Field

The invention relates to an electromechanical lock. Background

Electromechanical locks are replacing the traditional mechanical locks. Further refinement is needed for making the electromechanical lock to consume as little electric power as possible and managing the various states of the electromechanical lock, such as the return of the electromechanical lock to the locked state. Brief description

The present invention seeks to provide an improved electromechanical lock.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromechanical lock as specified in claim 1 . List of drawings

Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4 illustrate example embodiments of an electromechanical lock;

Figure 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a control component in a locked state;

Figure 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a control component in an open state;

Figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D illustrate an example embodiment of a sequence, wherein a control component first moves from a locked state to an open state, and, finally, a lever returns to its initial position; and Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate further example embodiments enabling a lever to return to its initial position while a control component remains in a locked state.

Description of embodiments

The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specification may refer to "an" embodiment in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words "comprising" and "including" should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may contain also features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned.

The Applicant has invented many improvements for the electromechanical locks, such as those disclosed in EP applications 051 12272.9, 071 12677.5, 071 12676.7, 071 12673.4, 091801 17.5, and 12171614.6, for example. A complete discussion of all those details is not repeated here, but the reader is advised to consult those applications.

Let us now turn to Figure 1 , which illustrates an example embodiment of an electromechanical lock 100, but with only such parts shown that are relevant to the present example embodiments.

The electromechanical lock 100 comprises an electronic circuit 102 configured to read data 120 from an external source 1 10 and match the data 120 against a predetermined criterion. In an example embodiment, besides reading, the electronic circuit 102 may also write data 120 to the external source 1 10.

The electromechanical lock 100 also comprises an access control mechanism 104.

As shown in Figure 1 , the electronic circuit 102 electrically controls 122 the access control mechanism 104. Figure 2 illustrates further example embodiments of the electromechanical lock 100.

An electric power supply 200 powers 240 both the electronic circuit 102 and the access control mechanism 104.

In an example embodiment, electric energy required by the access control mechanism 104 is generated in a self-powered fashion within the electromechanical lock 100.

In an example embodiment, the electric power supply 200 comprises a generator 202.

In an example embodiment, pushing down 236 a door handle 212 may operate 234 the generator 202.

In an example embodiment, pushing down 236 the door handle 212 may also mechanically affect 242 the access control mechanism 104.

In an example embodiment, the electric power supply 200 comprises a battery 204. The battery 204 may be a single use or rechargeable accumulator, possibly based on at least one electrochemical cell.

In an example embodiment, the electric power supply 200 comprises mains electricity 206, i.e., the electromechanical lock 100 may be coupled to the general-purpose alternating-current electric power supply.

In an example embodiment, electric energy required by the access control mechanism 104 is sporadically imported from some external source.

In an example embodiment, the electric power supply 200 comprises a solar cell 208 that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.

In an example embodiment, the electric energy may be obtained from a radio frequency field utilized in radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.

In an example embodiment, the external source 1 10 comprises a RFID tag 220 containing the data 120.

In an example embodiment, the external source 1 10 comprises NFC

(Near Field Communication) technology 222 containing the data 120, i.e., a smartphone or some other user terminal holds the data 120. NFC is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity. In an example embodiment, the NFC technology 222 may be utilized to obtain 240 the electric energy for the electronic circuit 102 and possibly also for the access control mechanism 104.

In an example embodiment, the external source 1 10 comprises a key 224 containing the data 120.

In an example embodiment, the key 224 comprises the RFID tag 220 containing the data 120.

As is shown in Figure 2, in an example embodiment, the electromechanical lock 100 may be placed in a lock body 210, and the access control mechanism 104 may control 230 a lock bolt 214 moving 232 in and out of the lock body 210.

Figures 3 and 4 show a further example embodiment of the electromechanical lock 100: the electronic circuit 102 and the access control mechanism 104 may be placed inside a lock cylinder 300. The lock cylinder 300 may be placed into the lock body 210 and the lock cylinder 300 may interact 230 with the lock bolt 214.

Furthermore, the electric power supply 200 comprises the generator 202 and the external source 1 10 comprises the key 224. As the key 224 is inserted 402 into a keyway 400 of the lock cylinder 300, the generator 202 is mechanically rotated 404, and, furthermore, as the key 224 is inserted in the keyway 400, the access control mechanism 104 is electronically controlled and mechanically manipulated 406.

Let us next study the access control mechanism 104 in more detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

The access control mechanism 104 comprises a control component 510 movable by the electric power and including a passage 516, and a lever 500 to receive mechanical power from a user.

Figure 5 illustrates an example embodiment of the control component 510 in a locked state, and Figure 6 illustrates an example embodiment of the control component 510 in an open state. In an example embodiment, the control component 510 moves by rotating.

In an example embodiment, the control component 510 comprises a disc.

