Method for determining the position of an access medium and associated locking cylinder

Abstract

A method for determining a position of a passive access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder having a first antenna device arranged in the region of a first access side and a second antenna device arranged in the region of a second access side, comprises the steps of: transmitting a request signal via the first antenna device; if a response signal is received during a first response time interval, determining that the access medium is arranged on the first access side; transmitting a request signal via the second antenna device; if a response signal is received during a second response time interval, determining that the access medium is arranged on the second access side.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining a position of an access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder and to an electromechanical locking cylinder configured to carry out the method.

[0002] Electromechanical locking cylinders are widely known. They usually have at least one antenna device with a receiving component and an electromechanically lockable locking mechanism.

[0003] They can be operated with access media, especially wireless access media such as handheld transponders or mobile devices. Access authorizations can be individually defined for each access medium and locking cylinder.

[0004] In some cases, it may be relevant to detect from which access side such a locking cylinder was operated. This can be used, for example, to log the use of a door or building element. It may also be useful to allow certain users who are only granted temporary access to an area to leave the area outside of the time limit.

[0005] Another use case could be a shooting spree in a public building. In this case, the locking cylinders could be configured, wirelessly for example, so that locking from outside the room is not possible, but rather only from inside the room.

[0006] Such locking cylinders known to date are often complex, with multiple fully integrated transmitting and receiving units, which, due to their complexity, consume high levels of power. The methods used to determine the position of the access medium operating them also often consume unnecessarily high levels of power, for example, due to the simultaneous operation of multiple transmitting and receiving units.

[0007] Against this background, the present invention has the object of developing a method for determining a position of an access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder and a locking cylinder of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the structure of the locking cylinder is simplified and the power consumption is reduced with reliable detection of the activation side.

[0008] The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1, a method according to claim 2, a locking cylinder according to claim 5, and a locking cylinder according to claim 7. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] To achieve the object, a method for determining a position of a passive access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder, which has a first antenna device arranged in the region of a first access side and a second antenna device arranged in the region of a second access side, comprises the following steps: transmitting a request signal via the first antenna device; if a response signal is received during a first response time interval, determining that the access medium is arranged on the first access side; transmitting a request signal via the second antenna device; if a response signal is received during a second response time interval, determining that the access medium is arranged on the second access side.

[0010] Because the two antenna devices are arranged in a locking cylinder, which is usually made of metal, they each transmit their signals primarily to their respective assigned access side. Only the passive access medium located on the currently active access side detects and responds to the request signal. This means that only one receiving unit is required for position detection, reducing complexity and power consumption.

[0011] To further achieve the object, a method for determining a position of an active access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder, which has a first antenna device arranged in the region of a first access side, a second antenna device arranged in the region of a second access side, and an impedance-changing device for one of the antenna devices, comprises the following steps: receiving a signal of an active access medium via at least one of the antenna devices; analyzing properties of the received signal; determining, based on the properties, whether the signal was received by the antenna device to which the impedance-changing device was connected or by the other antenna device.

[0012] The added impedance-modifying device results in characteristic changes in the input signal, which, by analyzing its properties, allow assignment to one of the antenna devices. This requires only one common receiving section for both antenna devices, reducing the complexity and energy consumption of the locking cylinder.

[0013] In some embodiments, one or more of the following properties are used as analyzed properties of the received signal: a frequency response, an amplitude.

[0014] The influence of a different antenna impedance on these two properties is particularly significant and particularly easy to understand. In some embodiments, the impedance-modifying device is designed to be switchable, and the method comprises the step of connecting an impedance-modifying device to at least one of the antenna devices.

[0015] This makes it possible to create a special mode for determining the position of active access media. In normal operation, ideally matched antenna devices are used to detect the passive access medium, and only when contact is detected by an active access medium is the impedance-modifying device activated to enable position determination.

[0016] To achieve this objective, an electromechanical locking cylinder comprises a first access side and a second access side, as well as an electromechanically lockable locking mechanism. A first antenna device is arranged in the region of the first access side, with the locking cylinder having a first transmission signal generating device for generating signals for transmission by the first antenna device. A second antenna device is arranged in the region of the second access side, with the locking cylinder having a second transmission signal generating device for generating signals for transmission by the second antenna device.Furthermore, the locking cylinder has an input signal processing device for processing signals received from the antenna devices, as well as a control device configured to control the transmission signal generating devices, the input signal processing device, and the locking mechanism. By providing only one input signal processing device for processing signals from all antenna devices, the complexity of the locking cylinder is reduced and its energy consumption is lowered.

[0017] In some embodiments, at least one of the antenna devices has a switchable impedance changing device.

[0018] By means of the switchable impedance changing device, in particular the reception properties of one of the antenna devices can be changed in such a way that the resulting changes in properties of the received signal enable an assignment to the respective antenna device from which it was received.

[0019] To solve the problem, one of the locking cylinders mentioned here is further configured to carry out one or more of the above-mentioned methods.

