Yale Security Products Limited

Scovill Inc.

Walter J Aston

Paul Garbett

Electrically operable cylinder lock

A battery-less electronic cylinder lock comprises an electromagnet or other electrical release mechanism controlled by an electronic circuit. A cooperating key comprises a battery and a code producing circuit. When the key is inserted in the lock, power for the lock is supplied from the battery to the electronic circuit and the electromagnet by means of a transformer coupling arrangement with a primary portion in the key and a secondary portion in the lock. Alternatively, power may be supplied via electrical contacts on the key and on the lock.

Lock, key and combination of lock and key

An electromagnetically activated mechanism has mechanical input and output members, at least one of which cooperates with the armature of an electromagnet which is energisable to prevent or limit movement of that member. The electromagnet and its armature are located so that when the electromagnet is de-energized the armature can be urged by the aforesaid one member towards a position in which the magnetic gap between the armature and the electromagnet is a minimum.

Electromagnetically activated mechanisms

A key for an electronic lock is provided with a relief coding for reading by a mechanically actuated reading device. The key has a blade along a narrow edge face of which there are formed grooves (or pairs of notches) extending either perpendicularly to the length of the blade or inclined to the perpendicular in one sense or the other. A lock is described in which the grooves or notches are read by two separate reading elements and an electronic circuit determines the key coding by detecting whether the reading elements detect the grooves or notches at the same time or in one order or the other.

Electronic key-operable lock and key thereof

An electronic security device includes a memory and a card reader which reads a combination code and calculation data from a key card. An electronic circuit compares the content of the memory with the combination code and enables the lock device if a match is found. If the key card is a new one the circuit calculates a new combination code by applying the calculation data to the memory content and, if this new combination code matches that on the key card the memory is loaded with the new combination code.

Growing community of inventors

Dudley, United Kingdom

Walter J Aston