Vehicle-integrated access control device

• US 6,566,998 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nalco Company (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Omar Facory
• Inventors: Facory, Omar
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/669,050
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/825.69, 340/475, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.23, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/545.1, 340/545.2, 340/427, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 455/95, 455/99, 455/128
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

For remotely operating security barriers such as gates, garage doors and the like by manipulating multiple pre-existing equipment controls of a motor vehicle simultaneously or successively, a vehicle-integrated access control device is described having an access control signal transmitter, an optional voltage regulator, and means for causing the operation of the transmitter to depend on the actuation in concert of several vehicle controls such as, for example, the simultaneous or rapidly successive actuation of the left and right turn signals of a motorcycle. A logical AND device and, alternatively, a pair of transistor switches are disclosed for establishing the dependency. One or more optional relays are disclosed for establishing the dependency. A latching circuit is described for establishing the dependency upon successive actuation of first and second circuits. Wires connected to the vehicle are disclosed for establishing input from the vehicle controls, power from the vehicle electrical system, and electrical grounding. A voltage reducing circuit, optionally including a voltage divider or a Zener diode, is disclosed for accommodating a lower voltage transmitter to a higher voltage vehicle electrical system.

Claims

1. A vehicle-integrated access control device for operating a security barrier from a motor vehicle where the motor vehicle has a plurality of pre-existing vehicle equipment controls and the security barrier has a barrier control operatively connected thereto for selectively opening and closing the security barrier in response to an access control signal, the access control device comprising:

an access control signal transmitter capable of selectively operating the barrier control, the access control signal transmitter being operatively connectable to the plurality of equipment controls of the motor vehicle such that, when the plurality of equipment controls are operated in a predetermined manner, said equipment controls comprising a first equipment control and a separate equipment control separate from said first equipment control, the access control signal transmitter operates the barrier control.

2. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a logical AND device, the logical AND device including first and second input channels and an output channel,

each of said first and second input channels having an OFF condition and an ON condition,

the first input channel being operatively connectable to a first equipment control of the motor vehicle so as to register an ON condition when the first control is being operated in a predetermined manner, the second input channel operatively connectable in like manner to a second equipment control of the motor vehicle,

the output channel of the logical AND device being operatively connected to the access control signal transmitter so as to cause the access control signal transmitter to operate the barrier control when the first and second input channels simultaneously register an ON condition.

3. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first and second input channels of the logical AND device are operatively connectable to the left and right turn signal controls of a motorcycle, respectively.

4. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first and second input channels of the logical AND device comprise first and second electrical input conductors, each electrically connectable to a circuit of the electrical system of a motor vehicle.

5. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a logical AND device, the logical AND device including first and second input channels and an output channel,

each of said first and second input channels having an OFF condition and an ON condition,

the first input channel being operatively connectable to a first equipment control of the motor vehicle so as to register an ON condition when the first control is being operated in a predetermined manner and for a predetermined time period thereafter,

the second input channel operatively connectable to a second equipment control of the motor vehicle so as to register an ON condition when the second equipment control is operated in a predetermined manner,

the output channel of the logical AND device being operatively connected to the access control signal transmitter so as to cause the access control signal transmitter to operate the barrier control when the first and second input channels simultaneously register an ON condition,

whereby, when the first and second vehicle equipment controls are operated in a predetermined manner within a predetermined time period, the barrier control is operated.

6. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first and second input channels of the logical AND device are operatively connectable to the left and right turn signal controls of a motorcycle, respectively.

7. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second input channels of the logical AND device comprise first and second electrical input conductors, each electrically connectable to a circuit of the electrical system of a motor vehicle.

8. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the access control signal transmitter operates the barrier control when a first of the plurality of equipment controls is actuated and released during a first time period, a second such equipment control is actuated during a second time period, and the second time period includes at least a portion of the first time period.

9. For use in a motor vehicle having an electrical system including a ground, a plurality of items of electrical equipment, and a plurality of electrical switches controlling said items of electrical equipment:

a vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first and second input channels of the logical AND device form first and second electrical circuits between respective first and second electrical switches of the motor vehicle and the electrical ground of the motor vehicle, each of said electrical circuits having an electrical impedance sufficiently high that the input channels collectively draw an electrical current which is effectively zero compared to that drawn by the items of vehicle electrical equipment that are controlled by the first and second electrical switches of the motor vehicle.

10. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the access control signal transmitter has an operating voltage range, the access control device comprising a voltage reducing circuit providing a voltage within said range to the access control signal transmitter from the motor vehicle electrical system.

11. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the voltage reducing circuit includes a Zener diode having a threshold voltage within the operating voltage range of the access control signal transmitter.

12. For use in a motor vehicle having an electrical system including a positive pole, a ground and a plurality of electrical circuits, a vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a first transistor switch so connected to a first electrical circuit of the motor vehicle as to provide a first transistor output voltage when the first electrical circuit of the motor vehicle is closed; and

a second transistor switch, connected to the first transistor switch and to a second electrical circuit of the motor vehicle so as to provide a second transistor output voltage when the first transistor switch provides a first transistor output voltage while second electrical circuit of the motor vehicle is closed,

the second transistor providing a power input to the access control signal transmitter.

13. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first and second electrical circuits of the motor vehicle are the left and right turn signal circuits respectively.

14. A vehicle-integrated access control device for operating a security barrier from a motor vehicle where the motor vehicle has a plurality of motor vehicle equipment controls and the barrier has barrier operating means capable of selectively admitting a vehicle past the barrier in response to an access control signal, the access control device comprising:

signal transmitting means providing an access control signal to the barrier operating means in response to an activating signal; and

input means, operatively connected to the signal transmitting means, capable of providing an activating signal to the signal transmitting means when a plurality of separate motor vehicle equipment controls are operated in concert.

15. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 14, the input means capable of providing the activation signal to the signal transmitting means when the plurality of motor vehicle equipment controls are operated simultaneously.

16. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 15, wherein the plurality of motor vehicle equipment controls comprises the left and right turn signal controls of a motorcycle.

17. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 14, comprising:

a first vehicle equipment control actuation detection means operatively connected to a first motor vehicle equipment control and operatively connected to the input means; and

a second vehicle equipment control actuation detection means operatively connected to a second motor vehicle equipment control and operatively connected to the input means,

the input means providing the activating signal to the signal transmitting means when the second motor vehicle equipment control is actuated within an interval beginning when the first equipment control is actuated and ending a predetermined time period after the first equipment control ceases to be actuated.

18. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the input means comprises a logical AND device having an output channel and first and second input channels, the output channel being operatively connected to the signal transmitting means, the first and second input channels being operatively connected to first and second vehicle control actuation detection means,

each of the first and second vehicle control actuation detection means causing the corresponding first or second input channel to provide an ON condition to the logical AND device when the respective first or second motor vehicle control is actuated,

the output channel of the logical AND device providing an activating signal to the signal transmitting means when the second input channel provides an ON condition within an interval beginning when the first input channel begins to provide an ON condition and ending a predetermined time period after the first input channel to provide an ON condition.

19. A vehicle-integrated access control device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the input means comprises:

a first transistor switch so connected to a first electrical circuit of the motor vehicle as to provide a first transistor output voltage when the first electrical circuit of the motor vehicle is closed;

a second transistor switch so connected to the first transistor switch and to a second electrical circuit of the motor vehicle as to provide a second transistor output voltage when the second electrical circuit of the motor vehicle is closed within an interval beginning when the first electrical circuit is closed and ending a predetermined time period after the first electrical circuit ceases to be closed,

the second transistor switch output voltage providing a power input to the access control signal transmitter.

20. A method of operating a security barrier from a motor vehicle where the motor vehicle has separate first and second pre-existing vehicle equipment controls and the security barrier has a barrier control operatively connected thereto for selectively opening the security barrier in response to an access control signal, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an actuation of the first vehicle equipment control;

detecting an actuation of the second, separate vehicle equipment control within an interval beginning with the actuation of the first vehicle equipment control and ending a predetermined time period after the cessation of actuation of the first vehicle equipment control; and

transmitting the access control signal to the barrier control upon the detection of the actuation of the second vehicle equipment control.