Intelligent safe system

• US 6,040,771 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jitae Kim
• Original Assignee: Jitae Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Jitae
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/723,862
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545, 340/541, 340/542, 340/543, 340/693, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 129/21, 129/38, 70/655, 70/277, 70/280, 341/176, 364/146, 364/184, 379/103
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/10 with alarm, signal or indicator E05G1/14 takes precedence; burglar, theft or intruder alarm per se G08B13/00; fire or explosion alarm per se G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

An intelligent safe system. The safe system includes a safe including a housing and lockable door thereto, a central processing unit for controlling access to the safe by operating the lockable door, a card reader for reading access codes from an access card to control the lockable door, a sensor for detecting security violations, a modem for transmitting alarm signals from the CPU to indicate a security violation and for receiving external control data to lock or open the lockable door, and an audio alarm device for indicating security violations. The central processing unit may further includes a memory for storing the card numbers. A sensor may be coupled to the housing for detecting the locking an opening of the lockable door. A display may also be coupled to the housing for displaying acceptance of access codes. Further, the safe system also includes a sensor. The sensor may include a horizontal detection sensor for detecting horizontal movement of the housing, a shock-detection sensor for detecting shock inflicted to the safe, and a thermo-detection sensor for detecting thermo-conditions being inflicted to the safe.

Claims

1. An intelligent safe system, comprising:

a safe door locking means (208);

a central processing unit (220) for operating said door locking means to the door-unlocked condition;

a memory (204) coupled to said central processing unit, said memory comprising stored activation codes for activating said central processing unit, and a stored deactivation code for cancelling the action of the stored activating codes;

a data entry device (202) coupled to said central processing unit for delivering user-generated actuation codes to said central processing unit;

said central processing unit having a code-comparing capability for delivering an operating signal to said door-locking means when a user-generated activation code is the same as a stored activation code;

a remotely-accessed data transmission telephone means comprising a modem (226) coupled to said central processing unit for delivering an owner-generated deactivation code from a remote area to said central processing unit;

said telephone means comprising a telephone transmitter and means for inputting a DTMF tone deactivation code to said telephone transmitter for delivery to said modem;

said central processing unit having a code-comparing capability for comparing the owner-generated deactivation code with the stored deactivation code, to produce an override signal when the owner-generated deactivation code and the stored deactivation code are the same;

said central processing unit being responsive to said override signal to cancel any operating signal that might otherwise produce a door-unlocking action.

2. The safe system of claim 1, and further comprising sensor means (234) for detecting unauthorized movement of the safe;

said sensor means comprising first and second detectors;

said first detector comprising a conductive pendulum electrode, a conductive suspension wire for said pendulum electrode, and a stationary electrode surrounding the pendulum electrode, whereby movement of the pendulum electrode into contact with the stationary electrode generates a first error signal;

said second detector comprising an infrared receiver, and infrared transmitter, and a mercury container disposed between said receiver and said infrared transmitter so that the mercury in said container normally obstructs infrared transmission to the receiver;

said mercury being displaceable in response to movement of the safe so that the mercury is in a non-obstructing condition permitting the passage of infrared energy to said infrared receiver, whereby a second error signal is generated.

3. The safe system of claim 2, wherein said central processing unit includes means for comparing said first and second error signals, to generate an alarm signal when said error signals match.