SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DUPLICATING KEYS

• US 20130173044A1
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KeyMe, LLC
• Original Assignee: Keyme Incorporated (KeyMe, LLC)
• Inventors: Marsh, Gregory, Borer, Kristopher, Salzbank, Zachary, Kim, Jayeon, Pruitt, Paige
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/186
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2235/12 Using a database to store details of the key, the information in the database being used for the generation of the profile of the key
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2235/41 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 3/35 Milling grooves in keys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49004 Modeling, making, manufacturing model to control machine, cmm
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for duplicating keys are provided. In some embodiments, a systems for creating keys are provided, the systems comprising: at least one hardware processor that: receives security information from a user; and receives geometric information about a first key associated with the security information from a storage device; and a key shaping device that creates a second key using the geometric information.

Claims

1. A system for creating keys, the system comprising:

at least one hardware processor that;

receives security information from a user; and

receives geometric information about a first key associated with the security information from a storage device; and

a key shaping device that creates a second key using the geometric information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage device is a server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage device is a portable electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hardware processor also:

receives the security information from an input device;

validates the security information;

indicates to the user an identity of one or more keys associated with the security information using a display coupled to the hardware processor upon validating the security information; and

receives an identification from the input device of a key to create from the one or more keys associated with the security information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the input device further comprises at least one of:

a biometric sensor, a keypad, a keyboard, a touchscreen, an image sensor, and a near-field communication receiver.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the security information comprises at least one of the following:

a username, a password, biometric information of the user, a barcode, a Quick Response code, a radio signal encoded with account information, and a light signal encoded with account information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second key is created from a key blank stored in one of a plurality of magazines that are each configured to hold a plurality of key blanks.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of magazines are arranged on a rotating carousel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the key shaping device comprises:

a computer numerical control device; and

a shaping tool.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the key shaping device comprises an additive manufacturing device, and wherein the second key is created from material used by the additive manufacturing device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a material used to create the second key includes at least one of the following:

key blanks, plastic, and stock material.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a movement device that moves material used to create the second key from a key material storage area to the key shaping device.

13. A system for creating keys, the system comprising:

a key receiver that receives a first key;

a key scanner that captures geometric information about the first key;

a hardware processor that determines a key type and bitting pattern of the first key based on the geometric information; and

a key shaping device that creates a second key based on the key type and bitting pattern determined by the processor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the key scanner comprises at least one of:

a camera, a laser-based measuring device, a bitting detection finger, a plurality of mechanical pins, and a plurality of light sources and light detectors.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the hardware processor also determines the key type and bitting pattern using machine learning techniques to recognize features of the key.

16. A method for creating keys, the method comprising:

receiving security information from a user;

receiving geometric information about a first key associated with the security information from a storage device; and

creating a second key using the geometric information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the storage device is a server.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the storage device is a portable electronic device.

19. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

receiving the security information from an input device;

validating the security information;

indicating to the user an identity of one or more keys associated with the security information using a display coupled to the hardware processor upon validating the security information; and

receiving an identification from the input device of a key to create from the one or more keys associated with the security information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the input device further comprises at least one of:

a biometric sensor, a keypad, a keyboard, a touchscreen, an image sensor, and a near-field communication receiver.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the security information comprises at least one of the following:

a username, a password, biometric information of the user, a barcode, a Quick Response code, a radio signal encoded with account information, and a light signal encoded with account information.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the second key is created from a key blank stored in one of a plurality of magazines that are each configured to hold a plurality of key blanks.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of magazines are arranged on a rotating carousel.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the second key is created using a key shaping device comprising:

a computer numerical control device; and

a shaping tool.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the second key is created using an additive manufacturing device, and wherein the second key is created from material used by the additive manufacturing device.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein a material used to create the second key includes at least one of the following:

key blanks, plastic, and stock material.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises moving material used to create the second key from a key material storage area to a key shaping device.

28. A method for creating keys, the method comprising:

receiving a first key;

scanning geometric information about the first key;

determining a key type and bitting pattern of the first key based on the geometric information; and

creating a second key based on the key type and bitting pattern determined by the processor.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein scanning the geometric information further comprises, capturing the geometric information using at least one of a camera, a laser-based measuring device, a bitting detection finger, a plurality of mechanical pins, and a plurality of light sources and light detectors.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining the key type and bitting pattern using machine learning techniques to recognize features of the key.