Electronic security system

• US 4,100,534 A
• Filed: 12/09/1976
• Issued: 07/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tuthill Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tuthill Corporation
• Inventors: Shifflet, Glynne W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/748,690
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 340/147 MD, 340/149 R, 340/149 A, 340/146.2, 340/173 RC, 340/173 AM, 340/146.1 C, 235/92 CA, 235/92 PE
• US Class Current: 340/5.26
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

Apparatus for obtaining limited access to a given function in response to the entry of a preselected code sequence. A plurality of preselected code sequences are generated by the apparatus and compared sequentially with an entered code sequence. In the event that a generated code sequence has a preselected degree of coincidence with the entered code sequence, the desired function is enabled. A plurality of functions may be controlled by the same apparatus. Alternatively, a plurality of different code sequences may be employed to enable the same function while the apparatus individually monitors which code sequence is used to enable the function. In a preferred embodiment, the function being controlled is a fluid dispensing pump which is enabled by any one of a plurality of entered code sequences while the amount dispensed through the use of each entered code sequence is monitored individually. Provision is made for the collective and individual alteration of code sequences within the generated code sequences.

Claims

1. In a device for obtaining limited access to a plurality of functions in response to the external entry of preselected code sequences of the type having means for entering a code sequence and means for selectively enabling said functions in response to said entered code sequences, the improvement which comprises:

means for sequentially generating a plurality of preselected code sequences, each having a higher rank than all prior generated code sequences;

means for individually comparing said generated code sequences with an entered code sequence to establish their degree of coincidence therewith; and

means responsive to said comparing means for enabling said functions on the occurrance of a preselected degree of coincidence between a generated code sequence and an entered code sequence in predetermined correspondence with rank of a generated code sequence having said preselected degree of coincidence with said entered code sequence.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for storing an entered code sequence, said storing means including means for presenting a stored code sequence to said comparing means during each generated code sequence.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said generating means sequentially generates a plurality of preselected, non-repeating code sequences.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising means for storing an entered code sequence, said storing means including means for presenting a stored code sequence to said comparing means during each generated code sequence.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises pseudo-random code generating means.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising means for storing an entered code sequence, said storing means including means for presenting a stored code sequence to said comparing means during each generated code sequence.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises selective means for collectively altering said generated code sequences.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said generating means comprises pseudo-random code generating means.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said generating means comprises pseudo-random code generating means.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising means for storing an entered code sequence, said storing means including means for presenting a stored code sequence to said comparing means during each generated code sequence.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

13. In apparatus responsive to externally entered code sequences for selectively enabling a plurality of functions in predetermined correspondence with the entry to preselected code sequences, means for detecting the entry of said preselected code sequences which comprises:

means for storing an entered code sequence;

means for sequentially generating a plurality of preselected code sequences;

comparator means connected to receive each generated code sequence to individually establish their degree of conincidence with said entered code sequence, said storing means comprising means for presenting said entered code sequence to said comparator means during each generated code sequence; and

means responsive to said comparator means for enabling said functions on the occurrence of a preselected degree of coincidence between a generated code sequence and an entered code sequence in predetermined correspondence with the rank of a generated code sequence having said preselected degree of coincidence with said entered code sequence.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said code sequence generating means is disabled on the establishment of said preselected degree of coincidence of said entered code sequence with one of said generated code sequences.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said storing means comprises shift register means and means for cycling said entered code sequence through said shift register means during each generated code sequence.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said generating means sequentially generates a plurality of preselected, non-repeating code sequences.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said generating means comprises pseudo-random code generating means.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for collectively altering said generated code sequences.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

20. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said generating means comprises pseudo-random code generating means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said generating means further comprises means for collectively altering said generated code sequences.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising means for indicating the establishment of a preselected degree of coincidence of said entered code sequence with one of said generated code sequences.

24. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

25. Apparatus responsive to externally entered code sequences for selectively enabling a plurality of functions in predetermined correspondence with the entry of preselected code sequences which comprises:

keyboard means for external entry of a code sequence;

means for storing an externally entered code sequence;

means for sequentially generating a plurality of preselected code sequences;

comparator means for establishing the relative coincidence between said entered code sequence and each of said generated code sequences;

means for indicating the establishment of a preselected degree of coincidence between said entered code sequence; and

means responsive to the order of code sequence generation for enabling said functions in accordance with the rank of a generated code sequence within said generation order which has said preselected degree of coincidence with said entered code sequence.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said code sequence generating means is disabled on the establishment of said preselected degree of coincidence of said entered code sequence with one of said generated code sequences.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said storing means comprises shift register means and means for cycling said entered code sequence through said shift register means during each generated code sequence.

28. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said keyboard means and said generating means each comprise octal coding means.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said generating means sequentially generates a plurality of preselected, non-repeating code sequences.

30. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said generating means comprises pseudo-random code generating means.

31. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for collectively altering said generated code sequences.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

33. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said generating means further comprises selective means for individually altering said generated code sequences.

34. Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for disabling said indicating means during preselected ones of said plurality of preselected code sequences.