Patent EA-001521-B1 (EA)
Title: Lock and switch using  pressure-type fingerprint sensor
Inventor: SAITO YOSHIHIRO
IPC: E05B49/00
Filed: 1997-12-26
Abstract: 1. A lock in which a pressure-based sensor is used and which is equipped with a locking mechanism that restricts the movement of the object that is to be unlocked, a movement restricting mechanism or a movement restricting electronic circuit that restricts the unlocking of the concerned object by the above-described locking mechanism, a pressure-based fingerprint sensor that detects the fingerprint pattern, a memory devices that stores registered fingerprint code data, a matching unit that determines whether the fingerprint code created from the fingerprint pattern sensed by the sensor matches with any of the registered fingerprint codes stored in the memory device, and a control unit that unlocks the locking mechanism through the above-mentioned movement restricting mechanism or electronic circuit, when the offered and a registered fingerprint codes match. 2. A lock having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor in accordance with claim 1 in which the key unit and the lock part are separated and the key unit is portable. 3. A lock having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor in accordance with claim 2 in which the portable unit is a card. 4. A separated type lock having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor, of the type in accordance with the claim 2, in which the registered fingerprint codes are stored in the lock part and the matching unit resides in the portable unit, or vice-e-versa, or both registered codes and the matching unit reside in the look part, and where the pressure-based fingerprint sensor is included either in the lock part or the portable unit. 5. A lock having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor in accordance with the claim 2 in which the separated lock part and portable unit can be connected either electrically through a connector, by wireless, through an infrared beam, by magnetic coupling, or by static electricity. 6. A switching system having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor that is equipped with a switch that starts the concerned object, a pressure-based fingerprint sensor that detects the fingerprint pattern, a memory device that stores the registered fingerprint codes, a matching unit that determines whether the fingerprint code created from the fingerprint pattern detected by the sensor matches with a stored fingerprint code, and a control unit that operates the above-mentioned switch when there is a match. 7. A switching system with a pressure-based fingerprint sensor in accordance with the claim 6 in which the pressure-based fingerprint sensor and the switch that starts the concerned object are separated and the sensor or the memory device reside on a portable unit. 8. A switching system having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor in accordance with the claim 7 in which the portable unit is in the shape of a card. 9. A separated type switching system having a pressure-based fingerprint sensor, in accordance with the claim 7, in which the registered fingerprint codes are stored in the switch part and the matching unit resides in the portable unit, or vice-e-versa, or both the registered codes and the matching unit reside in the switch part, or both reside in the portable unit, and where the pressure-based fingerprint sensor is included either in the switch part or the portable unit. 10. A switching system with a pressure-based fingerprint sensor in accordance with the claim 7 in which the separated switch part and portable unit can be connected either electrically through a connector, by wireless. through an infrared beam, by magnetic coupling, or by static electricity.