LOCKING DEVICE WITH A LOCKING CYLINDER AND A LOCKING ORGAN

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking device with a locking cylinder and a locking member for closing the locking cylinder, with a core movable in a housing of the locking cylinder, with an electronic locking mechanism for selectively blocking or releasing the movement of the core, with a locking cylinder antenna arranged in the locking cylinder, and with a locking member antenna arranged in the locking member for exchanging signals with the locking cylinder antenna for transmitting signals from a transponder of the locking member for controlling the locking mechanism.

[0002] Such a locking device is known, for example, from EP 0 628 684 A1. The locking device shown is an ignition lock for a vehicle, which, in addition to the radio-based communication between the key and the lock cylinder, also has a mechanical locking mechanism including a rotating core. The locking device has a magnetic shield in the form of a ring, which is arranged between the lock cylinder antenna and the core in order to minimize unwanted electromagnetic interactions of the core with the radio-based communication process between the lock cylinder and the key. To further reduce eddy current formation in the ring-shaped shield, it has an interruption in a small angular range.

[0003] DE 20 2017 107 395 U1 discloses a locking device comprising a key and a locking cylinder that interact exclusively via radio. The solution presented aims to increase communication performance and achieves this through a locking cylinder antenna consisting of two individual coils, which are electrically connected to each other. Both coils extend in partially cylindrical planes and each encompass a circular segment of approximately 120°. This arrangement is intended to achieve the most spatially targeted expansion of the electromagnetic flux possible for interaction with the antenna located in the key.

[0004] A locking device described in the generic term, with a code receiver in the locking cylinder and a transponder antenna in the locking element, is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 043 967 A1. The code receiver has a reader antenna with a ferrite core. The ferrite core has two surfaces on its outside, over which field lines generated by the reader antenna are guided outside the base body. A disadvantage of this locking device is that the signal path through the two surfaces of the reader antenna is very long. However, a long signal path requires a high energy consumption. Furthermore, a long signal path is susceptible to interference, and the coupling factor between the antennas is low.

[0005] The invention is based on the problem of developing a locking device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that interference with the transmission of the signals is largely avoided and a high coupling between the antennas is achieved.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the appended claim 1.

[0007] This design significantly reduces the formation of eddy currents in the core by interrupting the electrical and / or magnetic properties on the side facing the lock cylinder antenna. This reduction is achieved because a uniform circular current flow on the side facing the lock cylinder antenna is prevented. The significant reduction in the formation of eddy currents in the core keeps disruption to the exchange of signals to a minimum and minimizes signal attenuation. The slot-like recess is particularly easy to manufacture using milling. The use of metal also allows the core to reliably transmit high torque during mechanical actuation following electronic release of the lock cylinder. This mechanical actuation occurs, for example, using a locking device shaped like a key.By arranging the locking cylinder antenna in a groove between the inner and outer core parts, the locking cylinder antenna can be positioned particularly close to the locking element antenna, particularly in the case of a locking element designed as a key. This results in particularly low energy consumption for the locking device. Furthermore, the locking cylinder housing can be manufactured with a high level of break-in security, for example, using hard metal inserts. Furthermore, the housing can be particularly well-shielded to prevent unauthorized activation of the locking cylinder antenna. This strong shielding also prevents unauthorized access to the signals during transmission between the locking cylinder antenna and the locking element antenna. This makes unauthorized reading of the transponder data more difficult.The inner core part is made of metal, thus contributing to the mechanical stability and shielding of the locking cylinder antenna. Since the core consists of an inner core part and a non-rotatably connected outer core part, and the groove is located between the inner and outer core parts, the groove is advantageously formed directly from the two core parts during assembly.

[0008] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the locking device has a particularly short signal path and thus an optimal field line course if the locking cylinder antenna and the locking element antenna are arranged concentrically to one another in the position provided for exchanging the signals and if the centers of the locking cylinder antenna and the locking element antenna are located one inside the other or if the center of the locking element antenna is offset slightly in the direction of the front side of the locking cylinder.

[0009] In the case of a locking element designed as a key, the concentric arrangement of the antennas is particularly simple in terms of construction according to an advantageous development of the invention if the locking cylinder antenna and the locking element antenna concentrically surround one another in a position intended for the exchange of signals and if the centers are arranged in the same transverse plane of the core or if the center of the locking element antenna lies in a transverse plane that is closer to the end face than the transverse plane in which the center of the locking cylinder antenna lies.

[0010] According to another advantageous development of the invention, it contributes to a further increase in transmission security if, in opposing planes, the dimensions of the locking element antenna are at most as large as the dimensions of the locking cylinder antenna.

