The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1998
Gerald E Hammond, Tustin, CA (US);
Hirsch Electronics Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for access control is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a keypad unit, proximity sensor, a card reader interface circuit, and a control circuit. The keypad unit displays a plurality of randomly generated symbols on a keyface which includes a plurality of keys. The keypad unit generates a signal representing one of the plurality of randomly generated symbols when a corresponding key on the keyface is activated. The proximity sensor senses the information encoded in a card held near the keypad unit. The proximity sensor is hidden within the keypad unit. The card reader interface circuit is coupled to the proximity sensor for reading the encoded information from the card. The control circuit is coupled to the keypad unit and the card reader interface circuit to convert the signal or the encoded information into an identification code.