Passive Electronic Lock Key Duplication Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical safe deposit boxes rely on duplicable keys, compromising the security of stored valuables, as they lack electronic key systems that prevent unauthorized duplication.
Innovation Solution
A passive electronic lock system featuring active and passive electronic keyholes, an electronic lock controller with digital key storage, encryption, and authentication modules, ensuring the lock can only be operated when both an active and passive electronic key are simultaneously inserted, providing secure and unique key management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical keys are used in safe deposit boxes, then the lock can be opened with simple key insertion, but the keys are easy to duplicate and security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical key system with an electronic key system. The electronic key includes a microprocessor, memory, and power source that can perform authentication operations. The lock controller receives digital signals from the electronic key and controls the locking mechanism accordingly. This substitution eliminates the ability to duplicate mechanical keys while maintaining ease of operation through electronic key insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the key from mechanical physical form to electronic digital form. The electronic key stores authentication data in memory and communicates this data to the lock controller through electrical signals. This parameter change from mechanical to electronic makes key duplication impossible while preserving the simple insertion operation.
2Reliability
If electronic keys with power sources are used, then key duplication is prevented and security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electronic key system into separate functional modules: the electronic key itself (containing microprocessor, memory, and power source) and the lock controller (containing authentication logic and locking mechanism). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high security.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic key is designed to be self-contained with an integrated power source (battery or rechargeable), allowing it to autonomously perform authentication operations without requiring external power connections. This self-service capability reduces the complexity of power supply arrangements and makes the key portable and easy to use.
3Reliability
If both active and passive electronic keys are required simultaneously, then unauthorized access is prevented, but the operation requirement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by requiring the active electronic key (with power source) to first provide power and authenticate to the lock controller before allowing the passive electronic key to be read. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized users with the correct active key can initiate the unlocking process, while the passive key serves as a secondary verification. The lock controller manages the sequence of operations to maintain simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates an electronic locking system. In certain embodiments, the electronic locking system includes a passive electronic lock, active electronic key and passive electronic key. The passive electronic key stores a passive digital key, and the active electronic key stores an active digital key. Each of passive and active electronic keys includes a communication channel and an electronic key power supply port. The active electronic key includes electrical power source providing electrical power supply to active electronic key, passive electronic lock and passive electronic key through passive electronic lock to operate passive electronic lock. When both active and passive electronic keys are inserted into respective electronic keyholes of passive electronic lock, both active and passive digital keys are transmitted to passive electronic lock, passive electronic lock can be locked and unlocked only when both active and passive digital keys received match prestored active and passive digital keys respectively.