US 20120291327Al

(19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2012/0291327 A1
B0ut0t, JR.
(54) BIOMETRIC QUICK RELEASE GUN LOCK (52)

(43) Pub. Date:

NOV. 22, 2012

US. Cl. ..................................................... .. 42/7 0.11

(57)
(76) Inventor:
_

ABSTRACT

Michael Boutot JR" Naples FL (Us)

A quick biometric gun lock has a hinge located between two sides such that the two sides open and close about the hinge and a cavity between the two sides for reception of the ?nger
protector and trigger mechanism of a gun such that the quick

(21) Appl' NO"

_

13/110025
May 18 2011

biometric gun lock encloses the trigger and ?nger protection

area. A control shaft is attached to one of the sides having
teeth for closure of the gunlock and extends into a hollow area

(22)

Flled'

of the other side. A control device in the other side is arranged

to engage the teeth of the control shaft. This control device is
either an electric motor or solenoid controlled by a microcon troller. For an electric motor the integral shaft moves a toothed servo shaft that is in contact with corres P onding

Publication Classi?cation

(51)

IIlt- Cl-

F41A 1 7/00 A61B 5/117

(2006.01) (2006.01)

grooves of the electric motors integral shaft; the solenoid has an integral shaft to control the gunlock.

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 1 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

my

@QB HlQlLMaE;Q
MK
u

o L

FQM
E
*
Mm

135.!

MmQEOZ?UG~
, 1H

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 2 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

i
am;

if
r;
5

'

mama
i C -.

i is
l; -QER

suww mar: .,

ifimaimmm u

FiNiEiERPRINT 313mm,
:SQGUND w

1
My RM
- 5*

mm

gammuimmmwq

magfrigw
magwmw?

i Mam ENRQLL

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 3 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

//"

\\

M
NU

\\\g SLEEP M/w F

86

{/60

(
wm'rg RN (3211mm m FLASH

UTIQN PRESSEU? / all

YES

f2
TURN ow +5v SUPPLY

E
2 THMES

as

smmn BEEPER

i[I 64TURN QM FENGERPRENT

REAEER

i 13 :

TURN OFF +5v SUPPLY

& FENGERPRINT REABER

i;\ 1 )
\\\.
/

,MJL MC ENQ w
/
\K\MMHW,"'t

",1

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 5 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

\\ ?LEEP if
k .I

,2 a 0
I1/

name 0% FTNGERPRE'NT

%
\\ // \

NO

READER
r A V2

4145mm > 9.25 I

\\Q{c<mns<>
.-

NQ

,1 1::

{M

fl

' \K

ENABLE MQTGR 4

TURN ON IR

ma'mic'rox
!s

.
i

$1211. RUNNiNG?
B 14

E f/?gx
1/ \ mam mzs?mlif \

f/ \(f // \
{we}: THE MOTQ ----------'------~

102\\
m4
\
\

\r
a $

T
{BMPJEETH
YES
i

Tim: {5N m1 SIWPLY

5
i
:

TURN ON FYN'GERPRINT
196

1?
TURN OFF +5! SUPPLY

REAQER

x; 1313mm mama

\ISEND VEREFY F QOMMANB

xii

TO FINGERPRIN'E. READER E

K END \! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> V \ a \\~ ~-/" 11%

20s \\ // BEES THE

)

> 'FURN CF? PENGERPRYNT

READER & +5V gUPPLY
NC
/

{EENGERPRENT VERHFLY'
\
/.

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 6 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

2 J

NS

us
\\
n9 T0 Emmi,
v
\

/ 1%

X3 // \\\
(iiimaw PRESSED>M /
/
1

w
TURN (m1 +5v SUPPLY
m1) FENGEEWRJNI mama
w 13,,
r i

3 2i)\

/ \ UTTQN HELD

SOUND EEEFER {5 TEA/i158

TURN (3N +5V SUPPLY

TURN (3N HNGERPRWT READER

SEND QELETE COMMAND

T (1* FENGERPRINT READER

\\
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~r

WAIT m3 ERASE

~STLL maciissmami

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 7 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

m)

i ,454
.

