EP2624222A1

EP2624222A1 - Electronic code switch

Info

Publication number: EP2624222A1
Application number: EP12153350.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tom Mostert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-31
Filing date: 2012-01-31
Publication date: 2013-08-07

Abstract

An electronic code switch including a housing, a keyboard having keys, at least one visual or audible signal output, an electronic controller having an input that is connected to the keys, a memory for storing an identification value of at least one user, a switch output connected to the electronic controller for providing a switch signal that includes at least an on-value and an off-value, the electronic controller being configured to output a switch signal on the switch output that generally has an off-value and that has an on-value for a certain period of time after it has been determined by the electronic controller that in combination (i) an inputted identification value is identical to an identification value that is stored in the memory and (ii) the reaction value that is determined in response to key inputs by a user that correspond with signals outputted on the signal output is smaller than a threshold value.

Description

Field

The invention relates to an electronic code switch.

Background

An electronic code switch is known from practice and distributed by Synapius B.V. (wwwsnapiuscom). The known electronic code switch includes a housing, a keyboard having keys, two LED's, an electronic controller having an input that is connected to the keys, and a memory for storing a PIN-code of at least one user. The known electronic code switch additionally includes a switch output connected to the electronic controller for providing a switch signal that includes at least an on-value and an off-value. The electronic controller includes an identification value comparison module that is configured recognize an identification value that is inputted by a user with an identification value that is stored in the memory. The electronic controller of the known electronic code switch is configured to output a switch signal on the switch output that generally has an off-value and that has an on-value for a certain period of time after it has been determined by the identification value comparison module of the electronic controller that the inputted identification value is identical to an identification value that is stored in the memory. A machine or device that is connected to the electronic code switch may then be put into use. Application for the known electronic code switch are stationary equipment, forklift trucks, transport vehicles, golfcarts, snowcats, automation, security systems, access control. The electronic code switch ensures that only authorized personnel is able to handle or work with the equipment that is protected by the electronic code switch.

Summary of the Invention

The inventor recognized a need for additional functionality of the electronic code switch. The object is to prevent use of equipment by a person that is under influence of drugs or alcohol or that is otherwise functionally impaired, for example, as a consequence of extreme fatigue.
To that end, the invention provides an electronic code switch including:

a housing
an identification input;
at least one visual or audible signal output;
an electronic controller connected to the input;
a memory for storing an identification value of at least one user;
a switch output connected to the electronic controller for providing a switch signal that includes at least an on-value and an off-value;
an identification value comparison module included in the electronic controller that is configured to compare an identification value that is inputted by a user via the identification input with an identification value that is stored in the memory;
characterized by
a reaction test input;
a reaction test module included in the electronic controller and that is configured to:
- ○ generate at least one reaction test signal that is outputted via the visual or audible signal output;
- ○ determine a reaction value that is indicative for the time that a user needs to input via the reaction test input at least one reaction test code that corresponds with the at least one outputted reaction test;
the electronic controller being configured to output a switch signal on the switch output that generally has an off-value and that has an on-value for a certain period of time after it has been determined by the electronic controller that in combination:
- ○ the inputted identification value is identical to an identification value that is stored in the memory; and
- ○ the reaction value is smaller than a threshold value.