[0020] Further features and variants of the invention are apparent from the accompanying figures, which show the inventive forms of the invention only schematically. They show in detail: Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a locking cylinder according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a locking cylinder according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a position of a passive access medium according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a position of an active access medium according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Some of the figures contain simplified, schematic representations. Identical reference symbols are used for similar, but possibly not identical, elements. Different views of the same elements may be scaled differently. Directional references such as "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are to be understood with reference to the respective figure and may vary in the individual illustrations relative to the object depicted.

[0022] Designations such as "first", "second", "third", "further" serve only to distinguish between identically designed or differently designed embodiments, devices or parts thereof and, unless explicitly stated, do not imply any hierarchy.

[0023] The radio devices disclosed here are shown schematically and in a highly simplified manner. Further detailed design is left to the person skilled in the art.

[0024] One in Fig. 1 The locking cylinder 10 shown has a housing 14 in which a locking bolt 12 is rotatably mounted. The locking cylinder 10 has a first access side 50 and a second access side 52, which, when the locking cylinder 10 is installed, can be assigned, for example, to an inside and an outside of a door.

[0025] A controllable electromechanical locking device 30 is arranged and configured to fix the locking bolt 12 in predetermined positions, to release it, and / or to mechanically couple it to a mechanical operating element 34, depending on the electrical control. The locking device 30 and the locking bolt 12 together, optionally also together with other devices, form an electromechanically controllable locking device.

[0026] A control device 28 is provided to control the locking device 30. The control device 28 is connected to a radio signal processing device 20 and configured to control the same.

[0027] The locking cylinder 10 has a first antenna device 16, which is arranged in the region of a first access side 50, and a second antenna device 18, which is arranged in the region of a second access side 52. A first transmission signal generating device 22, which may, for example, comprise a modulator, is provided to generate signals for transmission by the first antenna device 16. A second transmission signal generating device 24, which may, for example, comprise a modulator, is provided to generate signals for transmission by the second antenna device 18.

[0028] The first antenna device 16 and the second antenna device 18 can each also receive signals, wherein only a common input signal processing device 26 is provided for processing the received signals, which may, for example, comprise a demodulator. In some embodiments, the input signal processing device 26 may, for example, comprise a mixer for mixing the two input signals into a common input signal or a switch for switching between the two input signals. To detect a passive access medium, the antenna devices 16, 18 transmit a radio signal configured as a request signal at regular or irregular intervals, which is received by the access medium and answered with a radio signal configured as a response signal. The excitation signal is generated in each case by the transmission signal generation device 22, 24, which comprises, for example, a modulator.The response signal is processed by the input signal processing device 26, which comprises, for example, a demodulator, and passed on to the radio signal processing device 20 and / or the control device 28.

[0029] To determine a position of the passive access medium, the following method 100, which is described in Fig. 3 is shown: In a first method step 102, the request signal is sent only via the first antenna device 16.

[0030] In a second method step 104, during a first response time interval, with the input signal processing device 26 switched on, the system waits to see whether a response signal is received. If this is the case, it is determined that the access medium is located on the first access side 50.

[0031] In a third method step 106, the request signal is sent only via the second antenna device 18.

[0032] In a fourth method step 108, during a second response time interval, with the input signal processing device 26 switched on, the system waits to see whether a response signal is received. If this is the case, it is determined that the access medium is located on the second access side 52.

[0033] If no response signal was received in either the second method step 104 or the fourth method step 108, it is determined that no access medium was found.

[0034] The first antenna device 16 and the second antenna device 18, due to their arrangement in the metal housing 14, usually have a radiation and reception characteristic that is largely limited to their respective access side 50, 52. Thus, the request signal can initially be transmitted on the first access side 50, so that it is clear that any subsequent response from an access medium was also generated on the first access side 50. After waiting for the response time interval—for example, a period of time that corresponds at least to the longest expected response time of the access medium—the request signal is then transmitted on the second access side 52, so that a subsequent response can be assigned to the second access side 52.As a result, only one input signal processing device 26 common to both access sides 50, 52 is necessary, which simplifies the structure of the locking cylinder 10.

[0035] In some embodiments, it may be provided that the input signal processing device 26 is switched on only during the execution of the second method step 104 and the execution of the fourth method step 108. This saves energy, since the input signal processing device 26 is thus only in operation when a response signal is expected.

[0036] In some embodiments, it may be provided that the input signal processing device 26 has a sleep mode in which it can only detect the presence of an input signal and from which it can be switched to an active mode upon detection of an input signal in which it can process and / or analyze the input signal.

[0037] In some embodiments, one of which is Fig. 2 As shown, one of the antenna devices in 16, 18, here for example the first antenna device 16, has an impedance changing device 32. Active access media do not wait until they receive a request signal, but rather actively send signals to the locking cylinder 10 themselves, without being stimulated by the locking cylinder 10. In some embodiments, such active access media can, for example, be expanded by a mode in order to also support the method 100. Alternatively or additionally, in embodiments that have an impedance changing device 32, a method 200 for determining the position of the access medium can be carried out for active access media as follows: In a first step 202, a signal from the active access medium is received via one of the antenna devices 16, 18.

[0038] In a second step 204, properties of the received signal are analyzed, for example, by the radio signal processing device 20 or a separate detection circuit. These properties can be, for example, a frequency response or an amplitude.

