Systems and methods for creating duplicate keys and pairing with vehicles
AssigneeiKeyless, LLC
InventorsDouglas Robertson, Adam Pizer, David Horsfall, Ian Simon Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A kiosk-based system provides enhanced processes for replicating or copying keys including automotive keys and including transponder keys requiring programming. A set of user interfaces guides users through master key identifying, key blank selecting, master key scanning and duplicate key cutting processes as well as programming programmable keys. The invention provides a Quick Reference redundancy to add an additional layer of accuracy to avoid errors in selecting key blanks and in cutting selected key blanks. The system creates a copy or duplicate of a master key based on a captured image of the master key and stored key data.
Claims34
A method for making duplicate keys comprising the following steps:
- presenting by a display a user interface having a first set of selectable elements configured to receive user inputs;
- identifying a make, model and year (“MMY”) and/or Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”) representing a target vehicle for purposes of cutting a key blank based on a master key to operate the target vehicle;
- receiving a user input selecting a desired key blank from a set of at least one suggested key blank;
- instructing a user in a manner of presenting the master key for scanning and receiving on a scannable surface a physical master key having a keyblade;
- capturing by a vision system comprising a camera a set of images of the master key, determining a feature location of the master key, and targeting a laser and determining a set of locations of the master key keyblade;
- determining by a processor a set of physical parameters of the master key keyblade;
- inserting the selected key blank in a key blank holder for duplication;
- cutting by a key cutting component the selected key inserted in the key blank holder based at least in part on the set of physical parameters of the master key keyblade resulting in a duplicate key;
- determining by a processor whether the selected key blank requires programming to pair with the target vehicle and if the key blank requires programming, presenting a user interface configured to instruct the user in programming the duplicate key.
A kiosk-based system for making duplicate keys, the system comprising:
- a processor in communication with a memory having a set of instructions executable by the processor stored therein, the set of instructions comprising a set of key cutting instructions, a set of key scanning instructions, and a set of user interface instructions;
- a display adapted to present user interfaces and to receive user inputs based on user actions associated with the user interfaces;
- a set of user interfaces having a set of selectable elements configured to receive user inputs identifying a make, model and year (“MMY”) or Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”) representing a target vehicle for purposes of cutting a key blank based on a master key to operate the target vehicle;
- a master key scanning device comprising a vision system and a scannable surface adapted to receive for scanning a physical master key having a keyblade, wherein the vision system comprises a camera and is adapted to capture a set of images of the master key, and wherein the processor executes the set of scanning instructions to determine a set of physical parameters of the master key;
- a key blank selection user interface having a set of selectable elements comprising a set of at least one suggested key blank based on the MMY or VIN user inputs and, being adapted to receive a user input representing a selected key blank from the set of at least one suggested key blank;
- a key cutting device adapted to receive and cut a received key blank based at least in part on the determined set of master key physical parameters to create a duplicate key;
- wherein the processor is configured to access key data and execute instructions to determine whether the duplicate key requires programming to pair with the target vehicle, and, if the duplicate key requires programming, to generate a set of instructions to instruct the user in programming the duplicate key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.