SOUND BEEPER
5 TIME

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 8 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

FINGER . READER

"""""""""""""""""""""""""" RS232

M"

168

K.
SAGEM PQE

I
i / 16%

i6

?x

4} L
1
SW3.

i iI
3 will";
I @
.8,

(PU
F.
_~_

m: MGTQR

ENRQLLEMNT aunnw

"""""'\ 562

3,!
1'

i |
new BATTERY

POWER SUPPLY NEW

{a VDC i
9

301mm ALERT
66
w \

{mg m}

5%. 8

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 9 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

23%

2m

9:22

24

2&8

>214

234

236 226

218

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 10 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

262
I

232 222

2,24

234

,J/
212

219

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 11 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 12 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 13 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 14 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 16 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

Patent Application Publication

Nov. 22, 2012 Sheet 17 0f 17

US 2012/0291327 A1

US 2012/0291327 A1

Nov. 22, 2012

BIOMETRIC QUICK RELEASE GUN LOCK

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

management system, Which enhances the durability of the

?ngerprint biometric lock When used With either ?xture or

portable storage applications. The lock is poWered With a

direct current voltage source 2, such as three internal dry cells, in a conventional direct current circuit. An external Wall

[0001] N/A
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

adapter 4 may, but need not, be provided for an alternating current poWer circuit in order to either prolong battery life, or for operation of the lock once the batteries have expired. An
automatic transfer sWitch 6 on the input of both poWer sup

[0002] N/A
COPYRIGHT NOTICE

plies is then included to constantly monitor the direct 2 and alternating 4 current from each poWer supply. When altemat

ing current is applied, the circuitry automatically isolates the

batteries from the circuit until the alternating current supply is removed.
[0012] A +5V sWitcher 8 is used to provide +5V poWer to a ?ngerprint module 10 and an unlocking motor control unit 12. This supply is enabled or disabled by a central processing unit
16 Which is programmed to control all functions on a control

[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The
copyright oWner has no objection to the facsimile reproduc tion by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark O?ice patent ?le or records, but otherWise reserves all copyrights Whatsoever.
BACKGROUND

board. The output is preferably +5 Volts, at 500 mA, and a 2.7-5.0 volt input range. [0013] A +3.3V sWitcher 14 is used to provide poWer to the
microcontroller 16, a RS-232 level converter and a ?nger

[0004] (1) Field of the Invention [0005] Relating to improvements in the art of gun safety. More particularly, relating to improvement in gun locking
devices.

presence detection circuitry 18. The ?nger presence detector

20 is preferably an infrared detector Which measures the

[0006] (2) Description of the Related Art [0007] US Patent Application Publication 2003/0141959
published on Jul. 31, 2003 describes a Fingerprint Biometric Lock; it Was ?led on Feb. 4, 2003 from a continuation-in-part of US. application Ser. No. 10/185,453, ?led Jun. 28, 2002

transmission and re?ection of infrared light, but may also be in the form of a micro-sWitch positioned near the ?ngerprint sensor 10. The output of the sWitcher 14 is speci?ed at +3.3V, at 50 mA, and a 27-5 Volt input range.

[0014]

The main central processing unit (CPU) 16 is

preferably a Texas InstrumentsTM MSP430 family microcon

troller. This device acts as a controller for all of the devices on

Which claims the bene?t, of US. Provisional Application 60/302,154, ?led Jun. 29, 2001. The aforementioned US Patent Application Publication 2003/0141959 published on Jul. 31, 2003 describes a Fingerprint Biometric Lock and is hereby INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. The relevant portions of the cited patent are reproduced in the folloWing

the board. It monitors the circuitry, communicates With the ?ngerprint reader 10 and implements all enrollment pro
cesses for enablement of a ?ngerprint code. The CPU 16 controls the poWer going to all devices on the board. In a

standby mode, the CPU 16 is in a sleep phase draWing mini

mal current for versatile use of the biometric lock in either

paragraphs.
[0008] It is Well knoWn that rapid access to highly secured storage systems, such as gun safes and the like, is hampered When the system is secured using a keyed lock. It is also

?xture or portable applications. Approximately four times per second, the CPU 16 Wakes up and poWers up the ?nger
presence detector 10 and then turns it off again. When a ?nger is detected, the CPU 16 poWers up the +5 Volt sWitcher 8, the ?ngerprint sensor module 10 and the motor control unit 12. After the motor 24 has cycled, the CPU 16 shuts doWn the entire system and returns to sleep mode.

