Abstract:
A biometric key having a key body incorporating a biometric sensor. There is also provided a receptor body for engagement with the biometric key, wherein the reader has a slot for retention of the key. When the key engages with the receptor body, a signal representing a biocode of data generated by the biometric sensor is forwarded to processing means for granting access to an authorised user to a facility accessible by the biometric key.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   THIS INVENTION relates to a biometric key and more particularly relates to a biometric key having a key body which contains a biometric sensor capable of capturing a key holder&#39;s biometric data and transmitting the data through the biometric sensor to a processor in order to validate authorised use of the key through biometric verification. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   Currently keys are used for a wide variety of applications that comprise a mechanical or electromechanical cipher, which carries coded information. One example of the latter is keys described in European Patent 472495 which has a specific mechanism located on opposed edges of the key which co-operates with a corresponding mechanism built into a mating lock cylinder before a locking system incorporating the lock cylinder may be opened. 
   While such keys are simple to use, it will be appreciated that the level of security is not high because there are no means currently available for verifying that the person using the key is an authorised user. This means that while a conventional mechanical or electromechanical lock operated by a key presents physical access to a building such a key may be readily copied or it may be lost or given to other persons who may then gain access to the building on an unauthorised basis. Thus, physical access to the building is provided by those in control of the key. 
   Conventional biometric control systems are well known and refer to encoding of a person&#39;s specific biometric features into a memory of the biometric control apparatus with an external process (e.g. storage memory, matching algorithm and return signal). A coded version of an authorised biometric feature can be stored. When verification is required, it is necessary for the user to present his biometric characteristic feature to the biometric control apparatus, which then compares the biometric characteristic feature with the authorised biometric feature. If a match occurs, then the biometric control system permits access to a facility controlled by the biometric control system. 
   Biometrically secured control systems for preventing unauthorised use of vehicles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,802. This reference describes a method and system for restricting use of a vehicle to person(s) whose fingerprints match biometric data stored within a memory in the control system of the vehicle. A user&#39;s digitised fingerprints are stored in a ROM in the BIOS of a microcontroller or in a ROM accessed by a microcontroller. The microprocessor&#39;s primary task is that of executing instructions, which are related to the operation of the vehicle such as regulation of the fuel flow rate, and other tasks. Before the microprocessor can execute its instructions related to the primary task, it must complete and exit a conditional loop of instructions that relate to validating the user&#39;s “real input” biometric data. Real scanned fingerprints must be compared with fingerprints(s) stored in ROM. If the result of the comparison is a match, then the operating loop is satisfied and the microprocessor can execute its instructions relating to operation of the vehicle. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,802 use is made of a conventional fingerprint scanning device and related circuitry coupled to the microprocessor. A key operated ignition switch is coupled to the microprocessor to provide a signal for providing power to the microprocessor before it may control operations related to the vehicle. 
   Another example of biometrically secured control systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,936 which refers to a firearm which incorporates a pressure sensor for sensing grasping of a butt section of the firearm by a palm of the user as well as a scanning sensor for scanning a palm print of the user and generating a data signal representative of the scanned palm print after actuation of the pressure sensor. The firearm can only be used by authorised users wherein a memory unit stores data signals representative of the authorised users. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,155 refers to a biometric information input device having an integral smart card reader. The device provides co-operative operation of the smart card and the input device to provide user specific processing of biometric information provided by the user. Examples of biometric input devices referred to in this reference are those incorporating a microphone or those which comprise a contact imaging device such as a fingerprint scanner. 
   The abovementioned prior art references are illustrative of biometric control systems which can only be operated upon use of a vehicle ignition key as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,802, a pressure sensor in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,936 or a smart card in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,155. It therefore will be appreciated that such conventional biometric control systems are non-versatile in being restricted to a specific application, and also require the use of additional structure relative to the specific application. Thus for example the biometric input device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,155 requires as an essential component a card slot for acceptance of the smart card. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a biometric key, which may reduce the disadvantages of the prior art, discussed above. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   The invention provides a biometric key, having a key body incorporating a biometric sensor for transmission of a signal representing a biocode of data generated by the biometric sensor, said key body in use engageable with a receptor body for interaction with the key body to forward the signal to processing means for granting access to an authorised user to a facility accessible by the biometric key. 
