Electronically-controlled locker system
View Patent ↗An electronically-controlled locker system that utilizes distributing processing to control access to, and assignment of, a plurality of lockers in a school, workplace, fitness center, etc. The system uses a plurality of locker control units that control access to a corresponding set of lockers based on user inputs and on user/locker authorization data that is provided from a central administrator workstation. This administrator workstation communicates with a system control unit that is in communication with every locker control unit and which allows cross-communication between locker control units.
1. An electronically-controlled locker system for use by a plurality of authorized users and managed by an administrator, said system comprising:
a first plurality of lockers wherein each locker comprises a respective electronically-activated lock;
at least one input device for allowing the plurality of authorized users to communicate with said system;
at least one locker control unit, in communication with each electronically-activated lock and with said at least one input device, said at least one input device being in direct communication with said at least one locker control unit and said at least one locker control unit controlling the activation of said electronically-activated locks;
a computer, controlled by the administrator, for managing at least one database of authorized user and locker information;
a system control unit, in communication with said at least one locker control unit and with said computer, said system control unit providing said at least one locker control unit with said authorized user and locker information, said system control unit comprising a watchdog;
and wherein said at least one locker control unit uses data from said at least one input device and said authorized user and locker information to provide access to corresponding lockers for the plurality of authorized users and
wherein said electronically-activated lock controls the locked or unlocked state of a corresponding locker door, said electronically-activated lock comprising:
an actuator electrically coupled to said locker control unit;
a switch, coupled in series with said actuator and not accessible to a user of the locker door, said switch completing an electrical circuit whenever said locker door is closed and opening said electrical circuit whenever said door is opened;
and wherein said actuator is momentarily activated by a first current pulse from said locker control unit to open said locker door and wherein said switch opens said electrical circuit upon activation of said actuator and
wherein said locker control unit transmits a second current pulse to determine the locked or unlocked state of said locker door, said locker control unit receiving a return current pulse if said locker door is in a locked state and said locker control unit receiving no return current pulse if said locker door is an unlocked state.
2. A method for controlling access to a plurality of lockers for a plurality of authorized users by an administrator, said method comprising the steps of:
storing and maintaining information about the plurality of authorized users and said plurality of lockers, referred to as predetermined data, at a first location;
providing an electronic lock at each one of said plurality of lockers;
assigning a respective locker control unit to a respective subset of said plurality of lockers, each of said locker control units communicating directly with every electronic lock in said subset and each of said locker control units being located in the vicinity of a respective subset;
coupling at least one input device to one of said locker control units for permitting the authorized users in that subset to request access to their respective lockers, said at least one input device directly communicating with said one of said locker control units;
loading each of said locker control units with said predetermined data from said first location;
controlling access to each of said lockers in a subset by a respective locker control unit based on said predetermined data and said access request by the authorized users;
and linking each one of said locker control units to a system control unit and
wherein said system control unit permits communication between said locker control units such that a first locker control unit can unlock a locker in a plurality of lockers that are assigned to a second locker control unit and
wherein said step of controlling access to said lockers further comprises determining the open or closed state of said lockers using an electrical circuit which also controls unlocking said lockers and
wherein said steps of controlling access to said lockers and determining the open or closed state of said lockers uses a first current pulse through said electrical circuit to unlock said lockers and a second current pulse through said electrical circuit to detect an open or a closed state of said lockers.