System and device for storing objects

• US 6,431,438 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Morse Watchmans, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Morse Watchmans, Inc.
• Inventors: Pires, Manuel, Moskwa, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,099
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/381, 235/382, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/10 Key holders; Key boards key cases A45C11/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage system and identification device for storing objects associated with the devices in stations. Each identification devices includes an electronic memory device with a unique code. The storage system receives information relating each identification device with both its code and its associated object. A user can enter information as to a particular object and the system identifies the location of the station holding the identification device. Thus, identification devices can be returned randomly. This can be used for many objects as small as keys and very large objects connected to the identification devices.

Claims

1. A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of station assemblies, each of which are coupled to the housing and operable to receive an identification device;

an electronic row column matrix having a plurality of row circuits and column circuits;

a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises an individualized code;

a plurality of signal paths, each signal path being through a row circuit, an electronic memory device and a column circuit, for addressing an identification device at an operable station assembly and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals of the individualized code from the electronic memory device; and

a reader, coupled to the signal paths, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device.

2. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reader receives the serial transmission from the identification devices while the identification devices are in a fixed relationship relative to the housing.

3. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each station assembly includes a first connection and a second connection; and

the reader provides a selection signal at one of the two terminals of the electronic memory device and receives serial transmissions from the other of the two terminals of the electronic memory device.

4. A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of station assemblies, each of which are coupled to the housing and operable to receive an identification device;

an electronic row column matrix having a plurality of row circuits and column circuits;

an electronic memory device associated with each identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises an individualized code;

a plurality of signal paths, each signal path comprising a unique row circuit and column circuit, for addressing an identification device at an operable station assembly and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals of the individualized code from the electronic memory device; and

a reader, coupled to the signal paths, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device;

wherein at least one station assembly includes a coupling arrangement for receiving the serial information from the electronic memory device; and

wherein the electronic memory device is rotatably housed within the identification device for at least in part reducing wear on the electronic memory device due to coupling with the coupling arrangement.

5. A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of station assemblies coupled to the housing and operable to receive the identification device;

a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, each electronic memory device including an individualized code serial transmittable from the electronic memory device;

a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row and column circuit for addressing an identification device at an operable station assembly and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals; and

a reader, coupled to the signal circuits, for selectively receiving the serial transmissions from respective identification devices;

wherein the individualized code is received via the second terminal of the electronic memory device while the first terminal of the electronic memory device is maintained at a reduced voltage level.

6. The storage system as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one station assembly includes a coupling arrangement for receiving the serial information from the electronic memory device;

and

wherein the electronic memory device is rotatably housed within the identification device for at least in part reducing wear on the electronic memory device due to coupling with the coupling arrangement.

7. A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of station assemblies coupled to the housing, each station assembly including an electrical coupling and operable to receive a plurality of identification devices;

an electronic memory device associated with an identification device, each electronic memory device including an individualized serial transmittable code transferable via the electrical coupling in a station assembly; and

a reader for reading serial transmissions of the codes from each operable identification device positioned within a station assembly;

wherein the electronic memory device is rotatably housed within the identification device for at least in part reducing wear on the electronic memory device due to coupling with the electrical coupling.

8. A station assembly for releasably securing an identification device, the station assembly being coupled to a frame of a storage system, wherein the storage system comprises a plurality of station assemblies and a plurality of identification devices each of which comprise an engageable region releasably securable within a station assembly, wherein each station assembly comprises:

an opening through which the engageable portion is insertable;

a solenoid including a plunger that is moveable into a coil and directly engageable with the identification device when the engageable portion is inserted into the opening, such that when the plunger engages the identification device the identification device is secured within the station assembly; and

an electrical coupling arrangement for receiving serial information from the identification device with the identification device inserted in the opening.

9. The station assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrical coupling arrangement includes contacts electrically coupleable to an electronic memory device in the identification device.

10. A storage system for storing a plurality of objects, the storage system comprising:

a plurality of station assemblies;

a plurality of identification devices, each identification device securable to an object and releasably lockable within a respective station assembly, wherein each of the identification devices comprises a housing, an electronic memory device coupled to the housing and having an individualized readable code, and wherein each of the station assemblies comprises an opening through which the identification device is at least partially insertable;

individual solenoids each corresponding to a respective station assembly, each solenoid including a plunger that is moveable in a coil and directly engageable with an identification device when the identification device is inserted into the opening, such that when the plunger engages the identification device, the identification device is secured within the station assembly;

a frame for supporting the plurality of station assemblies; and

a electrical coupling arrangement located in each station assembly for receiving serial information from the electronic memory device when at least a portion of the identification device inserted in the opening.

11. The storage system as claimed in claim 10, wherein each respective solenoid is mechanically coupled to each respective station assembly.

12. The storage system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the object is a key.

13. The storage system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing of the identification device includes a notch therein, and wherein the notch is aligned with the plunger such that when the plunger engages the notch, the identification device is secured in fixed relation to the station assembly.

14. A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of station assemblies, each of which are coupled to the housing and operable to receive an identification device;

an electronic memory device associated with each identification device comprises a data connection and a ground return connection and an individualized code;

a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row circuit and column circuit for communication with an identification device at an operable station assembly; and

a reader, coupled to the signal circuits, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device; and

wherein communication with the electronic memory device is accomplished by switching its ground return connection to a near ground voltage and receiving an identification code from the data connection.

15. A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects, said system comprising:

a housing;

an identification device associated with at least one object;

a plurality of station assemblies coupled to the housing and operable to receive an identification device and communicate therewith, each station assembly comprising a first connection and a second connection;

an electronic memory device associated with each operable identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises a serially transmittable individualized code; and

a plurality of unique paths each path including a row circuit, a first station assembly connection, a second station assembly connection and a column circuit;

a reader, coupled to the row and column circuits, for reading a serially transmittable individualized code from an identification device received in a selected station assembly; and

wherein all communication with an identification device received in a station assembly is via the first and second connections of the station assembly.

16. The storage system of claim 15, wherein the electronic memory device is a two terminal memory device.

17. The storage system of claim 15, wherein a station assembly'"'"'s first connection is lowered to a near ground potential and thereafter a serially transmitted individualized code is received via the station assembly'"'"'s second connection.