Appeal No. 2000-2194
Application No. 08/705,843
into the lock, an electronic identification code of the lock is
read and compared with identification information stored in the key
head memory to determine whether the lock is authorized to be
opened.
Claim 1 is illustrative of the invention and reads as follows:
1. A mechanical key device formed as a solid unit and fitted for
insertion into a lock cylinder, comprising;
(a) a key blade with mechanical bitting to fit a pattern of a
lock cylinder,
(b) a key head fixed to the key blade,
(c) the key head including electrical contact means for
engaging with a contact of a lock cylinder, leading to electronics
in the lock cylinder and to an electrically-operated blocking
device in the lock cylinder, in a one-wire bus connection, and a
battery in the key head,
(d) microprocessor means in the key head, powered by the
battery, and data storage means connected to the microprocessor
means,
(e) a keypad on the key head with means for data entry,
(f) the battery being connected to power the microprocessor
means and keypad and data storage means, and
(g) the microprocessor means and data storage means having
means for reading an electronic ID code of a lock when the one-wire
bus connection is made, and for looking up the read ID code in the
data storage means and for making a yes or no decision, based on
the content of the data storage means, as to whether the lock is
authorized to be opened, and if so, for sending a prescribed data
signal to the lock electronics and power from the battery to the
lock’s blocking device, to allow opening of the lock.
2
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