With such an electronic code switch not only the identity of a user is authenticated but also the physical condition by measuring a reaction time. Varying reaction test signals may be generated by the electronic controller and outputted by the signal output. A reaction test code or a number of reaction test codes is, respectively are generated by a user and inputted into the electronic code switch via the reaction test input. The time that is needed to input the reaction test code(s) that corresponds with the reaction test signal(s) determines a reaction value that is determined by the reaction test module in the electronic controller. When both the inputted identification value corresponds with a known identification value stored in the memory and the reaction value is smaller than a threshold value, the electronic controller outputs a switch signal having the on-value for a certain period of time. During that certain period of the time the equipment may be started or access to an area may be obtained.
In an embodiment, the reaction value is determined on the basis of a plurality of reaction test signals that is consecutively generated by the signal output, wherein the reaction value is indicative of the sum of the times that are needed by the user to input the various reaction test codes that correspond with the generated reaction test signals. With such an embodiment, the accuracy of the reaction value that is obtained may be improved relative to a single reaction time measurement.
In an embodiment, the at least one signal output may include at least one LED on the housing. LED's are cheap an require very little energy. Additionally, the lifetime of LED's is very good.
In an embodiment, the identification input may comprise a keyboard having a number of keys.
A keyboard is also cheap and robust. It can be used for inputting at least one of the identification value and the reaction test code.
In an embodiment having a keyboard and at least two LED's, each LED may have a key of the keyboard associated with that LED and wherein the reaction test signal is a series of blinks of the at least two LED's and the reaction test code that is inputted by the user is a series of key inputs on the associated keys of the keyboard that corresponds with the reaction test signal. This embodiment is relatively cheap because LED's are cheap. The at least two LED's may for example be a red and a green LED that are positioned above the number 1- and number 3-key of a numerical keypad. The number 1-key may correspond with the red LED and the number 3-key may correspond with the green LED. When the red LED blinks the number 1-key has to be pressed and when the green LED blinks the number 3-key has to be pressed.
In an embodiment, the on- and off-time of the LED's may also be used to vary the output signal. The time during which the corresponding key should be pressed in should in such an embodiment correspond with the on-and off-time of the corresponding LED.
It will be clear that a rather complicated signal sequences may be created with just two LED's. An accurate input of key impressions that corresponds with the outputted signal sequence can only be achieved by a person that is not under influence of alcohol and/or drugs and that is in a normal state of mind. Thus, the equipment that is protected by the electronic code switch can only be handled by authenticated users that are in a healthy state of mind.
In an alternative embodiment, the at least one signal output may include a numerical or alphanumerical display. If such an embodiment also includes a keyboard, then the reaction test signal may be a numerical or alphanumerical code that is displayed on the display, wherein the reaction test code that is inputted by the user is a series of numerical or alphanumerical key inputs on the keyboard that corresponds with the number that is displayed.
In an embodiment, the identification value of the user may be a numerical PIN-code and the keys of the keyboard include numerical keys. A PIN-code identification value is simple and cheap. Users are used to remembering PIN-codes which normally include at least four numerical digits. Numerical keypads are also relatively cheap. Thus an electronic code switch may be provided that is simple in use and relatively cheap.
In the PIN-code embodiment, the reaction value may additionally be determined on the time that is needed by the user to key in his PIN-code. In such an embodiment the outputted reaction test signal not only determines the reaction value but also the speed of inputting the PIN-code. This provides an additional accuracy of the reaction value.
In an alternative embodiment, the electronic switch code may include a fingerprint reader, wherein the identification value of the user is a fingerprint value that is generated by the fingerprint reader.
The advantage of this embodiment is that the user does not have to remember a PIN-code.
In another embodiment, the identification input comprises at least one of:

a chip card reader;
a RFID reader;
a mechanical lock configured to co-operate with a mechanical key; and
an electronic key reader configured to co-operate with a electronic key.

A chip card, a RFID transponder, an electronic key or even a mechanical key and the readers or the lock associated therewith all may serve as a means for inputting an identification value of the user into the electronic code switch. They may serve as an alternative for a keyboard. Alternatively, they may provide an additional identification value on top of a identification value that is inputted via the keyboard that may be provided on the electronic code switch.
In an embodiment, the electronic code switch may include a wireless communication means, such as a bluetooth or WIFI communication device, the wireless communication means serving as at least one of the identification input and the reaction test input, wherein the wireless communication means is configured to co-operate with an external device chosen from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer and a PDA (personal digital assistant) having a wireless communication means such as bluetooth or WIFI.
In such an embodiment, the smartphone, tablet or PDA of the user may be used to input an identification value and/or a reaction test code. This may lead to a more flexibly operable electronic code switch.
The invention also provides an assembly of the electronic code switch according to claim 12 and an external device chosen from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer and a PDA having a wireless communication means such as bluetooth or WIFI, the external device having a human interface, such as a keyboard or a touch screen, and including a software module, e.g. an APP, that is configured to receive from the user via the human interface at least one of an identification value and a reaction test code.
Such an assembly may be tailored to the needs of the equipment provider. Indeed the provider of the equipment may dictate the look and feel of the software module of the external device, thus making the assembly as a whole very flexible in its applications.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides an assembly of an electronic code switch according to any one of claims 1-12 and a piece of equipment to be protected by the electronic code switch, wherein the piece of equipment includes an operating means to be operated by a user, such as a brake pedal or an operating switch, wherein the reaction test input is connected to the operating means of the piece of equipment so that the reaction test code may be inputted by the user via the operating means.
The reaction test code may for example be a number of impressions of the brake pedal in response to a series of blinks of varying duration of a LED on the electronic code switch. Such a integration of the equipment with the electronic code switch is beneficial for the user because of the simplicity of the operation.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of first embodiment of an electronic code switch;
Fig. 2 shows a side elevation view of the example of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view over line III-III in Fig. 2; and
Fig. 4 shows an example of a second embodiment of an electronic code switch.

