US 5,838,232 AGranted

Multi-purpose locking device using laser and optical fibers

OwnerWon Suk Kim, Jung Hoon Rheinventors

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Abstract

A multi-purpose locking device including a key made of a material, which is not a metal, but a synthetic resin, thereby enabling the key to be easily carried by the user. The key also has a configuration capable of selecting a key number from numerous possible key numbers, thereby preventing even skilled lock-picking persons from opening the locking device unless the key is used. The key includes a plurality of fine apertures and block members fitted in selected ones of the apertures and adapted to close those apertures. Light receiving positions are set by the apertures not closed by the block members whereas light shielding positions are set by the apertures closed by the block members. A locked state of the locking device is unlocked only when light is received at the light receiving positions while being shielded at the light shielding positions. The locking device also includes an alarming unit adapted to generate an alarm when an incorrect key is inserted into a keyhole, thereby preventing an attempt at trespass. The multi-purpose locking device of the present invention is effectively usable for safes, gate doors and car doors.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A multi-purpose locking device comprising a locking device body having a keyhole and a key having a key insert portion selectively inserted into the keyhole to unlock a locked state of the locking device, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed in the key insert portion of the key;
at least one block member fitted in a selected one of the apertures and adapted to close the selected aperture;
a light emitting unit exposed at an output thereof to the keyhole of the locking device body;
a light receiving unit adapted to receive light emitted from the light emitting unit through the apertures, not closed, of the key insert portion under the condition in which the key is inserted into the keyhole, the light receiving unit including a plurality of photo transistors grouped into a turn-on transistor group and a turn-off transistor group, the photo transistors in the turn-on transistor grouped being for receiving light from the light emitting unit, light from the light emitting unit being blocked from the photo transistors in the turn-off transistor group by the at least one block member;
a logic unit adapted to determine the level of an output from the light receiving unit;
a solenoid adapted to unlock the locked state of the locking device;
a drive unit coupled to the logic unit and adapted to drive the solenoid based on a first output signal from the logic unit;
and
an alarming unit activated by a second output signal from the logic unit and adapted to generate an alarm through a speaker coupled thereto.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.