Patent ID: 7015791

Claim:
A key-less system for actuating a lock responsive to a valid OPEN command, comprising: a power source; a first system portion coupled to the power source and receiving power therefrom while the system is in an active or inactive state, wherein the first system portion comprising: a keypad having at least one key that when depressed provides an electronic signal representing an entered actuation code; and a detector coupled to the keypad that intercepts at least a first keystroke of the at least one key and in response to the first keystroke turns a switch ON; a second system portion coupled to the power source by the switch and receiving power therefrom and in an active state only when the switch is ON, wherein the second system portion comprising: a memory with one or more valid actuation codes stored therein; a processor coupled to the memory and the keypad, wherein the processor receives from the keypad, keystroke sequences representing an entered actuation code and compares them to valid actuation codes retrieved from the memory to detect a match; and a transmitter coupled to the processor, wherein when the processor detects the match, the transmitter sends out an RF signal carrying the valid OPEN command recognizable by the lock; and a flag configured to indicate whether or not a match had been detected and further configured to be stored prior to turning the switch OFF.