Locking Cylinder Sensor Feedback for Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking cylinders with mechanical and electronic tumblers face the challenge of unknown locking element position during engine malfunctions, leading to potential malfunctions and security issues.
Innovation Solution
A locking cylinder with a sensor unit to detect the position of the locking pin, allowing the drive device to be controlled accurately, ensuring reliable locking and unlocking operations, and incorporating an electrically driven locking device with a locking pin that can be locked or released based on an authorized key, with communication connections for control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an electrically driven locking device is used, then the locking operation can be automated and controlled, but the position of the locking element becomes unknown during malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor unit is integrated into the locking device to detect the position of the locking element (locking pin) and transmit this information to a control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that the control unit always knows the current state of the locking element, enabling reliable control and diagnosis even during malfunctions. The sensor provides continuous position information that resolves the uncertainty introduced by electrical actuation.
2Reliability
If a sensor unit is added to detect locking pin position, then control reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit serves multiple functions: it detects the locking pin position for control reliability, provides diagnostic information about system state, and enables communication with external systems (e.g., building management systems). By consolidating these functions into a single integrated sensor unit, the patent minimizes the increase in complexity while maximizing the benefits of added reliability and functionality.
3Measurement precision
If intermediate positions of the locking bolt are detectable, then all positions can be monitored, but the sensor arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a sensor arrangement that detects intermediate positions of the locking bolt, providing comprehensive position monitoring. While this increases measurement precision, the system is designed to detect only the necessary position states (locked, unlocked, and intermediate) rather than continuous position data, thereby limiting the complexity increase to only what is essential for reliable operation and diagnostics.
Data Source
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AI summary
A locking cylinder (1) comprises a stator (2); a rotor (3) rotatably mounted in the stator (2) about a first axis of rotation (D1); and a locking device (4) mounted in the stator (2); wherein the locking device (4) comprises a locking bolt (5), a driver (6) cooperating with the locking bolt (5), and a drive device (7) acting on the locking bolt (5) via the driver (6), and wherein the locking bolt (5) is displaceable by the drive device (7) along a locking direction (S) into a locked position in which rotation of the rotor (3) about the first axis of rotation (D1) is prevented, and along a release direction (F) opposite to the locking direction (S) into a release position in which rotation of the rotor (3) about the first axis of rotation (D1) is possible. The locking cylinder further comprises at least one sensor unit (8) for detecting the position of the locking bolt (5).