Patent Publication Number: US-2005122216-A1

Title: Key for lock

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION  
      A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention generally relates to telecommunications and, more particularly, to separate transmitters and receivers for keys and locks.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A lost key creates frustration, fear, and anxiety. When a key is lost, time is wasted searching for the key. Nervousness grows the longer the key is lost. If the key is not found, security is compromised, and locks may need to be re-keyed or even replaced.  
      Because a lost key is a common experience, electronic fobs are common. An electronic fob attaches to a key ring, and the electronic fob includes light and/or sound devices. When the key ring is lost, the electronic fob can be remotely activated to emit lights and/or sounds. These lights and sounds help locate the lost key ring.  
      Although electronic fobs are known, electronic fobs are not desirable. These fobs can become separated from the key ring, thus defeating the purpose of finding lost keys when activated. Electronic fobs are bulky and reduce the number of keys that may slide on the key ring. Because the electronic fobs are bulky, the fob is uncomfortably carried in a pocket. There is, accordingly, a need for finding lost keys that does not require an electronic fob.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aforementioned problems are reduced by a key for a lock. This key, however, includes finding features. These finding features may include audible sources and/or light sources. When the key is lost, the key of this invention responds to wireless signals. When the lost key receives the wireless signals, the finding features are activated. The key thus emits sounds and lights, and a user may more quickly locate the lost key.  
      One embodiment of this invention describes a device that promotes finding the device when lost. The device includes means for engaging a lock and means for receiving an activation signal from a remote transmitter. When the activation signal is received, the device also includes means for emitting an output signal that promotes finding the device when lost.  
      Another embodiment of this invention describes a key for a lock. The key has a hollow body comprising a processor controlling receiver circuitry and audible circuitry. The receiver circuitry receives an activation signal from a remote transmitter. The audible circuitry produces an audible indication upon receipt of the activation signal. When the key is lost, the audible indication allows the key to be found.  
      Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic showing one of the embodiments of a key for a lock;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the key shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the key shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating an electronic key, according to yet another of the embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).  
      Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer.  
      This invention is a key for a lock. This key, however, includes finding features. These finding features may include audible sources and/or light sources. When the key is lost, the key of this invention responds to wireless signals. When the lost key receives the wireless signals, the finding features are activated. The key thus emits sounds and lights, and a user may more quickly locate the lost key.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic showing one of the embodiments of a key  10  for a lock  12 . The key  10  is enlarged for clarity. The key  10  has a head or “bow”  14  and means for engaging the lock  12 , such as a blade  16 . The blade  16  protrudes from the bow  14  and includes one or more spaced cuts  18 . The spaced cuts  18  have various depths and graduations. The blade  16  may also include a groove or “milling”  20  along a length of the blade  16 . The bow  14  includes a passage  22  for insertion of a key ring (not shown). As those of ordinary skill in the art understand, a user inserts the blade  16  into a keyway  24  in a cylinder  26  of the lock  12 . If the blade  16  engages the lock  12 —that is, if the spacing, depth, and graduation of each cut  18  aligns with various pins (not shown) in the keyway  24 —then the key  10  can rotate within the cylinder  26  and, thus, lock/unlock the lock  12 . Because the inner componentry of the lock  12 , the keyway  24 , and the cylinder  26  are well-known and not pertinent to this invention, the lock  12  will not be further discussed.  
