Method and apparatus for using light to identify a key
US6064747A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V10/145
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for identifying a key using a housing having a support that allows light to pass therethrough adjacent the key, a light source for emitting light through at least a portion of the support so as to form a first image of at least a portion of the profile of the key, a substantially planar light beam directed at the key so as to form a second image as the light beam interfaces with the side of the key, and a receiving means for receiving the first image of the profile of the key and receiving the second image so that the non-planar portion of the side of the key forms a non-linear segment across the width of the key. The present invention then can digitize the first and second images and create key information from the digitized images, in which the information is compared to stored information about a plurality of reference keys. Reference keys are eliminated by comparing the length, the head shape, and information of the light beam interfacing with each of the reference keys to determine the type of key in the housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.