Patent Abstract:
An electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core is disclosed herein, which includes a body, an infrared sensor, a radio frequency identification system and a power supplier. The infrared sensor is disposed on one end of the body and includes an infrared receiver-transmitter, and the radio frequency identification system is electrically connected with the infrared sensor, the power supplier and the relative elements for unlocking the body. When the infrared sensor detects a person or an object within the scheduled area, the radio frequency identification system can identify it and further drive the relative elements for unlocking the body if the identification is correct. But when the infrared sensor does not detect a person or an object, the radio frequency identification system enters into an electricity-saving mode for saving the electric power.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electronic lock core structure, especially to an electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core combined with a radio frequency identification system and an infrared sensor for controlling the startup of an identifying device so as to attain the objective of saving electric power. 
         [0003]    2. The Prior Arts 
         [0004]    Nowadays, locks have been developed much quickly and the type of the locks is diversified. The structures of all the conventional mechanical locks are to make use of the lock bolt in the lock core and the special key having concave grooves and convex faces corresponding to the lock bolt and further to make the lock bolt in the concave groove of the key to move to the prearranged position, thus the lock bore can be turned or moved axially so as to achieve security objective. But this kind mechanical lock only has one simple locking function and it can be easily unlocked by making use of proper tools. Furthermore, the key of the mechanical lock can be copied easily and the protective function is not perfect. 
         [0005]    The radio frequency identification system can transmit and receive the unique recognition data in tags by making use of the radiofrequency signals in wireless way. When the system is startup, a reader can produce a certain frequency radio signal to start up the program on a chip in a tag, and then generate a radio frequency electric wave, and transmit the identification code in the memory of the chip or other stored information to the reader. After the identification code or the stored information is decoded, the identification and the decoding are completed. The system has many advantages of, such as a convenient use because it can directly identify an object, and a high safety because an authorized identification code can not be copied easily. And the card or the tag does not need to be applied an outer electrical source, so it has been widely used in daily life. But in order to keep the reader produce one certain frequency radio signal continually for detecting the card or the tag at any moment, the power should be provided continually to the reader to keep it in stand-by state and thus much electric power would be wasted. Especially for the electronic lock which uses batteries as the electric source, it wastes more electric power. So, if a radio frequency identification system is positioned on a lock core and further combined with a sensor system and the radio frequency identification system, by means of firstly detecting a person or an object entering into the sensing area and then starting up the reader, the system can save the electric power and the lock safety can be further improved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to solve the disadvantage of wasting electric power because the radio frequency identification system disposed on the electronic lock has to be in stand-by state continually, the present invention provides an electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core combined with an infrared sensor. By making use of the detection of the infrared sensor, only when the person or the object comes into the sensing area, the radio frequency identification system in the electronic lock core can be started up to identify it so as to unlock the lock. Therefore, saving electric power and improving security can be achieved. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve above invention objective, the present invention provides an electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core which comprises a body, an infrared sensor, a radio frequency identification system and a power supplier. The infrared sensor positioned on one end of the body, comprises an infrared receiver-transmitter. The radio frequency identification system positioned on one end of the infrared receiver-transmitter can be electrically connected with the infrared sensor, the power supplier and relative elements for unlocking the body. When the infrared receiver-transmitter on the infrared sensor detects a person or an object in the scheduled area, the radio frequency identification system can identify it and drive the relative elements to unlock the body if the identification is correct. When the infrared sensor does not detect a person or an object, the radio frequency identification system can not be started up. Therefore, the identifying device does not need to transmit frequency signal constantly and thus the electric power can be saved. 
         [0008]    The electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core according to the present invention, not only has a high safety and guarding function against theft because of the special high security identification code of the radio frequency identification system, but can save the electric power consuming on standby by means of an infrared sensor on which an infrared receiver-transmitter is positioned to start up an identifying device, only when a person or an object is detected. 
         [0009]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core according to an embodiment of the present invention,; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core according to the embodiment of the present invention,; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing a front clutch and a back clutch unconnected with each other before unlocking the electronic lock, according to the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic view showing the front clutch and the back clutch connected together after unlocking the electronic lock, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , which respectively show an exploded perspective view, a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core comprises an infrared sensor  10 , a body  20 , a front clutch member  30 , a back clutch member  60 , a motor section  70 , a knob core  80  and a radio frequency identification system  110 . The infrared sensor  10  is electrically connected with the radio frequency identification system  110  and one end of the body  20  is connected with the infrared sensor  10  and the other end is contacted with the front clutch member  30 . In addition, one end of the motor section  70  is connected with the back clutch member  60  which can be assembled with the front clutch member  30  and the other end of the motor section  70  is connected with the knob core  80 . Other more, the radio frequency identification system  110  can drive the motor section  70  to drive relative elements so as to unlock the lock. Therefore when a person or an object in the sensing area, the infrared sensor  10  can detect it and start up the radio frequency identification system  110  to identify it. Once the identification information is confirmed to be correct, the motor section  70  can be further driven to push the back clutch member  60  to move forward and engage with the front clutch member  30  and in the meantime the body  20  and the knob core  80  can be turned at the same time, other more the turned knob core  80  can drive a cam  50  to unlock the lock. But when no any person or object is in the sensing area, the radio frequency identification system  110  can not be started up and it will not transmit the radio frequency signal constantly so as to achieve the objective of saving electric power. 
