Security system

• US 5,136,284 A
• Filed: 12/21/1989
• Issued: 08/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitamura, Midori
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HJERPE, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US07/453,265
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.3, 340/825.34, 70/252, 70/263, 235/382.5, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/021 restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5956 Steering mechanism with switch

Abstract

A security system for controlling the operation of releasing a lock mechanism for locking a steering mechanism of a mobile medium such as a vehicle. This system is provided with at least one information medium such as a license card on which information which identifies the operator of the mobile medium stored, a reading device for reading out the information stored in the information medium, a memory device in which information which is the same as the information stored on the information medium is stored previously and a comparing device which compares an output from the reading device with the contents of the memory device and which outputs a lock-release signal for releasing the lock mechanism when a match occurs in this comparison. The security system further may include writing means by which the contents of the memory device may be rewritten if the output of the reading device coincides with the contents of the memory device.

Claims

1. A security system for controlling a steering lock mechanism of a vehicle, said security system comprising:

a plurality of information media having information identifying a plurality of operators, respectively;

a reading device which reads the information on an information media presented to the reading device;

a memory device which stores predetermined information;

a comparator which is coupled to the reading device and the memory device and which compares the information read by the reading device to the predetermined information and, if they match, issues a first signal from an output of the comparator to the steering lock mechanism;

an operator-actuated write-enable switch; and

a writing apparatus which is coupled between the reading device and the memory device, which is operatively connected to the output of the comparator and the write-enable switch, and which writes the information read by the reading device in the memory device in accordance with the status of the write-enable switch and the output of the comparator wherein the writing apparatus includes a writing device and a write gate coupled to the writing device and to the output of the comparator, the write gate connecting the writing device to the memory device when the comparator detects a match and the write-enable switch is actuated, and wherein the writing apparatus further includes a temporary memory, the temporary memory and the write-enable switch being coupled in series between the output of the comparator and the write gate and the temporary memory temporarily storing the output of the comparator.

2. A security system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle is an automobile, and said information medium is an operator'"'"'s license card in which the license number is stored in a memory therein, said license number being used as the information for identifying an operator.

3. A security system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a crane, and said information medium is a license card in which the number of a qualification certificate for the operation of the crane is stored in a memory therein, said number being used as the information for identifying an operator.

4. A security system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a crane, and said information medium is a certification card in which an identification number is stored in a memory therein, said number being used as the information for identifying an operator.