Code element identification method and apparatus

Claim 2

A code element identification apparatus, comprising: code element means receiving an interrogate signal and emitting a time oriented responder signal encoded with a predetermined code uniquely identifying the code element means in response to the received interrogate signal and in an activated position of the code element means; and identifier means having one portion generating the interrogate signal and one other portion receiving and identifying the responder signal and generating a code valid signal in response to an identified predetermined code encoded in the received responder signal and in an activated position of the identifier means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifier means includes: clock means generating a clock signal in an activated position thereof having a predetermined frequency, the clock signal being the interrogate signal received via the code element means; code identifier encoder means receiving the clock signal and emitting a time oriented output signal encoded with a predetermined identifier code in response to the received clock signal in an activated position thereof, the encoded code identifier encoder means output signal being synchronized relative to the encoded responder signal via the clock signal; and comparator means receiving the encoded responder signal and the code identifier encoder means output signal and comparing the encoded code element code with the encoded identifier code and providing an output indication responsive thereto in an activated position thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the identifier means is defined further to include: means receiving the comparator means output signal and the clock signal and counting the number of identically compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code providing the code valid signal in response to a predetermined number of counted identically compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the comparator means output signal is ''''low'''' in response to received identically compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code and ''''high'''' in response to a difference between any one of the compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code; and wherein the means counting the identically compared bits includes: pulse counter means receiving the clock signal and the comparator means output signal and counting the clock signal pulses, the pulse counter means being reset in response to a received ''''high'''' comparator means output signal and providing the code valid signal in response to a predetermined number of counted clock signal pulses.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifier means is defined further to include: power supply means providing operating power for activating the code element means and the identifier means when connected thereto; and means connecting the power supply means to the code element means and the portions of the identifier means generating the interrogate signal and receiving and identifying the responder signal in one position thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means connecting the power supply means to the code element means and the identifier means includes: activator means interposed between the power supply meAns and the code element means and between the power supply means and the portion of the identifier means generating the interrogate signal and receiving and identifying the responder signal, having an ''''on'''' and an ''''off'''' position, the activator means connecting the power supply means to the code element means and the identifier means in the ''''on'''' position thereof; and means positioning the activator means in the ''''on'''' position in one position thereof.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the identifier apparatus includes: identifier support means, having a portion receiving a portion of the code element means and a portion supporting a portion of the activator means generally within the portion receiving a portion of the code element means; and wherein the portion of the activator means supported within the portion of the identifier support means receiving a portion of the code element means is engageable via the code element means positioning the activator means in the ''''on'''' position.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the activator means includes: switch means interposed between the power supply means and the code element means and between the portions of the identifier means generating the interrogate signal and receiving and identifying the responder signal, having an open position disconnecting the power supply means and a closed position connecting the power supply means positioning the activator in the ''''on'''' position; and switch plunger means, having a portion engageable via a portion of the code element means, a portion of the switch plunger means engaging a portion of the switch means positioning the switch means in a closed position in an engaged position of the switch means and the switch plunger means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the identifier means is defined further to include: signal receiving contact means engageable with a portion of the code element means receiving the responder signal in a code identifying position of the code element means and the identifier means; signal transmitting contact means engageable with a portion of the code element means, the interrogate signal being connected to the signal transmitting contact means; and identifier power contact means engageable with a portion of the code element means and connected to the power supply means; and wherein the code element means is defined further to include: code element power contact means engaging the identifier contact means in a code identifier position of the code element means and the identifier means connecting the power supply means to and activating the code element means; signal receiving contact means engaging the signal transmitting contact means of the identifier means in a code identifying position of the code element means and the identifier means connecting the interrogate signal to the code element means; and signal emitting contact means engaging the signal receiving contact means of the identifier means in a code identifying position of the code element means and the identifier means connecting the responder signal to the identifier means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the comparator means includes: an exclusive ''''OR'''' gate means receiving the encoded responder signal and the code identifier encoder means output signal providing an output signal in the ''''high'''' position in response to a difference between any one of the compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code, the ''''OR'''' gate means output signal providing a foreign code signal in the ''''high'''' position thereof indicating a difference between the compared code element code and the identifier code.

Claim 12

The identifier apparatus of claim 1 controlling access to a secured area through an entrance or the like defined further to include: lock assembly means, having a locked and a release position and a portion engageable with a portion of the entrance or the like to substantially prevent access to the secured area via the entrance or the like in a locked position of the lock assembly means, the lock assembly means receiving the code valid signal and being positioned in the release position releasing the engagement between the lock assembly means and the entrance or the like for providing access to the secured area via the entrance or the like.