[0011] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the possibility of unauthorized reading of the transmitted signals is further reduced if the locking cylinder antenna is surrounded radially on the outside by a radial shielding body for shielding the signals from the antennas. A ferrite ring is particularly suitable as a radial shielding body. This ferrite ring radially shields the exchange of signals from the immediate environment, which also includes the at least partially metallic cylinder housing. Furthermore, the ferrite ring ensures optimized guidance of the field lines for the best possible coupling into the antennas. For optimal effectiveness of the shielding body, its axial extent is at least as large as the axial extent of the locking cylinder antenna.

[0012] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the core between the lock cylinder antenna and a front side of the lock cylinder contributes to reducing the possibility of unauthorized manipulation of the locking cylinder if it has an axial shielding body for mechanically shielding the antennas. The axial shielding body is preferably made of sturdy plastic and thus offers protection against mechanical manipulation of the locking cylinder while also not interfering with signal transmission between the antennas.

[0013] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, mechanical weakening of the core caused by the groove can be kept particularly low if the core groove has larger dimensions in the axial direction than in the radial direction. This design allows the groove to be very shallow, thus avoiding deep cuts in the core.

[0014] According to another advantageous development of the invention, it contributes to improving the transmission of the signals between the antennas if the locking element antenna has a coil arranged on a ferrite core or a ferrite foil stack of the locking element.

[0015] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the positioning of the antennas is particularly simple if the ferrite core has larger axial dimensions than the coil of the locking device antenna. The ferrite core can thus be extended to the width of a key, ensuring a high reading range on planar readers. This design is particularly suitable for cases where a locking device designed as a key is held in front of a planar reader, where reading takes place in the area in front of the reader and not in a housing.

[0016] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ferrite core is designed to be non-circular, particularly rectangular, in cross-section, to simplify the transmission of torque from the locking element to the core. This design gives the ferrite core a cross-section corresponding to the shank of a key.

[0017] The invention permits numerous embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of them is shown in the drawing and is described below. This shows in Fig.1a locking device with a locking cylinder and a locking member, Fig.2enlarged a longitudinal section through the locking device from Figure 1 with locking element inserted into the locking cylinder, Fig.3 a sectional view through the locking device from Figure 2along the line III - III, Fig.4perspective individual components of the locking cylinder before assembly, Fig.5perspective a part of the locking device from Figure 2 in enlarged view.

[0018] Figure 1shows a locking device with a locking cylinder 1 and a locking member 3 having a key 2. The locking cylinder 1 has a core 5 which can be rotated in a housing 4 and which drives a driver 6. The locking cylinder 1 has an electronic locking mechanism 7 with a control device 8 and a locking cylinder antenna 9. The locking mechanism 7 is supplied with electrical power by a battery 10. The key 2 has a locking member antenna 12. As soon as the locking member antenna 12 is brought into the reception range of the locking cylinder antenna 9, the locking member antenna 12 is excited and communication between the locking member 3 and the locking cylinder 1 is established. The control device 8 then controls the locking mechanism 7 to release or block the movement of the core 5.

[0019] Figure 2shows an enlarged view of a portion of the locking device with key 2 inserted into locking cylinder 1. To accommodate a shaft 13 of key 2, core 5 of locking cylinder 1 has a locking channel 14. A reed 15 of key 2 is located outside locking cylinder 1 to introduce torque. The locking member has a transponder chip 11, which in this illustration is arranged on a ferrite core 24 built into locking member 3. However, transponder chip 11 can also be positioned at other points on the locking member. This position of key 2 corresponds to the position in which the signals from transponder chip 11 are read out and the position in which torque can be transmitted from key 2 to core 5 of locking cylinder 1.The center point of the locking element antenna 12 coincides with the center point of the locking cylinder antenna 9, so that both centers are arranged in the same transverse plane of the core 5. In an embodiment not shown, the center point of the locking element antenna is closer to the front side than the center point of the locking cylinder antenna. Furthermore, the locking cylinder antenna 9 concentrically surrounds the locking element antenna 12.

[0020] The lock cylinder antenna 9 is designed as a coil encircling the core 5 and arranged in a groove 16 of the core 5. The groove 16 of the core 5 is spaced from the front side of the lock cylinder 1. Furthermore, Figure 2that the core 5 has an inner core part 17 and a core outer part 18 which is connected to the inner core part 17 in a rotationally fixed manner. The groove 16 for receiving the locking cylinder antenna 9 is arranged between the inner core part 17 and the outer core part 18. The inner core part 17 is made of metal and has, on its side facing the locking cylinder antenna 9, an interruption 20 in the properties of the metal, designed as a slot-like recess 19. The slot-like recess 19 has larger dimensions in the axial direction than in the radial direction. Furthermore, the locking cylinder antenna 9 has an axial shielding body 21 which shields the antenna signals in the axial direction and a radial shielding body 22 which shields the antennas radially outwards against mechanical influences. The locking cylinder antenna 9 is designed as a coil 23 arranged below the shielding bodies 21, 22.