   The interaction between the key body and the receptor body may, for forwarding of the signal to the processing means, involve the use of electrical contacts, wherein the key body has one or more contacts as hereinafter described with touch mating contact(s) of the receptor body. However, such interaction may also involve a transmitter of the key interacting with a receiver of the receptor body and such interaction may be of an optical, infra-red, radio-frequency or fibre-optic nature. 
   The key body may be similar to a conventional key which unlocks mechanical locks wherein the key has a blade with a plurality of wards that co-operate with lock tumblers in a conventional manner to unlock the mechanical lock as hereinafter described. The key body may also have a handle or gripping part, which may have the biometric sensor, applied or attached thereto or embedded therein. Preferably the sensor is accommodated within a mating recess of the key body and is provided with contacts or pins forming one example of the contact means which may engage with a circuit board also accommodated within the key body. Preferably the sensor is surrounded by an insulator insert. 
   Alternatively the key body may omit wards and have a blade or end portion, which engages with a mating slot in the receptor body discussed above. In this embodiment the receptor body may interface with the processing means, whereby upon recognition of an authorised signal by the processing means, access to the facility may be provided. 
   The sensor may be a solid state sensor manufactured by Pollex or Siemens and the sensor may scan an appropriate biometric characteristic of the key holder. Alternatively the sensor may be manufactured by Thompson, Veridicon or Harris, which are all well known solid state manufacturers. The scanning sensor may be carried out using a number of techniques which may include capacitance, resistance, thermal imagery, structure geometry, bone structure or vein structure. Suitably the scanning sensor scans a fingerprint or thumb print. 
   The key body may also have embedded therein a smart card chip such as a wired logic chip also known as an “intelligent memory” chip, which has inbuilt logic. Embedded processor chips, added to the key body, may contain memory and local processor capabilities. The embedded processor chip, embedded within the key body, may be used to encrypt/decrypt data, which makes this type of biometric key a unique person identification key. 
   Examples of use of the biometric key of the invention may be as an ignition key of a vehicle, a key to a storage facility such as a drawer or lid of a box, a security facility such as a security door or security window, to operate an elevator or lift or to initiate actuation of an electric motor, hydraulic motor, engine or other form of drive means or even hydraulic or pneumatically actuated ram assemblies. Each of the foregoing are examples of facilities which may be accessible by the biometric key of the invention. 
   It therefore will be appreciated from the foregoing that the biometric key of the invention is extremely versatile having many applications or uses and also extremely simple in structure to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of conventional biometric control systems as described above. The biometric key of the invention also involves a high degree of security to overcome the problems of conventional keys as described above. 
   The invention also includes within its scope a receptor body engageable with a biometric key, said biometric key having a key body incorporating a biometric sensor for transmission of a signal representing a biocode of data generated by the biometric sensor, wherein said receptor body interacts with the key body to forward the signal to processing means for granting access to an authorised user to a facility accessible by the biometric key. 
   It will be appreciated from the illustrated embodiments hereinafter that the receptor body may comprise a lock component such as a lock cylinder as shown in  FIGS. 1–10A  or a stationary body forming part of a drawer or door as shown in  FIGS. 11–19 . 
   The invention also provides a security system for use with a facility to prevent unauthorised access to the facility which includes the biometric key as described above as well as the receptor body as described above. 