[0039] In a third step 206, the properties are used to determine whether the signal was received by the antenna having the impedance-modifying device 32 or by the other antenna. The impedance-modifying device 32 influences the frequency response and / or the amplitude of the received signal. By analyzing, for example, the frequency response, these characteristic influences of the impedance-modifying device 32 can be detected, and it can thus be determined which of the antenna devices in 16, 18 received the signal from the active access medium.

[0040] In some embodiments, the impedance-modifying device 32 is configured to be switchable. This allows, for example, an optimized adaptation of the antenna device in 16, 18 to be used to detect passive access media. The impedance-modifying device 32 is only switched on when contact is detected by an active access medium.

[0041] In some embodiments, the radio signal processing device 20, the first transmission signal generating device 22, the second transmission signal generating device 24, the input signal processing device 26, and / or the control device 28 are only switched on when needed. For this purpose, the control device 28 can, for example, have a timer device by means of which the control device 28 can be switched on at fixed or selectable time intervals to carry out the method 100 for determining a position of a passive access medium. As already mentioned above, the input signal processing device 26 can have an idle operating state in which it does not process any input signals but can still detect them.Upon detection of an input signal, for example from an active access medium, the input signal processing device 26 then switches itself on automatically and activates further devices if necessary.

[0042] In some embodiments, the locking cylinder 10 is configured to perform both the method 100 for determining a position of a passive access medium and the method 200 for determining a position of an active access medium.

[0043] In some embodiments, the operating element 34 extends from the first access side 50 to the second access side 52 and is rotatably mounted in the housing 14. As already explained above, the locking bolt 12 can be coupled to the operating element 34 by means of the locking device 30. In some embodiments, the operating element 34 can have a receptacle for the access medium, into which the access medium can be inserted. The receptacle can furthermore have, for example, a switch device by means of which the locking cylinder 10 or one of its devices, for example its control device 28, can be activated. The switch device can be arranged such that it is actuated when the access medium is inserted into the receptacle. This further contributes to energy savings, since energy is only consumed when an access medium is inserted.

[0044] In some embodiments, more than two antenna devices 16, 18 may be provided. When performing the method 100 for determining a position of a passive access medium, steps 102, 104 or steps 106, 108 must then be performed separately for each of the antenna devices 16, 18. When performing the method 200, a plurality of different impedance-modifying devices 32 may then be provided, each of which effects a characteristic influence on the received signal. In some embodiments, the locking cylinder 10 comprises a power supply device, which may, for example, comprise a rechargeable or non-rechargeable energy storage device.

[0045] In some embodiments, regardless of all other features, the radio signal processing device 20 and the control device 28 may be implemented as a common device, for example as a microcontroller or ASIC. List of reference symbols

[0046] 10 Locking cylinder 12 Locking bolt 14 Housing 16 First antenna device 18 Second antenna device 20 Radio signal processing device 22 First transmission signal generation device 24 Second transmission signal generation device 26 Input signal processing device 28 Control device 30 Locking device 32 Impedance modification device 34 Mechanical operating element 50 First access side 52 Second access side

Claims

1. Method for determining a position of a passive access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder (10) having a first antenna device (16) arranged in the region of a first access side (50) and a second antenna device (18) arranged in the region of a second access side (52), characterized by the steps of: transmitting a request signal via the first antenna device (16); if a response signal is received during a first response time interval, determining that the access medium is located on the first access side (50); transmitting a request signal via the second antenna device (18); if a response signal is received during a second response time interval, determining that the access medium is located on the second access side (52).

2. Method for determining a position of an active access medium for an electromechanical locking cylinder (10) which has a first antenna device (16) arranged in the region of a first access side (50), a second antenna device (18) arranged in the region of a second access side (52) and an impedance changing device (32) for one of the antenna devices (16, 18), characterized by the steps of: receiving a signal of an active access medium via at least one of the antenna devices (16, 18); analyzing properties of the received signal; determining, based on the properties, whether the signal was received by the antenna device (16, 18) to which the impedance-modifying device (32) was connected, or by the other antenna device (16, 18).

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the following properties is used as analyzed properties of the received signal: a frequency response, an amplitude.

4. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the impedance changing device (32) is designed to be switchable, characterized by the step of connecting an impedance changing device (32) to at least one of the antenna devices (16, 18).

5. An electromechanical locking cylinder (10) comprising a first access side (50) and a second access side (52), an electromechanically controllable locking device, a first antenna device (16) arranged in the region of the first access side (50), a first transmission signal generating device (22) for generating signals for emission by the first antenna device (16), a second antenna device (18) arranged in the region of the second access side (52), a second transmission signal generating device (24) for generating signals for emission by the second antenna device (18), an input signal processing device (26) for processing signals received from the antenna devices (16, 18), and a control device (28) configured to control the transmission signal generating devices (22, 24), the input signal processing device (26), and the locking mechanism.

6. Electromechanical locking cylinder (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the antenna devices (16, 18) has a switchable impedance changing device (32).

7. An electromechanical locking cylinder (10) according to one of claims 5 or 6, arranged to carry out one or more of the methods according to one of claims 1 to 4

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