Patent ID: 7406846

Claim:
An electronic lock comprising: a shell having a bore therein; a plug disposed in said bore of said shell; a groove in either said shell or said plug; a gate connected to said plug or said shell wherein when said gate enters said groove in a locked position, it limits movement of said plug relative to said shell; a mechanism biasing said gate into the locked position; a first shape memory metal wire segment with a transition temperature that moves said gate from the locked position to an unlocked position away from the groove in response to an electrical current therein; an electronic control circuit for injecting electrical current into said first shape memory metal wire segment to unlock the lock; a second shape memory metal wire segment with said transition temperature arranged to contract concurrently with opposite force to that caused by contraction of said first shape memory metal wire segment when ambient temperature rises above said transition temperature of said shape memory metal wires so that said gate is retained in the locked position by said mechanism.