   The invention also relates to a method for providing access to a facility, which includes the steps of: 
   (i) inserting a key having a biometric sensor into a receptor body whereby upon engagement of the key with the receptor body a signal representing a biocode of data generated by the biometric sensor is forwarded to processing means; 
   (ii) matching the biocode with a database associated with the processing means to permit validation of the biocode; and 
   (iii) providing access to a facility, which incorporates the receptor body, to an authorised person, when said validation has taken place. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as described in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a view of the biometric key of the invention held in a person&#39;s hand; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a biometric key of the invention, which is inserted into a corresponding lock barrel of a lock body; 
       FIG. 3A  is an exploded perspective view of the key of  FIG. 1  showing all parts thereof; 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the circuit board shown in  FIG. 1  from an opposite side; 
       FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the key shown in  FIG. 3A  from an opposite side; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of components of a lock body comprising a lock cylinder and associated barrel; 
       FIG. 4A  is an exploded perspective view of components of the lock body shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the biometric key of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  inserted in the lock cylinder; 
       FIG. 6  is a section through line A—A of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 6A  is an exploded view of the components of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a section through line B—B of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed view of contact detail shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8A  is an exploded view of the components of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a section through line C—C of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a detailed view of contact detail shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 10A  is an exploded view of the components of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of a biometric key of the invention inserted into a stationary receptor body in another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a section through line A—A of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a section through line D—D of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a detailed view of a contact shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the key of  FIG. 11  separated from the receptor body; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the receptor body barrel of  FIG. 15  from another orientation; 
       FIG. 17  is a detailed view of a contact shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a block diagram describing the chain of events upon operation of the biometric key of the invention; and 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic view showing enrolment of biometric data signature via an external host computer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIG. 1  there is provided a biometric key  10  of the invention held in the hand  11  having control portals  12 . The key  10  has a key body  13  and a sensor  14  being contacted by thumb  15 . The key  10  is also provided with blade  16  having wards  17 . 
   In  FIG. 2  the key  10  is shown inserted into lock barrel  31  which is fitted into mating aperture  19  of lock body  20  having lock tongue  21 . The barrel  31  has contact portals  22  and also has upper component  23  which fits into mating recess  24 . The barrel  31  is also provided with wires  25 . The lock body  20  is of mechanical nature having a custom wire bus (not shown). 
   The lock body  20  incorporates a slider bar  21 A having slot  21 B for engagement with trigger latch  48  shown in  FIG. 4A . 
   In  FIGS. 3A and 3C  the key  10  is shown having components in the form of the sensor  14 , insulator insert  27  and circuit board  28  which fits into recess  29  of insulator insert  27 . Insulator insert  27  is slidably attached to key body  13  and bonded thereto. The circuit board  28  is shown on both sides as is key body  13 , which is formed from sensor  14 , insulator insert  27  and circuit board  28  as illustrated. Sensor  14  fits within recess  30  of insulator  27  and, more specifically, is retained by retaining flange  30 A of recess  30 . The circuit board  28  has wire leads or contact traces  28 A which bond or solder to corresponding tabs  26  on sensor  14 . Circuit board  28  also has at the end adjacent wire leads  28 A sloping side edges  28 B, which engage with corresponding edges  28 C of recess  29 . 
   The key body  13  as shown in  FIG. 3A and 3C  also includes body plates or flanges  13 A and  13 B separated by a slot  13 C of complementary shape to insulator insert  27  which receives insulator insert  27  as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
   In  FIG. 4  the key  10  is shown fitted into a lock cylinder  18  having contact portals  32 . The cylinder  18  has flange  33  and end  34  having a slot  35 . The cylinder  18  also has tumblers  36 . 
   Contact portals  32  touch mating contact portals  22 , when cylinder  18  is inserted into lock barrel  31 . The contact portals  22  transmit electronic signals with an external processor as hereinafter described through lock body  20 . Alternatively, and more preferably, the contact portals  22  exchange electronic signals with an processing unit in lock body  20  which has an electronic interface with an external processor, such as a host computer, as described hereinafter. The electronic interface with the outside processor may be of any suitable type, such as USB, parallel, serial or IEEE 1384 firewire signals. This does not preclude conforming to IEEE 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) including Bluetooth, HomeRF, HighRate RF and wide spectrum RF. The processing unit may also provide return electrical signals that control a linear motor or solenoid  38  which releases a cylindrical locking pin  39  which fits within bore  40  of cylinder  18 . Motor  38  has a spring loaded piston  41 , which engages with aperture  42  of locking pin  39 . Motor  38  also fits within mating socket  43  of barrel  31 . Locking pin  39  has projection  44 , which engages with slot  35  of cylinder  18 . Motor  38  also has contacts  47 , which engage with wires  25 . There is also provided trigger latch  48  of barrel  31 , shown in the locked position and which is located on rotatable gear  48 A shown in  FIG. 4A  which has a protective sheath  49 . The trigger latch  48  engages with slot  50  in an unlocked position providing for maintenance of barrel  31 . When unlocking of lock body  20  is initiated, piston  41  retracts within motor  38  thereby allowing locking pin  39  to rotate. There is provided a small pin  48 B which interconnects locking pin  39  and gear wheel  48 A as shown in  FIG. 4A  wherein pin  48 B engages in hole  48 C of locking pin  39  and also engages in a selected recess  48 D of gear wheel  48 A. Latch  48  moves downwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 4  to unlock tongue or latch plate  21  by engagement with slot  21 B shown in  FIG. 2 . The upper component  23  of barrel  31  has screw threaded attachment holes  51 A which facilitate attachment to lock body  20 . It will also be appreciated that as referred to above lock  20  may incorporate a suitable processing unit (not shown) which includes suitable software and a database to match and validate biometric data in the form of a biocode provided by an electrical signal from sensor  14 . The processing unit may also interface with a host computer, through which biocodes may be enrolled as described hereinafter. Wires  25  may be connected to the processing unit or to the host computer. The lock  20  body controls access in two different ways i.e. requiring a valid return signal from the processing unit to unlock the locking pin  39  as well as mechanical tumblers  36  adding further security. 