knoWn that keys are easily misplaced, copied, and keyed

locks are easily picked or drilled. Moreover, keyed locks do
not limit access to a particular individual. A solution is to

provide a ?ngerprint matching system that detects ?nger

prints and compares them With ?ngerprint data stored in a database for locking or unlocking safe storage systems. [0009] Up to noW a feW such examples exist. For example, US. Pat. No. 5,579,909, to Deal, andU.S. Pat. No. 5,701,770, to Cook et al., disclose optical ?ngerprint readers combined With either a numeric keypad or ?ngerprint card backup access controls, respectively. Another example, US. Pat. No. 4,768,021, to Ferraro, discloses apressure sensitive touchpad
for access to a gun safe. A third such example, E.P. Pat. No.

[0015] An enrollment button (not shoWn) is preferably

positioned on the board and is used to enroll an enabled

?ngerprint for veri?cation With an offered ?ngerprint. When the enrollment button is pushed, the CPU 16 poWers up the +5 Volt sWitcher 18, the ?ngerprint module 10, and an RS-232
level converter to enroll an enabled ?ngerprint.

[0016]

In a preferred embodiment of the locking system,

0,976,897 A1, to Saito, discloses a lock and sWitch using a pressure-type ?ngerprint sensor. A fourth such example, US. Pat. No. 5,794,466, to Hungerford, et al., discloses a gun safe
using a ?ngerprint access method With a mechanical override.

the ?ngerprint presence detector 18 is an infrared re?ective object sensor Which detects the presence of a ?nger placed proximate to the ?ngerprint sensor 20. This device is mounted near the base of the ?ngerprint detector 18 in a looking up

con?guration. This device transmits infrared light for detec

tion by its infrared receiver Which is mounted next to the transmitter. Once a ?nger is placed close to the sensor 20, infrared light is re?ected from the ?nger to the receiver result ing in a signal being sent back to the CPU 16. The CPU 16 then poWers the ?ngerprint detector 22 at a rate of approxi

[0010]

A controller card is provided to unlock the lock

using a ?ngerprint scanning module. The controller imple

ments all functions for enrolling, canceling enrolls and veri ?cation of valid ?ngerprints. [0011] Referring noW to FIG. 1, there is generally shoWn therein a diagram of the locking hardWare according to the
present invention. The hardWare is controlled via a poWer

mately four times per second. [0017] The unlocking mechanism includes a motor driven
cam shaft connected to the motor 24 With a cam aligned to

US 2012/0291327 A1

Nov. 22, 2012

pass over the controller board. The cam includes a small

magnet mounted on it. A magnetic sensor is also mounted on

Where the evaluation step 40 results in a bad enroll, the CPU sounds 50 the buzzer 5 times and turns off 52 the +5V power

the board in circumferential alignment with the magnet so

that the magnet passes over the sensor upon rotation of the cam. When the magnet is aligned with the sensor, it sends a

supply and ?ngerprint reader.

[0022] FIGS. 3, and 4 show an alternative program logic
?ow for an even more secure enrollment method of an

positive signal to the CPU 16 which indicates the exact angu lar rotation of the motor shaft.

enabled ?ngerprint. Here, in a three sample enrollment

method, the user presses 60 the push-button on the board which wakes up the CPU, turns on the +5 V power supply 62, turns on 64 the ?ngerprint reader, and operates the buzzer 66

[0018]

A capacitive-based ?ngerprint sensor and module,

such as the one marketed under the trademark Sagem Mor

phomodule, Sagem SA, is preferred and requires RS-232

levels. A device which will generate these levels from the +3.3V power supply is positioned on the board to provide communication between the ?ngerprint module 10 and the CPU 16. [0019] A buzzer or LED light may, but need not, be
mounted on the board to provide the user with audible or

for a single beep (FIG. 4). The CPU enables power to the ?ngerprint reader and, as described above, puts it into an enroll mode 68, signaled with a single beep. Within ?ve seconds, the CPU will beep the buzzer 70 a single time for a
valid ?ngerprint or ?ve times 72 for an invalid ?ngerprint. For
a valid ?ngerprint, the controller waits for the user to remove

their ?nger 74. The user must then place their ?nger 76 on the
sensor a second time and repeat the above sequence. Once

visual prompts throughout the enrollment process, the enabled ?ngerprint removal process, and to provide a low

