WO2006033530A1

WO2006033530A1 - Cylindrical electronic locking apparatus by using electronic control device

Info

Publication number: WO2006033530A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/003009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong Jin Park
Original assignee: Irevo, Inc
Priority date: 2004-09-23
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2006-03-30
Also published as: KR200370944Y1; JP2008513639A

Abstract

Provided is a cylinder-type electronic locking device using an electronic control device that performs locking and unlocking by utilizing an electronic key capable of storing and altering unlocking codes and unlocking-related data and a solenoid device driven by the electronic control device. By using the electronic key to store and alter unlocking codes and unlocking- related data and the solenoid device driven by the electronic control device, the locking device resolves the weakness of previous mechanical locking devices that were able to be unlocked using wires or manual tools. Should a user lose an electronic key, it is not necessary to replace the entire locking device - only the electronic key needs to be replaced and set with a new unlocking code to reuse the locking device.

Description

CYLINDRICAL ELECTRONIC LOCKING APPARATUS BY USING ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus using electronic control device, and more particularly, to a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus that can realize the locking and unlocking using (a) an electronic key that is designed to store and vary data such as the unlocking codes and (b) a solenoid device driven by an electronic control device. Background Art

[2] Generally, there are mechanical and electronic locking systems for locking and unlocking an entrance door. Mechanical locking system has been widely used.

[3] FIG. 1 shows a typical cylindrical mechanical locking system.

[4] As shown in FIG. 1, a typical cylindrical mechanical locking system includes an inner body 2 and an outer body 3 provided with a hole 7 through which the inner body 2 is fitted. The inner body 2 is supported on a supporting step 6 of the outer body 3 to define a cylindrical body.

[5] At this point, inner and outer pin holes are formed along the inner and outer bodies

2 and 3 and spaced apart from each other at an identical distance. Pins 14 and springs 15 are inserted in the inner and outer pin holes. A thin plate 12 is fitted in a groove 13 formed on the outer body 3 to elastically support the spring 15.

[6] Meanwhile, each of the pins 14 is separated into first and second sections. The first section of each pin 14 is located in the inner pin hole formed on the inner body 2 and the second section of each pin 14 is located in the outer pin hole formed on the outer body 3. Therefore, the inner body 2 is designed to rotate in the hole 7 of the outer body 3.

[7] That is, when a key is inserted in a key insertion groove 4, a line that the pins 14 descended downward contact matches with a boundary line between the inner and outer bodies 2 and 3, thereby allowing the inner body 2 to rotate in the outer body 3.

[8] At this point, when the key is not incompletely inserted in the key insertion groove

4 or a wrong key is inserted in the key insertion groove 4, the line that the pins 14 does not match with the boundary line, thereby disallowing the inner body 2 to rotate in the outer body 3.

[9] However, such a cylindrical mechanical locking system has a security problem in that it can be unlocked by manipulating heights of the pins 14 using, for example, a wire, a manual tool, or an all-purpose key. [10] In addition, when the user loses the key, the locking system must be replaced.

[11] To solve the above problems, an electronic locking system is disclosed in PCT Ap¬ plication No. WO 01/55539 to VIDEX.

[12] The electronic locking system includes an electronic solenoid device, an electronic control device having a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a microprocessor for controlling the solenoid device is mounted, a locking device having a cylinder rotatably installed in a shell, and an electronic key. The locking and unlocking are realized by the electrical communication between the electronic key and the locking device.

[13] However, the electronic locking system has the following problems. An electronic controlling device (having a PCB on which an electronic solenoid device and a micro¬ processor for controlling an electronic solenoid device are installed) is installed inside the cylinder rotating in the shell, which can cause a malfunction or a reduction in service life.

[14] That is, since the electronic control device having the PCB on which the micro¬ processor is mounted is very sensitive to outer force and impact, this may be affected by the rotation of the cylinder rotating in the shell during the locking and unlocking operations. This causes the malfunction and reduction in the service life of the locking system. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[15] Accordingly, the present invention is made in an effort to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus that is designed to realize locking and unlocking using (a) an electronic key that is designed to store and vary data such as the unlocking codes and (b) a solenoid device driven by an electronic control device, thereby solving a problem of the conventional mechanical locking system that may be unlocked without permission by a wire, a manual tools and the like and to be reused, even when the user loses an electronic key, by replacing only the electronic key, assigning new unlocking codes to the electronic key, and changing the former unlocking code into new unlocking codes. Technical Solution

