GENERAL LOCKING SYSTEM

Abstract: The present invention relates to a central locking system comprising a master-lock and several slave locks and at least one electronic controlling device, whereby the electronically controlled slave locks can hold one of the following positions: a) locked with a block, b) locked without a block - opening from the inside is possible, c) unlocked - opening from the outside is possible. The invention is characterized by, that in connection to the master-lock (HL) there is a first sensor (A1) which is activated by the door key, a second sensor (A2) which is activated by a closed door or a closed window, an into the plunger (LK) releasable intervenable blocking device (M) at each slave lock, the action of which is controlled by signals from the sensors (A1, A2) via electronic controlling devices, and in that the blocking device is arranged to hold one of the two blocking positions in the plunger due to signals from the sensors of the master-lock.

Description: General Locking System The present invention relates to a central locking system, and, more precisely, to a locking system wherein several other slave locks can be controlled and monitored from a master- lock. The system is indented to operate as a seperate unit, or as an integral part of a "smart house" system. To lock and unlock mechanically operated locks is time consuming, especially where several exit at different floorlevels and if the building is often left without surveillance on occations. The central locking systems mentioned above are previosly known in vehicles where all the doors can be operated from one single door lock. The advantages in using central locks are more appearant in houses, industries and offices, including several entrances and openable windows, especially in the ground floor. For reasons of evacuation it is important to have doors and some windows openable when people are present inside the building. At the same time it is an advantage if doors and windows cannot be opened by an unathorized person who has come inside through e.g. a smashed window. Thus, locks with keys being left on the inside or in the neighbourhood of the lock are not a satisfying solution. Several keys in circulation also increase the risk both of theft and duplicating of the keys. Thus, it is highly advisible to be able to centrally control and supervise the locks just having a few keys in circulation. A possible addition of an alarm and a proof of legitimacy can be provided. A central locking system makes it easy to lock implying that you more likely will lock during shorter periods of absence. Hence, you will have a safer total protection by locks. At the same time it is an advantage if the doors and the windows are closed so that they cannot be opended by an unauthorized person. Prior types of advanced locking systems often have a complex structure and, as a result hereof, they are expensive to manufacture and sensitive to distrubances . Motorised locks usually have an electronic control outside the lock being positioned in a seperate box beside the door. This gives a bad security against sabotage in comparision with a keybox with an built-in electronic module. Plain electronic locks are not shatterproof. Just a light pressure from a spring keeps the locking bar in position. They have a short stroke and a poor safety against sabotage too. The master object of the present invention is to obtain a central locking system with a simple basic structure and a simple operation in its basic design, not interfering with the possibility to manually open each slave lock, and which furthermore easily can be developed to a far more advanced system which besides the locking operation also can include energy control, burglar protection with alarm and a remote control of lamps and appliances and being easily integrated and installed in an existing locking system, even by a non- skilled worker and also being extremely compact in the lock design. Another object of the present invention is to provide a central locking system which is easily monitored regarding possible manipulated and/or unlocked locks, and wherein the operator instantly has the information he needs to overview the status of all the locks included in the central locking system. Yet another object with the invention is to obtain a central locking system wherein information and control signals can be transmitted between the interconnected units and wherein other operations than the locking operations can be integrated. Still another object with the present invention is to obtain a central locking system having a microprosessor controlled coded serial communication between the units, masterly to obtain an essentially total safety against sabotage, but also to minimize the power needed to operate the locks. The system can also be provided with a memory unit, in which information can be stored about if and when locks included in the system have been opened and closed, who has used the master key, etc.. Though the locking system basically uses simple mechanical components, wherein a combination of manual operation and electronic control/monotoring is used, it is within the scope of the invention to make use of more than one master-lock. This means that in the most basic system each master-lock has to be locked and unlocked manually, but it is also possible to have at least one of the locks operated by a motor and to control this from the other master-lock. Motor operated locks are known and this technique will not be further explained. It is also possible to use an "electronic key"/-keyset insted of a common mechanical key. The above mentioned objects of the present invention are obtained by giving the locking system the characterizing clauses stated in the claims. The sensors positioned in connection