JPS6363875A - Key device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a key device used for locking and unlocking purposes.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention relates to an easy-to-operate key device that incorporates an electronic code conversion transponder system inside a conventional simple mechanical key, making it impossible to easily duplicate it.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a key device used for locking and unlocking is a metal key device that is inserted into a lock hole in a door cylinder and used to mechanically engage or release the locking mechanism of the lock. Key devices made of aluminum or other hard materials are commonly used. This device is excellent in terms of reliability and reliability of operation. However, not only can it be easily duplicated by imitating the physical shape of the key, but also the locked state can be easily changed by mechanical means. There is a risk that the key may be removed, and the locking effect is not improved in proportion to the complexity of the key shape.

To compensate for these shortcomings of mechanical keys, the key itself may be selectively equipped with magnets or other magnets at a plurality of spaced locations in order to operate the cylinder using e.g. magnetic or optical action. A system has been developed in which an identification means is provided and the lock is unlocked by reading a code represented by the identification means. Regardless of whether or not the key is combined with a mechanical locking action, in this system the code on the key itself is easily recognizable and its reproduction is less cumbersome.

As a means of preventing such duplication, there is a method in which an ID code is entered from a keyboard and verified, but it is not as convenient in operation as the conventional key device mentioned above, and also has the disadvantage of exposing the keyboard to the outside. There is. Additionally, card lock systems that use cards instead of conventional key devices have been developed and used. Magnetic cards are superior in terms of security because they allow the use of extremely sophisticated PIN codes. However, after locking, the lock is usually held together with the locker, so it may be placed in a sudden and unexpected environment, or may be subjected to various mechanical or chemical effects from the outside. Therefore, at present, it can be said that such magnetic cards are less resistant to the influence of external forces than mechanical keys.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention completely solves the drawbacks of the keys, cards, etc. used in the prior art door lock devices described above.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention uses the configuration of a conventional mechanical key device as is to address the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. That is, the first locking function is performed by engagement of a mechanical locking mechanism. The key device incorporates an electronic transcoding transponder system within it. In the second locked state, an identification code is transmitted from a key identification device provided outside the key to an electronic transcoding transponder system within the key. The response code is transmitted again to the external key identification device and identified there.

An example of an electronic code conversion transponder system embedded in a key device is U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,094.
Those described in No. 1 are preferably used.

[Operations] The present invention takes advantage of the above-mentioned advantages of conventional mechanical key devices. The cylinder combination including the mechanical key device and door locking mechanism has extremely high operational stability and reliability. physical action from outside the key itself,
However, such mechanical keying devices, which are not susceptible to chemical attack, have the above-mentioned inherent drawbacks, and in conventional devices, eliminating these drawbacks would ultimately negate the advantages. The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of mechanical key devices at a low cost while retaining its advantages.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The key 1o is in the form of a conventional mechanical key, and is an integral piece including a mechanical locking/unlocking actuator portion 14 and a gripping portion 12. Although the actuator portion 14 has been implemented as engaging a locking mechanism of a door cylinder, it may also be of a known magnetic type, in any case engaging a first door locking mechanism. The gripping part 12 has a code conversion transponder system 16 embedded therein.

The switch device 18 enables the key identification device 20 to be powered when the key identification device 10 is inserted into the cylinder or when the first door locking mechanism described above is actuated. Key identification device 20 includes a transmitter 22 and a receiver 24 .

These antennas are each associated with a receive and transmit antenna of transponder 16.

The transponder 16 has a tapped delay line using a comb filter. This tapped delay line generally generates a relatively large amplitude output when it receives a signal that matches the tap position arrangement, and conversely, when it receives a single pulse input, it is determined by the tap arrangement. It is widely used as a matched filter and code generator because it produces a pulse train with a sequence. In this example,
Either of the above methods can be used to identify the key. In other words, if a code that matches the code set in the device is input, a sharp pulse 8 force will be emitted when the device inspects the match, making it possible to identify it. If a single pulse is applied as an output, the code sent in the device is obtained as an output signal, which can be identified by the receiver.

If the codes identified via the transmitter 22, transponder 16, and receiver 24 of the key identification device indicate a match, a match signal is output on output line 26. This acts to disengage and unlock the second locking mechanism of the door.
In the event of a non-match, a non-match signal is output on line 26 which provides a visual and/or audible warning.

FIG. 2 shows the code conversion transponder system 16 described above.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment in more detail.

This system is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 3.70, discussed above.
The principle described in No. 6.094 is preferably used. In the figure, 2
2 is an electromagnetic wave transmitter, 16 is a transponder, and 24 is an electromagnetic wave receiver. When the switch 18 activates the control section 20, the transmitter 22 and receiver 24 are activated. Transmitter 22
transmits by means of its antenna 23 a UHF pulse code signal towards the roof antenna 28 of the transponder 16 . The transponder 16 includes a surface acoustic wave delay line device consisting of a sending comb filter 3o and a receiving comb filter. The physical configuration of this device provides a response that is unique to that configuration.

The response (3) sent to the antenna via the coupler 34
The signal is identified by the control unit 20 via the antenna 25 of the receiver 24 in the manner described above. The feature of this embodiment is that the key 1o
It does not use any power supply for its own transponder 16. Furthermore, the key itself can be made thin, small, and inexpensively. The transponder 16 can be completely embedded within the key 10 and does not need to have connections for access to external associated devices.

[Effects of the Invention] Therefore, according to the present invention, a key device whose appearance is no different from a conventional key can be obtained. Mechanical part 14
Even if a duplicate is made, it will only engage the first lock portion and the key identification device 2o will issue a non-match signal on line 26, which could result in an intruder warning. line 26
The matching signal and non-matching signal can be used in various ways. For example, the non-matching signal (or the absence of a matching signal) can be used to control the engine ignition system, engine fuel supply system, engine starting system, etc. that are essential for driving. The device may also be prevented from operating.

In the above-described embodiments of the present invention, a surface acoustic wave delay line device for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves is used as a code conversion transponder system embedded in a key. It is also possible to use a memory device that converts the In that case,
Power for the memory device may be provided externally via a built-in battery or a suitable contact at the position where the key is inserted into the cylinder.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment in which a surface acoustic wave delay line device is used as a code conversion transponder system built into the key device of FIG. In the figure, 10 is a key device, 12 is a grip part, 14 is a mechanical locking/unlocking actunator part, 16 is a code conversion transponder system, 20 is a key identification device, 22 is a transmitter, 2
4 indicates a receiver. Patent applicant General Research of Electronics Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transcoding transponder system 16 is embedded in a key device 10 which has a part 14 associated with a first door locking mechanism and which is inserted for locking and unlocking into a cylinder for that locking mechanism; The key device is characterized in that the transponder system has a unique response to an input signal from the outside, and at least the second door lock mechanism operates in accordance with the identified response.