Magnetic data reader employing magnetically operated solid state switches, and reader-lock combination

• US 3,995,145 A
• Filed: 03/07/1975
• Issued: 11/30/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardkey Systems Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Figgie International, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Harris, Newton T. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US05/556,452
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.11 D, 235/61.12 M, 200/46, 340/174 HA
• US Class Current: 235/450
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/088 using magneto-sensitive switches, e.g. reed-switches

Abstract

A card reader utilizing an array of magnetically-operable solid state switches for reading magnetically coded cards. Magnets are employed to provide magnetic fields of sufficient strengths from poles of specific polarity to trigger or actuate some or all of the solid state switches. An array or matrix of the magnetically-operable solid state switches are provided in combination with a magnet-carrying block having magnets disposed therein. In several embodiments the magnets are slidably mounted in the block and are adapted to be attracted or repelled by a properly coded card having magnetized spots arranged in a predetermined pattern therein. In two preferred embodiments the card reader is combined with a card-operable magnetic lock. In that embodiment some of the magnets in the magnet-carrying block function as locking elements or tumblers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electronically sensing at least one magnetized portion of a card, comprising:

a magnet and a solid state switching element mounted in relatively close proximity to one another;

said switching element having at least two distinct states;

said switching element being normally in one of its said states in the absence of a magnetic field from a specific magnet pole of at least a predetermined strength;

said switching element being changeable to its other state when a magnetic field of at least a predetermined magnetic strength from a magnetic pole of specific polarity is moved into relatively close proximity therewith; and

means for receiving a card having a magnetized portion therein for moving said magnet into sufficiently close proximity with said switching element to change said switching element from one of its states to the other of its states.

2. A card reading device for reading a magnetic code on a magnetically encoded card member, comprising:

a magnet-carrying block having substantially parallel, opposite faces;

a plurality of channels extending through said magnet-carrying block in a direction substantially perpendicular to the faces of said block;

a plurality of magnets movably disposed in said channels in said magnet-carrying block;

each of said magnets having a selected magnetic pole facing one of said faces of said block;

a substrate mounted adjacent to and spaced from said one face of said magnet-carrying block;

a plurality of magnetically responsive switching elements mounted on said substrate and facing said one face of said magnet-carrying block; and

means disposed between said switching elements and said magnet-carrying block for receiving a card having magnetized portions therein;

said magnets and said switching elements being arranged in corresponding patterns so that each of said switching elements is substantially aligned with one of said magnets; and

each of said switching elements having at least two states;

each of said switching elements being changeable from one of its said states to the other of its said states by a magnetic field above a predetermined magnetic strength eminating from a specific magnetic pole;

whereby, when a properly magnetically encoded card is placed in said card receiving means, the magnetic fields of said magnetic elements in said card and said magnets will change the states of selected ones of said switching elements to produce an output signal.

3. A card reading device according to claim 2, wherein said one face of said magnet-carrying block faces downwardly and the other face of said magnet-carrying block faces upwardly;

and wherein said substrate with said switching elements mounted thereon is disposed beneath said magnet-carrying block and spaced therefrom to define a card-receiving slot.

4. A card reading device according to claim 2 and further comprising means for retaining said magnets within their respective channels in said magnet-carrying block.

5. A card reading device according to claim 2, wherein said device is mounted in a substantially vertical position with its said one face being disposed in a substantially vertical plane;

and means for biasing said magnets, in the absence of a properly coded card, to a position spaced sufficiently from their respective switching elements so as to leave said switching elements in their normal state; and

said card-receiving means comprising a card receiving slot disposed between said magnets and said switching elements, whereby, when a properly magnetically encoded card is inserted between said magnets and said switching elements at least one of said magnets will be moved toward its associated switching element to change the state of said switching element.

6. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus comprising:

a magnet-carrying member;

at least one magnet movably disposed in said magnet-carrying member;

said magnet being movable between a first position and a second position;

a switching element having at least two states;

said switching element being disposed adjacent to said magnet-carrying member;

said switching element being normally in one of its said states in the absence of a magnetic field from a specific magnetic pole of at least a predetermined magnetic strength;

said switching element being changeable to another of its said states when a magnetic field of at least a predetermined magnetic strength from a magnetic pole of specific polarity is moved into relatively close proximity therewith;

said magnet being disposed in said magnet-carrying member with one of its said poles facing said switching element;

said one pole of said magnet which faces said switching element being of said specific polarity and being of at least said predetermined magnetic strength so as to change the state of said switching element when said one magnetic pole of said magnet is in sufficiently close proximity with said switching element;

