Locking System Contact Surface Coding via Magnetic Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking systems are inefficient in simplifying the production of keys and locking punches, requiring complex coding and precise alignment, which limits the use of equalized coding parts and results in high component variability and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The method allows for continuous rotational movement between the coding part and the base body, enabling almost arbitrary rotational positions without mechanical stops, and uses simplified contact surface profiling and adhesive or welding connections to secure the components, allowing for a wide range of encoded keys or locking stamps with minimal component variation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact surfaces are designed with precise geometric coding to allow only a few predetermined rotational positions, then the locking reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and component variability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical geometric coding system with a magnetic field-based coding system. The coding elements are magnetized in different orientations, and the locking mechanism detects these magnetic orientations through magnetic field interaction, eliminating the need for complex mechanical contact surface geometries and precise mechanical alignment features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the coding parameter from mechanical geometric orientation to magnetic orientation. Instead of coding through physical contact surface geometries that require precise manufacturing, the system uses magnetic field orientations as the coding mechanism, allowing for simpler manufacturing while maintaining locking reliability through magnetic field detection.
2Reliability
If the contact surfaces are designed with precise geometric coding to limit rotational positions, then the security against unauthorized copying is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical coding geometries with magnetic field coding. The coding elements can be manufactured as simple magnetized components and then oriented in different directions through relatively simple processes, avoiding the need for precision mechanical machining of contact surfaces while maintaining security through the magnetic field configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coding function from the mechanical structure. The coding information is stored in the magnetic orientation of separate coding elements that can be attached to base bodies, allowing the mechanical components to be manufactured independently with standard tolerances while the coding security is provided by the magnetic field configuration.
3Reliability
If multiple different coding elements are manufactured for different locking pairs, then the security is improved, but the component variability and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal coding element design that can serve multiple locking pairs by varying only the magnetic orientation rather than the physical structure. The same base body and coding element design can produce different coding configurations through magnetic orientation, reducing component variety while maintaining security for multiple locking applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses magnetic orientation as a changeable parameter that allows a single coding element design to serve multiple functions. Instead of manufacturing different physical coding elements for different locking pairs, the system magnetizes the same element in different orientations to create different codes, reducing component variability while maintaining security.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for coding a key and a key plug for a lock of a locking system, wherein two coding parts are created, which each have a coding surface and a contact surface, and wherein the two coding parts are then subsequently machined to form the key and the key plug, wherein the subsequent machining includes a main body of a key or key plug likewise having a contact surface being provided and the coding part being applied to the contact surface of the main body by means of the contact surface of the coding part and the two coding parts each being fastened to the associated main body in one of a plurality of possible rotational positions in such a way that a functional key or key plug is created. According to the invention the interacting contact surfaces of a coding part and of a main body in each case are provided as contact surfaces that can be continuously rotated in relation to each other and the particular coding part is welded or adhesively bonded to the particular main body. The invention further relates to a lock of a locking system, which lock comprises a key and a key plug, which each have a coding part and a main body, wherein a coding part is connected to a particular main body in a rotationally fixed and tension-resistant manner.