Access control system with mechanical keys which store data

US5245329A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Security People, Inc. · US

Inventor

• Asil T. Gokcebay · Petaluma, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 27, 1989
• Grant date: Sep 14, 1993
• Expiry date: Apr 27, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T70/7881
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An access control system combines card type keys or mechanical keys and lock cylinders with keyholder authentication, so that only the authorized keyholder or keyholders can use a key at an access control point. The access control point can be a door, gate, drawer, safe, safety deposit box, computer terminal or other situation wherein high security is desirable. In a preferred embodiment, the access control system includes a series of mechanical keys (or card type keys) having encoded data stored on the bottom edges of the keys. The encoded data may be in the form of a bar code or optical data storage, either directly formed onto the key or on a strip of plastic or other material bearing the encoded data, secured to the key. In one form of the invention, user authentication involves a biometric feature such as a fingerprint of the intended keyholder. The fingerprint is digitized, encoded and placed on the bottom edge of the mechanical key for that intended keyholder, preferably along with an encoded keyholder identifying number. An authentication reader at a high security access control point includes a keyway with a reader for the encoded data representing the encoded fingerprint,…