Patent · US Expired

Electronic lock system

US4736419A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 24, 1984
Grant dateApr 5, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 24, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07C2209/08
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electronic lock system having a data encryption key physically and electronically protected from identification for protecting electronic equipment from use by unauthorized personnel. The lock system includes two keys circuits that implement a data encryption key and algorithm for encrypting random data. The data encryption key and algorithm are physically protected from physical identification by encapsulating the implementation in an integrated circuit. The second key circuit identical to the first is included in a lock circuit for generating two output signals. One output signal represents an unlocked condition of the system, whereas the other represents the lock condition. A random data signal is applied to the two key circuits for encryption under the data encryption key and algorithm. The lock circuit further includes a match circuit which generates the unlocked condition output signal when the encrypted data from the two key circuits matches for a predetermined period of time. Otherwise, the match circuit generates the locked condition output signal.

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