JPH0152551B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a magnetic key (also called an electronic key) magnetic array reading device that is capable of reading the magnetic array of a magnetic key in combination with magnets using as few elements as possible. It is related to the device.

Magnetic keys for locks, which are combined with magnets, were developed in an attempt to provide a similar function to magnetic cards, which utilize magnetic arrays. Its characteristics are as follows.

(1) Can be used as a general lock key.

(2) It has a verification function for identification documents, etc.

(3) An electric lock can be operated by reading the magnetic array using an array reader using a Hall element, etc., and comparing it with a pre-registered magnetic array.

(4) By memorizing the magnetic arrangement of the keys, it is possible to freely create a master key, and by using a different key every day, it is possible to prevent the previous key from being used and theft, etc. .

In magnetic keys and magnetic array readers that have the above functions, the magnets built into the magnetic keys are small and the distance between adjacent magnets is narrow, so the array reader such as a Hall element also reads the array in a position opposite to the magnet. Therefore, there is a difficulty in arranging them at narrow intervals and wiring them.

In addition, in order to read the magnetism of magnets arranged sequentially using a single Hall element, etc., a guide mechanism is required to indicate the order of the magnetic arrangement, and the magnetic keys currently in use do not have such a guide mechanism. There are many problems with incorporating it, such as space. This is because there are places where magnets are not incorporated other than the S-pole and N-pole arrangement, and since there are not enough combinations of only S-poles and N-poles, there is no way to eliminate the places where magnets are not installed.

This invention was made in order to solve the above problem, and it is possible to read the entire magnetic arrangement by arranging magnetic detection elements every other magnet instead of having one-to-one correspondence with the magnets. It is. The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a magnetic key 10 that is the object of reading according to the present invention.
is a magnet part made of non-magnetic material. Magnets 13 are arranged at a constant pitch p on both sides, and magnets 1 on both sides
3 are alternately shifted. The hatched area is the north pole, the meshed area is the south pole, and the blank area is where no magnet is installed.
In other words, it is space. These are 13 symbols
These will be expressed as N, 13S, and 13O. In addition,
In this case, the N pole and S pole refer to the polarity appearing on the surface. Also, when indicating a specific location in an array, number the columns on both sides sequentially from one side, #1 to
I will call it #14.

FIG. 2 shows a magnetic array reader 20 according to the present invention.
This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment, in which an insertion groove 22 is formed in a housing 21 made of a non-magnetic material, and Hall elements 23 are arranged on both sides at a pitch of 2p on the downstream side of this insertion groove 22. Hall elements 23 on both sides
are alternately shifted. When indicating a specific location in the array, number the columns on both sides sequentially with odd numbers on one side, #1', #3', #5', #7', and even numbers starting with #8' on the other side. Attached with #8′, #10′, #12′,
I will call it #14′.

FIG. 3 shows the magnetic key 10 shown in FIG. 1 fully inserted into the magnetic array reader 20 shown in FIG.

In the present invention, a magnet 13N or 13S is always disposed on at least one of #1 and #8 of the magnetic key 10, and this is used as a guide magnet. Therefore, when the magnetic key 10 is completely inserted into the magnetic array reader 20 as shown in FIG. 3, an output is obtained from the Hall element 23 of #1' or #8', thereby completing the insertion. can detect what has happened. Furthermore, the Hall elements 23 #7' and #14' can be used to identify the polarity of magnetism, and the other Hall elements may be simply Hall elements that can identify whether or not there is magnetism. However, if #5' and #12' are also Hall elements whose polarities can be identified, the Hall elements of #5' and #12' will have the same polarity as that identified by the Hall elements 23 of #7' and #14'. 23, it is also possible to provide a check function.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 4a to 4d and 5a to 5d.

When the magnetic key 10 is inserted as shown in FIG. 4a, the polarity of the magnet is first detected at at least one location, #7' or #14'. Fourth
In Figure A, the #7' Hall element 23 detects the N pole, and at this stage, the #14' Hall element 23 is not performing detection. This state is shown in FIG. 5a. In other words, in Figure 5a, the upper side shows the address on the #7' side, the lower side shows the address on the #14' side, "N" means that the N pole was detected, and "1" means that nothing was detected. It shows what happened. Moreover, "S", which will be described later, indicates that the S pole has been detected. This output is input to a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU).

Next, when the state shown in Figure 4b is reached, the S pole is detected by the Hall element 23 of #14', and the Hall element 23 of #7'
It doesn't detect anything. This state is shown in FIG. 5b. The dotted line in FIG. 5b shows the detection results up to the previous time. This detection result is also input to the CPU.

Furthermore, in the state shown in Figure 4c, when magnetism is detected at at least one of #5' or #12', it is possible to determine whether or not there is magnetism at #7' or #14', if any. Detect polarity. In the case of Fig. 4c, the S pole is at #7', and no polarity is detected at #14'. This state is shown in FIG. 5c. This detection result also
is input.

