Remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system

• US 6,043,753 A
• Filed: 08/13/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Hiroaki, Morise, Keiji, Okayasu, Yoshisada
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/910,273
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 340/525.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.31, 70/237, 70/256, 70/262, 70/278, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/5.26
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0026 Clutches, couplings or braking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/60 Systems

Abstract

A remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system includes a key which transmits a locking/unlocking signal by remote control. A locking/unlocking unit is provided with a controller for controlling a locking/unlocking operation based on a locking/unlocking signal transmitted from the key. The controller has a suitability determining section for determining the suitability of a locking/unlocking signal transmitted from the key, and an information section for providing information indicating that the use of the key is unsuitable.

Claims

1. A remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system comprising:

a locking/unlocking unit; and

a key having an element for manual insertion into said locking/unlocking unit and a remote control unit for transmitting a locking/unlocking signal by remote control, said locking/unlocking unit having a locking/unlocking mechanism for insertion thereinto of said element of said key and control means for controlling a locking/unlocking operation based on the locking/unlocking signal transmitted from said key, said control means including

determining means for determining suitability of the locking/unlocking signal transmitted from said key, and

information means arranged inside of said locking/unlocking unit for providing audible information to a user of said key indicating that said key is unsuitable and ineffective based on the suitability determination made by said determining means.

2. The remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein said key comprises a counter for outputting a counter value every time the locking/unlocking signal is transmitted, a transmitting storage section for storing a predetermined code and the counter value from said counter, a transmitting controller for encoding the locking/unlocking signal in accordance with a predetermined code and for encoding the counter value from said counter stored in said transmitting storage section, a modulator for modulating the locking/unlocking signal encoded by said transmitting controller, and a transmitting output section for outputting the locking/unlocking signal modulated by said modulator.

3. A remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined code comprises an identification code, and a rolling code which varies by the use of said key in accordance with a predetermined rule.

4. A remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 3, wherein said identification code comprises an individual identification code which is unique to a key, and an intra-group identification code which specifies each of a plurality of keys formed into a group.

5. The remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein said locking/unlocking unit having said control means and said locking/unlocking mechanism driven by manual insertion of said key element, comprises:

a driven section for shifting said locking/unlocking mechanism to a locking/unlocking position;

a driving section having a clutch that transmits power from a driving source to said locking/unlocking mechanism;

a controller which receives the locking/unlocking signal from said key for determining the suitability of the user of said key, and upon suitable determination, drives said driving section; and

a power supply section.

6. A remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 5, wherein said controller and said power supply section are integrally formed each other and are made detachable.

7. The remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 6, wherein said driven section performs a locking/unlocking operation by one of being driven by said power supply section and by inserting said key element into said locking/unlocking mechanism.

8. The remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system according to claim 1, wherein said information means comprises means for modulating an output signal from said determining means representing the unsuitable use of the key and a transmitting output section receiving the modulated signal from said means for modulating and outputting a signal for informing an unsuitable use of the key by communications to a person other than the user of the key.

9. A control method for a locking/unlocking operation performed by a remote-control-operated locking/unlocking system having a key for transmitting a locking/unlocking signal by remote control and a locking/unlocking unit having control means for controlling a locking/unlocking operation based on the locking/unlocking signal transmitted from said key, said method comprising the steps of:

determining the suitability of the locking/unlocking signal transmitted from said key;

providing information to a user of said key by emitting from inside of the locking/unlocking system an audible sound indicating an unsuitable use and that the key is ineffective based on a determination made in said determining step; and

providing information to a person at a location remote from a location of the user of said key indicating the unsuitability of the key based on the determination made in said determining step.