to the master-lock and being activated by the master key can activate a blocking device cooperating with the plunger of a slave lock to release the plunger and to have this moved into a locking position. Hereby a locking of the plunger in the locked position can easily be carried out by giving an impuls - from the button set in the master-lock - to the blocking device to go into a locking position with, and/or lock the plunger of the slave lock in the locked position. This corresponds to "nobody home locking". To make it possible to open a door or a window from inside - "somebody home locking" (evacuation possible) - the plunger of the slave lock has to be in a locked but not a blocked position. On an additional locking command from the master-lock the blocking device is again activated irrespective of the position of the plunger of the slave lock. By use of one master cable with branches to each slave lock facilitates the installation of the locking system and also a possible future extension of the system. By the means of an indicating system connected with the master-lock one is instantly notified if all locking objects are closed/opened/locked. To eliminate the risk of sabotage, or some other unauthorized manipulation of the locking system, microprocessor based modules are integrated in the master-lock and in the slave locks to exchange trigger codes and information via a communication circuit. The software of the modules is designed to facilitate a later addition of other units and functions. The locking system accordning to the present system can easily be subordinated a larger electronic control and operating system controlling and operating e.g. the indoor climate, the stove, the washing machine, the water heater, fans, clocks, etc.. The locking knob of the master-lock may preferably be arranged to be released in the locking position "nobody home" . This can be done e.g. in such a way that the torque between the locking knob and the lock is tranferred via two ratchets, wherein electro-magnetic activating devices release the notch and transmit torque between the knob and the ratchets providing a displacement of the plunger to a released postion. The voltage source and the electronic module for communication should preferably provide a higher voltage when the electromagnets are to operate. This arrangement saves energy and increases the lifetime of certain exposed electrical components. 5 V is enough for operating the micro-processor and the rest of the communication circuit, and preferably 12 V is used to operate the electromagnets. The invention will now be described with reference to the examples shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein, Fig. 1 shows the principles of a connection of a central locking system Fig. 2a and 2b shows a variant of a master-lock in front and sectional view, respectively, the front view only showing the striking plate Fig. 3a and 3b shows another embodiment of the master-lock in sectional and front view, respectively, the sideview just showing the locking knob with one of the display units Fig. 4 shows an externally mounted slave lock for windows Fig. 5 shows a slave lock for doors Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of the electronic components in the master-lock Fig. 7 shows a block diagram of the electronic components in a slave lock Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of the electronic components in an alarm module, and where Fig. 9 diagramatically shows a central locking system forming a part of a larger system for monotoring and control. Fig. 1 shows a locking system accordning to the invention including a master door HD, four windows F1-F4, a balcony door BD and a door to a conservatory AD. The master-lock is connected to a cable, e.g. a four-core cable C extended along the inside of the outer walls of the building. On this cable there are distribution boxes with branches to the slave locks. A power source BE (e.g. a battery eliminator) is also connected to the cable. In fig. 2 a variant of the master-lock is shown, consisting of a striking plate SB with integrated electronic and connected alfa numeric displays D1,D2 and a connecting cable C and electronic control device E. The intention is that just the striking plate of the normal lock need to be changed when installing a central locking system according to the invention. Hence, the installation is relatively simple and inexpensive, and without needing changes to the existing keys and the locking operations in the master-lock. The plunger Rl and the trigger R2 actuate the sensors Al, A2, respectively, e.g. mechanical contacts, magnet sensors, optical means, when they move into the striking plate. The electronic controling device E obtains information via the sensors when the door is closed and locked. Should the door and the frame be bent apart at a burglary, an alarm is activated by A2 giving a signal prior to Al to the electronic device, i.e. a wrong sequence occurs. The display units Dl inside and D2 outside show information in plain language and provide visible and audible warning signals . The outside display unit D2 has a pushbutton, which when it is pushed at the same time as locking with the key provides a "nobody home locking" . Fig. 3 shows another alternative embodiment of a master lock. On the inside of the door there is a unit with a locking knob V and a display unit Dl. On the outside there is just a display unit D2. On installation the old locking knob is changed to a new one. Otherwise the existing lock and its keys are kept unchanged. The new locking knob is, in contrast to the old one, not directly mechanically connected to the plunger, but is connected via a locking device. This locking device will be released to the locking position "nobody home" using an