EP0109184A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Identification system
Assignee: ROUNDEL ELECTRONICS Ltd
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Filing: 1983-10-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A personnel identification system for controlling access to restricted equipment or restricted areas comprises a portable device such as a wrist watch (10) in which a unique digital identification code is stored, and a static control unit having a conductive touch element (12) and a code signal receiver (14) for comparing the identification code with a stored access code. The watch (10) includes a transmitter for transmitting the identification code as a modulated alternating signal by electrical conduction through the wearer's body to the touch element (12), so as to provide resistance to interfering radiated signals. The receiver includes a separate touch sensing circuit for sensing physical contact on the element (12) so that decoding circuitry in the receiver is activated only when contact is sensed thereby enhancing resistance to radiated signals and substantially ensuring that the identification code signal is received at sufficient strength, given the power restrictions of a battery operated portable device, for reliable detection and validation of the identification code.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan W. Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/20; B60R25/2027; G; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; H; H04; H04B; H04B13/00; H04B13/005; F; F16; F16D; F16D55/00; F16D2055/0004; F16D2055/0058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A security system for confining the use of equipment to an authorised user or users, wherein the system comprises:- (i) at least one portable device to be worn or carried by a respective authorised user, the device having a store for storing a respective unique digital identification code, and a transmitter for transmitting the code in a predetermined format; and (ii) a control unit to be coupled to the said equipment, the unit comprising detection circuitry for receiving the transmitted code and comparing it with an internally stored access code, a trigger element requiring physical contact by the user for activating the detection circuitry, and a security circuit for enabling the said equipment only when the detection circuitry detects a match between the transmitted code and the access code.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A security system for confining the use of equipment to an authorised user or users, wherein the system comprises:- (i) at least one portable device to be worn or carried by a respective authorised user, the device having a store for storing a respective unique digital identification code, and a transmitter for transmitting the code in a predetermined format; and (ii) a control unit to be coupled to the said equipment, the unit comprising detection circuitry for receiving the transmitted code and comparing it with an internally stored access code, a trigger element requiring physical contact by the user for activating the detection circuitry, and a security circuit for enabling the said equipment only when the detection circuitry detects a match between the transmitted code and the access code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A security system according to claim 1, wherein the trigger element is a touch sensitive electrical switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A security system for confining the use of equipment to authorised users, wherein the system comprises:- (i) at least one portable device to be worn by a respective authorised user, the device having a store for storing a respective unique digital identification code, a transmitter for transmitting the code in a predetermined format, and, coupled to the output of the transmitter, an exposed conductive portion arranged to be in contact with the user's skin; (ii) a control unit to be coupled to the said equipment, the unit comprising an electrically conductive touch surface operable to receive the transmitted code from the portable device by electrical conduction through the user's body when the user touches the touch plate or surface, detection circuitry coupled to the plate or surface for comparing the transmitted code with a stored access code and for producing an output signal when the transmitted code matches the access code, and a security circuit for enabling the said equipment in response to the output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
A security system for confining the use of equipment to authorised users, wherein the system comprises:- (i) at least one portable device to be worn by a respective authorised user, the device having a store for storing a respective unique digital identification code, a transmitter for transmitting the code in a predetermined format, and, coupled to the output of the transmitter, an exposed conductive portion arranged to be in contact with the user's skin; (ii) a control unit to be coupled to the said equipment, the unit comprising an electrically conductive touch surface operable to receive the transmitted code from the portable device by electrical conduction through the user's body when the user touches the touch plate or surface, detection circuitry coupled to the plate or surface for comparing the transmitted code with a stored access code and for producing an output signal when the transmitted code matches the access code, and a security circuit for enabling the said equipment in response to the output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A security system according to claim 3, wherein the touch surface forms part of a switching device for activating the detection circuitry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A security system according to claim 4, wherein the switching device is a mechanical switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A security system according to claim 4, wherein the switching device is a touch sensitive electronic switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A security system according to claim 3, wherein the or each portable device comprises a wrist watch having a reference oscillator and a frequency divider, a memory for storing the said identification code, a digital serial encoder having a carrier signal input connected to an output of the frequency divider and a code input for receiving the identification code in serial form and an output coupled to the said conductive portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A security system according to claim 7, wherein the encoder comprises an MOS integrated circuit having its output connected directly to the conductive portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A security system according to claim 7, wherein the encoder has a signal output and a reference output, and wherein the watch has two electrically conductive portions arranged to be in contact with the user's skin, which portions are electrically isolated from each other, one portion being connected to the signal output and the other portion being connected to the reference output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A security system according to claim 3, wherein the identification code is transmitted as a pulse- position-modulated signal having a carrier frequency in the range 10 kHz to 500 kHz.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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