[0021] The locking element antenna 12 is designed as a coil 25 wound around the elongated ferrite core 24. In an embodiment not shown, a ferrite foil stack can also be used instead of a homogeneous ferrite core 24. The locking element antenna 12 has the same dimensions in the axial direction as the locking cylinder antenna 9. The ferrite core 24 is longer than the coil 25 of the locking element antenna 12. The locking element antenna 12 with the ferrite core 24 is surrounded by a plastic molded part 26.

[0022] Figure 3 shows a sectional view through the locking cylinder 1 from Figure 2 along the line III-III. The plastic molded part 26 of the locking member 3 has the contour of the locking channel 14 of the locking cylinder 1.

[0023] Figure 4For clarity, the figure shows individual components of the locking cylinder 1 prior to assembly. The slot-like recess 19 in the inner core part 17 is visible on the side facing the locking cylinder antenna 9. It can also be seen that the outer core part 18 is inserted into the inner core part 17 with the intended cross-section of the locking channel 14. The locking cylinder antenna 9 and the two shielding bodies 21, 22 are enclosed between the inner core part 17 and the outer core part 18.

[0024] Figure 5 shows the components of the locking device for clarification Figure 2in a perspective view, in which the key 2 is in the authorized position for closing the locking cylinder 1. For clarity, the housing 4 of the locking cylinder 1 and the plastic molded part 26 of the key 2 are not shown. Furthermore, the core outer part 18 and the axial shielding body 22 are not shown. The coils 23, 25 of the locking cylinder antenna 9 and the locking element antenna 12 are arranged concentrically to one another.

Claims

1. Locking device comprising a locking cylinder (1) and a locking member (3) for locking the locking cylinder (1), comprising a core (5) which can be moved in a housing (4) of the locking cylinder (1), comprising an electronic blocking mechanism (7) for selectively blocking or releasing the movement of the core (5), comprising a locking cylinder antenna (9) arranged in the locking cylinder (1), and comprising a locking member antenna (12) that is arranged in the locking member (3) and is intended for exchanging signals with the locking cylinder antenna (9) in order to transmit signals from a transponder (11) of the locking member (3) to control the blocking mechanism (7), characterized in that the core (5) has an inner core part (17) and an outer core part (18) which is connected for conjoint rotation to the inner core part (17) and extends to an outer side of the housing (4), and the locking cylinder antenna (9) is designed as a coil (23) which extends around the core (5) and is arranged in a groove (16) of the core (5), the groove (16) being arranged between the inner core part (17) and the outer core part (18) and being spaced from the end face of the locking cylinder (1), and in that the inner core part (17) is made of metal and has, on its side facing the locking cylinder antenna (9), an interruption (20) in the properties of the metal, and thus in the electrical and / or magnetic properties of the inner core part (17), which interruption is designed as a slot-like recess (19) and is elongate in the axial direction, the slot-like recess (19) having larger dimensions in the axial direction than in the radial direction.

2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking cylinder antenna (9) and the locking member antenna (12) are arranged concentrically to one another in a position provided for the exchange of signals and in that the center points of the locking cylinder antenna (9) and the locking member antenna (12) are located one inside the other or if the center point of the locking member antenna (12) is offset slightly towards the end face of the locking cylinder (9).

3. Locking device according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the locking cylinder antenna (9) and the locking member antenna (12) concentrically surround one another in a position provided for the exchange of signals and in that the center points are arranged in the same transverse plane of the core (5) or if the center point of the locking member antenna (12) is located in a transverse plane which is closer to the end face than the transverse plane in which the center point of the locking cylinder antenna (9) is located.

4. Locking device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in opposing planes, the dimensions of the locking member antenna (12) are at most as large as the dimensions of the locking cylinder antenna (9).

5. Locking device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking cylinder antenna (9) is surrounded radially on the outside by a radial shielding body (21) for shielding the signals from the antennas (9, 12).

6. Locking device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the core (5) has, between the locking cylinder antenna (9) and an end face of the locking cylinder (1), an axial shielding body (22) for mechanically shielding the antennas (9, 12).

7. Locking device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the groove (16) of the core (5) has larger dimensions in the axial direction than in the radial direction.

8. Locking device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the locking member antenna (12) has a coil (25) arranged on a ferrite core (24) or ferrite foil stack of the locking member (3).

9. Locking device according to claim 8, characterized in that the ferrite core (24) has larger axial dimensions than the coil (25) of the locking member antenna (12).

10. Locking device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the ferrite core (24) is non-circular in cross section, in particular rectangular.