Electronic key system and method

• US 20030184432A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATEK Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Datakey Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Stifle, Bill, Waring, Gerry, Mattis, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.66
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00611 by using inductive transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic key system including an electrical/electronic key-like device and an electrical/electronic key receptacle capable of receiving a contactless type, contact type, or both types of key-like devices. The present invention further provides an electronic key system including an electrical/electronic key-like device and an intelligent electrical/electronic key receptacle wherein the system is capable of performing a transaction between the key-like device and the key receptacle after the key-like device is inserted into the key receptacle and moved to a predetermined position.

Claims

1. An electronic key system comprising an electrical/electronic key-like device and an electrical/electronic key receptacle capable of receiving a contactless type of electrical/electronic key-like device.

2. An electronic key system comprising an electrical/electronic key-like device and an electrical/electronic key receptacle capable of receiving both contactless and contact types of electrical/electronic key-like device.

3. An electronic key system having an electrical/electronic key-like device and an electrical/electronic key receptacle, wherein the key system is capable of performing a transaction between the key-like device and the key receptacle after the key-like device is inserted into the key receptacle and moved to a predetermined position.

4. The electronic key system of claim 3, wherein the electrical/electronic key-like device is a contactless type of electrical/electronic key-like device.

5. The electronic key system of claim 3, wherein the electrical/electronic key-like device is a contact type of electrical/electronic key-like device.

6. An electrical/electronic key receptacle for receiving an electrical/electronic key-like device, comprising:

a housing having an opening configured and arranged to receive the electrical/electronic key-like device;

a circuit associated with the housing, the circuit having at least one electrical trace and at least one embedded application operable with the electrical/electronic key-like device; and

a transceiver antenna member associated with the housing.

7. The key receptacle of claim 6, further comprising an interface for interfacing an external operation system.

8. A contactless electrical/electronic key-like device arranged for insertion into an electrical/electronic key receptacle, comprising:

a key-like body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a circuit disposed in and supported by the body; and

a magnetic coupling member disposed in the body adjacent to the distal end of the body;

wherein the body is configured such that the circuit and the magnetic coupling member are not exposed.

9. An electronic key system, comprising:

an electrical/electronic key-like device;

an electrical/electronic key receptacle for receiving the electrical/electronic key-like device, the key receptacle comprising;

a housing having an opening configured and arranged to receive the electrical/electronic key-like device;

a first circuit associated with the housing, the first circuit having at least one electrical trace and at least one embedded application operable with the electrical/electronic key-like device; and

a transceiver antenna member associated with the housing.

10. The electronic key system of claim 9, wherein the electrical/electronic key-like device is a contactless electrical/electronic key-like device, the contactless electrical/electronic key-like device comprising:

a key-like body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a second circuit disposed in and supported by the body; and

a magnetic coupling member disposed in the body adjacent to the distal end of the body;

wherein the body is configured such that the second circuit and the magnetic coupling member are not exposed.

11. The electronic key system of claim 10, wherein when the key-like device is inserted into the opening, magnetic field of the magnetic coupling member is disposed substantially orthogonal to magnetic field of the transceiver antenna member, and no energy is coupled between the magnetic field of the magnetic coupling member and the magnetic field of the transceiver antenna member.

12. The electronic key system of claim 11, wherein when the key-like device is fully inserted into the receptacle and turned to a predetermined position where the magnetic field of the magnetic coupling member and the magnetic field of the transceiver antenna member are substantially aligned with each other, energy is coupled between the magnetic field of the magnetic coupling member and the magnetic field of the transceiver antenna member.

13. The electronic key system of claim 12, wherein when the key-like device is turned into the predetermined position, a tactile feedback is generated.

14. The electronic key system of claim 12, wherein when the key-like device is turned into the predetermined position, an audible feedback is generated.

15. The electronic key system of claim 12, wherein when the key-like device is turned into the predetermined position, a visual feedback is generated.

16. The electronic key system of claim 12, wherein when the key-like device is moved to the predetermined position, a transaction between the first circuit and the second circuit is enabled.

17. The electronic key system of claim 9, wherein the key receptacle further comprises an interface for interfacing an external operation system.

18. The electronic key system of claim 17, wherein the interface is a RS-232 protocol.

19. The electronic key system of claim 17, wherein the interface is a RS-485 protocol.

20. The electronic key system of claim 17, wherein the interface is a USB protocol.

21. An electronic key system having an electrical/electronic key-like device and an electrical/electronic key receptacle, wherein the key system is activated for a transaction by inserting the key-like device into the key receptacle, and aligning the key-like device with the key receptacle by orienting the key-like device into and retaining the key-like device at a predetermined position.

22. A method of operating an electronic key system, comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical/electronic key-like device, the electrical/electronic key-like device storing information and having a first circuit;

inserting the electrical/electronic key-like device into an electrical/electronic key receptacle, the key receptacle having a second circuit;

placing the key-like device into a predetermined position in the key receptacle to enable a transaction between the first circuit of the key-like device and the second circuit of the key receptacle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the transaction is a data logging operation to read/write data between the key-like device and the key receptacle for transport of data to/from a remote station.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the transaction is an access control operation to verify data stored in the key-like device and provide access to an external operation system.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the transaction is a vending operation whereby the data stored in the key-like device is an amount of value and is decremented after each vending operation.