Abstract:
A locking doorknob which recognizes a fingerprint, in which the detecting sensor of a fingerprint is installed on the spot of the doorknob that a thumb or other fingers are placed naturally as the door is being opened. The location of the detecting sensor of the fingerprint can be changed at the discretion of a user to correspond to such a location. During operation, as soon as a user holds the doorknob, his fingerprint is measured and searched, and if the fingerprint corresponds to a fingerprint previously input, the door is unlocked and the doorknob can be turned to open the door. In this way, fingerprint recognition and opening of the door are performed at the same time.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a locking doorknob which recognizes a fingerprint and more particularly to a locking doorknob which recognizes a fingerprint and which is installed on the door in a house, an apartment, an office, a car or a safe. According to the present invention, when a person holds the doorknob, a door is to be opened when his fingerprint, as received by the detecting sensor of a fingerprint, corresponds to a fingerprint previously input. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Previously, a locking doorknob exists that includes a sensor which recognizes a fingerprint input as belonging to a certain user. In such a system, the sensor has been installed in a place other than on the doorknob. In that case, when a person touches the sensor to measure his fingerprint, the door becomes unlocked if the fingerprint read by the detecting sensor corresponds to a fingerprint previously input. 
     That prior locking doorknob which recognizes the fingerprint has been applied to various kinds of doors using the above-mentioned function, however, when the prior locking doorknob has been used for an automobile door, the price is high. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the prior invention has been installed separately from a door and a controller so it is not conducive to be installed in a general place such as a house or an office. 
     In the case of manual doors, there is difficulty in opening the door because the detecting sensor is located separately from the doorknob. Therefore, a person still has to turn the doorknob in order to open the door after the identification is approved through the detecting sensor of a fingerprint. This requires a two-step procedure to actually open the door, which can be cumbersome for the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the detecting sensor of a fingerprint of the present invention is installed on the spot of the doorknob that a thumb is placed naturally. So when a user holds the doorknob, his fingerprint is measured and searched, and if the fingerprint corresponds to a fingerprint previously input, the door is unlocked and the doorknob is turned to open the door. Therefore, fingerprint recognition and opening of the door are performed at the same time. 
     The present invention relates to a locking doorknob which recognizes a fingerprint and that is installed on the door in a house, an apartment, an office, a car or a safe. According to the present invention, when a person holds the doorknob, a door is to be opened when his fingerprint, as recognized by the detecting sensor of a fingerprint, corresponds to a fingerprint previously input. 
     The prior locking doorknob which recognizes a fingerprint has been applied to various kinds of doors using the above-mentioned function, however, when the prior locking doorknob has been used for an automobile door the price is high. Furthermore, the prior invention has been located separately from a door and a controller so it is not conducive to be installed in a general place such as a house or an office. 
     In the prior system, the detecting sensor of a fingerprint is located separately from the doorknob, so that a person has to turn the doorknob in order to open the door after the identification is approved through the detecting sensor of a fingerprint. 
     Thus, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the detecting sensor of a fingerprint of the present invention is installed on the spot of the doorknob that a thumb is placed naturally. So when someone holds the doorknob, his fingerprint is measured and searched, and if the fingerprint corresponds to a fingerprint previously input, the door is unlocked and the doorknob is turned to open the door. Therefore, fingerprint recognition and opening of the door are performed at the same time. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the part  2 — 2  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the detecting sensor of a fingerprint fitted into a doorknob in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the process in which the detecting sensor of a fingerprint fits into the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the use of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart for the linked-operation of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 a flowchart for the operation of a locking doorknob which recognizes a fingerprint in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the door-lock operation shaft ( 3 ), which fits into the perforation ( 9 ) on the lower part of the door-lock case ( 1 ), operates a locking apparatus (not shown in the figures) that is formed in the door-lock case ( 1 ). A passing flute ( 2 ) (see FIGS.  2 - 4 ), which is formed inside of the above door-lock operation shaft ( 3 ), surrounds a length of wire ( 8 ) connected to a detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ). The door-lock operation shaft ( 3 ) further connects at a right angle to a portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4 ). (See FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 .) The wire ( 8 ) passes through at a right angle to an inside part ( 4   a ) of the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4 ) (see FIG. 4) into which is inserted the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ). 
     The inside part of the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4   a ) is conjoined with a cover ( 10 ) which is attached to a doorknob ( 6 ) by screws ( 7 ). As shown in FIG. 5, the entire assembly can be attached to a door ( 12 ) so it can be engaged by a user&#39;s hand ( 13 ). 