Claim 13

The identifier apparatus of claim 11 wherein the identifier means is defined further to include a portion generating a foreign code signal in response to a responder signal encoded with a code other than the predetermined code generating the code valid signal; and wherein the apparatus is defined further to include: alarm means receiving the foreign code signal and producing an output indication in response thereto.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portion of the code element means receiving the interrogate signal and emitting the responder signal in response thereto is defined further to include: a binary encoder module, comprising: a program terminal connectable to a program power supply; a signal receiving terminal; a signal emitting terminal; encoder means connected to the signal receiving terminal, the signal emitting terminal and to the program terminal, the encoder means having encoded therein a predetermined code corresponding to the code element code and producing a signal encoded with the predetermined code element code connected to the signal emitting terminal in response to a received input signal receivable at the signal receiving terminal in an enabled position of the encoder means; means interposed between the encoder means and the program terminal encoding the predetermined code element code in the encoder means in response to a predetermined program power supply receivable at the program terminal, having a fuseable portion destroyable in response to a predetermined destruct signal receivable at the program terminal, the encoder means being permanently encoded with the code element code in a fused position of the fuseable portion; and means connected to the encoder means sequentially enabling the encoder means producing the signal encoded with the code element code at the signal emitting terminal.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the portion of the identifier means identifying the received responder signal encoded with the code element code is defined further to include: a binary encoder module, comprising: a program terminal connectable to a program power supply; a signal receiving terminal; a signal emitting terminal; encoder means connected to the signal emitting terminal and to the program terminal, the encoder means having encoded therein a predetermined code corresponding to the identifier code and producing a signal encoded with the predetermined identifier code connected to the signal emitting terminal in response to an input signal receivable at the signal receiving terminal in an enable position of the encoder means; means interposed between the encoder means and the program terminal encoding the predetermined identifier code in the encoder means in response to a predetermined program power supply receivable at the program terminal, having a fuseable portion destroyable in response to a predetermined destruct signal receivable at the program terminal, the encoder means being permanently encoded with the identifier code in a fused position of the fuseable portion; and means connected to the encoder means sequentially enabling the encoder means producing the signal encoded with the identifier code at the signal emitting terminal.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the binary encoder modules of the code element means and the identifier means are each defined further to include a plurality of encoder means; and wherein the means enabling the encoder means of the code element means and the identifier means are each further dEfined as connected to each encoder means sequentially enabling each encoder means producing the signal at the signal emitting terminal, the code encoded in each encoder means forming a portion of the code encoded in the signal at the signal emitting terminal.

Claim 17

Apparatus for receiving an interrogate signal and emitting an encoded signal in response thereto when connected to a power supply, comprising: a code element; power contact means formed on a portion of the code element connectable to the power supply in one position of the code element; signal receiving contact means formed on a portion of the code element receiving the interrogate signal in one position of the code element; signal emitting contact means formed on a portion of the code element, the emitted encoded signal being connected to the signal emitting contact means in one position of the code element; code element encoder secured to a portion of the code element, having a portion connected to the power contact means, a portion connected to the signal receiving contact means and a portion connected to the signal emitting contact means, the code element encoder emitting a time oriented encoded responder signal connected to the signal emitting contact means in response to the received interrogate signal at the signal receiving contact means and the power source at the power contact means, the code encoded in the responder signal uniquely identifying the code element.

Claim 18

Apparatus for receiving an interrogate signal and emitting an encoded signal in response thereto when connected to a power supply, comprising: a code element; power contact means formed on a portion of the code element connectable to the power supply in one position of the code element; signal receiving contact means formed on a portion of the code element receiving the interrogate signal in one position of the code element; signal emitting contact means formed on a portion of the code element, the emitted encoded signal being connected to the signal emitting contact means in one position of the code element; code element encoder secured to a portion of the code element, having a portion connected to the power contact means, a portion connected to the signal receiving contact means and a portion connected to the signal emitting contact means, the code element encoder emitting a time oriented encoded responder signal connected to the signal emitting contact means in response to the received interrogate signal at the signal receiving contact means and the power source at the power contact means, the code encoded in the responder signal uniquely identifying the code element.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17 defined further to include the step of: positioning the code element in a code identifying position with respect to the identifier connecting a power supply to the code element and the identifier providing operating power therefor.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 wherein the step of positioning the code element and the identifier in a code identifying position is further defined as connecting the clock signal to the code element and connecting the responder signal to the identifier.

Claim 23

The method of claim 17 further defined to include the step of: counting the number of identically compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code; and wherein the step of producing the code valid signal is further defined as producing the code valid signal in response to a predetermined number of counted identically compared bits of the code element code and the identifier code.

Claim 24

A binary encoder module apparatus, comprising: a program terminal connectable to a program power supply; a signal receiving terminal; a signal emitting terminal; encoder means connected to the signal emitting terminal and to the program terminal, the encoder means having encoded therein a predetermined code for producing a signal encoded with the predetermined code connected to the signal emitting terminal in response to a signal received at the signal receiving terminal in an enable position of the encoder means; means interposed between the encoder means and the program terminal encoding the predetermined code in the encoder means in response to a predetermined program supply receivable at the program terminal, having a fuseable portion destroyable in response to a predetermined destruct signal receivable at the program terminal, the encoder means being permanently encoded with the predetermined code in a fused position of the fuseable portion; and means connected to the encoder means sequentially enabling the encoder means producing the encoded signal at the signal emitting terminal.

Claim 25

A binary encoder module apparatus, comprising: a program terminal connectable to a program power supply; a signal receiving terminal; a signal emitting terminal; encoder means connected to the signal emitting terminal and to the program terminal, the encoder means having encoded therein a predetermined code for producing a signal encoded with the predetermined code connected to the signal emitting terminal in response to a signal received at the signal receiving terminal in an enable position of the encoder means; means interposed between the encoder means and the program terminal encoding the predetermined code in the encoder means in response to a predetermined program supply receivable at the program terminal, having a fuseable portion destroyable in response to a predetermined destruct signal receivable at the program terminal, the encoder means being permanently encoded with the predetermined code in a fused position of the fuseable portion; and means connected to the encoder means sequentially enabling the encoder means producing the encoded signal at the signal emitting terminal.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21 defined further to include a plurality of encoder means; and wherein the means enabling the encoder means is defined further as connected to each encoder means sequentially enabling each encoder means producing the signal at the signal emitting terminal, the code encoded in each encoder means forming a portion of the code encoded in the signal at the signal emitting terminal.