Patent Application
20050061956
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an unlocking method, and more particularly to an unlocking method by identification of colored light rays and an unlocking apparatus using the method.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional lock generally has a plurality of pins mounted in a lock core with various arrangements and is unlocked by a key with a plurality of teeth corresponding to the pins. However, the conventional lock has not enough security to prevent a thief from unlocking the lock by using a simple tool instead of a correct key.
For promoting the security, another lock using identification of light rays is invented. The lock has an emitting member to give off light rays and a receiving member to receive the rays respectively installed at two sides of a keyhole of a lock core. A correct key for the lock has a plurality of openings corresponding to positions of the lights. When the correct key is inserted in the keyhole, the light rays from the emitting member can pass through the openings and be received by the receiving member, so the lock can be unlocked.
However, this lock also has a low security and is easy to be unlocked in an unauthorized manner.
Therefore, the invention provides a lock to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide an unlocking method by identification of colored light rays which promotes the security of a lock.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an unlocking apparatus using the unlocking method.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
An unlocking apparatus in accordance with the invention is composed of a key (10), an emitting member (30), and a receiving member (40). The emitting member (30) and the receiving member (40) are respectively mounted at two sides of the keyhole of the lock. The emitting member (30) has a plurality of illuminants (31) such as LEDs arranged along the keyhole and mounted on a first positioning strip (32). The receiving member (40) has a plurality of optical fibers (42) each with a first end in alignment with the corresponding illuminant (31) and a second end connected with a receiver (44) for identification of color. The first ends of the optical fibers (42) are mounted on a second positioning strip (41) facing the emitting member (30). The light rays given off from the illuminants (31) can be received by the corresponding optical fibers (42) and transferred into the receiver (44) for identification of color.
The optical fibers (42) also can be replaced with lenses (not shown) for receiving and transferring the light rays.
The key (10) has a shank (not numbered) for inserting in the keyhole, and a plurality of openings (11) is defined through the shank and respectively aligned with the illuminants (31) and the distal ends of the optical fibers (42). Each of the openings (11) has a transparent colored plug (20) mounted therein. The colored plugs (20) have various colors with a predetermined arrangement.
When the key (10) is inserted in the keyhole, white light rays from the illuminants (31) pass through the respective transparent colored plugs (20) and become light rays with various colors corresponding to the transparent colored plugs (20) and are received by the optical fibers (42) and the receiver (44).
When assembly of the lock, the correct color arrangement of the transparent plugs (20) is set and stored in the lock. If the light rays passing through the transparent plugs (20) have a color arrangement that coincides with the stored arrangement, the lock can be unlocked. Otherwise, the lock cannot be unlocked.
Therefore, an unlocking method according to the present invention has the following steps of:
With reference to
When the key (60) is inserted in the keyhole, white light rays emitted from the illuminants (51) are reflected by the reflective colored plugs (61) and become colored light rays received by the optical fibers (54) for identification. In a situation of the color arrangement of the reflected light rays coinciding with the stored arrangement, the lock can be unlocked.
Moreover, the key of the present invention also can have a plurality of teeth formed on the shank as in a common key matching a mechanical lock for increasing its security.
Because the colored plugs (20, 61) of the key (10, 60) can have numerous arrangements, it is difficult for a thief to unlock a lock made in accordance with the present invention.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
