Biometric electronic key with build in proximity detector and infrared communication as dual verification
First Claim
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1. An electronic key for operating an electronic lock comprising:
- a key blade that is configured to be insertable into a keyway of said electronic lock; and
a key handle connected with said key blade and adapted to be gripped by a user of the electronic key, and containing said electronic circuitry including an on-board microprocessor and fingerprint identification memory for storing an electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user, and a communication port unit for transmitting and receiving communication signals with an associated communication port unit of said electronic lock, said key handle further including a fingerprint sensor arranged to be touched by said user in the course of said user gripping said key handle and being operative to generate an electronic output representative of a sensed fingerprint of said user, and wherein said electronic circuitry is operative to compare said electronic output representative of said sensed fingerprint of said user with said electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user as stored in said fingerprint identification memory and, in response thereto, to control the ability of said key to operate said lock.
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Abstract
A biometric electronic key for use with an electronic lock is programmable to contain data representative of the fingerprint of the user. When so programmed, successful use of the key requires that a fingerprint of the user, as sensed by a fingerprint identification sensor installed in the handle of the key and touched by a user in the course of gripping the key, match an electronic template of an authorized key user'"'"'s fingerprint that has been programmed into memory within the key'"'"'s on-board electronics. Otherwise the key will fail to operate the lock.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An electronic key for operating an electronic lock comprising:
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a key blade that is configured to be insertable into a keyway of said electronic lock; and
a key handle connected with said key blade and adapted to be gripped by a user of the electronic key, and containing said electronic circuitry including an on-board microprocessor and fingerprint identification memory for storing an electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user, and a communication port unit for transmitting and receiving communication signals with an associated communication port unit of said electronic lock, said key handle further including a fingerprint sensor arranged to be touched by said user in the course of said user gripping said key handle and being operative to generate an electronic output representative of a sensed fingerprint of said user, and wherein said electronic circuitry is operative to compare said electronic output representative of said sensed fingerprint of said user with said electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user as stored in said fingerprint identification memory and, in response thereto, to control the ability of said key to operate said lock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of configuring an electronic key for operating an electronic lock comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a key blade that is configured to be insertable into a keyway of said electronic lock;
(b) coupling said key blade with a key handle that is adapted to be gripped by a user of the electronic key, said key handle containing electronic circuitry including a microprocessor and a communication port structure for transmitting and receiving communication signals with an associated communication port structure of said electronic lock, (c) providing said key handle with a fingerprint sensor, that is arranged to be touched by said user in the course of said user gripping said key handle, and is operative to generate an electronic output representative of a sensed fingerprint of said user; and
(d) providing, as part of said electronic circuitry a fingerprint identification memory for storing an electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user, and a comparator that is operative to compare said electronic output representative of said sensed fingerprint of said user with said electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user as stored in said fingerprint identification memory and, in response thereto, to control the ability of said key to operate said lock. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic key for operating an electronic lock comprising:
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a key blade that is insertable into a keyway of said electronic lock and is operative to convey electrical power from said electronic lock for operating internal circuitry of said electronic key; and
a key handle from which said key blade extends, said key handle being gripped by a user in the course of use of said electronic key and containing said electronic circuitry, that includes a microprocessor and a fingerprint template memory that for stores an electronic representation of a fingerprint of said user, said key handle further including infrared transmit and receive communication ports for transmitting and receiving communication signals with associated receive and transmit communication ports of said electronic lock, and a fingerprint sensor arranged to be touched by said user in the course of said user gripping said key handle and being operative to generate an electronic output representative of a sensed fingerprint of said user, and a comparator that is operative to compare said electronic output representative of said sensed fingerprint of said user with said electronic template of a fingerprint of said user as stored in said fingerprint identification memory and, in response thereto, to control the ability of said key to operate said lock. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification