Electronic lock system and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. An electronic lock system comprising:
- a key having;
a first housing including an integral male USB connector;
an imaging system supported via the first housing and operative for generating data about a body part in contact with the key, wherein the generated data is data other than data regarding optical surface features of the body part; and
a first computational unit supported via the first housing and operative for determining a first image of the body part from the generated data and for making said first image available to the male USB connector.
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Abstract
In an electronic lock system, a lock includes a lock housing (6) with an integral female USB connector (6), a lock mechanism supported by the lock housing, and a storage supported by the lock housing and operative for storing a first, predetermined electronic image. A key (4) includes a key housing, an imaging system supported by the key hosing and operative for determining a second electronic image of non optical features of a body part in contact with the key, and a male USB connector (1θ) supported by the key housing and interfaced with the imaging system for passage of or permitting access to the second electronic image. A computational unit (32) is provided and is operative for comparing the first and second electronic images when the male and female USB connectors are mated and for causing the lock mechanism to move to its open or closed position as a function of the comparison.
28 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic lock system comprising:
a key having; a first housing including an integral male USB connector; an imaging system supported via the first housing and operative for generating data about a body part in contact with the key, wherein the generated data is data other than data regarding optical surface features of the body part; and a first computational unit supported via the first housing and operative for determining a first image of the body part from the generated data and for making said first image available to the male USB connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic lock system comprising a lock and a key, said lock comprising:
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a lock mechanism supported by a first housing; a female USB connector supported by the first housing; and a computational unit supported by the first housing and interfaced with the lock mechanism and the female USB connector, the computational unit operative for analyzing via the female USB connector an image of a body part in contact with the key and for causing the lock mechanism to be in its open or closed position as a function of the analysis, wherein the image is other than that of optical surface features of the body part. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of causing a lock mechanism to open or close, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a key having; a housing supporting an integral male USB connector, and means for determining a first electronic image of a body part in contact with the key, wherein the first image is an image of nonoptical features of the body part; (b) determining the first electronic image of the body part in contact with the key; (c) providing a lock having; a housing supporting an integral female USB connector configured to mate with the male USB connector; means for storing a second electronic image of the body part; and a lock mechanism; (d) causing the first and second images to be compared when the male and female USB connectors are mated; and (e) causing the lock mechanism to move to its open or closed position as a function of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic lock system comprising:
a lock having; a lock housing with an integral female USB connector; a lock mechanism supported by the lock housing; and an electronic storage supported by the lock housing and operative for storing a first, predetermined electronic image. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification