ELECTRONIC COMBINATION LOCK

• Main Authors: REMENICKY, JOSEPH M, MASCARO, CHRISTIAN F, CLARK, MICHAEL R, LAINHART, GREGORY C, BAIR, DAVID R, MURPHREE, GARY R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 04.05.1995
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; CHECKING-DEVICES; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; HANDCUFFS; KEYS; LOCKS; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; SAFES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

A user of a self-powered electronic combination lock rotates an outer dial (101) to cause generators to generate energy for storage in a capacitor bang. The user then rotates an inner dial (102) to cause a microprocessor to sequentially display combination of numbers, and presses inner dial (102) to select a displayed number. A microcontroller determines direction and extent of motion of the inner dial by receiving signals derived from Wiegand sensors placed in proximity to a magnetized disc which rotates integrally with the inner dial, and controls the display of numerals on an LCD display accordingly. When the microcontroller determines that a correct combination has been entered, it activates a motor (201) which moves a motor cam (205) to act directly on a locking lever (213) so that the locking lever can engage a drive cam (218) integrally linked with the inner dial, to allow the inner dial to withdraw the lock's bolt.