Abstract: An electronic lock includes a keycard sensing assembly which interacts with a keycard sensing switch surface mounted to a circuit board. The keycard sensing assembly is located adjacent a rear of a keycard slot such that when a key card is fully inserted into the keycard slot, the keycard activates the keycard sensing assembly. Such an arrangement permits a significant portion of the circuit board to be potted within a potting compound such that the keycard reader becomes essentially waterproof. Such a construction permits the insertion of a wet or damp keycard without concern for water damage to the keycard sensing assembly.

Abstract: An electronic lock assembly is actuated by a key including a transponder. The key is received within a coil assembly of the lock assembly. The key engages a switch that powers the coil assembly. The coil assembly generates a magnetic field that energizes the transponder. The transponder transmits a signal received by a controller. The controller actuates the lock assembly responsive to the received signal to move a locking member to an unlocked position. The key may then move to unlatch a latch associated with the lock assembly. As the key provides the energy required for unlatching the latch further energization of the motor is not required. The lock assembly provides for the actuation and energization of the transponder with small amounts electrical energy such that the lock assembly may be powered by commercially available batteries for a practical operational life.

Abstract: A lock assembly includes a single switch actuated by a cam for monitoring the position of a main bolt and an auxiliary bolt. The main bolt and the auxiliary bolt engage and move the cam between an actuated position and a released position. In the actuated position the cam actuates a switch. Actuation of the switch indicates that the auxiliary bolt is retracted and that the main bolt is extended into a locked position. The main bolt includes a tail that engages a portion of the cam to drive the cam to the actuated position. The switch will remain in the actuated condition when the auxiliary bolt is retracted and the main bolt is also retracted.

Abstract: A combination lock includes various features that make the lock manipulation-resistant. The lock has a rocker arm with a curved underside section that contacts a roller on a cam that rotates when the lock dial is rotated. The smooth curve and an angled contact portion on the rocker arm causes the force applied to the rocker arm by the roller to be gradual rather than abrupt, ensuring that the contact point between the rocker arm and the roller is unpredictable. The lock may also include various spring-biased relocking devices that are biased away from the travel path of the bolt when the back cover is attached to the housing. The biasing force in the relocking device causes the device to move into the travel path of the bolt when the back cover is displaced or removed, preventing the bolt from moving to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A method for tracking user access to electronic mortise locksets includes providing electronic mortise locksets that each include a locking bolt that a lock-out mechanism blocks against retraction until a lockset controller disengages the lock-out mechanism in response to a key reader identifying a properly configured key. Each lockset controller is programmed to upload access data to a key memory whenever a properly configured key is used to unlock the electronic mortise lockset by inserting the key into a key reader of the lockset. The access data stored in the key memory includes a record of the times that the key is inserted into each of the locksets.

Abstract: A lockset controller that functions in either a low power sleep mode or an active mode and includes a processor that's inactive in the sleep mode and active in the active mode. A wakeup control module switches the controller from the sleep mode to the active mode when a wakeup event occurs. A key card control module acts as an interface between a key card reader and the controller such that electronic data may be transferred between the two devices. A motor driver module drives an electrical motor that moves a locking mechanism component of the lockset apparatus between locked and unlocked states. The controller switches from sleep to active mode when the processor receives a wakeup signal. Once in active mode, if the processor receives an authorized data signal, the processor transmits a power signal that causes the electrical motor to unlock the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A lock programmer/interrogator assembly for communicating with an electronic lock. The assembly includes a key comprising a circuit card having surface contacts positioned to align with contacts in an electronic lock smart card reader when the key is inserted into a smart card reader module. A cable connector is mounted on the circuit card. The circuit card includes current paths that electrically connect the surface contacts to pins of the cable connector. The assembly also includes a cable connectable at a first end to the cable connector and at a second end to a computer. The cable includes wires connectable between the pins of the cable connector and the computer.

Abstract: An electronic key card lock has a card reader having both card reading electronics and a visual interface integrated into a single unit. Portions of the card reader are made from a light transmitting material that act as both a physical guide for the card and a lens that can distribute light toward the outside of the lock. The light transmitting material houses the card reading electronics and also surrounds a slot that accommodates the key card. A slot in a trim panel of the lock exposes a slot and the front edge of the card reader. When a key card is inserted into the slot of the card reader, one or more light sources in the card reader illuminate to reflect whether the inserted card can open the lock. The light transmitting material distributes the light from the light source so that the front edge of the card reader around the card reader slot is evenly illuminated.

Abstract: A key card encoder incorporates a plunger that is pushed downward as the card is manually inserted into a slot in the encoder and a potentiometer whose value changes based on the plunger position to indicate the card's position at all times. As the card is inserted into the slot, a head encodes a magnetic strip on the card as the card is inserted into the slot, while the head verifies the code in the reverse direction as the card is withdrawn from the slot. The slot is illuminated in different colors and flashing patterns to guide the user through the encoding process and notify the user if there is an encoding error.