Secure smartphone-operated locking device

• US 9,726,448 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl F. Milde Jr
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Matos, Karl F. Milde Jr
• Inventors: Milde, Jr., Karl F., Matos, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Allen T
• Application Number:
  US14/955,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20170227315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 340 51- 59
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00325 and the lock having only one limited data transmission range
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A battery-powered locking device, such as a trigger-lock which is configured to be disposed on a gun with a trigger for firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the memory. If a data match is indicated, the logic device causes an electromagnetic device to move a trigger-locking member to an unlocked position, permitting the gun to be fired. A separate electronic gun key is provided to transmit gun unlock data to the data receiver of the trigger-locking device. This gun unlock data may be a password, a long pseudo-random number or biologic data identifying the gun owner or some other person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to fire the gun.

Claims

1. Locking apparatus which is unlocked only by an authorized person, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a locking device, configured to be installed on an item to be secured to prevent the unauthorized use of the item, having a first source of electrical power and including, in combination;

(1) a locking member, movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

(2) an electromechanical device coupled to the first source of power and to the locking member for moving the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to at least one first electric signal;

(3) a wireless receiving (“

R”

) device, coupled to the first source of power, for receiving second unlock data;

(4) a first data memory, coupled to the first source of power, for storing first unlock data pertaining to an authorized person who is authorized to unlock the locking device, said first unlock data representing biologic identifying information (“

bioID”

) about at least one person who is authorized to unlock the locking device; and

(5) a first logic device, coupled to the first source of power, to the R device and to the first data memory, for comparing said second unlock data received by the R device with said first unlock data stored in the first data memory and for producing said at least one first electric signal to cause the electromechanical device to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position, when the first unlock data stored in said first data memory and the second unlock data received by the R device are substantially the same;

(b) a phone app for a portable smartphone which includes a second source of electrical power and comprises the following components;

(1) a wireless transmitting (“

T”

) device coupled to said second source of power for transmitting said second unlock data to said R device;

(2) a second data memory, coupled to said second source of power, for storing said second unlock data;

(3) a second logic device, coupled to said second source of power, to said T device and to said second data memory; and

(4) an input device, coupled to said second logic device and to said second source of power, for producing digital data representing biologic identifying information (“

bioID”

) pertaining to a putative authorized person who wishes to unlock the locking device,

said phone app being operative to control said second logic device (i) to generate said second unlock data from said bioID, (ii) to store said second unlock data in said second data memory and (iii) to cause said T device to transmit said second unlock data to said R device;

thereby to unlock said locking device when said second unlock data stored in said second data memory and transmitted to said locking device is substantially the same as said first unlock data stored in said first data memory.

2. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a camera, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting an image of a bodily aspect of said putative authorized person as said biologic identifying information, and

wherein the second logic device is operative to receive said digital data representing said image as said biologic identifying information and to generate said second unlock data therefrom.

3. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a microphone, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting a voice of said putative authorized person as said biologic identifying information, and

wherein the second logic device is operative to receive said digital data representing said voice as said biologic identifying information and to generate said second unlock data therefrom.

4. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable smartphone further includes a keypad, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting alphanumeric data,

and wherein the second logic device is further operative to process a password entered into the keypad by the putative authorized person and to generate said second unlock data therefrom for transmission by said T device to said R device, thereby to unlock the locking device when enhanced security in not required.

5. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable smartphone further includes a keypad, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting alphanumeric data whereby a person may enter a lock command, and wherein the second logic device is further operative in response to said input to generate a lock signal representing said lock command, said data receiver as further operative to receive said lock signal, and said first logic device, upon receipt of said lock signal, is operative to produce at least one second electric signal to cause the electromechanical device to move the locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position.

6. The locking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said phone app is further operative to control said second logic device to determine whether the bioID of said putative authorized person is the bioID of a living person, and to cause said T device to transmit said second unlock data to said R device only if the bioID is determined to be that from a living person.

7. The locking apparatus of claim 6, wherein said input device includes a camera, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting an image of a bodily aspect of said putative authorized person as said biologic identifying information, wherein said smartphone includes a light, and wherein said phone app is further operative (i) to cause said light to illuminate, thereby to cause said putative authorized person to move involuntarily, causing a change in said image, and (ii) to recognize said change in said image as a determination that said image was made from a living person.