Patent ID: 7690231

Claim:
An electromechanical lock cylinder, comprising: an outer shell having a bore formed therein and a cavity extending from the bore into the shell; a barrel disposed within the bore in the shell and being rotatable relative thereto; a side bar cooperating between the shell and the barrel for selectively permitting and blocking rotation of the barrel with respect to the shell, the side bar having a first portion engaging the barrel and a second portion removably received in the cavity in the shell, the side bar being movable relative to the barrel and the shell; a blocking mechanism positionable in a blocking position relative to the side bar, which position blocks motion of the side bar with respect to the shell, and thereby prevents rotation of said barrel, and also positionable in an unblocking position relative to the side bar, which permits the side bar to be moved relative to the cavity in the shell to allow the barrel to be rotated with respect to the shell; an electrically activated drive mechanism cooperating with the blocking mechanism to selectively move the blocking mechanism from the blocking position to the unblocking position in which the side bar moves out of the cavity upon rotation of the barrel; and control means for activating the electrically activated drive mechanism in response to an authorized attempt to operate the lock cylinder, wherein said blocking mechanism comprises a slider bar movable relative to the side bar, wherein in said unblocking position said slider bar is positioned adjacent to a recess, located in said side bar for receiving said slider bar, upon rotation of said barrel.