Keysensor

• US 4,758,819 A
• Filed: 02/07/1986
• Issued: 07/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AICA Kogyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: AICA Kogyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kuribayashi, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US06/827,064
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/550, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/311.1, 340/301, 340/332, 340/286 R, 340/825.3, 340/825.44, 340/825.49, 340/825.36, 340/825.76, 200/61.64, 200/61.66, 200/61.59, 200/61.19, 70/460, 235/130 R, 235/91 M
• US Class Current: 340/286.08
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 27/00 Switches operated by a removable member, e.g. key, plug or plate; Switches operated by setting members according to a single predetermined combination out of several possible settings combined with plug-and-socket connectors H01R13/70; with current-carrying plug H01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/008 Change of magnetic field wherein the magnet and switch are fixed, e.g. by shielding or relative movements of armature for reed switches H01H36/002

Abstract

A keysensor of the present invention is provided with a magnet and a magnetic switch opposedly via a hole for inserting and removing each keyholder containing magnetic metal sheet and consisting of non-magnetic substance, a plurality of magnetic switches are placed at predetermined places, said keysensor makes it possible for said magnetic switches to operate corresponding to said places by using said keyholder containing magnetic metal sheet different in each position and size.

Claims

1. A key sensing system for indicating of a plurality of different room conditions of a hotel type room comprising:

a housing having an outer wall and an insertion hole for removably receiving, either a first or a second keyholder in said housing;

a plurality of spaced magnetic switches positioned in said housing, each of said switches being normally in a first state and operable individually in different combinations to a second state;

means, remote from said housing and electrically connected to said switches, for indicating each of said plurality of room conditions in accordance with the combination of switches in said first and second states, said means indicating a first room condition at a time when said switches are all in said first state;

a first keyholder having a front and back surface, said first keyholder being dimensioned to fit through said insertion hole in a first orientation with said front surface facing said outer wall of the housing, and a second orientation with said back surface facing said outer wall of the housing, said first keyholder including magnet means, positioned between said front and back surfaces to operate a first selected combination of said plurality of switches to said second state at times when said first keyholder is inserted in said insertion hole in either one of said first and second orientations, for indicating a second room condition at said indicating means;

a second keyholder having a front surface and a back surface, said second keyholder being dimensioned to fit through said insertion hole in a first orientation with said front surface facing said outer wall of the housing, and in a second orientation with said back surface facing said outer wall of the housing, said second keyholder including magnet means, positioned between said front and back surfaces to operate a second selected combination of said plurality of switches to said second state at times when said second keyholder is inserted in said insertion hole in said first orientation, and to operate a third selected combination of said plurality of switches to said second state at times when said second keyholder is inserted in said insertion hole in said second orientation, for indicating a third and fourth room condition, respectively, at said indicating means.

2. The key sensing system of claim 1, wherein said first room condition is indicative of non-occupancy of said hotel type room.

3. The key sensing system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic switches comprise reed switches.

4. The key sensing system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic material is comprised of ferro-magnetic material.