[16] To achieve these objects, there is provided a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus, in which a plunger of a solenoid is vertically applied with respect to a rotational axis of a shaft cylinder , the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus including: an electronic key for unlocking the locking system; a shaft cylinder partly receiving in a body cylinder to be capable of rotating in the body cylinder by the electronic key, the shaft cylinder being provided with a locking groove for locking and unlocking the locking system; a solenoid device comprising a solenoid bobbin around which the solenoid coil is wound, the plunger received in the solenoid bobbin and biased by a solenoid spring to linearly move, and a pin core for restricting the linear movement of the plunger by coupling to the solenoid bobbin, wherein the plunger acts on the locking groove formed on the shaft cylinder in a direction vertical to a rotational axis of the shaft cylinder to restrict the rotation of the shaft cylinder; an electronic control device for controlling the operation of the solenoid device; an insulator cylinder for supporting the electronic control device, the insulator cylinder being received in the body cylinder in a state where the shaft cylinder is fitted in the insulator cylinder; a connector for transmitting power to the electronic control device and in¬ terchanging data between the electronic key and the electronic control device, the connector being fixed on the shaft cylinder; a core cylinder received in the body cylinder in a state where the shaft cylinder is fitted therein to support the solenoid device and provided with a plunger hole for operating the plunger; and a cap body coupled to an end of the body cylinder to protect components received in the body cylinder. Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a prior cylindrical mechanical locking system.

[18] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus using an electronic control device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[19] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Fig. 2, without the electronic key.

[20] Fig. 4 is a detailed view of an insulator depicted in Fig. 3.

[21] Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs. 2 and 3 when it is locked;

[22] Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs. 2 and 3 when it is capable of being unlocked.

[23] Fig. 7 is a front view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs.

2 and 3 when it is unlocked.

[24] Fig. 8 is a rear view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs. 2 and 3 when it is unlocked. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[25] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition, when it is determined that the well-known con- stitutions and functions may offence the subject of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

[26] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus using an electronic control device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of an insulator depicted in Fig. 3.

[27] Referring to Figs. 2 through 4, there is shown an electronic key 200. The electronic key 200 is a unit for unlocking the locking system. The electronic key 200 includes a battery 210 for supplying power, a microprocessor (not shown), and a PCB 220 having an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

[28] The microprocessor functions as a main control unit of the electronic key 200 for transmitting and changing data relating to the power supply and the unlocking codes. The EEPROM stores the data relating to the unlocking or deletes the stored data and stores new data.

[29] In addition, the electronic key 200 is provided with a ground terminal 234, a power supply terminal 230 for supplying electric power to the solenoid device 330 and the electron control unit 340 provided in the body cylinder 250, and a data interchange terminal 232 for exchanging the data relating to the unlocking with the electronic control device 340. The electronic key 200 is further provided with an actuator 240 acting on a shaft cylinder 310.

[30] At this point, the actuator 240 formed on the electronic key 200 rotates the shaft cylinder 310 and functions to prevent the electronic key 200 from removing from the body cylinder 250 while the shaft cylinder 310 rotates.

[31] The body cylinder 250 will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 through 4.

The body cylinder 250 functions as a cover of the locking system, being formed in a cylindrical body provided with a screw portion A 300. Left and right portions of the body cylinder 250 are cut away. The body cylinder 250 is provided at a first end with an electronic key receiving hole 302 for receiving the electronic key 200 and at au upper end of the receiving hole 302 with an actuator receiving groove 304 for receiving the actuator 240. The body cylinder 250 is provided at a second end with a female screw portion A (308) for fixing a cap body 280.

[32] Furthermore, the body cylinder 250 is provided with a key groove 306 for receiving the actuator 240 formed on the electronic key 200 when the shaft cylinder 310 rotates by the electronic key 200, thereby preventing the electronic key 200 from removing from the body cylinder 250.

[33] Each element received in the body cylinder 250 will be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3. the body cylinder 250 to rotate in the body cylinder 250 by the operation of the electronic key 200. A portion of the shaft cylinder 310, which is not received in the body cylinder 250, is provided with a screw portion B (312) having left and right cut¬ away portions. The shaft cylinder 310 is provided at a first end with an electronic key connection hole 314. An actuator acting groove 315 is formed on an upper end of the electronic key connection hole 314 to receive the actuator 240 formed on the electronic key 200 and thus rotate by the actuator 240. The shaft cylinder 310 is further provided at the first end with a pin connector receiving hole 317 for receiving a pin connector C 316 functioning as the ground.

[35] In addition, the shaft cylinder 310 is further provided with a connector receiving portion 318 for receiving the connector 360 and a connector fixing groove 320 for fixing the connector 260 to the shaft cylinder 310. The shaft cylinder 310 is further provided with a locking groove 322 for locking the shaft cylinder 310 by receiving a plunger 334 provided on the solenoid device 330.

