A VANDAL-PROOF MECHATRONIC LOCK SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to mechatronic locks and more specifically, and preferably, wireless mechatronic smart lock systems for locking doors which can be operated by a mechanical tool after positive authentication of the user. In a first aspect, there is provided a mechatronic lock system arranged for actuating a door lock operating member for locking and unlocking a door upon activation of said system comprising: an outside lock interface, comprising means for receiving a mechanical tool, arranged for operating said door lock operating member by a user of said lock system upon receiving said mechanical tool; an inner assembly, comprising: a wireless communication unit, arranged for wireless communication with a wireless communication device for authorizing said user; a control unit, in communicative connection with said wireless communication unit and arranged to activate said system for unlocking said door by activating a mechatronic clutch arranged for coupling said outside lock interface to said door lock operating member; wherein said mechatronic clutch is activated upon positive authorization of said user for opening said door by operating said outside lock interface.

Claims

1. A mechatronic lock system arranged for actuating a door lock operating member for locking and unlocking a door upon activation of said system, comprising: an outside lock interface, comprising means for receiving a mechanical tool, arranged for operating said door lock operating member by a user of said lock system upon receiving said mechanical tool; an inner assembly, comprising: a wireless communication unit, arranged for wireless communication with a wireless communication device for authorizing said user; a control unit, in communicative connection with said wireless communication unit and arranged to activate said system for unlocking said door by activating a mechatronic clutch arranged for coupling said outside lock interface to said door lock operating member; wherein said mechatronic clutch is activated upon positive authorization of said user for opening said door by operating said outside lock interface.

2. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said outside lock interface comprises a first shaft and said door lock operating member comprises a second shaft, wherein said first and second shaft are positioned parallel and at least partially overlapping in the axial direction and wherein said mechatronic clutch is arranged for coupling said first shaft to second shaft upon said positive authorization of said user.

3. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said outside lock interface does not protrude the outside surface of the door.

4. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said outside lock interface protrudes the outside surface of the door by less than several cm, preferably, less than 1 cm, more preferably, less than 3 mm.

5. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical tool is a generic mechanical tool.

6. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical tool is a key.

7. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical tool is an outer door knob.

8. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical tool and said means for receiving said mechanical tool comprise mutually complementing shapes.

9. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 8, wherein said mutually complementing shape of said means for receiving said mechanical tool are arranged in the circumference of said outside lock interface.

10. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 8, wherein said mutually complementing shape of said means for receiving said mechanical tool are arranged in the centre of said outside lock interface.

11. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a key fob, a keypad, a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, module and/or a biometric identification device.

12. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a mobile user equipment, and in particular a smart phone, tablet, smartwatch and/or other wearable device.

13. The mechatronic lock system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a network gateway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 shows, in an illustrative manner, a front view and an internal view of the mechatronic lock system in accordance with the invention.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows three different examples of mutually complementing shapes of the means for receiving the mechanical tool in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1a shows, in an illustrative manner, a front view of the mechatronic lock system (100) in accordance with the invention.

[0048] In order to operate the mechatronic lock system (100), a wireless communication unit inside the inner assembly (140) communicates with the wireless communication device (180) to check whether or not the user is authorized to operate the door lock. The wireless communication device (180) is available for the user and can be a mobile phone, tablet, smart watch or the like, and/or a dedicated key fob or numeric keypad. Upon positive authorization of the user, the door can be unlocked by the user by applying the mechanical tool (190) to the means for receiving a mechanical tool (120) in order to manually transfer the force to the door lock. When the user is not authorized to operate the door lock, the mechanical tool (190) and the means for receiving a mechanical tool (120) rotate freely without operating the door lock. This results in a door lock that is not prone to vandalism and mechanical and/or electrical tampering.

[0049] FIG. 1b shows, in an illustrative manner, an internal view along section A-A of FIG. 1a of the mechatronic lock system (100) in accordance with the invention.

[0050] The mechatronic lock system (100) does not protrude the outside surface of the door (not showed) which makes the door lock extremely invulnerable for vandalism and mechanical tampering. Because all electronic parts are placed in the inner assembly (140) the door lock system is furthermore extremely invulnerable for tampering and damaging the electronic part of the system.

[0051] In the inner assembly (140) a wireless communication unit (160), a control unit (165) an energy accumulator (170) and the mechatronic clutch (150) is placed. In this example the inner assembly is mechanically connected and/or integrated with a first shaft (130). At the outside part of the door, first shaft (130) is mechanically connected and/or integrated with the means for receiving a mechanical tool (120). The door lock operating element (110) is mechanically connected and/or integrated with a second shaft (115). Both shafts are positioned parallel and at least partially overlapping in the axial direction.

[0052] The wireless communication unit (160) which communicates with the wireless communication device (180) of the user. When the user wants to operate the door lock, the control unit (165), which is in communicative connection with the wireless communication unit (160), controls whether or not the user is authorized to operate the door lock. Upon positive authorization, the control unit (165) activates the lock system for unlocking the door lock by activating the mechatronic clutch (150) for coupling the first shaft with the second shaft and thereby coupling the outside lock interface to the door lock operating member (110). By applying the mechanical tool (190) to the outside lock interface, the door can be manually opened by the user.

[0053] When the control unit decides that the user is not authorized to operate the door lock, the mechatronic clutch (150) is not activated and the shafts are not coupled. In this case when an unauthorized user applies the mechanical tool (190) to the outside lock interface, the door lock operating member (110) and thus the door lock cannot be operated and the door cannot be opened. Instead, the first shaft (130) and the mechanical tool (190) rotate freely without transferring any force to the second shaft (115) and the door lock operating member (110).

[0054] The energy accumulator (170), for example a battery, provides the electronic part of the mechatronic lock system with power. The door lock is not motorized, but needs to be manually operated to open the door lock. This results in an extremely energy efficient system.

[0055] FIGS. 2a-c show three different examples of mutually complementing shapes of the means for receiving the mechanical tool in accordance with the invention. The door lock operating member (110) is arranged for actuating the door lock (not showed) for locking and/or unlocking the door.

[0056] FIG. 2a shows a mechatronic lock system (200) for which the mutually complementing shapes of the mechanical tool (not showed) and the means for receiving the mechanical tool (120) at the outside lock interface are rectangular shaped.

[0057] FIG. 2b shows a mechatronic lock system (300) for which the mutually complementing shapes of the mechanical tool (not showed) and the means for receiving the mechanical tool (120) at the outside lock interface are square shaped slot.

[0058] FIG. 2c shows a mechatronic lock system (400) for which the mutually complementing shapes of the mechanical tool (not showed) and the means for receiving the mechanical tool (120) at the outside lock interface are triangular shaped.

[0059] While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein.

[0060] Expressions such as “comprise”, “include”, “incorporate”, “contain”, “is” and “have” are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa.

[0061] Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in the Figures, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

[0062] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope thereof.