Electronic proximity security system

• US 20070257772A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcelle, Jesse, Leslie, Vince, Meekma, Glenn, Ebner, Tim
• Application Number:
  US11/377,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.640
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/1209 Rural letter-boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 29/141 comprising electronically controlled locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1469 Doors between cockpit and cabin
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

A system for controlling access to a securable area. The system includes a transmitter, a receiver, a logic circuit, an energy storing device, and a locking mechanism. The transmitter remotely transmits a signal that is selectively received by the receiver. The receiver includes an active and an inactive state. The logic circuit is in communication with the receiver and includes an active and an inactive state. The logic circuit is in communication with the energy storing device, which is in communication with the locking mechanism. When the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter, the locking mechanism selectively allows access to the securable area.

Claims

1. An energy conserving system for controlling access to a securable area comprising:

a. a transmitter for remotely transmitting a signal;

b. a receiver for receiving the remotely transmitted signal, the receiver including an active state and an inactive state;

c. a logic circuit including an active state and an inactive state and in communication with the receiver;

d. an energy storing device in communication with the logic circuit; and

e. a locking mechanism in communication with the energy storing device;

wherein when the receiver receives the signal from the transmitter, the locking mechanism selectively allows access to the securable area.

2. The energy conserving system of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises:

a. a first portion;

b. a second portion; and

c. a third portion.

3. The energy conserving system of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the signal switches the receiver from the inactive state to the active state if the receiver is in the inactive state.

4. The energy conserving system of claim 2 wherein the second portion of the signal includes a first security code for evaluation by the receiver;

further wherein when the receiver evaluates the first security code, the receiver selectively switches the logic circuit from the inactive state to the active state if the logic circuit is in the inactive state.

5. The energy conserving system of claim 3 wherein the third portion of the signal includes a second security code for evaluation by the logic circuit;

further wherein when the logic circuit evaluates the second security code, the logic circuit selectively commands the energy storing device to open the locking mechanism to unsecure the securable area.

6. The energy conserving system of claim 4 wherein the signal provides energy to the receiver for the receiver to evaluate the first security code.

7. The energy conserving system of claim 1 wherein the energy storing device is a super capacitor.

8. The energy conserving system of claim 1 further comprising a solar cell;

wherein the solar cell is in communication with the energy storing device.

9. The energy conserving system of claim 1 further comprising a piezo device;

wherein the piezo device is in communication with the energy storing device.

10. The energy conserving system of claim 1 wherein the securable area is an internal space of a mail box.

11. The energy conserving system of claim 1 wherein the securable area is an internal space of a room.

12. An energy conserving system for controlling access to a securable area comprising:

a. an RFID transmitter for transmitting a signal;

b. an RFID receiver for receiving the signal, the receiver including an active state and an inactive state;

c. a logic circuit including an active state and an inactive state and in communication with the RFID receiver;

d. an energy storing device in communication with the logic circuit; and

e. a locking mechanism in communication with the energy storing device;

wherein when the RFID receiver receives the signal from the RFID transmitter, the locking mechanism selectively allows access to the securable area.

13. The energy conserving system of claim 12 herein the signal comprises:

a. a first portion, which switches the receiver into the active state if the receiver is in an inactive state;

b. a second portion, which includes a first security code to be evaluated by the RFID receiver; and

c. a third portion, which includes a second security code to be evaluated by the logic circuit;

wherein when the RFID receiver evaluates the first security code, the RFID receiver selectively switches the logic circuit into the active state if the logic circuit is in the inactive state;

further wherein, when the logic circuit evaluates the second security code, the logic circuit selectively commands the energy storing device to open the locking mechanism to unsecure the securable area.

14. The energy conserving system of claim 13 wherein the signal provides energy to the RFID receiver for the RFID receiver to evaluate the first security code.

15. The energy conserving system of claim 13 wherein the RFID receiver evaluates the first security code by comparing the first security code to a first access code stored on the RFID receiver.

16. The energy conserving system of claim 13 further comprising a memory circuit;

wherein the logic circuit evaluates the second security code by comparing the second security code to a second access code stored on the memory circuit.

17. The energy conserving system of claim 12 wherein the energy storage device is at least one super capacitor.

18. The energy conserving system of claim 12 further comprising a solar cell;

wherein the solar cell is in communication with the energy storing device.

19. The energy conserving system of claim 12 further comprising a piezo device;

wherein the piezo device is in communication with the energy storing device.

20. The energy conserving system of claim 12 wherein the securable area is the internal space of a mail box.

21. The energy conserving system of claim 12 wherein the securable area is the internal space of a room.

22. A method of securing and unsecuring an access member comprising:

a. transmitting a signal from a transmitter to a securing mechanism, wherein the signal provides the securing mechanism with energy, places the securing mechanism into an active state, and provides a security code to the securing mechanism;

b. using at least a portion of the energy provided by the signal to evaluate the security code;

c. comparing the security code to an access code stored by the securing mechanism;

d. determining whether the security code matches the access code; and

e. unsecuring of the access member with the securing mechanism when the security code matches the access code.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

a. unsecuring the access member by providing energy from the securing mechanism to the access member; and

b. providing energy to the access member from a rechargeable energy storing device within the securing mechanism.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

a. moving the transmitter to a position where the securing mechanism will not receive the transmitted signal;

b. determining that the securing mechanism is no longer receiving the signal;

c. securing the access member; and

d. placing the securing mechanism into an inactive state.