Electronic security system

Claim 2

In an electronic security system, the combination comprising: key means including a first adaptive ferroelectric transformer capable of assuming a plurality of states, said transformer providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state, and security control means for receiving said key means including a second adaptive ferroelectric transformer and comparison means coupled to said second transformer for comparing the output signal level of said first and second transformers to provide a security control signal only when said key and security control means are engaged and said transformers are in matched states.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 further including pulse generating means coupled to said security control means for changing the state of said second transformer.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said pulse generating means is disposed remote from said security control means.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 further including means coupled to said security control means for applying said input signal to said transformers when said key means are engaged.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said input signal means is an oscillator.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said security control means includes releasable latch means having lock and unlock positions and means responsive to said security control signal coupled to said latch means for placing said latch means in either the locked or unlocked state.

Claim 8

In an electronic security system, the combination comprising: key means including a first memory device capable of assuming a plurality of states, said device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a parameter having a certain value corresponding to a given state, and security control means for receiving said key means including a second like memory device and comparison means coupled to said devices for comparing the output signal parameter values of said first and second devices in response to an input signal applied thereto and for providing a security control signal only when said key and security control means are engaged and said devices are in matchEd states.

Claim 9

In an electronic security system, the combination comprising: key means including a first memory device capable of assuming a plurality of states, said device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a parameter having a certain value corresponding to a given state, and security control means for receiving said key means including a second like memory device and comparison means coupled to said devices for comparing the output signal parameter values of said first and second devices in response to an input signal applied thereto and for providing a security control signal only when said key and security control means are engaged and said devices are in matchEd states.

Claim 10

An electronic security system, comprising: means including a first adaptive memory device capable of assuming a plurality of states said device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state, security control means for receiving said first mentioned means including a second like adaptive memory device and comparison means coupled to said second device for comparing the output signal level of said first and second devices and for providing a security control signal when said first mentioned means and security control means are engaged and said devices are in predetermined states, means coupled to said security control means and said first mentioned means for setting said predetermined states, means responsive to said security control signal applied as an input thereto including a security device having secured and unsecured states for placing said security device in either of said states, and means coupled to said security control means for applying said first mentioned input signal to said memory devices when said first mentioned means and said security control means are engaged.

Claim 11

An electronic security system, comprising: means including a first adaptive memory device capable of assuming a plurality of states said device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state, security control means for receiving said first mentioned means including a second like adaptive memory device and comparison means coupled to said second device for comparing the output signal level of said first and second devices and for providing a security control signal when said first mentioned means and security control means are engaged and said devices are in predetermined states, means coupled to said security control means and said first mentioned means for setting said predetermined states, means responsive to said security control signal applied as an input thereto including a security device having secured and unsecured states for placing said security device in either of said states, and means coupled to said security control means for applying said first mentioned input signal to said memory devices when said first mentioned means and said security control means are engaged.

Claim 12

An electronic lock system capable of remote encoding, comprising: connector means including a first device capable of assuming a plurality of states in response to an electrical signal applied thereto, said device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state, receptacle means for receiving said connector means means coupled to said receptacle means including a second device capable of assuming a plurality of states in response to an electrical signal applied thereto, said second device providing an output signal in response to an input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state and further including comparison means coupled to said second device and to said first device for comparing the output signal levels of said first and second devices to provide a lock control signal when said engaged devices are in predetermined states, means disposed remote from said receptacle means for setting said predetermined state of said first and second devices and for remotely encoding said second device to match said first device, and means coupled to said second device for applying said input signal to said devices when said connector and receptacle means are engaged.

Claim 13

An electronic lock system capable of remote encoding, comprising: connector means including a first device capable of assuming a plurality of states in response to an electrical signal applied thereto, said device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state, receptacle means for receiving said connector means means coupled to said receptacle means including a second device capable of assuming a plurality of states in response to an electrical signal applied thereto, said second device providing an output signal in response to an input signal, said output signal having a certain level corresponding to a given state and further including comparison means coupled to said second device and to said first device for comparing the output signal levels of said first and second devices to provide a lock control signal when said engaged devices are in predetermined states, means disposed remote from said receptacle means for setting said predetermined state of said first and second devices and for remotely encoding said second device to match said first device, and means coupled to said second device for applying said input signal to said devices when said connector and receptacle means are engaged.

Claim 14

A key member for use in an electronic security system of a type including an adaptive electronic memory device capable of assuming and retaining any one of a plurality of electronic states, said system further including means for generating an output signal from said device corresponding to the state thereof and for providing a security control signal upon a given match existing between said output signal and an input signal, said device and said means being connected to a first plurality of terminals, said key member comprising: a second adaptive electronic memory device capable of assuming and retaining any one of a plurality of electronic states, a second plurality of terminals adapted to contact with said first plurality of terminals, means for coupling said second plurality of terminals to said second device such that said generating means can operate said second device via certain of said first and second plurality of terminals when in contact to cause said second device to generate said input signal according to the then state of said second device, said input signal being provided to said generating means via other of said first and second plurality of terminals when in contact, said security control signal being provided only when said first and second plurality of terminals are in contact and the states of said first and second devices are such as to provide said given match between said output and input signals.

