Key, lock, and key and lock system

• US 6,457,337 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rolin, John H., Hattick, John B., Vega, Victor A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/593,337
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 700/278.3, 700/278.2, 700/279.1, 700/283.1, 700/395, 700/408, 700/413, 700/277
• US Class Current: 70/278.3
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00992 mechanical key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7802 Multi-part structures

Abstract

A key (10) includes a transceiver core (12) that couples to antenna electrodes that include all or part of a key shank (11) and an electrically conductive surface (16). The transceiver core (12) utilizes these electrodes (11 and 16) to capacitively transceive information with a reader (41). The reader (41) may, in turn, utilize all or part of a keyed lock cylinder (43) as an antenna electrode.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver core having at least a first and a second terminal;

an antenna, including;

a first electrode that includes a key shank, which key shank is at least partially comprised of electrically conductive material, which first electrode is operably coupled to the first terminal;

a second electrode comprising at least an electrically conductive surface, which second electrode is operably coupled to the second terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver core comprises transceiver means for capacitively transceiving information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises antenna means for operably coupling to the terminals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key shank is wholly comprised of electrically conductive material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key shank is further comprised, in part, of non-electrically conductive material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least part of the non-electrically conductive material comprising the key shank is at least partially covered with the electrically conductive material.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least part of the electrically conductive material is disposed within at least part of the non-electrically conductive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a key grip head that contains the transceiver core and the second electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the key grip head further contains at least a part of the first electrode.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a keyed lock cylinder which functions as an antenna, the key locked cylinder is at least partially comprised of an electrically conductive material and operably coupled to a reader, wherein the reader is coupled to the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus, when operable, performs at least one of the following functions;

capacitively couples power to a key, capacitively communicates information to the key, and capacitively receives information from the key.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reader comprises reader means for reading transceived information.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the keyed lock cylinder comprises keyed lock cylinder means for receiving the key.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the keyed lock cylinder is wholly comprised of electrically conductive material.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the keyed lock cylinder is further comprised, in part, of non-electrically conductive material.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least part of the non-electrically conductive material comprising the keyed lock cylinder is at least partially covered with the electrically conductive material.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least part of the electrically conductive material is disposed within at least part of the non-electrically conductive material.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver core having at least a first and a second terminal;

a transceiver antenna, including;

a first electrode that includes a key shank, which key shank is at least partially comprised of electrically conductive material, which first electrode is operably coupled to the first terminal;

a second electrode comprising at least an electrically conductive surface, which second electrode is operably coupled to the second terminal;

a reader having at least a third terminal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising a reader antenna, including at least a third electrode that includes a keyed lock cylinder, which keyed lock cylinder is at least partially comprised of electrically conductive material, which third electrode is operably coupled to the third terminal.

19. A key, comprising:

a capacitive transceiver core at least partially disposed within the key and having at least a first and second terminal;

a first capacitively coupleable antenna electrode comprising at least a first electrically conductive surface, which first electrode is operably coupled to the first terminal;

a second capacitively coupleable antenna electrode comprising at least a second electrically conductive surface, which second electrode is operably coupled to the second terminal.