Patent · US Expired

Watch apparatus and method for a universal electronic locking system

US4573046A · kind A · utility

81Cited by
14References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 1983
Grant dateFeb 25, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T70/7062
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a universal electronic locking system (UELS) which controls an actuating device for a lock is disclosed. The system is composed of two elements, a signal-transmitting unit and a signal-receiving unit. The signal-transmitting unit is envisioned, in one embodiment, as contained within a watch and powered by the power source of the watch so as to transmit an optical signal to the signal-receiving unit. The integrated circuit chip of the watch is expanded to include a programmable memory unit such that various codes may be entered in the watch and the codes may be changed at any interval desired by the operator. The digital display of the watch serves a dual purpose for displaying time and for entering key codes. The signal-receiving unit comprises a photodetector for receiving an optical signal from the signal-transmitting unit and contains a programmable memory unit which is responsive to each and all codes contained in the signal-transmitting unit. Upon changing the code signal in the signal-transmitting unit, the memory unit of the signal-receiving unit may be reprogrammed so as to be responsive to the newly encoded signal and allow the latchin…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.