Opto-electronic security system

• US 3,872,435 A
• Filed: 05/18/1973
• Issued: 03/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victor L. Cestaro
• Original Assignee: Victor L. Cestaro
• Inventors: Cestaro, Victor L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/361,807
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 340/147R,147MD,149R,164R,274 317/134
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00785 by light
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

An opto-electronic security system comprising an opto-electronic key device and an opto-electronic lock apparatus. The key device comprises a housing containing no source of electrical power but having means for generating a plurality of distinct preselected signal pulse trains in a predetermined manner to correspondingly activate light emitting sources, preferably operable in the infra-red spectrum. The opto-electronic lock apparatus including an electrical power source, means for receiving said key device and for supplying electrical power to said key device for energization thereof, light sensing means disposed in optical alignment with said light emitting sources and data processing means for decoding said predetermined and selected signal pulse trains of said key device as received by said light sensing means. The opto-electronic lock apparatus has a predetermined code associated therewith and being operative to electrically actuate a locking mechanism into an open position when said decoded signals are coincident with said predetermined code, and alarm means operatively connected with said lock apparatus and actuable thereby when said decoded signals are not coincident with said predetermined code.

Claims

1. An opto-electronic security system for controling locking means, comprising key means for producing distinct signal trains and transmitting said signal trains as light signals in accordance with a predetermined code combination, and lock means for receiving the light signals, said lock means comprising alarm means and decoding means electrically connected to said locking means and said alarm means for decoding the light signals in a predetermined manner whereby when the decoded signals compare with the predetermined code combination said locking means is actuated anD opened and when the decoded signals do not compare with the predetermined code combination said locking means is maintained closed and the alarm means is activated.

2. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said key means comprises timing means for delaying the transmission of specific light signals to said lock means.

3. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said key means is absent of any electrical power supply means, and said lock means includes a receptacle for accommodating the key means and means for supplying electrical power to said key means when the latter is inserted in said receptacle.

4. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said key means comprises integrated circuit means for producing distinct electrical signal trains of the predetermined code combination and light emitting diode means electrically connected to the electrical signal train producing means for converting the electrical signal trains into light signals of the same code combination.

5. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electrical signal train producing means of the key means comprises oscillator means having an output, clock signal generating means having an input electrically connected to the output of said oscillator means, and a plurality of outputs for providing clock pulses thereat, counting means having an input electrically connected to an output of the clock signal generating means, and a pair of outputs, shift and generating means having a first input electrically connected to an output of the clock signal generating means, a second input electrically connected to a first output of said counting means, and a pair of outputs, parallel to serial shift register means having an input electrically connected to the second of said output of said counting means, an input electrically connected to an output of said clock signal generating means, an input generally connected to the first output of said shift and clear generating means, and an output, and said light emitting diode means of said key means comprising a first light emitting diode electrically connected to the second output of said shift and clear generating means for transmitting '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'clear'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light pulses, a second light emitting diode electrically connected to an output of said clock signal generating means for transmitting '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'clock'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light pulses, and a third light emitting diode electrically connected to said output of said shift register means for transmitting encoded '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'data'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light pulses.

6. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said clock signal generating means is operative to divide the output of said oscillator means by a factor of 2.

7. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said counting means comprises a divide by 8 counter.

8. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said clock signal generating means is operative to provide square wave clock pulses at the outputs thereof.

9. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said light emitting diodes transmit light pulses in the infrared range of the spectrum.

10. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lock means comprises a plurality of light sensing diodes each of which is disposed in optical alignment with a corresponding one of said light emitting diodes when said key means is in proper position within said receptacle, said light sensing diodes converting light signals received from said light emitting diodes into corresponding electrical signals, each of said light sensing diodes having an output, a plurality of amplifying means each having an input electrically connected to the output of a correspoNding one of said light sensing diodes and each having an output for providing amplified electrical signals thereat, said decoding means comprising integrated circuit means having a plurality of inputs electrically coupled to the outputs of the amplifying means and a pair of outputs, and said decoding means determining coincidence between said electrical signals produced by said light emitting diodes and said predetermined code combination.

11. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lock means further comprises integrated circuit serial to parallel shift register means having a plurality of inputs each electrically connected to the output of a corresponding one of said amplifying means and a plurality of outputs each electrically connected to a corresponding one of the inputs of said decoding means, counting means having an input electrically connected to the output of one of said amplifying means and a pair of outputs, and additional timing means, said alarm means having an input electrically connected to an output of said decoding means and another input electrically connected to an output of said counting means, and said locking means being electrically connected to an output of said counting means and to said additional timing means.

12. A light signal transmitter key apparatus, comprising integrated circuit means for producing distinct electrical signal trains of a predetermined code combination;

light emitting diode means connected to said electrical signal train producing means for converting said electrical signal trains into light signals of the same code combination, and said transmitter being absent of any electrical power supply source and adapted to be connected with an external power source.

13. A light signal transmitter key apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said electrical signal train producing means comprises oscillator means having an output, clock signal generating means having an input electrically connected to the output of said oscillator means, and a plurality of outputs for providing clock pulses thereat, counting means having an input electrically connected to an output of the clock signal generating means, and, a pair of outputs, shift and clear generating means having a first input electrically connected to an output of the clock signal generating means, a second input electrically connected to a first output of the counting means, and a pair of outputs, parallel to serial shift register means having an input electrically connected to the second of said outputs of said counting means, an input electrically connected to an output off said clock signal generating means, an input electrically connected to an output of said shift and clear generating means, and an output.

14. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said clock signal generating means is operative to divide the output of said oscillator means by a factor of 2.

15. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said counting means comprises a divide by 8 counter.

16. An opto-electronic security system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said clock signal generating means is operative to provide square wave clock pulses at the outputs thereof.

17. A light signal transmitter key apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said light emitting diode means comprises a first light emitting diode electrically connected to another output of said shift and clear generating means for transmitting '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'clear'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light pulses, a second light emitting diode electrically connected to another output of the clock generating means for transmitting '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'clock'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light pulses, and a third light emitting diode electrically connected to the output of said shift register means for transmitting encoded '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'data'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' lighT pulses.

18. A light signal transmitter key apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said light emitting diodes transmit light pulses in the infrared range of the spectrum.