ELECTRONIC COMBINATION DOOR AND IGNITION LOCK

• US 3,691,396 A
• Filed: 08/09/1971
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gordon Hinrichs
• Original Assignee: Gordon Hinrichs
• Inventors: Hinrichs, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hohauser, Herman J.
• Application Number:
  US05/170,191
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 317/134 180/114,112,99 340/63,64,147,164,164A,167,274 307/1AT,40,218,239,247
• US Class Current: 307/40
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

A circuit is disclosed for unlocking the door and energizing the ignition circuit of a motor vehicle in response to manual insertion of a predetermined 5-digit code selected from a choice of four digits. The circuit includes a four stage solid state register, a six stage counter and logic gates which are interconnected to energize a door unlocking solenoid in response to insertion of the code in the proper sequence from a pushbutton keyboard unit located on the door of the vehicle. A five stage counter and additional logic means is provided which responds to actuation of any of the four digits out of sequence or to actuation of any digit not forming a part of the code to reset the two counters and the register. Upon entry into the vehicle and closure of the ignition switch, the last stage in the door unlocking logic is disabled and a parallel connected logic stage is enabled. The operator must then reinsert the code from a dash mounted pushbutton keyboard in the proper sequence to arm the ignition circuit.

Claims

1. A circuit for producing a control signal in response to a predetermined x symbol code selected from a choice of y symbols comprising;

y parallel connected manually actuable switch means, each switch means bearing indicia corresponding to respective ones of said y symbols;

first and second resettable electronic counter means having at least x output terminals;

triggerable switch means having an input connected with each of said y switch means and an output connected with each of said first and second counter means for clocking said first and second counter means in response respectively, to actuation and release of any of saiD y switch means;

first logic means including x gates performing an AND logic function, each gate having a first input connected with respective output terminals of said first counter means and a second input connected with at least one of said y switch means;

resettable electronic register means having x- 1 stages, x- 1 of the gates of said first logic means having an output connected with respective stages of said register means, the output of said register means being connected as a third input to the xth gate of said first logic means, the output of the xth gate of said first logic means producing said control signal when said switch means are actuated in a sequence corresponding to said code;

second logic means including at least y gates performing an OR logic function, each gate having inputs connected respectively with each one of different groups consisting of y- 1 of said y switch means;

third logic means including x gates performing an AND logic function, each gate having a first input connected with respective output terminals of said second counter means and a second input connected with the output of at least one of the gates of said second logic means;

fourth logic means connected with the output of each of the gates of said third logic means for resetting said first counter means when any of said y switch means are actuated in a sequence differing from said code; and

logic means responsive to reset of said first counter means and release of said y switch means for resetting said second counter means and said register.

2. In a motor vehicle provided with a source of DC potential, electrically operated door unlocking means and an ignition circuit, a circuit for controlling said door unlocking means and said ignition circuit in response to a predetermined x symbol code selected from a choice of y symbols comprising;

y parallel connected manually actuable switch means, each switch means bearing indicia corresponding to respective ones of said y symbols;

first and second resettable electronic counter means having at least x output terminals;

triggerable monostable multivibrator means having an input connected with each of said y switch means and an output connected with each of said first and second counter means for clocking said first counter means in response to actuation of any of said y switch means and for clocking said second counter means in response to release of any of said y switch means;

first logic means including x gates performing an AND logic function, each gate having a first input connected with respective output terminals of said first counter means and a second input connected with at least one of said y switch means;

resettable electronic register means having x- 1 stages, x- 1 of the gates of said first logic means having an output connected with respective stages of said register means, the output of said register means being connected as a third input to the xth gate of said first logic means, the output of the xth gate of said first logic means connected with said electrically operated door unlocking means whereby said door unlocking means are operated when said y switch means are actuated in a sequence corresponding to said code;

second logic means including at least y gates performing an OR logic function, each gate having inputs connected respectively with each one of different groups consisting of y- 1 of said y switch means;

