Electronic access control device utilizing a single microcomputer integrated circuit

• US 5,617,082 A
• Filed: 11/15/1994
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: O.S. Security LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Micro Enhanced Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Denison, William D., Silvers, Bradley S., Brownfield, Lawrence C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON JR, WILLIAM HALL
• Application Number:
  US08/339,555
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.56, 340/825.69, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.5, 361/172, 361/171
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

An electronic access control system for controlling a lock in which the inputs and outputs are multiplexed, the electrically programmable read only memory is written to and read from in a serial manner, and the operator can disable access codes and enable access codes in one operation. The device reduces power consumption when powering a solenoid or DC motor by pulsing the output power. Further, the device is able to be operated in a remote location whereby the remote device can accept inputs from a keypad, an electronic signal, or a telephone line. The remote device, when not in active operation, operates in a low power mode so that the remote device may be powered by a battery.

Claims

1. An electronic access control device comprising:

an input device adapted to receive a value input via the input device;

a storage device containing at least one access code;

means for output;

a processor;

a comparator electrically connected to said processor for comparing the at least one access code to the value input received via the input device;

said processor activating the means for output when the access code equals the value input received via the input device;

said processor having at least one port which serves both as an input and an output, and said processor connected to said input device and said means for output, said processor activating the output when the input device is not receiving the value input, and said processor multiplexing the input device and the means for output by connecting said means for output with said input device by way of;

(1) a first electrical connection of the input device to the at least one port of the processor; and

(2) a second electrical connection of the means for output to the at least one port of the processor.

2. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for entering a code is a keypad.

3. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for output is an acoustic device.

4. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for output is a light emitting diode.

5. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for output is an electric driver for a solenoid.

6. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for output is a DC motor.

7. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 6 where the processor contains a timer whereby the processor supplies sufficient power to open the solenoid until a preset time has elapsed in the timer, the processor then supplying a lower amount of power until another preset time has elapsed as specified by the timer.

8. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for output is a relay.

9. An electronic access control device comprising:

an input device adapted to receive a value input via the input device wherein said input device is a keypad containing keypad digits in rows and columns and wherein the keypad digits are connected together across a row and the keypad digits are connected together down a column;

a storage device containing at least one access code;

means for output;

a processor having at least one port;

a comparator electrically connected to said processor for comparing the at least one access code to the value input received via the input device;

said processor activating the means for output when the access code equals the value input received via the input device;

said at least one port of said processor connected to said keypad digits and said means for output.

10. An electronic access control device comprising:

an input device adapted to receive a value input via the input device;

an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) containing at least one access code;

at least one bidirectional data line;

means for output;

a processor having at least one port which serves both as an input and an output;

a comparator electrically connected to said processor for comparing the at least one access code to the value input received via the input device;

said bidirectional line connected to said input device, said means for output and said at least one port of the processor;

said processor senses, via the at least one port, the input from said at least one bidirectional data line and uses registers to send input to said EPROM and said processor, via the at least one port, activating the means for output via the bidirectional line when the access code equals the value input received via the input device.

11. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 10 wherein said EPROM is read from and is written to in a parallel bit manner.

12. An electronic access control device as defined in claim 11 wherein said processor uses registers to send input in a parallel manner to said EPROM.

13. An electronic access control device comprising:

an input device adapted to receive a value input via the input device;

a storage device containing at least one access code;

means for output;

a processor having at least one port;

a comparator electrically connected to said processor for comparing the at least one access code to the value input received via the input device;

said processor activating the means for output when the access code equals the value input received via the input device;

said input device and said means for output both electrically connected to said at least one port of said processor; and

when the comparator indicates that input code is equal to access code, a second input received from said means for entering a code, wherein the second input is stored in the comparator to compare with subsequent input codes.

14. Method for controlling a lock using at least one microprocessor with multiple pin connections wherein the microprocessor has a port which is used both as an input and an output comprising the steps of determining the mode of operation by the at least one microprocessor, inputting data containing an access code to the port, comparing the data to a value stored in a memory device, switching the mode of operation of the at least one microprocessor to output to the port, outputting to the port a signal to open the lock.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein the method of inputting data is via a keypad.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein the keypad is wired to the microprocessor.

17. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein one of the outputs is used for an acoustic output.

18. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein one of the outputs is used for a solenoid.

19. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein one of the outputs is used for a DC motor.

20. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein one of the ouputs is used for a relay.

21. An electronic access control system comprising:

a control station for transmitting an electromagnetic signal containing an access code;

a remote station, which is powered by a battery and not physically connected to said control station, comprising;

(1) input electronics containing means for sensing an input signal wherein said input electronics has a timer, said timer activating circuitry which contains at least two states, a first state wherein the battery is connected electrically to the means for sensing and a second state wherein the battery is disconnected electrically from the means for sensing, and wherein said means for sensing contains a transducer to convert said electromagnetic signal into electrical pulses, means for decoding said electromagnetic signal connected to said means for sensing said electromagnetic signal; and

(2 ) processing electronics connected to and receiving input from said means for decoding said electromagnetic signal wherein said processing electronics has a comparator for comparing the input from said means for decoding and a value stored in a memory device, and wherein said processing electronics contains a means for output and wherein said processing electronics activates said means for output when the comparator determines that the input from said means for decoding is equal to the value stored in the memory device.

22. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio frequency wave.

23. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic signal is an infrared frequency wave.

24. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the electromagnetic signal is an optical frequency wave.

25. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the input signal is an infrared signal.

26. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the input signal is a keypad input.

27. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the input electronics remains in low power mode until the input electronics senses an infrared frequency wave at a particular frequency.

28. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the input electronics remains in low power mode until the input electronics senses an infrared frequency wave at a particular frequency.

29. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the input electronics remains in low power mode until the input electronics senses an optical frequency wave at a particular frequency.

30. An electronic access control system as defined in claim 21 wherein the input electronics remains in low power mode until the input electronics sense a keypad input at a particular frequency.

31. Method for controlling a lock using at least one microprocessor with multiple pin connections used for inputs and outputs comprising the steps of determining the mode of operation by the at least one microprocessor, inputting data containing an access code, comparing the data to a value stored in a memory device, outputting a first current to open the lock if the data equals the value stored in the memory device, and outputting a second current which is lower than the first current to keep the lock open for reducing the power consumption of the lock.

32. An electronic access control system comprising:

a control station for transmitting an electromagnetic signal containing an access code;

a remote station, which is powered by a battery and not physically connected to said control station, comprising;

(1) input electronics containing means for sensing an input signal wherein said input electronics draws less than 100 microamps until said input electronics senses an electromagnetic signal at a particular frequency whereupon said input electronics draws greater than 100 microamps and wherein said means for sensing contains a transducer to convert said electromagnetic signal into electrical pulses, means for decoding said electromagnetic signal connected to said means for sensing said electromagnetic signal; and

(2) processing electronics connected to and receiving input from said means for decoding said electromagnetic signal wherein said processing electronics has a comparator for comparing the input from said means for decoding and a value stored in a memory device, and wherein said processing electronics contains a means for output and wherein said processing electronics activates said means for output when the comparator determines that the input from said means for decoding is equal to the value stored in the memory device.