Patent ID: 8359890

Claim:
An electro-mechanical control for a lock, comprising: a plurality of mostly tubular shafts journaled concentrically about a common axis, each inner shaft extending from its outer in both axial directions, the shafts having proximal and distal ends; a plurality of wheels matched to the mostly tubular shafts, each fixed to the distal end of a corresponding shaft, each having an aperture at a common radial distance from the common axis; a plurality of dials matched to the mostly tubular shafts, each fixed to the proximal end of a corresponding shaft and thereby forming a unitary rotational assembly with wheel and shaft, each dial having a preferred orientation corresponding to an alignment of the apertures; a means for indicating the preferred orientation for each dial; a light source at one end of the plurality of wheels positioned at the common radial distance, the light source connected to a source of power through a means for connecting; a photo sensor positioned on the other end of the plurality of wheels for detecting a beam of light from the light source passed through the aligned apertures; a means for determining whether each wheel rotation was clockwise or counterclockwise, said means for determining including an electro-magnetic sensor utilizing Weigand technology; and a means for controlling the opening of the lock when the dials have been turned in a preferred direction to the preferred orientation.