After that, the insertion is performed sequentially, and when the magnetic key 10 is completely inserted as shown in FIG. 3 after passing through FIG. 4 d,
Detection is as shown in FIG. 5d. In addition, in FIG. 5d, the detection results up to the previous time are also shown by solid lines.

In summary, the magnetic pole arrangement of this magnetic key 10 is detected to be "N--SS-SS-NN-N-". That is, even if the Hall elements 23 are not arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the magnets 13, but are arranged every other one, the entire magnetic pole arrangement can be detected.

Therefore, if this input magnetic sequence is the same as the magnetic sequence previously stored in the CPU, a signal to unlock the electric lock or a confirmation OK signal can be sent from the CPU side. Can be sent to others.

In the above embodiment, the #1 magnet 1 of the magnet key 10
3 was used as a guide magnet, but magnet 1 of #8
An example in which numeral 3 is used as a guide magnet will be described next.

FIG. 6 shows a magnetic key 10 used in another embodiment of the present invention, in which #4 of #1 to #7 has a magnet 13N.
A magnet 13S is arranged at #8, and the magnetic arrangement is read using the #8 magnet 13S as a guide magnet.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

When the magnetic key 10 is inserted as shown in FIG. 7a, the magnetic polarity is first detected by the Hall element 23 of either #7' or #14'. In the state shown in FIG. 7a, the S pole is detected by the #14' Hall element 23, and no magnetism is detected by the #7' Hall element 23. This state is shown in FIG. 8a. This is the CPU
is input.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7b, the magnetic key 10 is further inserted, but no magnetism is detected in either #7' or #14'. This state is shown in FIG. 8b. However, it can only be determined that the state shown in FIG. 8b is reached when the state shown in FIG. 7c is reached.

When the magnetic key 10 further advances to FIG. 7c, magnetism is detected by the Hall element 23 of #12', but at this time, no magnetism is detected by #5', #7', and #14'. This is input to the CPU. and,
The fact that magnetism is detected at #12' after #14' means that the magnet 13 is not present at #9 of the magnetic key 10. Moreover, the fact that magnetism is not detected by #14' Hall element 23 means that
This means that there is no magnet 13 at #10' of the magnetic key 10 either. Moreover, since the S pole was detected with #14' Hall element 23, #12' Hall element 2
The fact that magnetism was not detected in Hall element 23 of #7' until magnetism was detected in step 3 means that magnet key 1
This means that there is no magnet 13 in #1, #2, and #3 of 0. This state is shown in FIG. 8c. This judgment is made in the CPU.

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7d, press the magnetic key 1 until the end.
When 0 is inserted, magnetic detection is as shown in FIG. 8d. This is determined by the CPU. In the end, the arrangement of the magnets 13 of the magnetic key 10 is "-S----N
---------'' is detected.

In each of the above embodiments, a Hall element is used as the magnetic detection element, but other magnetic detection elements such as a magnetoresistive element may also be used. Further, the CPU that determines the combination of outputs of the respective magnetic detection elements is not shown.

As explained in detail above, in order to read the magnetic arrangement of a magnet key, the present invention arranges magnetic detection elements at twice the arrangement pitch of the magnets, and the magnetic detection element on both sides is activated first. Use a magnet whose magnetic polarity can be determined at least, and the tip of at least one side of the magnet of the magnetic key should be a N-pole or S-pole magnet, and the magnetism of the magnetic key can be determined by combining the outputs obtained from each magnetic detection element Since the array is read, the magnetic array can be reliably detected using a small number of magnetic detection elements. and,
Since only a small number of magnetic detection elements are required, there are advantages such as easier wiring and less risk of malfunction.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a magnetic key to be read by the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Figures 4a to d are views showing the state in which the magnet key shown in the figure is inserted, Figures 4a to d are views showing how the magnets are sequentially inserted into the magnetic array reader, and Figures 5a to d are the same as Figures 4a to d. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the magnetic key that is the object of reading of the present invention, and FIGS. 7a to 7d are diagrams showing the state of the corresponding read information. FIGS. 8a to 8d are diagrams showing states of read information corresponding to FIGS. 7a to d. In the figure, 10 is a magnetic key, 11 is a grip part, 12 is a magnet part, 13 is a magnet, 20 is a magnetic array reader,
21 is a housing, 22 is an insertion groove, and 23 is a Hall element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A N-pole magnet, a S-pole magnet, and a space are combined on both sides at a constant pitch, and the arrangement between the two sides is alternately staggered, and at least one N-pole or S-pole is placed at the tip of one of the two sides. In a magnetic key array reader in which magnets are arranged, magnetic detection elements are arranged at positions facing both sides of the magnet key at a pitch twice the fixed pitch, and
The magnetic detection elements on both sides that are activated first when the magnetic key is inserted are capable of determining magnetic polarity, and further, means for determining the magnetic arrangement of the magnetic key from a combination of outputs of the respective magnetic detection elements. What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic key array reader comprising: