Inventoriable-object control and tracking system

• US 6,707,380 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Keytrak, Inc. (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Maloney, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US10/035,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/570, 340/825.49, 340/518, 340/5.9, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection

Abstract

An inventoriable-object control and tracking system comprising, in accordance with its preferred embodiments, an object identification assembly having an electronic device, with a unique electronically-readable identification code, which is connected to an inventoriable-object to enable control over access to the object and tracking of the object to identify a user in possession of the object. The system further includes a row and column matrix of electrical connectors located offset from a panel defining a corresponding row and column matrix of polarized slots for receipt of a plurality of object identification assemblies in a single orientation. Each connector of a matrix of electrical connectors comprises a pair of opposed, spring contacts having independently-deflectable portions to insure proper electrical contact with an electronic device of each object identification assembly. The system also includes a local controller connected to the matrix of electrical connectors and to a remote controller which executes, in accordance with the preferred methods, a plurality of software routines that communicate bi-directionally using a serial protocol, via a parallel data communications interface, to acquire and process data from each object identification assembly present. In accordance with the preferred apparatus, the system additionally comprises a storage unit having a drawer which is withdrawable from an enclosure upon operation of an electronically-actuated locking mechanism. The storage unit includes a slot and electrical connector positioned in a drawer face plate assembly for receipt of a personal identification assembly which enables a user to gain access to the plurality of object identification assemblies residing in the storage unit. A drawer switch located in the enclosure enables the remote controller to determine whether or not the drawer is open and, if so, to additionally determine whether or not the drawer has been open for an inordinate amount of time.

Claims

1. An object control and tracking system comprising:

a plurality of objects to be tracked, each of said object carrying an electronic memory device storing a unique identification code;

an enclosure;

a drawer selectively withdrawable from and insertable into said enclosure;

a plurality of slots disposed in said drawer, each slot configured for removably receiving an object to be tracked;

a sensor associated with each of said slots, each sensor being configured and positioned for readably engaging the electronic memory device of a trackable object disposed in the slot with which said sensor is associated;

a local controller mounted in said enclosure for communicating through said sensors with the electronic memory devices of objects disposed in said slots;

a flexible cable coupled at one end to said drawer and said sensors and coupled at its other end to said local controller for carrying communications between said local controller and said sensors, said flexible cable being constructed and positioned to roll when said drawer is inserted into and withdrawn from said enclosure to maintain communication with said sensors at all positions of said drawer; and

a main controller coupled to said local controller, said main controller being programmed to exchange information with said local controller regarding placement and removal of objects in said slots for tracking the objects.

2. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein each of said electronic memory devices comprises a touch memory device.

3. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 2 and wherein each of said sensors comprises a pair of contacts aligned with a corresponding slot for engaging the touch memory device of an object present in said slot.

4. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said slots are formed in a panel mounted in said drawer and further comprising a backplane disposed beneath said panel, each said pair of contacts being mounted on said backplane.

5. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said local controller is mounted in said enclosure below said drawer and wherein said flexible cable is positioned to roll along a bottom surface beneath said drawer as said drawer is inserted in and withdrawn from said enclosure.

6. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the trackable objects are key tags.

7. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 6 and wherein each of said key tags has a tongue receivable in said slots of said drawer, said electronic memory device of each key tag being disposed on said tongue.

8. An object control and tracking system as claimed in claim 7 and further comprising a key attachment lug on each of said tags for attaching keys.

9. A key tracking system comprising:

a plurality of key tags each associated with at least one key to be tracked, each tag having a key attachment lug and a tongue bearing an electronic memory device storing an identification code associated with said tag and thus with the at least one key attached thereto;

an enclosure;

a drawer selectively slidable into and out of said enclosure for accessing said drawer;

an array of slots in said drawer, each slot configured to receive the tongue and electronic memory device of a tag placed in said slot;

a sensor associated with each slot for readably engaging the electronic memory device of a tag disposed in said slot;

a controller for communicating through said sensors with the electronic memory devices of key tags disposed in said drawer; and

a flexible cable within said enclosure, said cable being connected to sensors and said drawer and to said controller and being constructed and arranged to roll when said drawer is slid in and out of said enclosure for maintaining communication between said sensors and said controller.

10. A key tracking system as claimed in claim 9 and wherein each of said key tags includes an attachment for attaching at least one key to said key tag.

11. A key tracking system as claimed in claim 9 and wherein each of said electronic memory devices comprises a touch memory device.

12. A key tracking system as claimed in claim 11 and wherein each of said sensors comprises a pair of electrical contacts for readably engaging the touch memory device of a key tag disposed in said slot.

13. A key tracking system as claimed in claim 9 and wherein said controller includes a local controller disposed in said enclosure, said flexile cable being connected between said drawer and said local controller.

14. A key tracking and control system for tracking check-out and check-in of keys, said system comprising:

an enclosure;

a drawer slidable in and out of said enclosure for accessing said drawer;

an array of receptacles in said drawer;

a plurality of trackable objects, each of said trackable objects being associated with at least one key to be tracked and having an electronic memory device storing a unique identification code associated with said object;

each of said receptacles being configured for removably receiving an object;

sensors in said drawer for readably coupling with the electronic memory devices of trackable objects disposed in said drawer;

a local controller in said enclosure for communicating with and reading the identification codes of electronic memory devices of trackable objects disposed in said drawer; and

a rolling flexible cable connecting said drawer and its sensors to said local controller, said rolling flexible cable being constructed and arranged to roll as said drawer is slid in and out of said enclosure to maintain communication between said sensors and said local controller during movement of said drawer.

15. A key tracking and control system as claimed in claim 14 and wherein said trackable objects are key tags and wherein said electronic memory devices are touch memory devices attached to said key tags.

16. A key tracking and control system as claimed in claim 15 and wherein said receptacles are slots, each slot configured to receive a portion of a key tag bearing said touch memory device.

17. A key tracking and control system as claimed in claim 16 and wherein said sensors comprise pairs of contacts in said drawer, each pair of contacts being aligned with a corresponding one of said slots to engage the touch memory device of a tag disposed in said slot.

18. In a key tracking system having a plurality of trackable objects associated with keys to be tracked and bearing electronic memory devices storing identification codes associated with the objects, and enclosure, a drawer for receiving trackable objects and their keys, the drawer being slidable in and out of the enclosure for accessing the drawer, sensors in the drawer for reading the identification codes of trackable objects in the drawer, and a controller in the enclosure for communicating with the sensors, the improvement comprising a rolling flexible cable connecting the drawer and its sensors to the controller, said rolling flexible cable rolling within the enclosure as the drawer is slid in and out of the enclosure to maintain communication between the sensors and the controller.

19. The improvement of claim 18 and wherein said rolling flexible cable is a multi-conductor flat cable that rolls along its length as said drawer slides in and out of the enclosure.