a locking plate disposed adjacent to said magnet-carrying member;

said locking plate having an opening therein adapted to receive a portion of said magnet in said locking plate when said magnet is in its said first position, so as to lock said magnet-carrying member and said locking plate against movement relative to one another;

said switching element, said magnet and said hole in said locking plate being disposed in substantial alignment with one another;

said magnet in said magnet-carrying member having a portion thereof extending into said opening in said locking plate when said magnet is in its said first position so as to lock said magnet-carrying member and said locking plate relative to one another;

said pole of said magnet which faces said switching element being spaced from said switching element, when said magnet is in its said first position, by such a distance that said pole will not change the state of said switching element;

a card-receiving station disposed in relatively close proximity to said magnet-carrying member for receiving a card having a portion therein which, if properly positioned, will move said magnet to its said second position;

said magnet, when in its said second position, having its said one pole in sufficiently close proximity to said switching element to change the state of said switching element.

7. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus comprising:

a magnet-carrying block;

a plurality of magnets movably disposed in said magnet-carrying block;

each of said magnets in said block being movable between a first position and a second position;

a plurality of switching elements mounted on a substrate in relatively close proximity to said magnet-carrying block;

each of said switching elements having at least two states;

a locking plate having a plurality of openings therein;

each of said openings in said locking plate being adapted to receive a portion of one of said magnets to prevent relative movement between said locking plate and said magnet-carrying block;

said switching elements being arranged in a predetermined pattern;

some of said magnets in said magnet-carrying block being arranged in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of said switching elements whereby each switching element will be in substantial alignment with one of said magnets;

said holes in said locking plate being arranged in a predetermined pattern;

some of said magnets being arranged in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of said holes in said locking plate, whereby each of said holes in said locking plate is disposed in substantial alignment with one of said magnets;

each of said switching elements being normally in one of its said states in the absence of a magnetic field from a specific magnetic pole of at least a predetermined magnetic strenth;

each of said switching elements being changeable to another of its said states when a magnetic field of at least a predetermined magnetic strength from a magnetic pole of specific polarity is moved into relatively close proximity therewith;

each of said magnets which are arranged in said predetermined pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of said switching elements being disposed in said magnet-carrying block with one of its said poles facing one of said switching elements;

said one pole of each of said magnets which faces one of said switching elements being of said specific polarity and being of at least said predetermined magnetic strength so as to change the state of its corresponding switching element when said one magnetic pole of said magnet is in sufficiently close proximity with its corresponding switching element;

each of said magnets which are arranged in said predetermined pattern corresponding to the predetermined pattern of said holes in said locking plate having a portion thereof extending into one of said openings in said locking plate when said magnets are in their said first position, so as to lock said magnet-carrying block and said locking plate against movement relative to one another;

means defining a card-receiving station in relatively close proximity to said magnet-carrying block;

said card-receiving station having a plurality of magnetic portions therein for moving at least some of said magnets out of said openings in said locking holes in said locking plate, and a plurality of magnetic portions for moving at least some of said magnets into sufficiently close proximity with said switching elements so as to change the states of at least some of said switching elements.

8. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus comprising:

a magnet-carrying block disposed in a generally horizontal attitude with one surface thereof facing upwardly and the opposite surface thereof facing downwardly;

a plurality of channels extending through said magnet-carrying block in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said surfaces thereof;

a plurality of magnetic locking pins slidably disposed in said channels in said magnet-carrying block for movement between an upper position and a lower position;

a locking plate disposed beneath said magnet-carrying block and directly adjacent thereto;

said locking plate having a plurality of holes for receiving the lower portions of at least some of said magnetic locking pins when said locking pins are in their said lower position;

means defining a card-receiving slot disposed beneath said locking plate;

said card receiving slot being adapted to receive a passcard having magnetized portions thereon for repelling at least some of said locking pins out of their said lower position;

a card-receiving slot disposed above said magnet-carrying block for receiving a program card which is provided with magnetic spots therein for attracting at least some of said locking pins into their said upper position; and

a substrate having a plurality of magnetically-operable switches thereon disposed beneath said passcard receiving slot for sensing the magnetic spots on at least a portion of said passcard;

each of said magnetically-operable switches having at least two states;

each of said magnetically-operable switches being normally in one of its said states in the absence of a magnetic field from a specific magnetic pole of at least a predetermined magnetic strength;

each of said magnetically-operable switches being changeable to another of its said states when a magnetic field of at least a predetermined magnetic strength from a specific magnetic pole is moved into relatively close proximity therewith;

whereby, when a passcard is inserted into said passcard receiving slot and has magnetized spots thereon which repel one or more of said magnetic locking pins out of relatively close proximity with one or more of said magnetically-operable switches the state of said switch or switches will be changed.

9. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus, comprising:

a magnet-carrying block disposed in a generally horizontal attitude with an upper surface facing upwardly and a lower, substantially parallel surface facing downwardly;

a plurality of channels extending through said magnet-carrying block in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said surfaces thereof;

a plurality of generally elongated magnets slidably disposed in said channels in said magnet-carrying block for movement between an upper position and a lower position;

a locking plate disposed beneath said magnet-carrying block;

said locking plate having a plurality of holes for receiving the lower portions of at least some of said magnets when said magnets are in their said lower position;

means defining a card-receiving slot disposed beneath said locking plate;

said card-receiving slot being adapted to receive a passcard having magnetized portions thereon for repelling at least some of said magnets out of their said lower position;

a card-receiving slot disposed above said magnet-carrying block for receiving a program card which is provided with magnetic spots therein for attracting at least some of said magnets into their said upper position; and

a substrate having a plurality of magnetically-operable switches thereon disposed above said magnet-carrying block;

each of said switches being substantially aligned with one of said magnets;

each of said magnetically-operable switches having at least two states;

each of said magnetically-operable switches being normally in one of its said states in the absence of a magnetic field from a specific magnetic pole of at least a predetermined magnetic strength;

each of said magnetically-operable switches being changeable to another of its said states when a magnetic field of at least a predetermined magnetic strength from a specific magnetic pole is moved into relatively close proximity therewith;

whereby, when a passcard having magnetized spots thereon which repel one or more of said magnets into their said upper position, the state of said magnetically-operable switches aligned with said repelled magnets will be changed.

10. A magnetically-operable mechanism of the type adapted to have its combination set by a code combination set means and unlocked by a code activation card having a corresponding combination, comprising;

a magnet block having a plurality of openings spaced and arranged in a predetermined pattern;

a plurality of locking pins in said openings, a lock plate having a plurality of openings adapted to register in the locked position with the openings in said magnet block;

means for bringing code combination set means into cooperative relationship with one face of said magnet block to operate on selected ones of said locking pins, and means for bringing a code activation card into cooperative relationship with one face of said magnet block to operate on selected locking pins so as to unlock the mechanism; and

a plurality of magnetically-operable switches disposed in a predetermined pattern so as to sense the combination on a code activation card brought into cooperative relationship with said magnet block;

each of said magnetically-operable switches having two states; and

at least some of said magnetically-operable switches being adapted to be changed from one of their states to another of their states when a code activation card is brought into cooperative relationship with said mechanism.

11. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus, comprising:

a magnet-carrying block having a first set and a second set of channels therein;

a plurality of magnets slidably disposed in each channel of each of said sets of channels for movement between a first position and a second position;

said magnets in said first set of channels comprising locking magnets;

said first position of said locking magnets comprising a locking position;

said second position of said locking magnets comprising an unlocked position;

a locking plate disposed beneath the portion of said magnet-carrying block having said first set of channels therein;

said locking plate having a plurality of openings therein for receiving the lower portions of the locking magnet in said first set of channels to prevent relative movement between said locking plate and said magnet-carrying block;

a substrate having a plurality of magnetically-operable switches thereon disposed adjacent to the portion of said magnet-carrying block having said second set of channels and magnets therein;

each of said magnetically-operable switches having at least two states;

each of said magnetically-operable switches being normally in one of its said states in the absence of a magnetic field from a specific magnetic pole of at least a predetermined magnetic strength;

each of said magnetically-operable switches being changeable to another of its said states when a magnetic field of at least a predetermined magnetic strength from a specific magnetic pole is moved into relatively close proximity therewith; and

means defining a card-receiving station for receiving a passcard having magnetized spots thereon for said locking magnets between their first and second positions.

12. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said substrate having said magnetically-operable switches thereon is disposed above said magnet-carrying block.

13. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means defining a card-receiving station comprises a card slot disposed beneath said magnet-carrying block.

14. A card-operable lock-reader apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said substrate having said magnetically-operable switches thereon is disposed above said magnet-carrying block;

said lock plate is disposed beneath said magnet-carrying block; and

said card-receiving station comprises a card receiving slot disposed beneath said magnet-carrying block.