Input device, electronic lock including the same, and method for controlling the electronic lock

• US 10,706,652 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2019
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.), LS Automotive Technologies., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Hye Kyung, Choi, Sung Sik, Jung, Dae Ig, Lee, Young Ju, Jin, Keon Soo, Kwon, Dae Wook, Kwon, Min Seok, Lee, Won, Kim, Moon Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US16/418,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20190272694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 340 554
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0019 the keyless data carrier having only one limited data transmission rangs
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00833 by code input from switches
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00841 by a portable device
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00714 with passive electrical components, e.g. resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

An input device includes a touch pad may include a transmissive material, a touch detector disposed at a rear portion of the touch pad, a printed circuit board connected to the touch detector, and a plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the printed circuit board, wherein a plurality of input elements is provided on a back surface of the touch detector. Each input element has at least two symbols that are formed in overlap with each other and in mutually different colors.

Claims

1. An electronic lock comprising:

an input device including a touch pad, a touch detector disposed at a rear portion of the touch pad, a printed circuit board connected to the touch detector, a plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the printed circuit board, a radio frequency antenna mounted on the printed circuit board, and a plurality of input elements and a verification element provided on a back surface of the touch detector;

a locking mechanism connected to the input device;

a control device which is configured to control the locking mechanism;

a touch authentication module connected to the touch detector; and

a wireless authentication module connected to the radio frequency antenna,

wherein each input element of the plurality of input elements has at least two symbols that are formed in overlap with each other and in mutually different colors, and

wherein the plurality of light emitting devices respectively emits light to the plurality of input elements.

2. A method for controlling the electronic lock of claim 1, the method including:

proceeding to a sleep mode in which the light emitting devices are turned off, when the touch pad is not touched even though a predetermined standby time or more elapses;

determining whether at least one input element is touched after the touch to the touch pad is input within the predetermined standby time;

determining whether a present mode is a password authentication mode, when the at least one input element is touched; and

inputting a password when the present mode is the password authentication mode and performing an unlocking operation of the locking mechanism when the input password is matched with a registered password.

3. The method of claim 2, further including:

determining whether an electronic tag accesses a radio frequency (RF) antenna, when a symbol of the at least one input element is not touched;

comparing an identification information of the electronic tag with a registered identification information; and

performing the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism when the identification information of the electronic tag is matched with registered identification information.

4. The method of claim 3, further including:

determining whether a user registration mode is performed, when the electronic tag does not access the RF antenna, the user registration mode being a mode in which the password or identification information of the electronic tag is registered by a user; and

inputting the password or the identification information of the electronic tag when the user registration mode is determined to be performed.

5. The method of claim 4, further including:

determining whether a supervisor registration mode is performed, when the user registration mode is not determined to be performed, the supervisor registration mode being a mode in which the password is registered by a supervisor; and

inputting the password when the supervisor registration mode is determined to be performed.