electromagnet, which makes the locking knob rotates without opening the lock in an attempt to unlock from the inside. The lock will only be openable from outside with a key. This operates also in a possible of a power cut in contrast to the method which blocks the locking knob itself and the lock against movement . In the locking position "sombody home" the inside knob acts as a normal knob. Screws for attachment of the new knob lies recessed into the unit and are protected when the locked is locked. An opended/closed door is detected by a sensor in the frame. Fig. 4 shows an externally mounted slave lock intended for use in windows, balcony doors, etc. The mounting BL will be screwed into the window frame and the lock itself is mounted onto the frame. The plunger LK has a circular design and is, with its axis, directly connected to a locking knob. In connection to the plunger LK there is a spring F arranged to cause the plunger to tend to turn in a clock-wise direction - as seen in fig. 4. The plunger can take up the following positions; locked and blocked locked without blocking, i.e. it is possible to open with the locking knob, opened - the block stops the spring-loaded plunger returning to a locked position, and "mountings not present", i.e the window is open and the locking plunger has "passed" the locked position. The blocking device M-S consists of a bistable electromagnet . The sensors K1-K3 (e.g. mechanical contacts, magnetic sensors, optical means, have the following operation: plunger in locking position (Kl) plunger in opened position (K2) block in a released position (K3) An open window is detected by the electronic device E when neither Kl nor K2 emit a signal and when M cannot move into position as the plunger goes "past" its locking position. The protective housing of the lock is attached by screws on the side turned towards the window frame keeping them out of reach when the lock is locked. When opening the lock by the knob the electronic system recieves a signal from the sensor K2 when it is time for the blocking device of the electromagnet M to hitch into the open position of the plunger. At a command to close from the master-lock, the blocking device is moved backwards, and the spring of the plunger pulls the plunger into the locked position. There-after the blocking device can hitch into the plunger LK in its locked position, if the locking command meant "nobody home locking". The position of the knob shows if the lock is locked or opened. In order to be able to use smaller and power saving magnets the blocking device does not reach so deep into the plunger LK in the spring loaded open position. Furthermore, in this position the spring F provides less torque to the plunger, due to the rotating movement of the same. During a possible attempt to vibrate open the blocking device using burglar equipment this will be registered by the sensor K3 causing the bistable blocking device M-S to reciev a new impulse making it block once again. Fig. 5 shows a slave lock for doors intended to be integrated in the door. The lower part - not shown in the drawings - consists of a traditional door-handle arrangement. The upper part has a plunger LK' manovered by the locking knob being able to block in a locked and an unlocked position. The plunger LK' cannot be pushed from outside due to the links LI, L2 respectively, being kept in a "locked", slightly angulared position by the action from the spring F', and thus will be moved towards the "wrong" direction and will be blocked. An opening from the inside by using the knob V can neither be performed if the blocking device M' is placed into the rear recess of the plunger LK 1 , i.e. in a "nobody home locking". The sensors Kl' , K2 ' and K3 ' as well as the blocking device S 1 function similarly to the slave lock shown in fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of the electronics in the master- lock. The sensor Al - here shows as a mechanical switch - provides information about the positions "locked" or "not locked", and A2 provides information if the door is open or not. At the installation occation the system will be given an unique security code by arranging shunts onto pin contacts . As an additional operation a circuit with a real time clock and a memory, not dependent on the voltage, can be applied and which, with an exterior key button set, provides operations such as passage control, registreation, etc.. Fig. 7 shows the principle of the electrical circuit structure in a slave lock. The security code is set in the same way as in the master- lock. The address code shall have a unique serial number as well as a type code (re. window or door position) . The microprocessor program monitors continously all functions and is prepared to answer questions and react to command signals from the master-lock. Fig. 8 shows a microprocessor based alarm module. This module is preferably positioned in a place hard to reach. Power supply from a trickle-charged battery provides a siren alarm and a light alarm from this module for a long period of time when it has been activated via the serial communicating circuit. Fig. 9 shows a locking system accordning to the invention integrated in a larger electronic system for a building, in which sensors for temperature, smoke, moisture, light, etc. are included together with activators in the shape of relays, motors, magnetic valves, etc.. I this larger system there is also a possiblity for the remote control of e.g. the locking system via IR-transmittors and -recievers . A connection to, e.g. a summer house, can be established via a modem and the telephone net-work and locks can be controlled and operated. Alarm transmitters can also be connected to the telephone net¬ work and further to the police, to the neighbour, to a working place, etc..