In an example embodiment, the control component 510 comprises a rotating disc.

In an example embodiment, the control component 510 comprises a cut-out as the passage 516. The cut-out may be manufactured by stamping or machining, for example.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the control component 510 may comprise a hole 512 capable of receiving a pin (not illustrated) for attaching the control component 510 to the rest of the electromechanical lock 100. In an example embodiment, the pin may be a rotating shaft of an electric motor. The control component 510 may thus be rotated by the electric motor controlled by the electronic circuit 102. In an example embodiment, the electric motor rotating the control component 510 may also act as the generator 202.

The lever 500 may also comprise another hole 502 capable of receiving another pin (not illustrated) for attaching the lever 500 to the electromechanical lock 100. The lever 500 may thus pivot 520 around the other attachment pin.

In Figure 5, the data 120 does not match the predetermined criterion, whereupon the control component 510 remains in the locked state such that the lever 500 advances into a contact with the control component 510 outside 514 of the passage 516 with the mechanical power. The mechanical power, received from the user thus pivots 520 the lever 500, but as the control component 510 has not been rotated to the open position, a tip 504 of the lever 500 cannot advance into the passage 516, and the tip 504 of the lever 500 only meets the control component 510 outside 514 of the passage 516.

In an example embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the control component 510 comprises a protruding part 518 with a sloping edge 520 facing away from the passage 516 such that as the control component 510 remains in the locked state, the lever 510 advances into the contact with the sloping edge 520 of the control component 510 outside 514 of the passage 516.

In Figure 6, the data 120 matches the predetermined criterion, whereupon the control component 510 first moves with the electric power from a locked state to an open state, and the lever 500 next advances 520 into the passage 516 with the mechanical power.

The opening sequence is further illustrated in Figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D.

Figure 7A shows the starting position: the tip 504 of the lever 500 may not even touch the control component. As the data 120 matches the predetermined criterion, the control component 510 starts to move 700 with the electric power from a locked state to an open state.

In Figure 7B, the lever 500 next advances 520 into the passage 516 with the mechanical power and at the same time forces 704 the control component 510 back to the locked state due to shape 702 of the passage 516. The tip 504 of the lever 500 may slide against a reset ramp 702 formed into at least one sidewall of the passage 516, thereby exercising pressure on the control component 510 causing it to rotate in a controlled fashion back to the locked state. It is to be noted that this operation returns the control component 510 back to the locked state. While the return of the other electromechanical lock 100 mechanics back to the locked state is not the core of the described embodiments, they will not further be described, although the return of the lever 500 to its initial position will be described. In effect, the return of the access control mechanism 104 will be described.

In Figure 7C, the lever 500 has pivoted 520 to its furthermost position, and the control component 510 remains in the locked state.

In Figure 7D, as the lever 500 returns 712 to its initial position (shown in Figure 7A), the lever 500 (or its tip 504) bypasses the control component 510 remaining in the locked state.

In an example embodiment, the control component 510 comprises a moving control part 710 capable of moving 714 out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns 712 to its initial position and the control component 510 remains in the locked state.

In an example embodiment, the control component 510 comprises a bending control part 710 capable of bending 714 out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns to its initial position and the control component 510 remains in the locked state.

As shown in Figure 7C, the bending control part 710 may partly be separated by slits 706, 708 from the rest of the control component 510, whereby the bending movement 714 is enabled.

In an example embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the control component 510 comprises an elastic control fixing (not illustrated, but it is coupled with the hole 512) with which the control component 510 is capable of moving 800 out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns 712 to its initial position and the control component 510 remains in the locked state. The elastic control fixing may comprise an axial spring enabling an axial displacement of the control component 510.

In an example embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the lever 500 comprises a moving lever part 504 capable of moving out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns 712 to its initial position and the control component 510 remains in the locked state. After the lever 500 has returned to its initial position, the moving lever part 504 moves at the direction 900 into the position 902.

In an example embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the lever 500 comprises a spring-loaded 904 part 504 both capable of retracting out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns to its initial position, and capable of reaching 900 out into the contact with the control component 510 outside 514 of the passage 516 as the lever 500 advances into the contact with the control component 510.

In an example embodiment, the lever 500 comprises a bending lever part (at the tip 504 of the lever, for example) capable of bending out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns to its initial position and the control component 510 remains in the locked state.

In an example embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, the lever 500 comprises an elastic lever fixing (not illustrated) with which the lever 500 is capable of moving 1000 out of the way as the lever 500 contacts with the control component 510 as the lever 500 returns to its initial position and the control component 510 remains in the locked state. This is illustrated in Figure 10 such that the hole 512 moves 1000 into the position 1002 and the tip 504 of the lever 500 moves 1000, 712 into the position 1004.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the example embodiments described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.