third logic means including x gates performing an AND logic function, each gate having a first input connected with respective output terminals of said second counter means and a second input connected with the output of at least one of the gates of said second logic means;

fourth logic mEans having inputs connected with the outputs of respective ones of the gates of said third logic means for resetting said first counter means when any of said y switch means are actuated in a sequence different from said code;

logic means responsive to reset of said first counter means and release of said Y switch means for resetting said second counter means and said register;

time delay means responsive to one state of the last stage of said register means for resetting said first counter means a predetermined interval of time after the last stage of said register means switches to said one state;

fifth logic means comprising a gate performing an AND logic function and connected in parallel with the xth gate of said first logic means;

operator controlled switching means for disabling said xth gate of said first logic means and for enabling said fifth logic means;

said fifth logic means producing a control signal when said switch means are actuated in a sequence corresponding to said code;

normally non-conductive electronic switching means connected in said ignition circuit, said electronic switch means being rendered conductive in response to said control signal of said fifth logic means.

3. In a motor vehicle provided with a source of DC potential, electrically operated door locking and unlocking means and an ignition circuit including an ignition switch connected to said source;

a circuit for energizing said door unlocking means and for energizing said ignition circuit in response to a predetermined x symbol code selected from a choice of y symbols;

y parallel connected manually actuable switch means, each switch means bearing indicia corresponding to respective ones of said y symbols;

first resettable electronic counter means having a reset terminal, a clock terminal, a first output terminal and x additional output terminals;

monostable multivibrator means having an input connected with each of said y switch means and triggerable from a stable state to a semi-stable state a predetermined interval of time after actuation of any one of said y switch means and returning to its stable state upon deactuation of said one of said y switch means, the output of said multivibrator means being connected to the clock terminal of said first counter for clocking said first counter means, each time said multivibrator means is triggered to its semi-stable state;

second resettable electronic counter means having a clock terminal, a reset terminal, and at least x output terminals;

inverter means connecting the output of said multivibrator means to the clock terminal of said second counter means whereby said second counter means is clocked when said multivibrator means returns to its stable state;

first logic means including x gates performing an AND logic function, each gate having a first input connected with the respective x additional output terminals of said first counter means and a second input connected with at least one of said y switch means;

resettable electronic register means having x- 1 stages, x- 1 at the gates of said first logic means having an output connected with respective stages of said register means, the output of said register means being connected as a third input to the xth gate of said first logic means, the output of the xth gate of said first logic means connected with said electrically operated door unlocking means whereby said door unlocking means are operated when said switch means are actuated in a sequence corresponding to said code;

second logic means including at least y gates performing an OR logic function, each gate having inputs connected respectively with each one of different groups consisting of y- 1 of said y switch means;

third logic means including x gates performing An AND logic function, each gate having a first input connected with respective output terminals of said second counter means and a second input connected with the output of at least one of the gates of said second logic means;

fourth logic means having inputs connected with the outputs of respective ones of the gates of said third logic means for resetting said first counter means thereby producing an enabling output at said first output terminal of said first counter means;

means connected with said multivibrator means and said first output terminal for resetting said second counter and said register means when said multivibrator returns to its stable state and an enabling output appears at said first terminal of said first counter means;

time delay means responsive to one state of the last stage of said register means for resetting said first counter means a predetermined interval of time after the last stage of said register means switches to said one state;

fifth logic means comprising a gate performing an AND logic function and connected in parallel with the xth gate of said first logic means, means for disabling said xth gate of said first logic means and for enabling said fifth logic means in response to closure of said ignition switch;

electronic switching means connecting said ignition circuit in series with said ignition switch and responsive to the output of said fifth logic means for energizing said ignition circuit when said y switch means are actuated in a sequence corresponding to said code;

sixth logic means performing an AND logic function and responsive to the output of one of said gates of said third logic means and to opening of said ignition switch for energizing said door locking means.