     The forward area of the inside part of the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4   a ) (see FIG. 4) is formed at an incline ( 4   c ) (see FIGS. 1,  3 - 4 ) in order that a window recognizing fingerprint ( 5   a ) (see FIG. 1) of the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) (see FIGS. 1,  3 - 4 ) may have an angle of inclination. The incline ( 4   c ) is to have the opening part ( 4   d ) (see FIGS. 1,  4 ) in order that a window recognizing fingerprint ( 5   a ) may be exposed and a sill for support ( 4   e ) (see FIGS. 1,  4 ) is formed on the lower part of the opening part ( 4   d ) to facilitate holding inside a length of wire ( 8 ) so that it looks good and is convenient to use. 
     Furthermore, an outwardly extending sill ( 5   b ) (see FIGS. 1,  4 ) is formed on the top of the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) and an inwardly extending complementary sill ( 4   b ) (see FIG. 4) is formed in the inside part of the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4   a ) in order to prevent the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) from slipping to the forward area when the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) is placed on the inside part of the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4   a ). 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a sub-passing flute ( 2   a ) is formed at a side of the passing flute ( 2 ), which is formed in the door-lock operation shaft ( 3 ) to pass through at a right angle to the inside part of the portion for enclosing the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 4   a ), in order that a jack/connector ( 8   a ) of the length of wire ( 8 ) (see FIG. 3) of the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) may be inserted and removed. 
     Confidential information about the present invention is preserved by assembling the various components of the invention (shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1) such that only the window recognizing portion of the fingerprint sensor ( 5   a ) is exposed when the invention is fully assembled (shown in the assembled view of FIG.  5 ). 
     According to the above description, as shown in FIG. 6, the data previously input into memory (i.e., previously stored fingerprints) is compared with the data input through the fingerprint data input device (i.e., the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 )) or the Key data input device (i.e., key button ( 11 )). The key button ( 11 ) is also depicted in relation to the door-lock case ( 1 ) in FIGS. 1 and 5. According to the result of this comparison, a controller ( 20 ), which controls the locking apparatus ( 30 ), and the locking apparatus ( 30 ), which controls the door-lock operation shaft ( 3 ), determines whether the device is to be operated or not (i.e., whether the door will unlock). 
     As shown in FIG. 7, when data is input by the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) (step  110 ), the data is interpreted whether or not it is compatible with the data previously stored in the memory (step  120 ). After that, if it is compatible with the data previously stored in the memory, the door is to be unlocked (step  150 ), or else, the process returns to the first step, step  100 , via step  170 . 
     On the other hand, in the case where no data is input at step  110  (i.e., the answer to step  110  is “no”), a test is made as to whether or not a password is input through the key button ( 11 ) (step  130 ). If the password is input by the key button ( 11 ), the password input is interpreted whether or not it is compatible with the password previously input in the memory (step  140 ). Also, when the password is compatible with the number previously input in the memory (i.e., the answer to step  140  is “yes”), the door is to be unlocked (step  150 ). Otherwise, the process returns to step  100 . 
     In a normal situation without any operation (i.e., no input information and no input password), the door-lock is to be locked at all times and the process follows the path from step  110 , to step  130 , to step  160 , to step  170 , and back to step  100 . This can be seen by reference to FIG.  7 . 
     Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when a person whose fingerprint has previously been input into memory holds the doorknob ( 6 ) (see FIG. 1) to open the door ( 12 ) and puts his finger ( 13 ) onto the window recognizing fingerprint ( 5   a ) (see FIG. 1) of the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ), a lamp (L-FIG.  1 ), which is formed in the door-lock case ( 1 ) (see FIG.  1 ), turns on and the door is to be opened. 
     As an additional feature, in the case that a certain time elapses, the entire process is to be reinstated in order to restrain another&#39;s entrance. 
     As described above, by reference to FIG. 5, the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) is formed in the door-lock operation shaft ( 3 ), which is combined with the doorknob ( 6 ). Detecting a fingerprint on the spot of the doorknob that a thumb is placed naturally makes it function easily as when a person holds and turns a normal doorknob to open the door. 
     Furthermore, the detecting sensor of a fingerprint ( 5 ) can be operated not only by a thumb, but also by other fingers by changing the direction of the detecting sensor of fingerprint ( 5 ), for example, so that a left-handed person can input the fingerprint of his left hand. 
     The present invention has great merit for the doors of places or goods that are required to be locked for preservation of security and for opening the door conveniently.