Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8130075 | System and method for touchscreen combination lock Systems and methods for touchscreen security gateways are described, wherein a mechanical lock simulation is presented and operated by the user of a touchscreen interface. Comparisons between entered and stored combinations may be processed and/or stored utilizing l... | 03/06/2012 |
| 7221272 | Electronic lock module An electronic lock module consisting of a series of electronic buttons used for entering a lock combination; LEDs for monitoring the status; a piezo-buzzer to provide audio feedback; a microcontroller circuit to process the input; a locking mechanism in the form of ... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7132181 | Method and apparatus for venting and purging of a fuel cell Hydrogen in a fuel cell is vented and purged with a fail-closed valve using stored energy (e.g. from a capacitor) when a diagnostic parameter is outside of an acceptable operating range. The valve closes after the stored energy has depleted. A safety switch in the r... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7111165 | Key and lock device A method of authorizing a key or lock device comprises the following steps: a first user device and a first system device used in a first level of a lock system, such as at a manufacturer, are created. A first encryption key is stored in the first user device and th... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7058613 | Device and method for user identification check based on user-specific formula A device for checking user identification includes a calculation unit which calculates a check value by applying a user-specific formula to a randomly generated number, and a matching unit which checks if the check value matches a user-entered value that is entered ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 6911897 | Electronic combination lock with high security features A self-powered electronic combination lock including a lock mechanism having locked and unlocked conditions. A rotatable dial is used to input a numerical combination code for changing the lock mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition. An electr... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6903720 | Cursor control console with rotary knob and method of use A rotary knob is integrated into a cursor control console and facilitates entering of alpha and numeric data into an aircraft computer system. The console houses both a cursor control device and the rotary knob. The rotary knob is located within finger reach of the ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6741160 | High security electronic combination lock An electronic combination lock having a knob which has no divisions or markings relating to the numbers of the combination thereon. The rotation of the knob drives a generator, which produces electrical power. The power generated serves as a power source for the ele... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6720860 | Password protection using spatial and temporal variation in a high-resolution touch sensitive display A wearable mobile computing device/appliance (e.g., a wrist watch) with a high resolution display that is capable of wirelessly accessing information from the network and a variety of other devices. The Wrist Watch device/appliance includes a password authentication... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6546769 | High security lock mechanism A self-powered electric lock includes a lock bolt and a first engagement element having disengaged and engageable positions. An electric actuator includes an output operative to move the first engagement element to its engageable position. A manually oper... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6420958 | Electronic combination lock with high security features A self-powered electronic combination lock including a lock mechanism having locked and unlocked conditions. A rotatable dial is used to input a numerical combination code for changing the lock mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6314773 | High security lock mechanism A locking mechanism adapted to be placed in locked and unlocked positions. The locking mechanism includes a lock-bolt mounted for movement between locked and unlocked positions and a first engagement element having disengaged and engageable positions. An ... | 11/13/2001 |
| 6052063 | Electronic combination lock with high security features An electronic combination lock includes a combination lock having a dial with no markings thereon. Rotation of the dial drives a generator which produces electrical pulses. The voltage pulses serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. The l... | 04/18/2000 |
| 6034616 | Electronic combination lock with high security features An electronic combination lock includes a combination lock having a dial with no markings thereon. Rotation of the dial drives a generator which produces electrical pulses. The voltage pulses serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. The l... | 03/07/2000 |
| 5986563 | Digitally programmable protecting means and a key for mechanical rotary locking devices A digitally programmable protecting mechanism and a programmable key for a mechanical rotary lock for providing enhanced protection and enabling user to change mechanical and electronic security code configuration at any time without involving of special ... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5973624 | Electronic combination lock with high security features An electronic combination lock includes a combination lock having a dial with no markings thereon. Rotation of the dial drives a generator which produces electrical pulses. The voltage pulses serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. The l... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5873276 | Keypad entry electronic combination lock with self-generated combination A combination lock and particularly an electronic combination lock used on a container that is typically housed within an enclosure having a door which further has a lock and a security switch indicating that the enclosure door has been opened may, be pro... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5870914 | Electronic combination lock with self-contained power generation A self-powered lock incorporates a generator within the dial housing. The generator incorporates a plurality of coils and two concentric rings of magnetic segments. The rings are mounted on a dial housing, capable of rotation, and rotation of the dial hou... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5847656 | Electronic combination lock with high security features An electronic combination lock includes a combination lock having a dial with no markings thereon. Rotation of the dial drives a generator which produces electrical pulses. The voltage pulses serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. The l... | 12/08/1998 |
