keys and, in the case of 5 kinds of keys, respectively 5 of these circuits may be set in parallel. The key-code comparing information to be stored in the key-code storage circuits 23 is formed of 30 bits in the same manner as the key-code information. For example, the information of the individual key is stored in the circuit 23-1, the information of the master key is stored in the circuit 23-2, and in the same manner, the information of the fifth key is stored in the circuit 23-5.

Now, if the key-code information recorded on the magnetic card or the like comes in, it will be read out by the read-out circuit 21 and will be sent to the respective temporarily storage circuits 22. The key-code information thus read out is temporarily stored in respective said storage circuits 22 and is sent out simultaneously to a plurality of respective comparator circuits 24 provided in parallel.

In the comparator circuits 24 having received the key-code information, the key-code information is compared simultaneously in parallel with the respective key-code comparing informations stored in a plurality of the key-code storage circuits 23. That is, in the comparator circuit 24-1, the key-code information is compared with the key-code comparing information from the key-code storage circuit 23-1. In the comparator circuit 24-2, the key-code information is compared with the key-code comparing information from the storage circuit 23-2. In the same manner, the respective informations are compared simultaneously in parallel.

As a result of such comparison, in case the key-code comparing information coincides with the key-code information, a signal will be sent to the "OR" gate circuit 5 from the comparator circuits 24 but, in case it does not coincide, no signal will be generated. Therefore, in the "OR" gate circuit 25, if a signal comes from any of the comparator circuits 24, a locking or unlocking signal will be sent to the electric lock 26 to lock or unlock it. If no signal comes from any of the comparator circuits 24, there will be no output from the "OR" gate circuit 5 and, therefore, the key is discriminated not to be the specific predetermined key and the electric lock cannot be locked nor unlocked.

The example wherein five kinds of keys are prepared from the first has been explained in the above. However, in such case that two kinds of keys are prepared at first and then the kinds of keys are further increased, two key-code storage circuits 23 and two comparator circuits 24 are respectively set and then the key-code storage circuits 23 and the comparator circuits 24 may be increased in parallel by the number of the kinds of keys to be increased. Therefore, it is very easy to increase the kinds of keys.

Further, it is possible that respective numbers of the circuits expected to be required in future are set from the first but only the circuit functions of actually not required circuits are retained stopped, so that not only the circuit functions will be recovered in the case of increasing the kinds of keys but also the kinds of keys will be able to be decreased at a later stage.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the kinds of keys can be easily increased without increasing the amount of information given to the key nor impairing the security.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary practical circuit of the second embodiment, wherein 21 is a read-out circuit, 23 is a plurality of temporarily storage circuits, 24 is a plurality of comparator circuits, 25 is an electric lock, 26 is an addressing circuit for the storage circuits, and M1 to M5 are respective storing devices of the storage circuits 23.

FIG. 7 shows an equivalent circuitry block diagram to the basic structure of FIG. 1 for explaining the key-code signal comparison performed in the structure. Generally, when a key-code signal recorded in series on the magnetic card or the like comes in, it will be read out as a series signal in a read-out circuit 71 and the series signal thus read out will be temporarily stored in a series-to-parallel converter 72 and will be converted to a parallel signal. This parallelly converted output is sent to a comparator circuit 73.

On the otherhand, from a key-code storage circuit 74, a key-code comparing signal preliminarily stored therein comes as a parallel output into the comparator circuit 73 simultaneously with the parallel output of the key-code signal.

In the comparator circuit 74, the key-code signal and key-code comparing signal are compared with each other parallelly simultaneously to see whether all the signals coincide. In case they coincide, the signals will be sent to an electric lock 75 to lock or unlock it.

In such electric locking and unlocking apparatus, as the signals are compared parallelly simultaneously, the output terminals of the series parallel converters and key-code storage circuits and the input terminals of the comparator circuits are required by the number of the bits of the signals. For example, if the signal is formed of 40 bits, 40 sets of input terminals will be required for the key-code signal and key-code comparing signal in the comparator circuit. Therefore, there arises a defect that the component parts forming each circuit are many and that the circuit formation is thereby complicated.

In the third embodiment of FIG. 8, such defects are eliminated by comparing the key-code signal as a series signal as it is.

