Key blank identification system with groove scanning

Abstract

A key identification system is provided. The key identification system comprises an imaging system to capture an image of a master key, and a logic to analyze the captured image. The imaging system may be capture an image of a groove in the master key from an angle between perpendicular and parallel to the blade of said master key. The logic analyzes the captured image to compare characteristics of the groove with groove characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between the master key and a known key blank. The key identification system may further compensate for displacement or orientation of the master key with respect to the imaging system when analyzing characteristics of the groove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A key identification system comprising:
 an imaging system including a first camera configured to capture a first image of a master key and a second camera configured to capture a second image of said master key, said first image different than said second image;   a logic configured to map data points from said first image to corresponding data points from said second image to determine characteristics of a contour of said master key; and   wherein said logic compares said characteristics of said contour with characteristics of known key blanks to determine the likelihood of a match between said master key and a known key blank.   
     
     
         2 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said characteristics of said contour includes outline data wherein said outline data includes a plurality of data points. 
     
     
         3 . The key identification system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of data points is selectively adjustable along an interval to adjust accuracy of groove identification. 
     
     
         4 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging system further comprises a crop box for limiting the image of the master key, wherein said crop box defines the outer periphery of at least said first and second images of said master key. 
     
     
         5 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said logic includes a database containing data related to characteristics of grooves of known key blanks. 
     
     
         6 . The key identification system of  claim 1  wherein said logic is configured to generate tolerance and/or correlation values to determine the likelihood that the comparison yields a match. 
     
     
         7 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said first image is a digital image. 
     
     
         8 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said second image comprises a silhouette of a blade of said master key. 
     
     
         9 . The key identification system of  claim 1  wherein said second image comprises a silhouette of a tip of said master key. 
     
     
         10 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said characteristics of said contour are determined based on image data from at least said two or more views of said master key. 
     
     
         11 . The key identification system of  claim 10 , wherein said logic calculates the geometry of the contour as though a tip of said master key were squarely cut based on data from at least said two or more views of said master key. 
     
     
         12 . The key identification system of  claim 11  further comprising a key holder configured to hold said master key. 
     
     
         13 . The key identification system of  claim 12 , wherein said key holder includes a clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said views of said master key includes a view from above the master key blade of a groove in the bottom of said blade. 
     
     
         15 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said views of said master key includes a view from an angle between perpendicular and parallel to the blade of said master key and not including perpendicular or parallel to the blade of said master key, 
     
     
         16 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is configured to shift data related to said characteristics of said contour to compare with said known key blank characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said logic includes a tolerance range for each characteristic of said master key to determine whether a master key passes or fails to match a known key blank. 
     
     
         18 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said logic is configured to generate a series of comparisons to compensate for registration errors. 
     
     
         19 . The key identification system of  claim 1 , wherein said logic includes at least one roll constant used to adjust the plurality of data points to increase accuracy of a match with a known key blank