Detailed Description

Figures 1-3 show an example of a first embodiment. The example of the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 includes a housing 10, a keyboard 12 having numerical keys 14, an on/off-switch 16, a red LED 18 and a green LED 20. In the housing is an electronic controller 22 that is connected with the keys 14 of the keyboard 12 and with the LED's 18, 20. Electronic controller 22 may, in an embodiment, include a printed circuit board with electronic components 22', 22", 22"' such as IC's, transistors, resistances, etc. A signal output 24 is included for outputting an off-value or an on-value in dependence of the input of a user. The electronic controller 22 may also be configured to lighten the green LED 20 when an on-value is outputted via the signal output 24 after inputting the reaction test code. When an off-value is outputted via the signal output 24 after inputting the reaction test code, the electronic controller 22 may be configured to flash the red LED 18 to indicate that the user did not pass the reaction test or did not input the correct identification value.
Figure 4 shows an example of a second embodiment of an electronic code switch that, instead of the two LED's 18, 20 is provided with a display 26. Additionally, a fingerprint reader 28 is provided on the housing. Both the display 26 and the fingerprint reader 28 are connected with the electronic controller 22. As described in the introductory portion of the specification, alternative means for inputting an identification value may be provided such as a chip card reader, a RFID reader, a mechanical lock configured to co-operate with a mechanical key, an electronic key reader configured to co-operate with an electronic key.
Additionally or alternatively, the electronic code switch may include a wireless communication means, such as a bluetooth or WIFI communication device. The wireless communication means may serve for inputting an identification value and the reaction test code. To that end, the wireless communication means may be configured to co-operate with an external device chosen from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer and a PDA (personal digital assistant) having a wireless communication means such as bluetooth or WIFI. The user may input the reaction test code on his smartphone, tablet computer or PDA and this data may be wirelessly transferred to the electronic code switch. In addition, the identification value may also be inputted by the user in that device. In an alternative solution the identification value may be stored in the smartphone, tablet computer or PDA and automatically transferred to the electronic code switch.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described above, in part with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, it is noted that particular features, structures, or characteristics of one or more embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner to form new, not explicitly described embodiments.

Claims

An electronic code switch including:
• a hosing

• an identification input;

• at least one visual or audible signal output;

• an electronic controller connected to the input;

• a memory for storing an identification value of at least one user;

• a switch output connected to the electronic controller for providing a switch signal that includes at least an on-value and an off-value;

• an identification value comparison module included in the electronic controller that is configured to compare an identification value that is inputted by a user via the identification input with an identification value that is stored in the memory;
characterized by

• a reaction test input;

• a reaction test module included in the electronic controller and that is configured to:
○ generate at least one reaction test signal that is outputted via the visual or audible signal output;

○ determine a reaction value that is indicative for the time that a user needs to input via the reaction test input at least one reaction test code that corresponds with the at least one outputted reaction test;

• the electronic controller being configured to output a switch signal on the switch output that generally has an off-value and that has an on-value for a certain period of time after it has been determined by the electronic controller that in combination:
○ the inputted identification value is identical to an identification value that is stored in the memory; and

○ the reaction value is smaller than a threshold value.
The electronic code switch according to claim 1, wherein the reaction value is determined on the basis of a plurality of reaction test signals that is consecutively generated by the signal output, wherein the reaction value is indicative of the sum of the times that are needed by the user to input the various reaction test codes that correspond with the generated reaction test signals.
The electronic code switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one signal output includes at least one LED on the housing.
The electronic code switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the identification input comprises:
• a keyboard having a number of keys.
The electronic code switch including the features of claims 3 and 4, wherein each LED has a key of the keyboard associated with that LED and wherein the reaction test signal is a series of blinks of the at least two LED's and the reaction test code that is inputted by the user is a series of key inputs on the associated keys of the keyboard that corresponds with the reaction test signal.
The electronic code switch according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one signal output includes a numerical or alphanumerical display.
The electronic code switch including the features of claims 4 and 6, wherein the reaction test signal is a numerical or alphanumerical code that is displayed on the display, wherein the reaction test code that is inputted by the user is a series of numerical or alphanumerical key inputs on the keyboard that corresponds with the alphanumerical code that is displayed.
The electronic code switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the identification value of the user is a numerical PIN-code.
The electronic code switch according to claim 8, wherein the reaction value is also determined on the time that is needed by the user to key in his PIN-code.
The electronic code switch according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the identification input comprises:
• a fingerprint reader; wherein the identification value of the user is a fingerprint value that is generated by the fingerprint reader.
The electronic code switch according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the identification input comprises at least one of:
• a chip card reader;

• a RFID reader;

• a mechanical lock configured to co-operate with a mechanical key; and

• an electronic key reader configured to co-operate with a electronic key.
The electronic code switch according to any one of the preceding claims, including:
• a wireless communication means, such as a bluetooth or WIFI communication device, the wireless communication means serving as at least one of the identification input and the reaction test input;
wherein the wireless communication means is configured to co-operate with an external device chosen from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer and a PDA (personal digital assistant) having a wireless communication means such as bluetooth or WIFI.
An assembly of the electronic code switch according to claim 12 and an external device chosen from the group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet computer and a PDA having a wireless communication means such as bluetooth or WIFI, the external device having a human interface and including a software module, e.g. an APP, that is configured to receive from the user via the human interface at least one of an identification value and a reaction test code.
An assembly of an electronic code switch according to any one of claims 1-12 and a piece of equipment to be protected by the electronic code switch, wherein the piece of equipment includes an operating means to be operated by a user, such as a brake pedal or an operating switch, wherein the reaction test input is connected to the operating means of the piece of equipment so that the reaction test code may be inputted by the user via the operating means.