In the block diagram showing the third embodiment in FIG. 8, 81 is a read-out circuit, 82 is a comparator circuit 83 is a key-code storage circuit, 84 is a coincidence storage circuit, 85 is an "AND" gate circuit, and 86 is an electric lock. As required, the read-out circuit 81 may be provided with an amplifier in case the output is small, or with a shaping circuit or the like in order to shape the wave form.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 showing wave forms at the respective parts in the embodiment of FIG. 7. In particular, FIG. 9 shows wave forms in case the key-code signal and key-code comparing signal coincide with each other and FIG. 10 shows wave forms in case these signals do not coincide.

Now, if a signal of a key recorded in series on a magnetic card or the like comes in, it will be read out as a series signal in the read-out circuit 81 and the signal thus read out (exemplified as S.sub.1 in FIG. 9 and S.sub.2 in FIG. 10) will be sent as a series signal as it is to the comparator circuit 82. Further, a part of the signal read out will be sent as a clock signal to the key-code storage circuit 83 from which a key-code comparing signal S.sub.0 preliminarily stored therein (shown in FIGS. 9 and 10) will be triggered by said clock signal and taken out in the form of a series signal so as to be sent to the comparator circuit 82.

In the comparator circuit 82, the key code signal S.sub.1 (or S.sub.2) and key-code comparing signal S.sub.0 are compared with each other as series signals as they are. As a result of the comparison, in case both signals all coincide, that is, in case the key-code signal is S.sub.1 as shown in FIG. 9, a signal S.sub.3 will be sent to the coincidence storage circuit 84 from the comparator circuit 82 and a signal S.sub.5 of a constant level (a low signal here) will be sent to the "AND" gate circuit 85 from the coincidence storage circuit 84.

On the other hand, as an end signal that the key-code signal S.sub.1 has been all completely read out is given to the "AND" gate circuit 85 from the key-code storage circuit 83, an "AND" with the signal S.sub.5 is taken and, with its output signal, that is, a locking and unlocking signal S.sub.7 (a high signal here), the electric lock 86 is locked or unlocked.

Further, in case the signals do not coincide, that is, in case the key-code signal is S.sub.2 as shown in FIG. 10, a signal S.sub.4 having pulses in the non-coinciding part will be sent to the coincidence storage circuit 84 from the comparator circuit 82. As said storage circuit 84 is so formed as to reverse the polarity only when the signals do not coincide with each other, an output signal S.sub.6 is generated by the signal S.sub.4 and is sent to the "AND" gate circuit 85.

On the other hand, an end signal that the key-code signal S.sub.2 has been all completely read out has been given to the "AND" gate circuit 85 as described above but the "AND" with the signal S.sub.6 can not be taken and, therefore, no output comes out of the "AND" gate circuit, thus no locking and unlocking signal is given to the electric lock 86, only a signal S.sub.8 is sent and therefore the electric lock 86 can not be locked nor unlocked.

In the third embodiment, as a series signal of a key code is read out and is compared as a series signal as it is with a key-code comparing signal preliminarily stored as referred to in the foregoing, there are advantages that the output terminals of key-code storage circuits and the input terminals of comparator circuits can be minimized as required without requiring series-to-parallel converters as before and irrespective of the number of bits of signals, that the number of component parts to be used can be decreased and that the circuit formation can be simplified.

FIG. 11A shows a practical circuit diagram of the third embodiment. FIG. 11B shows signal wave forms at the respective parts in the circuit of FIG. 11A.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electric locking and unlocking apparatus comprising an electrically controlled lock mechanism, a read-out device for reading out signals recorded on a magnetic card, a storage device in which a predetermined signal is preliminarily stored, a logic operational device for comparing an input signal from said read-out device with said predetermined signal from said storage device, a control device for controlling said lock mechanism as activated by a signal from said logic operational device, and a temporary storage circuit inserted between said read-out device and said logic operational device so as to store the signal from the read-out device, said storage device comprising a plurality of key-code storage circuits corresponding in number to a plurality of kinds of keys used so that predetermined key-code signals respectively independent and corresponding to the respective keys, said logic operational device comprising a plurality of comparator circuits to which the output of said temporarily storage circuit and outputs of said key-code storage circuits are given to compare the signal from the magnetic card with the respective key-code signals predetermined and stored in the respective key-code storage circuits, so that said control device will be actuated upon receiving outputs from any one of said plurality of comparator circuits so as to lock or unlock the electric lock.