[36] The solenoid device 330 for locking and unlocking the locking system by controlling the shaft cylinder 310 will now be described. The solenoid device 330 includes a solenoid bobbin 332 around which the solenoid coil 331 is wound, a plunger 334 received in the solenoid bobbin 332 and biased by a solenoid spring 335 to re¬ ciprocally move, and a pin core 333 coupled to the solenoid bobbin 332 to control the movement of the plunger 334.

[37] At this point, the solenoid coil 331 is connected to a coil connecting portion 344 formed on the PCB 341 of the electronic control device 340 by soldering.

[38] In addition, the plunger 334 for controlling the rotation of the shaft cylinder 310 acts on the locking groove 322 in a direction vertical to a rotational axis of the shaft cylinder 310.

[39] The electronic control device 340 for controlling the operation of the solenoid device 330 will now be described. The electronic control device 340 includes a spring pin connector 342 for supplying electric power and transmitting data as well as the PCB 341, the microprocessor 343 and the EEPROM.

[40] The microprocessor 343 is the main controlling unit for controlling the transmission and interchange of the data relating to the locking and unlocking to and with the electronic key and the supplying of the electric power to the solenoid device 330. The EEPROM is designed to store the data relating to the unlocking or delete the stored data and store new data.

[41] The PCB 341 on which the spring pin connector 342, the microprocessor 343, and the EEPROM are mounted is, together with the ground plate 345 functioning as the ground, fixed on an insulator cylinder 350 by a bolt 346.

[42] Next, the insulator cylinder 350, supporting the electronic control device 340 provided inside the body cylinder 250 having the shaft cylinder 310 inserted therein, will be described. The insulator cylinder 350 is provided with a shaft cylinder insertion hole 351. The insulator cylinder 350 is further provided with PCB supporting means including a PCB supporting groove 352 for supporting the electronic control device 340, a PCB supporting base 353, and a PCB fixing female screw portion 354. The insulator cylinder 350 is further provided with a connecting hole 356 for connecting the spring pin connector 342 to the connector 360 and a core cylinder connecting groove 357 for connecting to a core cylinder 370. The insulator cylinder 350 is formed of an insulating material to support the electronic control device 340 and protect other components from the electrical affection of the electronic control device 340.

[43] Meanwhile, the core cylinder 370 is received in the body cylinder 350 to support the solenoid device 330 in a state where the shaft cylinder 310 is fitted in the core cylinder 370. The core cylinder 370 is provided with a cylinder hole 371 in which the shaft cylinder 310 is fitted and a plunger hole 373 for operating the solenoid supporting portion 372 supporting the solenoid device 330 and the plunger 334.

[44] The core cylinder 370 includes a first connecting member 374 for connecting to the insulator cylinder 350 and a second connecting member 375 for connecting to a cap body 380.

[45] As described above, in the cylindrical electronic control locking device using the electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the solenoid device 330 for locking and unlocking the locking system and the electronic control device 340 for controlling the operation of the solenoid device 330 are not mounted on the shaft cylinder 310, which rotates by the manipulation of the electronic key 200, but on the core cylinder 370 and the insulator cylinder 350, respectively.

[46] The solenoid device 330 and the electronic control device 340 may be mounted on the shaft cylinder 310 by modifying the structure of the shaft cylinder 310. In the case where the solenoid device 330 and the electronic control device 340 are mounted in the shaft cylinder, since the electronic control device 340 comprised of electronic components that are very sensitive to outer shock may be affected by outer shock applied to the shaft cylinder during the frequent rotating locking and unlocking operations. This may cause a malfunction and reduce the service life of the locking system.

[47] Therefore, in the present invention, since the electronic control device 340 and the solenoid device 330 that are sensitive to outer shocks are respectively mounted on the insulator cylinder 350 and the core cylinder 370 that are not rotated when the electronic key 200 is manipulated, thereby imparting durability to the device, mal¬ functions and a reduction in service life of the locking system can be avoided.

[48] Meanwhile, the connector 360 fixed on the shaft cylinder 310 is provided to supply electric power from the electronic key 200 to the electronic control device 340 and in¬ terchange the unlocking data such as unlocking codes between the electronic key 200 and the electronic control device 340.

