Key card operated security and accountability system

Claim 2

A lock control apparatus for controlling a lock which normally assumes a first condition and which in response to an actuating signal assumes a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition, the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition, said lock control apparatus comprising: first receiving means adapted to receive a first coded device bearing a first plurality of coded indicators presenting a first predetermined code indication; second receiving means adapted to receive a second coded device bearing a second plurality of coded indicators presenting a second predetermined code indication; light source means adjacent said first and second receiving means for shining light onto coded devices within said first and second receiving means; a first plurality of photodetectors adjacent said first receiving means for simultaneously generating a first plurality of code indication signals indicative of the first predetermined code indication as indicated by light from said light source means impinging upon coded indicators in a coded device within said first receiving means; a second plurality of photodetectors adjacent said second receiving means for simultaneously generating a second plurality of code indication signals indicative of the second predetermined code indication as indicated by light from said light source means impinging upon coded indicators in a coded device within said second receiving means; signal generating means connected to said first and second pluralities of photodetectors foR generating an actuating signal in response to a preset condition of compatibility between the first plurality of code indication signals and the second plurality of code indication signals; and coupling means connected to said signal generating means and adapted for connection to a lock which normally assumes a first condition and which in response to an actuating signal assumes a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition and the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition, for applying the actuating signal to the lock.

Claim 3

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first plurality of photodetectors is on the side of said first receiving means opposite said light source means for detection of light passing through coded indicator openings in a coded device within said first receiving means and in which said second plurality of photodetectors is on the side of said second receiving means opposite said light source means for detection of light passing through coded indicator openings in a coded device within said second receiving means.

Claim 4

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said signal generating means generates an actuating signal in response to coincidence between the code indication signals in the first plurality of code indication signals and the code indication signals in the second plurality of code indication signals.

Claim 5

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said signal generating means includes error signaling means for generating an error signal in response to insertion into said second receiving means of a coded device and the absence of said preset condition of compatibility.

Claim 6

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising purchase price indicating means, additional receiving means adapted to receive the second coded device, additional code detecting means adjacent said additional receiving means for generating a second plurality of code indication signals indicative of coded indicators in a coded device within said additional receiving means, and purchase price recording means connected to said purchase price indicating means and to said additional code detecting means for recording a purchase price indicated on said purchase price indicating means in response to said preset condition of compatibility between the first plurality of code indication signals and the additional receiving means second plurality of code indication signals.

Claim 7

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a lock connected to said coupling means for receipt of an actuating signal therefrom, said lock normally assuming a first condition and in response to an actuating signal assuming a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition and the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition.

Claim 8

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a first code card adapted to be coded with a first plurality of predetermined coded indicators and to be inserted into said first receiving means and a second code card adapted to be coded with a second plurality of predetermined coded indicators and to be inserted into said second receiving means.

Claim 9

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said first code card is a first size and said second code card is a second size different from the first size.

Claim 10

A lock control apparatus for controlling a lock which normally assumes a first condition and which in response to an actuating signal assumes a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition, the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition, said lock control apparatus comprising: first receiving means adapted to receive a first coded device bearing a first predetermined code indication and including blocking means normally assuming a blocking position in which Said first receiving means is blocked to prevent insertion of a coded device fully thereinto while permitting insertion of a coded device partially thereinto, said blocking means in response to an unblocking signal assuming a retracted position permitting insertion of a coded device fully into said first receiving means; second receiving means adapted to receive a second coded device bearing a second predetermined code indication; light source means adjacent said first and second receiving means for shining light onto coded devices within said first and second receiving means; a first set of photodetectors adjacent said first receiving means for generating a first set of code indication signals indicative of light from said light source means impinging upon code indications in a coded device within said first receiving means; a second set of photodetectors adjacent said second receiving means for generating a second set of code indication signals indicative of light from said light source means impinging upon code indications in a coded device within said second receiving means; a third set of photodetectors adjacent said first receiving means for generating a third set of code indication signals indicative of light from said light source means impinging upon code indications in a coded device within said first receiving means; signal generating means connected to said first, second, and third sets of photodetectors and including unblocking means connected to said blocking means for applying an unblocking signal to said blocking means in response to generation by said third set of photodetectors of a third set of code indication signals indicative of a predetermined set of coded indicators in a coded device within said first receiving means, said signal generating means generating an actuating signal in response to a preset condition of compatibility between the first set of code indication signals and the second set of code indication signals while a coded device is fully inserted into said first receiving means; and coupling means connected to said signal generating means and adapted for connection to a lock which normally assumes a first condition and which in response to an actuating signal assumes a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition and the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition, for applying the actuating signal to the lock.

Claim 11

A lock control apparatus for controlling a lock which normally assumes a first condition and which in response to an actuating signal assumes a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition, the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition, said lock control apparatus comprising: first receiving means adapted to receive a first coded device bearing a first predetermined code indication and including blocking means normally assuming a blocking position in which Said first receiving means is blocked to prevent insertion of a coded device fully thereinto while permitting insertion of a coded device partially thereinto, said blocking means in response to an unblocking signal assuming a retracted position permitting insertion of a coded device fully into said first receiving means; second receiving means adapted to receive a second coded device bearing a second predetermined code indication; light source means adjacent said first and second receiving means for shining light onto coded devices within said first and second receiving means; a first set of photodetectors adjacent said first receiving means for generating a first set of code indication signals indicative of light from said light source means impinging upon code indications in a coded device within said first receiving means; a second set of photodetectors adjacent said second receiving means for generating a second set of code indication signals indicative of light from said light source means impinging upon code indications in a coded device within said second receiving means; a third set of photodetectors adjacent said first receiving means for generating a third set of code indication signals indicative of light from said light source means impinging upon code indications in a coded device within said first receiving means; signal generating means connected to said first, second, and third sets of photodetectors and including unblocking means connected to said blocking means for applying an unblocking signal to said blocking means in response to generation by said third set of photodetectors of a third set of code indication signals indicative of a predetermined set of coded indicators in a coded device within said first receiving means, said signal generating means generating an actuating signal in response to a preset condition of compatibility between the first set of code indication signals and the second set of code indication signals while a coded device is fully inserted into said first receiving means; and coupling means connected to said signal generating means and adapted for connection to a lock which normally assumes a first condition and which in response to an actuating signal assumes a second condition, one of the first and second conditions being a locked condition and the other of the first and second conditions being an unlocked condition, for applying the actuating signal to the lock.

Claim 12

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said unblocking signal generating means applies an unblocking signal to said blocking means in response to a preset condition of compatibility between the first set of code indication signals and the third set of code indication signals.

Claim 13

A lock control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said third code detecting means includes stepping means for changing the third set of code indications each time a coded device is inserted into and subsequently withdrawn from said first receiving means.