Method and system for unlocking doorway

• US 7,337,469 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpha Corporation, Glory Limited
• Original Assignee: Alpha Corporation, Glory Limited
• Inventors: Osada, Shunichi, Nakajima, Haruhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US10/362,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,371 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/32 Time-recording locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Abstract

An unlock system does not use a key that might be copied so that only a correct person can unlock a door and security is enhanced. Unlock records of door-lock are stored in a limited memory capacity in volume.

Fingerprint data input to a fingerprint input section 21 disposed outside a door 11 provided on a doorway 10 is detected, and the detected fingerprint data is verified against previously registered fingerprint data. If it was confirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided with the registered fingerprint data, an unlock signal is output to unlock the door-lock, and a setting time or start-using time is stored in a storing section having a clock function.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway comprising the steps of:

detecting fingerprint data to be input to a fingerprint input section disposed outside a door;

verifying the detected fingerprint data against one or more previously registered fingerprint data;

outputting an unlock signal to unlock the door-lock when it was confirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided with the registered fingerprint data;

storing initial data, including at least an initial setting date or time and a start-using date or time in the unlocking method, said initial data providing an indication of a starting date; and

providing a display, the display capable of displaying the initial data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein

in the storing operation, the fingerprint data that unlocked and date information or time information are further stored.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising said initial data providing an indication of a starting date for indicating a warranty period of use.

4. A method for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway comprising the steps of:

detecting fingerprint data to be input to a fingerprint input section disposed outside a door;

verifying the detected fingerprint data against one or more fingerprint data previously registered in association with identification code having much smaller data amount than that of the fingerprint data;

outputting an unlock signal to unlock the door-lock when it is confirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided with the registered fingerprint data;

storing initial data, including at least an initial setting date or time and a start-using date or time in the unlocking method, said initial data providing an indication of a starting date; and

providing a display, the display capable of displaying the initial data.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein

the storing operation further stores identification code of the coincided registered fingerprint data and time information or time information.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising said initial data providing an indication of a starting date for indicating a warranty period of use.

7. A system for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway comprising:

a fingerprint detector disposed outside a door detecting a fingerprint data to be input to a fingerprint input section;

a fingerprint verifying device for verifying fingerprint data detected by the fingerprint detecting means against one or more previously registered fingerprint data;

a latch controller for outputting an unlock signal to unlock the door-lock when the fingerprint verifying device confirmed that the detected fingerprint data and the registered fingerprint data coincided with each other;

a storing device having a data function or a clock function, the storing device storing initial data, including at least an initial setting date or time or a start-using date or time of at least the unlocking system, said initial data providing an indication of a starting date; and

a display capable of displaying the initial data.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein

the storing device further stores the coincided detected fingerprint data or registered fingerprint data.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein:

the fingerprint data is mounted outside the door, and

the fingerprint verifying device, the latch controller and the storing device are mounted inside the door.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein said initial data provides an indication of a starting date for indicating a warranty period of use.

11. A system for unlocking door-lock provided on a doorway comprising:

a fingerprint detector disposed outside a door detecting a fingerprint data to be input to a fingerprint input section;

a fingerprint verifying device for verifying fingerprint data detected by the fingerprint detecting means against one or more fingerprint data previously registered in association with identification code;

a latch controller for outputting an unlock signal to unlock the door-lock when the fingerprint verifying device confirmed that the detected fingerprint data and the registered fingerprint data coincided with each other;

a storing device having a data function or a clock function, the storing device storing initial data, including installation date or time or start-using date or time of at least the unlocking system, said initial data providing an indication of a starting date; and

a display capable of displaying the initial data.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein

the storing device further stores an identification code of the coincided one register data.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein:

the fingerprint data is mounted outside the door, and

the fingerprint verifying device, the latch controller and the storing device are mounted inside the door.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein said initial data provides an indication of a starting date for indicating a warranty period of use.