| 5816084 | Electronic combination lock with an arrangement for moving a locking lever both into and out of an "engage" position in which lock may be opened A user of a self-powered electronic combination lock rotates an outer dial to cause generators to generate energy for storage in a capacitor bank. The user then rotates an inner dial to cause a microcontroller to sequentially display a combination of numb... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5801614 | Vehicle starting control device A vehicle starting control device which implements inhibiting/enabling of the rotation of a steering shaft when a storing medium is used as an ignition key. A system ECU 19 reads an ID code stored in an IC card 2 via a communication means 24, outputs a pe... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5684457 | Tamper indication system for combination locks A tamper indication system for use with combination locks can indicate or signal that unauthorized manipulation of one or more of the lock components has occurred. In one mode, the tamper indication system senses unauthorized retraction of the lock bolt. ... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5640862 | Electronic combination lock including a sensor arrangement which senses the position and direction of movement of the combination dial A user of a self-powered electronic combination lock rotates an outer dial to cause generators to generate energy for storage in a capacitor bank. The user then rotates an inner dial to cause a microcontroller to sequentially display a combination of numb... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5632169 | Self powered electronic combination lock having comprehensive monitoring of power levels for various functions A user of a self-powered electronic combination lock rotates an outer dial to cause generators to generate energy for storage in a capacitor bank. The user then rotates an inner dial to cause a microcontroller to sequentially display a combination of numb... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5604489 | Alphanumeric input terminal An alphanumeric input terminal is provided which allows a user to enter a sequence of characters that is compared to a stored valid entry code to determine whether access should be granted. The terminal displays a random number which the user adjusts by a... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5594430 | Programmable electronic time lock A programmable time lock includes a microprocessor, which senses the angular position of a key shaft via a sensor/encoder. The microprocessor includes ROM and RAM memory circuits, a timer, and a clock, and it can activate a stepper motor to control the po... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5541581 | Electronic combination lock security system An electronic security system includes an electronic lock mechanism and an electronic key, each of which is provided with a microprocessor controller and a memory storing data including an ID code and encryption key codes. The lock microprocessor may eith... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5517184 | Electronic combination lock with high security features An electronic combination lock includes a combination lock having a dial with no markings thereon. Rotation of the dial drives a generator which produces electrical pulses. The voltage pulses serves as a power source for the electronics of the lock. The l... | 05/14/1996 |
| 5493279 | Electronic combination lock with covert entry detection feature and method of covert entry detection An electronic combination lock is provided with and incorporates the enhanced feature of covert entry detection and notification. Whenever the bolt of an electronic lock provided with this enhancement is retracted to its withdrawn or unlocked position and... | 02/20/1996 |
| 5488660 | Electronic combination lock utilizing a one-time use combination A combination lock is described where the combination that is used to open the lock is generated on a separate computer system using information that is contained in the lock and a series of steps that combine selected items of the information contained i... | 01/30/1996 |
| 5488358 | Electronic combination lock with closure and locking verification A lock is described which has the capability to generate or encrypt a close number which is then displayed to the operator of the lock to be used to verify the locking of the lock. This number must be reported to a central dispatch operation where it is c... | 01/30/1996 |
| 5455571 | Fail safe system for a mechanical lock key set with electronic interlock A mechanical key and lock set with a rotating cylinder includes an electronic interlock which is responsive to the insertion of a mated key in the cylinder and proper rotation of the cylinder. A sensor is placed in communication with the cylinder and sens... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5451934 | Electronic combination lock with time delay feature to control opening An electronic lock is provided with a timer capability to delay the operability of the lock for a preset period of time following the proper and correct entry of a combination into the lock. This delay prevents the lock from opening until both the time ha... | 09/19/1995 |
| 5410301 | Status monitoring system for an electronic lock A monitoring and control system is disclosed which samples a plurality of output ports and lines from the microprocessor and the system electronics of an electronic lock to determine whether the bolt is extended, retracted, or the enabling stepper motor h... | 04/25/1995 |
| 5387903 | Programmable electronic time lock A programmable time lock includes a microprocessor, which senses the angular position of a key shaft via a sensor/encoder. The microprocessor includes ROM and RAM memory circuits, a timer, and a clock, and it can activate a stepper motor to control the po... | 02/07/1995 |
| 5159333 | Secure code operated device A secure coding device is presented that requires a multi-bit binary code to rotate a locking cam to an unlock position. The device is secure against unauthorized human intervention because it does not provide information to an attempted intervenor which ... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5061923 | Computerized combination lock A combination lock for a safe or the like is provided that is fully computerized and self powered. A rotary dial is connected to a stepper motor/generator to provide the electrical power to a capacitor to power the system. The stepper motor/generator also... | 10/29/1991 |
| 4904984 | Combination lock with an additional security lock A combination lock is provided with an additional security lock wherein an electrically operable solenoid, having an armature post normally biased outwardly of a solenoid body is mounted to the combination lock housing so as to position the armature post ... | 02/27/1990 |
| 4331845 | Output switch assembly and operating mechanism A mechanism comprising a code wheel assembly including an angularly movable shaft, a first element affixed to said shaft, a second element angularly movable on said shaft, and a third element angularly movable on said shaft, a plurality of main code posts... | 05/25/1982 |
| 4099161 | Code operated device A coded safing device is provided which produces a desired output upon receipt of a predetermined dual channel binary code. A stepping drive solenoid provides motion input to dual channel electromechanical binary code sensors to drive the sensors and esta... | 07/04/1978 |
