Electronic lock and key systems employing paired key and master coding modules

Claim 2

An electronic lock and key system for activating an Electric latch to an opened position to permit entry to a secured area, comprising: a. key means having located thereon at least one electrical component, b. first means for receiving said key means, c. second means coupled to said first means and responsive to said key means being received for generating a plurality of reference potential levels, one of said levels selected for energizing said component, d. means coupled to said first means and responsive to said energized component for providing a control signal different from any of said reference potential levels and solely according to the energization of said component, and e. comparison means coupled to said latch and responsive to a different one of said potential levels and said control signal to activate said latch when said level and said control signal are within a predetermined range.

Claim 3

The electronic lock and key system according to claim 1 further comprising: a. auxiliary circuit means capable of being selectively received by said first means, said auxiliary circuit means including a separate potential source of a magnitude selected according to said one potential level for causing said means coupled to said first means to generate said control signal for activating said latch independent of said key means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for activating an electric latch to an opened position to permit entry to a secured area, comprising: a. a key receiving receptacle, b. a key card having located thereon an electrical network, said key card adapted for insertion into said received receptacle, c. a master coding card coupled to said receptacle and having at least one network located thereon, said network arranged according to said electrical network on said card, to provide a predetermined control signal when a desired key card is being received by said receptacle, d. a selectively activated source of operating potential capable of providing a plurality of reference potentials when activated, e. means coupled to said selectively activated source and responsive to the insertion of said key card into said receptacle for activating said source, f. circuit means coupled to said key card and said master coding card for applying said reference potentials thereto to energize the same to cause said electrical network on said card to modify one of said reference potentials, said modified potential being further modified by said master coding card to provide said control signal, and g. actuator means coupled to said latch and responsive to said control signal when provided for activating the same to said opened position.

Claim 5

Apparatus for activating an electric latch to an opened position to permit entry to a secured area, comprising: a. a key receiving receptacle, b. a key card having located thereon an electrical network, said key card adapted for insertion into said received receptacle, c. a master coding card coupled to said receptacle and having at least one network located thereon, said network arranged according to said electrical network on said card, to provide a predetermined control signal when a desired key card is being received by said receptacle, d. a selectively activated source of operating potential capable of providing a plurality of reference potentials when activated, e. means coupled to said selectively activated source and responsive to the insertion of said key card into said receptacle for activating said source, f. circuit means coupled to said key card and said master coding card for applying said reference potentials thereto to energize the same to cause said electrical network on said card to modify one of said reference potentials, said modified potential being further modified by said master coding card to provide said control signal, and g. actuator means coupled to said latch and responsive to said control signal when provided for activating the same to said opened position.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising: a. auxiliary circuit means capable of being selectively coupled to said key receiving receptacle, said auxiliary circuit means including a second source of operating potential of a magnitude selected acording to one of said reference potentials to cause said actuator means to operate independent of said key card.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said key card has located thereon a plurality of frequency determining components, each capable of specifying a unique frequency.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said master coding card includes a plurality of second frequency determining elements each one of which is associated with only one of said frequency determining components on said key card to provide a plurality of specific frequency control signals when said desired key card is being received by said receptacle, and means responsive to said frequencies for generating a single control signal manifesting that said desired key card is being received.

Claim 9

A locking system of the type for providing an actuation signal operative to energize an electrical latch to permit access to a secured area, comprising: a. a key card having a plurality of terminals areas on an edge thereof, said card further containing electrical components of a given value and arranged in a given format on said card, b. a master coding card having a number of terminals associated therewith and having located thereon at least one electrical component selected in accordance with said given value and format of said component on said key card, c. terminal receptacle means for selectively receiving said key card, said terminal means including receptacle means for receiving said master coding card, d. reference means coupled to said terminal receptacle means for providing a plurality of reference potentials for applying to said key card at least a first one of said potentials to cause said electrical components on said key card to modify said potential, said modified potential being applied to said master coding card and said electrical component for further modification of said potential to provide a control potential, e. a comparator having a first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first input terminal coupled to said master coding card and adapted to receive said control potential, said second input terminal coupled to said reference means for receiving another of said reference potentials to cause an activation signal to appear at said output when said control potential is substantially equal to said another reference potential, and f. activation means having an input terminal coupled to said output of said comparator and an output terminal coupled to said latch for operating the same upon receipt of said activation signal to permit access to said secured area.

Claim 10

A locking system of the type for providing an actuation signal operative to energize an electrical latch to permit access to a secured area, comprising: a. a key card having a plurality of terminals areas on an edge thereof, said card further containing electrical components of a given value and arranged in a given format on said card, b. a master coding card having a number of terminals associated therewith and having located thereon at least one electrical component selected in accordance with said given value and format of said component on said key card, c. terminal receptacle means for selectively receiving said key card, said terminal means including receptacle means for receiving said master coding card, d. reference means coupled to said terminal receptacle means for providing a plurality of reference potentials for applying to said key card at least a first one of said potentials to cause said electrical components on said key card to modify said potential, said modified potential being applied to said master coding card and said electrical component for further modification of said potential to provide a control potential, e. a comparator having a first and second input terminals and an output terminal, said first input terminal coupled to said master coding card and adapted to receive said control potential, said second input terminal coupled to said reference means for receiving another of said reference potentials to cause an activation signal to appear at said output when said control potential is substantially equal to said another reference potential, and f. activation means having an input terminal coupled to said output of said comparator and an output terminal coupled to said latch for operating the same upon receipt of said activation signal to permit access to said secured area.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 7 further comprising: a. auxiliary circuit means capable of being selectively coupled to said terminal receptacle means, said auxiliary circuit means including a separate source of potential of a predetermined magnitude to energize said key card and said master coding card to cause said activation means to operate even though there is no correlation of information on said master coding card.