Electronic security apparatus

• US 3,944,976 A
• Filed: 08/09/1974
• Issued: 03/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sielox Systems Incorporated Cupertino CA A Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rode France
• Inventors: France, Rode
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US05/496,005
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 235/177, 235/153 R, 235/61.7 B, 340/146.2, 340/146.1 AL, 340/146.1 R, 340/147 MD, 340/147 LP, 340/149 R, 340/149 A, 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 340/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00761 with data transmission performed by connected means, e.g. mechanical contacts, plugs, connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved electronic lock includes a random bit-pattern generator which may be selectively cycled through a plurality of bit-pattern combinations to provide a code that can be stored in a mating electronic key. Several bit-patterns or codes may be stored in a single key for convenient use in operating a corresponding number of separate locks.

Claims

1. Electronic security apparatus comprising:

a first set of a plural number N of logic elements capable of attaining distinct logic states interconnected to provide a plurality of logic states or bits;

first gate means having an input connected to the output of the Nth logic element of the first set and having an output connected to the first of the N number of logic elements of the first set for operation therewith as a shift register which produces a selectably changeable pattern of logic states in the first set;

a second set of a plural number of at least N logic elements capable of attaining distinct logic states and interconnected to provide a plurality of logic states or bits;

second gate means having an input connected to the output of the Nth logic element of the second set and having an output connected to the first of the N number of logic elements of the second set for operation therewith as a shift register which produces a selectably changeable pattern of logic states in the second set;

third gate means having an input port connected to the output of the Nth logic element of the first set and having another input port for receiving manifestations of logic states attained by the second set of logic elements for serial comparison with the logic states attained by said first set of logic elements to provide an output signal indicative of parity of compared logic states;

transfer means selectively enabled to couple the logic elements of the first set to the logic elements of the second set for selectively transferring the pattern of logic states from one set to the other set of logic elements;

means for selectively coupling an output of said second set of logic elements to said other input port of the third gate means for selectively comparing therein the logic states serially received from said first and second sets of logic elements; and

utilization means connected to said third gate means for responding to said output signal upon occurrence of parity of compared logic states.

2. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 1 comprising:

source means of clock signals;

means coupling the source means to the first and second sets of logic elements for sequentially providing the logic states or bits therefrom for comparison;

counter means for counting a number proportional to N of applied clock signals to produce an output in response thereto; and

means coupled to said third gate means for applying thereto the output from said counter means to limit the number of comparisons of logic states to said number proportional to N.

3. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said third gate means includes cycle registering means connected to produce said output signal from said third gate means only in response to a plural number M of complete parity comparisons of N number of logic states.

4. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for selectively coupling an output of said second set of logic elements to said other input port of the third gate means includes contact means mounted with said second set of logic elements for mating with corresponding contact means mounted with said first set of logic elements for selectively making conductive connection between said output of the second set of logic elements and said other input of the third gate means.

5. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said contact means mounted with said second set of logic elements includes at least one terminal and a layer of resilient material disposed thereon which shows relatively low electrical conductivity therethrough in the absence of applied pressure and which shows relatively higher conductivity therethrough in alignment with said terminal in response to pressure applied thereto.

6. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the contact means mounted with said first set and the contact means mounted with the second set include mating connectors which are disposed to mate only in a selected orientation for completing conductive connections therebetween.

7. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 1 wherein:

said first gate means includes at least one auxiliary gate coupled to apply to the first of the N number of logic elements of the first set the logical combination of the output from the Nth logic element of the first set and the output of a logic element of the first set which is connected intermediate the first and Nth logic elements in the first set; and

circuit means connected to actuate said auxiliary gate for selectively operating said first set of logic elements as a generator of random logic states.

8. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes transfer gate means coupling an output of the first set of logic elements to an input of the second set of logic elements, and includes counter means connected to the transfer gate means for limiting said transfer of logic states to not more than a number N thereof.

9. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said circuit means includes an input conductor connected to receive an applied logic signal having either one of two logic states for actuating said auxiliary gate in response to an applied logic signal having one of said two logic states to operate said first set of logic elements as a generator of random logic states.

10. Electronic security apparatus as in claim 2 comprising:

a plural number k of sets of logic elements including said first set, each set of logic elements being capable of attaining distinct logic states and being interconnected to provide a plurality of logic states or bits in each of said K number of sets;

auxiliary counter means connected to accumulate the number of outputs produced by said counter means;

comparator means capable of being set to a selected number and being responsive to the manifestations of the number accumulated in said auxiliary counter means attaining a predetermined relationship to the selected number for producing a control signal; and

selector gate means coupled to receive said control signal for actuating said first gate means in response thereto for operating with said plural number K of sets of logic elements as a shift register.

11. Electronic security apparatus for operation with a motorized vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a first set of a plural number N of logic elements capable of attaining distinct logic states interconnected to provide a plurality of logic states or bits;

a second set of a plural number of at least N logic elements capable of attaining distinct logic states and interconnected to provide a plurality of logic states or bits;

comparator means selectively connectable to the logic elements of the first and second sets for selectively comparing therein the logic states received from the first and second sets of logic elements for producing an output signal indicative of parity of compared logic states;

utilization means coupled to said comparator means for rendering the motorized vehicle operable in response to said output signal;

an odometer of said vehicle which produces signal manifestations of displayed mileage digits;

an auxiliary set of logic elements carried with said second set for selectively retaining logic states; and

logic means connected to receive said signal manifestations and the logic states attained by said first set of logic elements for transferring to the auxiliary set of logic elements an output manifestation of the mileage change indicated on the odometer with respect to the logic states of the first set of logic elements during which the odometer indication of mileage changed.