Optical Shield for Keypad Locks with Sliding Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Keypad locks in public areas face security breaches when a third party can view the correct combination being entered, and existing solutions cannot modify the lock or its surroundings without altering the existing setup.
Innovation Solution
An optical shield with a frame and side panels that fit over the keypad, featuring grooves and indirect fastening mechanisms to prevent lateral and vertical views, along with a sliding panel for frontal protection, ensuring the keypad code remains obscured without altering the lock or its environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an optical shield is added to protect the keypad code from viewing, then security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical shield is divided into multiple segments: a frame structure, side panels for lateral protection, and a sliding panel for frontal protection. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific protective function while maintaining overall simplicity and modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding panel is designed to move linearly within the frame, transitioning between covering and exposing the keypad area. This dynamic element provides adaptive protection - covering the keypad when security is needed and allowing access when authentication is required - without requiring complex mechanical structures.
2Reliability
If the optical shield uses a fixed structure to block viewing angles, then security is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding panel can be moved to expose the keypad area when code entry is needed, and positioned to cover it when security is prioritized. This dynamic adjustment mechanism maintains both security and ease of operation by allowing the user to control the level of protection based on the operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding panel acts as an intermediary element between the user and the keypad. It can be positioned to allow code entry while still providing protection from frontal viewing angles, effectively mediating between the need for security and the need for operational accessibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the optical shield is designed to fit standard keypad structures, then adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed with grooves and structures that can accommodate various standard keypad configurations. The side panels and sliding panel are configured to work with different keypad sizes and layouts, making the optical shield a universal protective solution that can be applied across multiple applications without custom manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular segmented design allows the frame and panels to be manufactured separately using standard dimensions, then assembled to fit different keypad configurations. This reduces manufacturing precision requirements for individual components while maintaining adaptability to various standard structures.
Data Source
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Figure 2a
AI summary
An optical shield for keypad locks that consists, at least, of: • a frame (1) provided with one or several structures (11) into which standard structures (C1), that the lock keypads (C) have, are fittable; one or several side panels (12) that project from the frame body (1) impeding the lateral view of the keypad of the lock (C) from an area near the user who is operating it; and • means (2) which are suitable to fasten indirectly the frame (1) to the lock module/keypad (C), without interfering in it. The optical shield can also have an additional panel (3), mounted on the frame (1) and capable of sliding linearly in it, and provided with a window (31) through which one can access a restricted area of the keypad, impeding the frontal view of the rest.