Entry system

• US 4,206,491 A
• Filed: 03/30/1979
• Issued: 06/03/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KKF Corporation
• Original Assignee: KKF Corporation
• Inventors: Kaufman, Peter, Kompanek, Harry W., Ligman, James R., Carlson, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moose, Jr., Harry E.
• Application Number:
  US06/025,646
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 361/170-172, 70/153, 70/278, 340/63, 340/64, 340/147 MD, 340/164 R, 340/164 A, 340/167, 340/274, 307/10 AT
• US Class Current: 361/172
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

A keyless system especially useful in controlling the doors and trunk of an automobile is disclosed. The overall system usually comprises an input station containing a keyboard, a signal processor, signal amplification means and an electromechanical grouping which converts the electrical output from the amplifier to mechanical movement in control of a lock. The system is activated by a touch control at the input keyboard and with the power section of the system energized, the lock is controlled in response to a proper sequence of digital input signals created by the operator. The input at the control station is described in terms of a keyboard having five selectors and resulting in approximately three thousand possible combinations for the base code. The signal processor responds to correct combinations of digital inputs with a drive signal. The signal processor is also programmable with temporary convenience codes which are loaded into the logic portion of the system with access preconditioned on entry of the base code.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a control station including an entry module which is responsive to manual inputs and has a plurality of juxtaposed locations each capable of providing an electrical signal, particular series of which form signal sequences with each individual electrical signal being identifiable with a particular one of such locations;

an electrical signal processor for providing a processor output signal in response to any preselected signal sequence from the entry module, the processor including,

means for retaining a base code as a first preselected code, and for comparing a signal sequence produced at the entry module with the base code, and for providing a processor output signal each time a signal sequence matches the base code which is permanently incorporated into the base code retaining means and is incapable of modification or elimination by signals from the entry module, and

means for retaining a convenience code as a second preselected code, and for comparing a signal sequence produced at the entry module with the convenience code, and for providing a processor output signal each time a signal sequence matches the convenience code which is incorporated into the convenience code retaining means from the entry module alone by entering in order the base code followed by a manual input from at least one preselected location at the entry module and finally a series of manual inputs arbitrarily selected by the operator to become the convenience code;

amplification means for increasing the power of the processor output signal; and

means responsive to amplification means for controlling the operability of an apparatus used in combination with the control system.

2. An entry system comprising:

a movable member the position of which determines the accessibility to a system or an enclosure;

actuation means for changing the position of the movable member;

means for controlling the movement of the actuation means;

a control station having input means which are responsive to manual inputs including a plurality of discrete locations capable of producing an electric signal characteristic of each location;

an electrical signal processor having means for retaining as a base code a preferred order of such electrical signals and for comparing as an input the actual order in which electrical signals are produced by the input means to provide a processor output signal each time an input code matches the base code which is permanently incorporated into the base code retaining means and is incapable of modification or elimination by signals from the input means, the electrical signal processor also having

means for retaining until programmed otherwise from the control station a sequence of electrical signals constituting a convenience code which allows the signal processor to respond to electrical signals produced at the control station and provide a processor output signal each time an input code matches either the base or the convenience code;

amplification means for increasing the power level of the processor output signals; and

means responsive to the amplifier for moving the means controlling the movement of the actuation means.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the input means comprises a keyboard having a smooth uninterrupted surface and each discrete location thereon responds to touch to provide an electrical signal characteristic of each such location.

4. For an enclosure having a door containing lock means, means for controlling entry to the enclosure comprising:

a control station including means for initiating a sequence of electrical pulses in response to manually applied inputs such pulse initiating means being accessible from the enclosure exterior;

signal processor means which accepts pulse sequences from the pulse initiating means and contains a base code which is permanently fixed in the processor, the processor being capable of comparing such pulses with the base code and producing a drive signal in response to each set of electrical pulses matched to the base code, the signal processor having means for receiving and retaining until programmed otherwise from the pulse initiating means alone a convenience code which is received subsequent to and in combination with the base code, the signal processor including means for comparing pulse sequences from the control station with the convenience code and for providing a drive signal in response to each pulse sequence which matches either the base code or the convenience code; and

means for amplifying the drive signal to a power level sufficient to operate the lock.

5. In a vehicle having a door containing a power lock, means for controlling the lock comprising:

a control station located at the door exterior and including means for producing pulse electrical signals in response to manual inputs;

signal processor means containing a base code for receiving electrical signals from the control station, for comparing such signals with the base code, and for providing a drive signal whenever the input electrical signals from the control station match the base code which is permanently incorporated into the signal processor means and is incapable of modification or elimination by signals from the control station, and

means for accepting and retaining until programmed otherwise with the control station by a series of electrical pulses delivered to the processor in combination with the base code, such series constituting a convenience code which allows the signal processor to respond to electrical signals produced at the control station and provide a processor output signal each time a series of signals matches either the base code or the convenience code; and

means for amplifying the drive signal to a power level sufficient to drive the power lock.