Safe Lock System Central Control Unit Communication Bus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safe lock systems often have complex wiring that can lead to unintended locking of all locks if an incorrect code is entered on one lock, making operation and maintenance cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A safe lock system with a central control unit and communication bus that allows each lock to have a unique serial number, enabling direct addressing and using disjunctive linking of lock status signals to simplify cabling and maintain security, where only one lock needs to be open for the system to recognize the 'open' state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If locks are wired in a complex manner to ensure security, then security is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcabling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A communication bus is introduced as an intermediary component to connect multiple locks to a central control unit. This bus serves as a standardized interface that simplifies the cabling structure compared to complex point-to-point wiring, while maintaining secure communication between locks and the control unit through protocol-based data exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication bus implements a universal connection standard that can be used across multiple locks and the central control unit. This multi-functional communication infrastructure replaces multiple specialized wiring connections, reducing overall system complexity while enabling centralized control and status monitoring of all locks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If locks are wired in a complex manner to ensure security, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The communication bus acts as a mediator that enables the central control unit to independently manage and control individual locks through addressed communication. This eliminates the need for complex inter-lock wiring while providing convenient centralized operation, where the control unit can send commands to specific locks based on their serial numbers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where locks send status signals (such as locked/unlocked states) back to the central control unit through the communication bus. This allows the control unit to monitor lock states and make intelligent decisions about which locks to control, improving operational convenience while maintaining security through informed control decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If all locks are interconnected to maintain security, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the control architecture into a central control unit and individual locks, with the communication bus providing structured connections. Each lock can be individually addressed using serial numbers, allowing selective control rather than requiring all locks to be tightly interconnected. This segmentation reduces system complexity while maintaining security through centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If individual locks are addressed independently, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock control flexibilityVSAvoidaddressing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication bus serves as an intermediary that handles the addressing and routing of commands to individual locks. Rather than requiring complex addressing logic within each lock, the bus manages serial number-based addressing centrally, simplifying the implementation of independent lock control while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3896661A1Method of operating a safe lock system
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 DORMAKABA SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP3896661A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3896661A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3896661A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a safe lock system (1) with several locks (3), a central control unit (33) and a communication bus (2) connecting the locks (3) and the central control unit (33), comprising the following steps: a) generating a lock state signal (37) in several of the locks (3), wherein the lock state signal (37) indicates the current state of a state group of the respective lock (3), b) sending the respective lock state signal (37) via the communication bus (2) to the central control unit (33), c) disjunctively combining the lock state signals (37) of the several locks (3) in the central control unit (33) to generate a system state signal (38), and d) sending the system state signal (38) to the locks (3).