     FIG. 5  shows key  10  inserted into keyway or slot  31 A of cylinder  18  and  FIG. 6  is taken along line A—A of  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 6  there is shown individual insulators or insulator sleeves  50 A and  51 , which contact pins  52  and  53 . A closer detail is shown in  FIG. 6A  which shows insulators  50 A and  51  engaging in a press fit within key body  13  and contact pins  52  and  53  engaging within a press fit within mating insulators  50 A and  51 . Contact pins  52  and  53  each have a barbed point  52 A, which drive into a solder puddle on circuit board  28 . Insulators  50 A and  51  are aligned normally to a longitudinal axis of key body  13 . 
     FIG. 7  is taken along line B—B of  FIG. 5 . There is shown contact pin  55 , which is a sliding fit within insulator  54 , and fuzz button  57 . The purpose of fuzz button  57  is to provide electrical continuity between contact pins  55  and  56  under the influence of its own spring pressure. Insulators  57  are shown aligned normally to the longitudinal axis of the key body  13 . A closer detail of this arrangement is shown in  FIG. 8 . An exploded view is also shown in  FIG. 8A . 
     FIG. 9  is a section along line C—C of  FIG. 4 , a detailed view of the contact detail shown in  FIG. 10 , shows insulator  63  which is bonded within barrel  31 , contact pin  62  adapted for press fit within insulator  63 , fuzz button  64  and additional contact pin  65  which has a sliding fit within insulator  63 . An exploded view is shown in  FIG. 10A . 
   The processing unit may be operated in either a stand alone environment (platform independent) i.e. as described above or aided with a remote host computer connected by any suitable means including serial, parallel, or USB connection or IEEE 802.15 WPAN RF technology. The processing unit may comprise a Digital Signal Process (DSP) unit or ASIC processor. The processing unit captures and extracts a biocode of the fingerprint scanned by the biometric key. The biocode is a fingerprint map or digital signature that permits identity verification of a person. The extraction and matching algorithm is based upon minutiae comparison. The maximum size of a biocode in this particular context may be 254 bytes. The processing unit can manage up to 2048 biocodes in its own database or a remote host computer may manage the database if more biocodes are needed. In order to take full advantage of the features available, such as administrative reports and user queries, a remote computer may interface to the processing unit. 
   The processing unit may be a self-contained board using only an external power source, an interface to the biometric sensor, and a connection to the host computer. The processing unit may also contain on-board RAM, ROM, communications interface, fingerprint recognition software and database manager, all integrated into an optimised device. It is the task of the system integrator to fulfil the relevant specifications for the entire system operation. 
   There is a variety of enrolment means to enter a biocode into the processor database. The most common is the remote host computer via a suitable connection. A Smartcard Reader may also be used in conjunction with a 10-key pad to control the processing unit. There is a multitude of ways to initiate administrator functions in a stand alone environment. 
   The processing unit may also enrol biocodes directly to the point of origin via the key. Users are grouped into two categories: administrator and regular users. The administrator registers, checks and deletes the authorised people in the database. 