[49] The connector 360 includes a pin connector A 362 formed of a conductive material to transmit electric power from an electronic key 200 to the electronic control device 340, a pin terminal A 363, and a spring A 364 that connects pin connector A 362 to pin terminal A 363, all of which are disposed inside a connector body 361. The connector includes a pin connector B 365 formed of a conductive material to transmit and exchange unlocking codes and additional control-related data between the electronic key 200 and the electronic control device 340, a pin terminal B 366, and a spring B 367 connecting pin connector B 365 to pin terminal B366, all of which are disposed inside the connector body 361. The connector 360 is received in the connector receiving portion 318 formed on the shaft cylinder 310 and fixed on the shaft cylinder 310 by a pin terminal C 368.

[50] Meanwhile, the cap body 380 is coupled to an end of the body cylinder 250 to protect components received in the body cylinder 250. The cap body 380 is provided with a cylinder hole 381, a core cylinder groove 382 connected to the core cylinder 370, and a projection 383. The cap body 380 is fixed on the body cylinder 250 by the cap body fixing bolt 384.

[51] Finally, a plate stopper 390 is provided to restrict the rotation of the shaft cylinder

310 by being coupled to the shaft cylinder 310. The plate stopper 390 is provided with first and second hook steps 392 and 393 and a cylinder hole 391. The plate stopper 390 rotates together with the rotation of the shaft cylinder 310.

[52] When the shaft cylinder 310 rotates by the electronic key 200, the plate stopper 390 rotates together therewith and the projection 383 formed on the cap body 380 is hooked on the first hook step 392. This lets the user know a point of the rotation ending time of the shaft cylinder 310 for unlocking the locking system. When the shaft cylinder 310 rotates in a reverse direction to lock the system, the plate stopper 390 rotates together therewith and the projection 383 formed on the cap body 380 is hooked on the second hook step 393. This lets the user know a point of the rotation ending time of the shaft cylinder 310 for locking the locking system.

[53] Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs. 2 and 3a when it is locked, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs. 2 and 3a when it is capable of being unlocked, and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively front and rear views of the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus depicted in Figs. 2 and 3a when it is unlocked.

[54] The locking and unlocking operations of the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus using the electronic control device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 4 through 7.

[55] As shown in Fig. 4, when the locking system is in a locking state where the plunger

334 of the solenoid device 330 is inserted in the locking groove 322 formed on the shaft cylinder 310, the rotation of the shaft cylinder 310 is restricted.

[56] In the unlocking operation, as shown in Fig. 5, the electronic key 200 is fitted in the key receiving hole 302 formed on the cylinder body 250 to allow the power supply terminal 230, the data interchange terminal 232 and the ground terminal 234 to re¬ spectively contact the pin connector A 362, the pin connector B 365 and the pin connector C 316, the unlocking codes assigned to the electronic key 200 are transmitted to the electronic control device 340. An authentication process is performed by the electronic control device 340 receiving the unlocking codes.

[57] At this point, when the unlocking codes assigned to the electronic key 200 match with the unlocking codes registered in the electronic control device 340 and the au¬ thentication is accepted, the electronic control device 340 drives the solenoid device 330 by receiving the electric power from the battery 210 so that the plunger 334 inserted in the locking groove 322 of the shaft cylinder 310 can be projected out of the locking groove 322 of the shaft cylinder 310 as shown in Fig. 5, thereby realizing a state where the shaft cylinder 310 can rotate (the locking system can be unlocked).

[58] After the above, the user manipulates the electronic key 200 to rotate the shaft cylinder 310 clockwise by 90° as shown in Fig. 6, thereby unlocking the locking system.

[59] Meanwhile, when the shaft cylinder 310 rotates, the plate stopper 390 is connected to the shaft cylinder 310 to rotate therewith. At this point, as shown in Fig. 7, the first hook step 392 of the plate stopper 390 is hooked on the projection 383 formed on the cap body 380 fixed on the body cylinder 250, thereby letting the user know a point of the rotation ending time of the shaft cylinder 310 for unlocking the locking system.

[60] Meanwhile, when the shaft cylinder 310 is being rotated by the electron key 200, the actuator 240 formed on the electronic key 200 is received in the key groove 306 formed on the body cylinder 250 to prevent the electronic key 200 from removing from the body cylinder 250.

[61] Next, in the locking operation, when the user manipulates the electronic key 200 to rotate the shaft cylinder 310 counterclockwise by 90°, the locking groove 322 formed on the shaft cylinder 310 and the plunger 334 of the solenoid device 330 are aligned on an identical line so that the plunger 334 is inserted in the locking groove 322 formed on the shaft cylinder 310 by the biasing force of the solenoid spring 335, thereby realizing the locking state.