      The key  10  of this invention, however, includes electronic componentry. As this patent will explain, if the key  10  is lost, various electronic finding features  28  can be remotely activated. These finding features  28 , for example, may include a light  30  and/or a speaker  32 . When the key  10  is lost, the electronic componentry can be remotely activated. The light  30  may flash, and the speaker  32  may emit sounds, and these finding features  28  help a user locate the lost key  10 .  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the key shown in  FIG. 1 . This sectional view is taken along line L 2 -L 2  of  FIG. 1  (shown as reference numeral  34  in  FIG. 1 ). The bow  14  has a hollow body  36 . The hollow body  36  has a left-half  38  and a right-half  40 . The left-half  38  and the right-half  40  are shown having a clam shell arrangement, although this invention encompasses any arrangement of the halves  38  and  40 . Inside the hollow body  36  is means for receiving an activation signal from a remote transmitter, and means for emitting an output signal that promotes finding the device when lost. As  FIG. 2  shows, the hollow body  36  houses a circuit board  42 . Mounted to the circuit board  42  is a processor  44 , receiver circuitry  46 , audible circuitry  48 , and visual circuitry  50 . The processor  44  controls the receiver circuitry  46 , the audible circuitry  48 , and the visual circuitry  50 . When the receiver circuitry  46  receives an activation signal  52  from a remote transmitter  54 , the audible circuitry  48  produces an audible indication, such as a beeping sound, chirping sound, or even a ringtone. When the receiver circuitry  46  receives the activation signal  52 , the processor  44  commands the audible circuitry  48  and/or the visual circuitry  50  to emit output signals. These output signals manifest themselves as beeps, songs, flashing lights, and other audible/visual emissions. If the key  10  is lost, a user can cause the activation signal  52  to be wirelessly communicated, and the output signals thus allow the user to locate the key  10 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the key  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Here the key  10  comprises the processor  44 , the receiver circuitry  46 , the audible circuitry  48 , and the visual circuitry  50 . An antenna  56  couples to the receiver circuitry  46  and converts electromagnetic waves to current. The processor  44  controls the receiver circuitry  46 , the audible circuitry  48 , and the visual circuitry  50 . The processor  44  also performs signal processing functions for electromagnetic signals of any desired frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum. Various memory devices, such as Read-Only Memory (ROM)  58 , Random-Access Memory (RAM)  60 , and cache memory  62 , store instructions and software programming. A battery  64  provides an electrical power source for the processor  44 , the receiver circuitry  46 , the audible circuitry  48 , and the visual circuitry  50 . As  FIG. 3  shows, the audible circuitry  48  may include a speaker  66  and/or a piezoelectric device  68 . When the processor  44  commands, the audible circuitry  48  emits an output signal to help locate the key  10 . The output signal produces chirps, beeps, buzzes, ringtones, or any other audible indication/signal. As  FIG. 3  also shows, the visual circuitry  50  may include a light source  70 . The light source  70  may include a bulb  72 , a light-emitting diode (LED)  74 , and/or a liquid crystal display (LCD) device  76 . When the processor  44  commands, the visual circuitry  50  emits an output signal to help locate the key  10 . The output signal produces constant/flashing lights and/or any other visual indication. The output signal may also produce text messages on the liquid crystal display device  76 .  
      The processor  44  may be a digital signal processor (DSP) and/or a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., for example, manufactures a full line of ATHLON™ microprocessors (ATHLON™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., One AMD Place, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400, 800.538.8450, www.amd.com). The Intel Corporation also manufactures a family of microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com). Other manufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturers include Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309 Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International Business Machines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900, www.ibm.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com). Texas Instruments offers a wide variety of digital signal processors Texas Instruments, Incorporated, P.O. Box 660199, Dallas, Tex. 75266-0199, Phone: 972-995-2011, www.ti.com) as well as Motorola (Motorola, Incorporated, 1303 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, Phone 847-576-5000, www.motorola.com). Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that this invention is not limited to any particular manufacturer&#39;s processor.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating yet another of the embodiments of this invention.  FIG. 4  shows an electronic key  78 . This electronic key  78  engages an electronic and/or electromechanical lock  80 . The electronic key  78  has a hollow body  82 . Inside the hollow body  82  is the means for receiving the activation signal. As  FIG. 4  shows, the hollow body  82  houses the circuit board  42 . Mounted to the circuit board  42  is the processor  44 , the receiver circuitry  46 , the audible circuitry  48 , and the visual circuitry  50 . When the receiver circuitry  46  receives the activation signal (shown as reference numeral  52  in  FIG. 2 ), the processor  44  commands the audible circuitry  48  and/or the visual circuitry  50  to emit output signals. These output signals include beeps, songs, flashing lights, and other audible/visual emissions. If the key  78  is lost, a user can cause the activation signal to be wirelessly communicated, and the output signals thus allow the user to locate the key  78 .  
      The key  78 , however, is electronic. That is, the key  78  does not require the blade (shown as reference numeral  16  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Here the means for engaging the lock  80  includes a male portion  84  protruding from the body  82 . The male portion  84  inserts into a female portion  86  of the lock  80 . The male portion  84  includes an optical and/or electrical terminal  88 . The processor  44  communicates with the optical and/or electrical terminal  88  and thus communicates electrical signals from the key  78  to the lock  80  via the optical and/or electrical terminal  88 . If the electrical signals are correctly formatted/encoded, the lock  80  responds. The electronic key  78  is especially useful for electronic locks and vehicular ignition systems.  
      While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.