Claim 15

A key member for use in an electronic security system of a type including an adaptive electronic memory device capable of assuming and retaining any one of a plurality of electronic states, said system further including means for generating an output signal from said device corresponding to the state thereof and for providing a security control signal upon a given match existing between said output signal and an input signal, said device and said means being connected to a first plurality of terminals, said key member comprising: a second adaptive electronic memory device capable of assuming and retaining any one of a plurality of electronic states, a second plurality of terminals adapted to contact with said first plurality of terminals, means for coupling said second plurality of terminals to said second device such that said generating means can operate said second device via certain of said first and second plurality of terminals when in contact to cause said second device to generate said input signal according to the then state of said second device, said input signal being provided to said generating means via other of said first and second plurality of terminals when in contact, said security control signal being provided only when said first and second plurality of terminals are in contact and the states of said first and second devices are such as to provide said given match between said output and input signals.

Claim 16

A key mEmber as claimed in claim 10 wherein said first and second devices are ferroelectric transformers.

Claim 17

In combination: an analog memory device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal having a certain ratio therebetween anywhere within a first given range determined by the selected value anywhere within a second given range of a device control signal previously applied to said memory device, a plurality of terminals, means coupling said terminals to said device such that an input signal applied to said device via at least one of said terminals results in an output signal at at least one other of said terminals having a value corresponding to the then state of said device, and means housing said device, said terminals and said coupling means to provide a transportable key-like member for use in an electronic security system.

Claim 18

In combination: an analog memory device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal having a certain ratio therebetween anywhere within a first given range determined by the selected value anywhere within a second given range of a device control signal previously applied to said memory device, a plurality of terminals, means coupling said terminals to said device such that an input signal applied to said device via at least one of said terminals results in an output signal at at least one other of said terminals having a value corresponding to the then state of said device, and means housing said device, said terminals and said coupling means to provide a transportable key-like member for use in an electronic security system.

Claim 19

The combination 12 as claimed in claim 12 wherein said member is formed to operate in a standard groove and ridge mechanical lock.

Claim 20

The combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said device is a ferroelectric transformer.

Claim 21

The combination, comprising: a first adaptive ferroelectric transformer charged to provide a first output signal of predetermined level in response to an input signal applied thereto, a second adaptive ferroelectric transformer charged to provide a second output signal of a predetermined level in response to an input signal applied thereto, a signal comparator coupled to said first transformer, means for coupling said second transformer to said first transformer and said comparator to cause said comparator to compare the levels of said output signals applied as inputs to said comparator to provide a control signal when said levels are matched, and latch means having lock and unlock states coupled to said comparator and responsive to said control signal, said latch means being switched from one of said lock and unlock states to the other when said control is applied thereto.

Claim 22

The combination, comprising: a first adaptive ferroelectric transformer charged to provide a first output signal of predetermined level in response to an input signal applied thereto, a second adaptive ferroelectric transformer charged to provide a second output signal of a predetermined level in response to an input signal applied thereto, a signal comparator coupled to said first transformer, means for coupling said second transformer to said first transformer and said comparator to cause said comparator to compare the levels of said output signals applied as inputs to said comparator to provide a control signal when said levels are matched, and latch means having lock and unlock states coupled to said comparator and responsive to said control signal, said latch means being switched from one of said lock and unlock states to the other when said control is applied thereto.

Claim 23

In an electronic security system, the combination comprising: an analog memory device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal having a certain ratio therebetween anywhere within a first given range determined by the selected value anywhere within a second given range of a device control signal previously applied to said memory device, and a signal comparator coupled to said device for comparing the value of said output signal to the value of a first signal applied as an input thereto and provide a security control signal when said values are matched.

Claim 24

In an electronic security system, the combination comprising: an analog memory device providing an output signal in response to an applied input signal having a certain ratio therebetween anywhere within a first given range determined by the selected value anywhere within a second given range of a device control signal previously applied to said memory device, and a signal comparator coupled to said device for comparing the value of said output signal to the value of a first signal applied as an input thereto and provide a security control signal when said values are matched.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 16 wherein said selected value is determined by the amplitude and time duration of a pulse.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 16 including control signal generating means coupled to said device for applying said device control signal to said device.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 16 further including latch means having lock and unlock states coupled to said signal comparator and responsive to said security control signal, said latch means being switched from one of said lock and unlock states to the other by said security control signal.

Claim 28

The combination of claim 16 wherein said device comprises first, second and third conductive members and a first layer of material having ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties disposed between said first and second members and a second layer of material having properties substantially the samd as said first layer, disposed between said second and third members, said second member and one of said first and third members being coupled to said signal comparator, the other of said first and third members having said input signal applied thereto.

Claim 29

The combination of claim 16 further including a plurality of like memory devices and a like plurality of signal comparators each being coupled to a separate, different respective one of said devices, and encoded signal generating means responsive to the output signals of said Comparators applied as an input thereto for generating said security control signal when said comparator output signals match a given code.