[62] To explain the effects of the plate stopper 390 during the course of the locking operation, when the shaft cylinder 310 is rotated counter-clockwise to restore a locked position, the second hook step 393 formed on the plate stopper 390 is hooked on the projection 383 formed on the cap body 380, thereby letting the user know a point of the rotation ending time of the shaft cylinder 310 for locking the locking system.

[63] In the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus using the electronic control system, since the EEPROMs that can store and change the unlocking data such as the unlocking codes is mounted in the electronic control device 340 and the electronic key 200, lock, a problem of the conventional mechanical locking system that may be unlocked without permission by a wire, a manual tools and the like can be solved.

[64] That is, when the user loses the electronic key 200, the locking system can be reused by replacing only the electronic key, assigning new unlocking codes to the electronic key, and changing the former unlocking code registered in the EEPROMs provided in the electronic control unit 340 into new unlocking codes.

[65] The foregoing embodiment is merely exemplary and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention is not limited to the technical embodiments herein described, but covers modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[66] According to the present invention, since the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus is designed to realize the locking and unlocking using (a) an electronic key that is designed to store and vary data such as the unlocking codes and (b) a solenoid device driven by an electronic control device, a problem of the conventional mechanical locking system that may be unlocked without permission by a wire, a manual tools and the like can be solved. Even when the user loses the electronic key, the locking system can be reused by replacing only the electronic key, assigning new unlocking codes to the electronic key, and changing the former unlocking code into new unlocking codes.

[67] Furthermore, the solenoid device and the electronic control device that are very sensitive to the outer shock are not mounted on the shaft cylinder, which rotates by the manipulation of the electronic key, but on the core cylinder and the insulator cylinder, respectively, the electronic control device and the solenoid device are not affected by the rotation of the cylinder shaft, thereby improving the endurance of the locking system.

Claims

[1] A cylindrical electronic locking apparatus, in which a plunger (334) is vertically applied with respect to a rotational axis of a shaft cylinder (310), the cylindrical electronic locking apparatus comprising: an electronic key (200) for unlocking the locking system; a shaft cylinder (310) partly receiving in a body cylinder (250) to be capable of rotating in the body cylinder (250) by the electronic key (200), the shaft cylinder (310) being provided with a locking groove (322) for locking and unlocking the locking system; a solenoid device (330) comprising a solenoid bobbin (332) around which the solenoid coil (331) is wound, a plunger 334 received in the solenoid bobbin (332) and biased by a solenoid spring (335) to linearly move, and a pin core for restricting the linear movement of the plunger (334) by coupling to the solenoid bobbin (332), wherein the plunger (334) acts on the locking groove (322) formed on the shaft cylinder (310) in a direction vertical to a rotational axis of the shaft cylinder (310) to restrict the rotation of the shaft cylinder (310); an electronic control device (340) for controlling an operation of the solenoid device (330); an insulator cylinder (350) for supporting the electronic control device (340), the insulator cylinder (350) being received in the body cylinder (250) in a state where the shaft cylinder (310) is fitted in the insulator cylinder (350); a connector (360) for transmitting power to the electronic control device (340) and interchanging data between the electronic key (200) and the electronic control device (340), the connector (360) being fixed on the shaft cylinder (310); a core cylinder (370) received in the body cylinder (250) in a state where the shaft cylinder (310) is fitted therein to support the solenoid device (330) and provided with a plunger hole (373) for operating the plunger (334); and a cap body (380) coupled to an end of the body cylinder (250) to protect components received in the body cylinder (250).

[2] The cylindrical electronic locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector

(360) comprises a connector body (361), a first pin connector (362) formed of conductive material to transmit electric power to the electronic control device (340), a first pin terminal (363), and a first spring (364) connecting the first pin terminal (363) to the first pin connector (362), a second pin connector (365) formed of conductive material to interchange the unlocking data between the electronic key (200) and the electronic control device (340), a second pin terminal (366), and a second spring (367) connecting the second pin terminal (366) to the second pin connector (365), the first and second pin connectors (362, 365), the first and second pin terminals (363, 366) and the first and second springs (364, 367) being disposed in the connector body (361).

[3] The cylindrical electronic locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator cylinder (350) is formed of an insulating material to support the electronic con trol device (340) and protect other components from the electrical affection of the electronic control device (340).

[4] The cylindrical electronic locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap body

(380) is provided with a projection (383).

[5] The cylindrical electronic locking apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a plate stopper (390) for restricting the rotation of the shaft cylinder (310) by being coupled to the shaft cylinder (310), the plate stopper (390) being provided with first and second hook steps (392, 393).