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A central locking system comprising a master-lock and several slave locks and at least one electronic controling device, whereby the electronically controled slave locks can hold one of the following positions; a) locked with a block b) locked without a block - opening from the inside is possible c) unlocked - opening ,from the outside is possible, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n in connection to the master- lock (HL) there is a first sensor (Al) which is activated by the door key, a second sensor (A2) which is activated by a closed door or a closed window, an into the plunger (LK) realeasable intervenable blocking device (M) at each slave lock, the action of which is controlled by signals from the sensors (A1,A2) via electronic controlling devices, and in that the blocking device is arranged to hold one of the two blocking positions in the plunger due to signals from the sensors of the master-lock. 2. System according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the connection between the master-lock (HL) and each slave lock (SL) is via a central cable from which branch circuits proceed. 3. System according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that an alarm- and indicating operation is integrated making a monitoring and a control of the positions of the locking objects and the possible positions of the slave locks. 4. System according to one or several of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that an indicating device in connection to the master-lock (A) indicates whether all locking objects are closed and locked, or open. 5. System according to one or several of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n microprocessor based modules in the master-lock and the slave locks exchanging controlling codes and information via a communication link in such a way that a later addition of other units and functions easily can be carried out. 6. System according to one or several of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it can be subordinated to a larger advanced electronic control- and regulating system in a buildning or on a ship. 7. Slave lock unit forming part of the central locking system accordning to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein the slave lock unit comprises an electronic unit and can take up one of the following positions, a) locked with a block b) locked without a block - opening from the inside is possible c) unlocked - opening from the outside is possible, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a plunger (PL) is so arranged that it is moveable between a locking position and an unlocked position via a springloaded levermechanism (L1,L2) taking up one of two positions, wherein, in the locking position, the levermechanism is arranged in such a way as to make it impossible to displace it by a direct manipulation of the plunger. 8. Slave lock unit forming part of the central locking system accordning to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein the slave lock unit are comprised of an electronic unit and can take up one of the following positions, a) locked with a block b) locked without a block - opening from the inside is possible c) unlocked - opening from the outside is possible, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n sensors (K1-K3) detecting the positons a) - c) , and that the plunger (LM) is so arranged that it is moveable between a locking position and into an open position via a spring loaded joint-mechanism with a arch formed plunger. 9. Slave lock unit accordning to claim 7 or 8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that a locking knob is connected to a spring biased mechanism (L1;LK) . 10. Slave lock unit accordning to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r¬ i z e d i n that the electronic controling device indicates "open window or open door" when neither the sensor (Kl) nor the sensor (K2) emit a signal. 11. Master-lock forming part of the locking system accordning any of the claims 1 - 6, c h a r e c t e r i z e d i n that an inside manually operated locking knob is disengaged when locking; "nobody home". 12. Voltage source with electronic module for communication with a central locking system accordning to any of the claims 1 - 6, c h a r a t e r i z e d i n that it is so constructed that it can deliver a higher voltage only when the electromagnets are operated.

Inventors: WALLSTROEM OLLE, WALLSTROEM, OLLE
Applicants: MIKROMAX AB
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E05B47
IPC codes: E05B47