Remotely-controlled locking systems employing a holographic display

• US 5,698,906 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald T., Gardner, Anthony N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganjian, Peter
• Application Number:
  US08/536,896
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1-10.8, 340/459, 340/461, 340/542, 340/691, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/457, 340/980, 362/61, 362/100, 362/80.1, 315/76, 315/77, 315/80, 315/84, 364/424.01, 364/424.05, 180/287, 359/22, 359/23, 359/24, 359/630
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/36 Locks for passenger or like doors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0408 Total internal reflection [TIR] holograms, e.g. edge lit or substrate mode holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/26 Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple sub- holograms or to obtain images from them, e.g. multicolour technique
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A remote controlled locking system employing a holographic window display, particularly adapted for vehicle use. The system includes a remotely-operated transmitter for transmitting locking and unlocking signals, and a locking mechanism that is locked and unlocked in response to the transmitted signals. The locking mechanism outputs a status signal or status signals, corresponding to at least one of the locking and unlocking signals. Control electronics process the status signals from the locking mechanism to provide control signals that are coupled to first and second light emitting members, such as LED arrays. The light emitting members produce light output signals in response to the control signals. First and second prism couplers are attached to a surface of a window and are optically coupled to the first and second light emitting members. First and second hologram decals that comprise the holographic window display are attached to the surface of the window and are responsive to the light output signals. The first and second hologram decals respectively display first and second visible messages indicative of whether the locking mechanism is locked and unlocked. If only one status message is to be displayed, then the second set of components is not required, namely the second light emitting member, second input coupler, and second image hologram decal.

Claims

1. A remote controlled locking system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting locking and unlocking signals;

a locking mechanism that is locked and unlocked in response to the locking and unlocking signals transmitted by the transmitter, and which outputs first and second output signals corresponding to the locking and unlocking signals;

control electronics coupled to the locking mechanism for processing the first and second output signals and for providing first and second control signals in response thereto;

first and second light emitting members that are respectively responsive to the first and second control signals and which respectively provide first and second light output signals in response to the first and second control signals;

first and second input prism couplers affixed to a surface of a window and that are optically coupled to the first and second light emitting members; and

first and second hologram decals affixed to the surface of the window that are respectively responsive to the first and second light output signals, that respectively display a visible message indicative of the status of the locking mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second hologram decals comprise reflection holograms.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second hologram decals comprise two-dimensional holograms.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second hologram decals comprise three-dimensional holograms.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second light emitting members comprise first and second light emitting diode arrays.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter.

8. A remote controlled locking system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting locking and unlocking signals;

a locking mechanism that is locked and unlocked in response to the locking and unlocking signals transmitted by the transmitter, and which outputs a status signal corresponding to one of the locking and unlocking signals;

control electronics coupled to the locking mechanism for processing the status signal and for providing a control signal in response thereto;

a light emitting member that is responsive to the control signal and which provides a light output signal in response to the control signal;

an input prism coupler affixed to a surface of a window and that is optically coupled to the light emitting member; and

a hologram decal affixed to the surface of the window that is responsive to the light output signal, that display a visible message indicative of the status of the locking mechanism.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hologram decal comprises a reflection hologram.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the hologram decal comprises a two-dimensional hologram.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the hologram decal comprises a three-dimensional hologram.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the light emitting member comprises a light emitting diode array.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter.