Key blank identification system with bitting analysis

Abstract

A key identification system is provided. The key identification system comprises a sensing device configured to extract bitting information from a master key, and a logic configured to analyze the image. The sensing device may be configured to capture information about the bittings of the master key, such as an image of the bittings. The logic analyzes information about the bittings of the master key and compares it with bitting characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between the master key and a known key blank.

Having thus described the invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . A key identification system comprising:
 an imaging system configured to capture physical characteristics of a geometry of a master key; and   a logic to analyze information representative of said physical characteristics to determine characteristics of parameters of said master key and further to compare said characteristics of said parameters with stored key related information to determine the likelihood of a match between said master key and said stored key related information;   wherein said information representative of said physical characteristics includes at least one of the depth of a geometric feature and a location of a geometric feature along a blade of said master key.   
     
     
         2 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said stored key related information includes a numeric code that embodies information that represents a key cut. 
     
     
         3 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging system is configured to capture an image of the side of said master key. 
     
     
         4 . The key identification system of  claim 3 , wherein said imaging system includes a camera. 
     
     
         5 . The key identification system of  claim 4 , wherein said camera is positioned perpendicular to the blade of said master key. 
     
     
         6 . The key identification system of  claim 1  further comprising a key holder to hold said master key. 
     
     
         7 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said stored key related information include bitting characteristics of a known lock. 
     
     
         8 . The key identification system of  claim 7 , wherein said characteristics of said parameters include a set of depths at given blade spacing points associated with said known lock. 
     
     
         9 . The key identification system of  claim 8 , wherein said logic computes a score for said known lock based on the comparison between the depths of said master key at each spacing point and said set of depths for said known lock. 
     
     
         10 . The key identification system of  claim 7 , wherein said characteristics of parameters include a set of bitting flat widths at given blade spacing points associated with said known lock. 
     
     
         11 . The key identification system of  claim 10  wherein said logic compares the bitting flat widths of the master key bitting at each spacing point to said set of bitting flat widths for said known lock. 
     
     
         12 . A key identification system comprising:
 an imaging system configured to capture physical characteristics of a geometry of a master key; and   a logic to analyze information representative of said physical characteristics to determine characteristics of parameters of said master key and further to compare said characteristics of said parameters with stored key related information to determine the likelihood of a match between said master key and said stored key related information;   wherein said information representative of said characteristics of said parameters includes at least one of the depth of said geometric feature and a location of said geometric feature along a blade of said master key;   wherein said logic computes a score based on a comparison between the at least one depth of said geometric feature at a spacing point and a set of depths for said stored key related information.   
     
     
         13 . The key identification system of  claim 12 , wherein said parameters include a set of bitting flat widths at given blade spacing points associated with said stored key related information. 
     
     
         14 . The key identification system of  claim 13  wherein said logic compares the bitting flat widths of the master key bitting at each spacing point to said set of bitting flat widths for said stored key related information. 
     
     
         15 . The key identification system of  claim 12 , wherein said logic analyzes one of a bitting depth, and a bitting fiat width of said master key at a blade spacing point shifted from said blade spacing point. 
     
     
         16 . The key identification system of  claim 12 , wherein said logic is configured to overlay geometric features for a plurality of known lock over said physical characteristics of said geometry of said master key. 
     
     
         17 . The key identification system of  claim 12 , wherein said logic includes a tolerance range for each characteristic of said parameter of said master key to determine whether a master key passes or fails to match a known lock. 
     
     
         18 . The key identification system of  claim 12 , wherein said logic is configured to shift the position of said characteristic of said parameter of said master key to compare with said stored key related information. 
     
     
         19 . The key identification system of  claim 18 , wherein said shift includes at least one of a move laterally towards the tip, a move longitudinally towards the head, or a rotation.