   In  FIG. 11 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein key  10  is fitted within a stationary receptor body  18 A and lo electrical continuity is provided by  FIGS. 12 and 13 , which represent sections along lines A—A and D—D of  FIG. 11  and which relevant contact detail is shown in a similar manner as shown in  FIGS. 6  and  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 12  there is shown contact pins  52  and  53  which are bounded by insulators  50 A and  51  as described previously. Contact pins  52  and  53  touch mating contacts  56  of receptor body  18 A, which touch fuzz button  57 . Wiring  66  is attached to fuzz button  57  by solder  67  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Key  10  is inserted in slot  68  of receptor body  18 A as shown in  FIG. 16 . Wiring  66  is routed in wire access grooves  69 , which are shown in  FIGS. 13 and 17 . Receptor body  18 A is also provided with a light emitting diode  70 , shown in  FIG. 16 , which is a visual signal for acceptance (i.e. green) or rejection of the signal (i.e. red). Wiring  66  has soldered points  66 A,  66 B,  66 C and  67 D as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
   Receptor body  18 A may be mounted inside a drawer, box, housing of any security system whereby receptor body  18 A may be wired to the processing unit (not shown) in the security system which requires access by biometric key  10 . Thus in this embodiment there is no requirement of a mechanical or electromechanical lock body  20  as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–10 . 
   The sensor  14  may be obtained commercially from Siemens and is sold under the Registered Trade Mark FingerTip. It is sold as part of a module, which also includes a processing unit connected to the FingerTip sensor chip by a conductor and the module is marketed by Siemens under the Trade Mark TopSec 10—Module A1.0. The module reads out of the FingerTip sensor the biometric data, evaluates it and compares it to a database contained in the memory of the module. It is emphasised that it is only the sensor component that is utilised in the present invention and which is incorporated in key body  13  as described herein. 
   However, the processing unit from the module is an example of a suitable processing unit utilised in the present invention. 
   The key  10  may also include a smart card chip  14 A shown on the opposite side as sensor  14 . Of course it will be appreciated that smart card chip  14 A may also be on the same side if desired. 
   It will also be appreciated that the invention may include within its scope the abovementioned receptor body in the form of lock cylinder  18  or stationary body  18 A. The invention may also include the barrel  31  per se. 
   The smart card chip  14 A may comprise an integrated circuit with ISO 7816 interface and/or a processor integrated circuit and/or a personal identity token containing IC-S. 
   In  FIG. 18  there is shown a block diagram representing the chain of events upon use of the biometric key of the invention wherein the following events take place, i.e. 
   (i) the key  10  or  10 A is inserted into lock cylinder  18  or stationary receptor body  18 A; 
   (ii) the key contacts make connection with the receptor body contacts; 
   (iii) power is provided to the sensor  14  in the key  10 , via the receptor body  18  or  18 A and the processing unit, from an external source; 
   (iv) a biometric is read through the sensor  14 , and that data is passed through the key contacts and sent to the processing unit; 
   (v) the processing unit extracts biometric data signature, and compares to previously stored biometric data signature for match; 
   (vi) if a match exists, the external signal latches or unlatches (i.e. open/closed); and 
   (vii) the key  10  is removed from the receptor body. 
   In  FIG. 19  there is shown a schematic diagram how enrolment of biometric data signature may be accomplished via a host computer whereby: 
   (a) the host computer software requests personal and/or demographic information relative to the authorised user; 
   (b) the biometric data signature is captured from the sensor through the key, via the receptor body interfaced to the host computer; 
   (c) personal and/or demographic information is stored with biometric data signature and stored within database of the host computer; 
   (d) a search is performed against the database for previous enrolments (i.e. prevents multiple enrolments under assumed names); 
   (e) if not found, authorised user is enrolled into database; 
   (f) if found, enrolment is denied; and 
   (g) database located on the processing unit and host computer database is updated to reflect new enrolment. 
   It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the biometric key of the invention is versatile in operation, has relatively simple structure and provides a high degree of security. 
   In a variation of the foregoing it will be appreciated that the key body may have inbuilt processor chip or processing unit instead of the processing unit being incorporated in the receptor body.