Patent Application
20200370339
The present invention relates to the field of highly secure access control systems, and more particularly, methods and apparatus utilizing unique optical refraction properties of non-duplicated transparent objects to secure premises and computer databases.
Existing access control systems based at traditional hardware based key have such properties that make it possible one way or another to copy or mimic the key and such way permit unauthorized access to controlled premises or computer databases.
Existing access control system are based at computer software are vulnerable to hackers with sufficient knowledge of computer systems and social engineering.
Existing electro-optical and magnetic card access control systems are easy to operate and cost effective, possess some level of security but have the same shortcomings—if one with sufficient knowledge get the key or card, it is possible to study distinctive properties of the particular key or card and then copy it or mimic it at sense of key-lock system.
So, most of the shortcomings of existing access systems are related to the ease of duplication or mimic distinctive properties of keys or cards which provide access and the less information potential forger can get about lock-key system having particular key or card at hand, the more secure system at whole.
Example of optical access system is patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,431A issued to Raymond J.Rhine published Feb. 1, 1994. At this patent an access security system employs a non-duplicatable key made from an optically transmissive material having gradient refractive index and diffusive properties which provide the material with a non-duplicatable quality. While being functional for its intended purpose this system looks vulnerable to mimic the key at sense of key-lock system.
Example of prismatic lock and key security is patent U.S. Pat. No. 9,274,508B2 issued for William R. Duffy, Ill, Phillip D. Jones Michael, K. Trivette David, T. Windell published Mar. 1, 2016. At this patent described methods and apparatus for lock and key security, the lock including a light receptacle, a scatter pattern detecting module, and a locking mechanism, the key including a light source and a prism, the lock and key security including receiving, in the light receptacle of the lock, light transmitted by the light source in the key through the prism; identifying, by the scatter pattern detecting module, a scatter pattern of the received light; comparing, by the scatter pattern detecting module, the scatter pattern to a unique preauthorized pattern for operating the lock; if the scatter pattern matches the unique preauthorized pattern, switching, by the scatter pattern detecting module, the current locking state of the locking mechanism; and if the scatter pattern does not match the unique preauthorized pattern, maintaining the current locking state of the locking mechanism. The shortcoming of this system is a key, this system utilize the optical key were the optical prism and source of light beam all placed inside the optical key at fixed position and in spite of it is extremely difficult to copy optical properties of prism with shattered glass but potential forger having particular optical key at hand and having sufficient knowledge can one way or another mimic or copy not the prism but authorized scatter pattern to deceive scatter pattern detecting module of the lock and so to get unauthorized access to premises.
In an embodiment of present invention highly secure optical key access control system is provided, including such apparatus as optical key with unique optical element and unique access module including source of light, image catching array, means of positioning optical key inside access module and electronic processor.
The said access control system based on the recognizing with unique access module the optical element with unique refractive properties used as a key by directing light beam from source of light through medium and optical element from several different directions, catching resulting set of unique refraction pictures with image catching array placed at some distance from optical element at direction of refracted light beam, processing resulting set of unique refraction pictures with electronic processor for comparison against the existing database of preauthorized sets of refraction pictures in database to permit or refuse access to protected premises or protected computer database.
Also in further of embodiment of invention access module is provided, comprising means of adjustment initial fixed position of source of light and image catching array relatively to start position of optical element of optical key inserted to access module and such way making each access module unique one at sense of lock-key system.
An advantage of the present invention at sense of level of security is : the light beam from source of light directed through the optical element from several different directions and so not one unique refraction picture but sets of unique refraction pictures should match with preauthorized ones.
Another advantage of the present invention at sense of level of security is: an source of light is located inside access module and its initial position and direction of light beam relatively to the optical element of optical key inserted to access module is unique and cannot be calculated by potential forger and so for potential forger to have optical key at hand is not enough to correctly figure out desired sets of preauthorized refraction pictures because initial position of optical element relative to position of light source and direction of light beam inside access module is unknown for potential forger.
FIG.1 depicts the schematic diagram illustrating the method of highly secure optical key access control system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG.2 depicts the example of an optical key containing an optical element with unique refractive properties, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG.3 depicts the example of access module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The inventor provides highly secure access control system, and more particularly, methods and apparatus utilizing unique optical properties of non-duplicated transparent objects to secure premises and computer databases. Optical Key and access module as the terms is used it this specification refers to the apparatus where user can get access to secure premises or computer databases using optical key as a key and access module as a lock.
The present invention described in enabled detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one of embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of highly secure optical key access control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this example Access control system comprising optical key 1 with optical element 3 and access module 2 comprising light source 4, means 5 and 6 of positioning optical key inside access module, image capture array 8, means 7 for initial adjustment of fixed position of light source and image catching array relative to initial position of optical element of optical key inserted to access module, electronic processor 9 and access actuator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
To start the process of recognizing optical key user of said access control system insert optical key to access module 2 at initial position and then turn or move optical key to put unique optical element 3 of optical key 1 to several following prearranged positions relative to light beam 11 of light source 4 and image catching array 8 to produce set of unique refraction pictures 12 at surface of image catching array. Because of highly different refraction pattern of light beam 11 emitted with light source 4 going through medium and unique optical element 3 of optical key 1 depending on relative positions of said optical element and said light beam and image catching array the set of refraction pictures 11 displayed at surface of image catching array 8 possesses unique light and shape properties and thereby can be used for recognizing particular optical key at the sense of key-lock system. To do so resulting set of unique refraction pictures are processed with electronic processor 10 for comparison against the existing database of preauthorized sets of refraction pictures in database to permit or refuse access to protected premises or protected computer database. If resulting set of unique refraction pictures match with one of preauthorized set the electronic processor permit access to secured premises and computer databases with access actuator 10.
To farther improve level of security access module has means of adjustment for changing initial fixed position of light source inside access module. At exemplary access module it realized as swing frame 7 with connected on it light source 4 and image catching array 8. It makes possible to change initial fixed position and direction of light beam relative to inserted to access module unique optical element 3 of optical key 1 for particular access module and so each access module can be considered unique one at sense of key-lock system. So for potential forger to have optical key at hand is not enough to correctly figure out desired sets of preauthorized refraction pictures because initial position of unique optical element relative to position and direction of light beam inside access module are unknown for potential forger.
Readers of skill in the art will immediately recognize that different means of changing initial fixed position of light source and direction of light beam and image catching array relative to unique optical element of inserted optical key may be configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
FIG.2 depicts example of optical key 1 comprising optical element 3 with unique refractive properties and body 13, were optical element 3 consists of one or several transparent objects 14 of random highly irregular shape fixed at random position to each other and to the body of optical key and refraction index of transparent objects differ from refraction index of medium. Body of optical key 13 includes protecting transparent cover 15 of optical element 3 and means of positioning optical key inside of access module such as rod 16 and spline 17.
Readers of skill in the art will immediately recognize that not one but many different means may be configured to put optical element of optical key to access module at initial fixed and then to the set of following prearranged position in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
FIG.3 depicts example of access module according to the embodiment of present invention. Access module 2 in this example consist of casing 18 including light source 4, means 5 and 6 for positioning inserted optical key at initial and several following prearranged positions inside access module, image catching array 8, a swing frame 7 with mounted on it light source 4 and image catching array 8 as means for changing initial fixed position of light source and angle of light beam relative to inserted to access module optical element 3 of optical key 1, electronic processor 9 and access actuator 10
It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the highly secure optical key access control system of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of a single broader invention which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations'made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