         [0016]    The infrared sensor  10  connected on one end of the body  20 , comprises an infrared receiver-transmitter  14  one end of which is connected with the radio frequency identification system  110  and the radio frequency identification system  110  is electrically connected with the infrared sensor  10 . The infrared receiver-transmitter  14  is positioned in a containing section  15  and is covered with a light-transmitting shade  12  which can keep the humidity from coming in the electronic lock so as to guarantee the infrared receiver-transmitter  14  and other electronic elements to work in order and make the infrared ray penetrate through the electronic lock to detect the objects. The whole infrared sensor  10  is positioned in a housing  13 , on one end of which a cover  11  is covered, and the cover  11  which the light-transmitting shade  12  is positioned therein is hollow, so that the light-transmitting shade  12  can be positioned here firmly. In addition, the infrared receiver-transmitter  14  is composed of a transmitter  141  and a receiver  142 , and the transmitter  141  can transmit an infrared ray to detect any person or object in the sensing area. When a person or an object is detected, the infrared ray is reflected back to the receiver  142  and then the receiver  142  further starts up the radio frequency identification system  110  to identify it. Only once the identification information is confirmed to be correct, the electronic lock can be unlocked. After the electronic lock is unlocked about 5 seconds or nothing is detected in the inducing area, the infrared sensor  10  can control the radio frequency identification system to be in battery saving mode so that the radio frequency identification system  110  does not transmit frequency signal constantly and the electric power is saved. On the other hand, the infrared sensor  10  can adjust the transmitting frequency of detecting, so even if in low energy consuming condition the detecting function still can be kept and the needed electric power is saved. 
         [0017]    One end of the body  20  is connected with the infrared sensor  10  and the other end is contacted with the front clutch member  30 . After the identification information is confirmed to be correct and the relative elements are driven to make the back clutch member  60  and the front clutch member  30  to be engaged together, turn the body  20  and the knob core  80  at the same time. Thus the electronic lock can be unlocked. 
         [0018]    The front clutch member  30  is contacted with the other end of the body  20  and the other end of the front clutch member  30  is formed with a shaft section  31  which is provided to make the front clutch member  30  and the back clutch member  60  to be connected together. 
         [0019]    The back clutch member  60  is coupled with the motor section  70  and can be moved backward and forward. When the back clutch member  60  is moved forward, it can be connected with the front clutch member  30  and then the body  20  can be turned, thus the lock can be unlocked. 
         [0020]    Other more, the motor section  70  is electrically connected with the radio frequency identification system  110 . By means of the driven of the radio frequency identification system  110 , the motor section  70  can start up the relative elements of the body  20  in sequence. Besides, one end of the motor section  70  is connected with a knob core  80  and the other end is connected with a screw  73  engaged with a screw cap  72 , which is clipped and embedded in a cover body  74 . But because the cover body  74  is limited to move, the cover body  74  and the screw cap  72  can not rotate following with the screw  73 . Therefore, as the motor section  70  drives the screw  73  to rotate, it can drive the screw cap  72  and the cover body  74  to slide forward but not to rotate in original position so as to push the back clutch member  60 . When the radio frequency identification system  110  confirms the identifying information to be correct, it can transmit signal to the motor section  70  so as to further run it and make it drive and push the relative elements to unlock the body  20 . Furthermore, a connecting hole  61  is formed on the back clutch member  60  and is provided to contain the shaft section  31  of the front clutch member  30  as the back clutch member  60  is driven to move forward by the motor section  70 , thus the back clutch member  60  can be connected with the front clutch member  30 . Besides, between the back clutch member  60  and the front clutch member  30  a conducting component  40  is positioned for electrically connecting the two members. 
         [0021]    Except for the infrared sensor  10  and the radio frequency identification system  110 , all the above members are mounted in a housing  90  which can be connected with a knob  100  by means of one end of the knob core  80 . A power supplier  101  is positioned in the knob  100  and in the embodiment the power supplier  101  is a battery which can be electrically connected with the radio frequency identification system  110  and provide electric power to the electronic apparatus in the body  20 . Other more, a gap is formed on the housing  90  to contain a cam  50  that is connected firmly with the knob core  80  and on which a shifting block  51  is formed, so when turning the body  20  and the knob core  80 , it can drive the cam  50  and the shifting block  51  so as to unlock the lock. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , which shows a cross-sectional view of an electricity-saving type infrared electronic lock core in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter  141  can transmit infrared ray that can be reflected back to the receiver  142  by the person or the object in the sensing area and then the receiver  142  can further start up the radio frequency identification system  110  (see  FIG. 1 ) to identify identification information or other stored information possessed by the person or object. If the identification result is correct, the radio frequency identification system  110  (see  FIG. 1 ) would transmit signals to the motor section  70  and start up it according to the preset program and drive the screw  73  connected with the motor section  70  to rotate and then drive the screw cap  72  and the cover body  74  to slide forward to a certain distance, so the back clutch member  60  is driven to move forward and the connecting hole  61  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the back clutch member  60  is driven to connect with the shaft section  31  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the front clutch member  30 . At the same time to rotate the body  20  and the knob core  80  which can drive the shifting block  51  of the cam  50  to rotate so as to unlock the lock. On the other hand, when the infrared sensor does not detect any person or object, the radio frequency identification system  110  (see  FIG. 1 ) will not start up and not transmit frequency signal constantly so as to be able to save the electric power.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4