battery indication.
[0020] The microcontroller 16 implements all functions on the board. The microcontroller 16 is used to perform ?nger

three successful samples have been taken 78 the CPU will sound 80 the signal three beeps. The CPU does not accept

three invalid ?ngerprints 78, 82, throughout this sequence,

before signaling 84 a beep six times to indicate that the user must press the push-button and start the sequence over. For the valid condition, the enabled ?ngerprint data are written into the ?ash memory 86, another two beeps are signaled 88

print enrollment, ?ngerprint veri?cation, enabled ?ngerprint

removal, and power management. The program is stored in ?ash memory and is coded in the C programming language. Table 1 below lists and describes the inputs/outputs for the
microcontroller 16.
TABLE 1
Function
Motor Excitation Motor Position

after the new ?ngerprint has been successfully stored in the ?ash memory, and the +5V power supply and ?ngerprint
reader are turned off 90 (FIG. 3). The user may now open the

safe by placing their offered ?ngerprint on the ?nger print

sensor.

Input/Output
0 I

Description
Controls a Field Effect Transistor That switches power to the motor. A hall effect sensor gives an

[0023]

Referring now to FIG. 5, where it is shown the

program logic ?ow of the ?ngerprint veri?cation method, the ?nger presence detection circuitry is preferably turned on 92
approximately four times a second 94 for detecting 100 the presence of an offered ?nger. Once an offered ?nger is detected, the CPU powers up 102 the ?ngerprint sensor 104 and enables it 106 into a verify mode 108. When the offered

active signal when the

+5 V Enable 0

Fingerprint Sensor Enable

Finger Detect Enable

Buzzer Wall Power

O
O I

motor completes on revolution. Controls a FET which turns on the 5 V supply Controls a FET that switches power to the ?ngerprint sensor. Controls a FET that switches power

?nger print data match an enabled ?nger print data the ?n gerprint reader is powered off 110, and the CPU, which
enables power 112 to the motor control unit, drives the motor
until a Hall Effects sensor indicates 114 that the motor has

to the ?nger detect circuitry.

Drives the buzzer for user prompts Feedback from the 5 V switcher

indicating that the voltage has

RX
TX

I
0

reached full value. Serial communication from the

completed its rotational travel. When an invalid ?ngerprint is indicated, the CPU signals the reader to turn off 116 the

?ngerprint reader and the +5V power supply ending the veri
?cation method. [0024] FIG. 6 shows the program logic for removal of an
enrolled ?ngerprint from the ?ash memory. To remove or

?ngerprint reader.
Serial communication to the

?ngerprint reader.
Vbatt
Pushbutton

I (Analog)
I

Port which monitors the battery

voltage for low battery.

Pushbutton used to start the enrollment sequences.

erase all enrolled ?ngerprints from the ?ngerprint reader the

user must press 118 the push button and hold 120 it for ?ve seconds. If so, the CPU turns on the +5V power supply 122, turns on the ?ngerprint reader 124, and sends 126 a delete

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates the program logic ?ow for a single sample ?ngerprint enrollment. Here, the user ?rst presses 30
the push-button on the board. This action wakes up 32 the CPU, turns on the ?ngerprint reader 34 and sounds the beeper for a single beep 3 6. The CPU enables power to the ?ngerprint reader and engages 38 it into an enroll mode 40. After ?ve

seconds, the CPU preferably turns off 42 the +5V supply and ?ngerprint reader, and beeps 44 the buzzer three times to
indicate a valid ?ngerprint read, or ?ve times 50 to indicate an

invalid ?ngerprint. Another two beeps 48 are indicated, where

a valid condition has been evaluated 40, to indicate to the user

command to the ?ngerprint reader. When all enrolled ?nger print data have been erased 128 from the ?ash memory, the CPU turns off 130 the +5V power supply and the ?ngerprint reader, and sounds six times 132 to indicate deletion of the data. [0025] FIG. 7 shows the program logic for power manage ment system. The CPU controls all power management func tions on the board and begins in a sleep mode 140. [0026] It then determines whether wall power is applied 142, and, if so, disables the +5V power supply 144. If wall power is not applied, it enables the +5V power supply 146,
wakes up every ?fteen minutes 148 and measures 150 the

that the now enabled ?ngerprint has been successfully stored

in a ?ash memory 46. The user may now unlock the lock by

placing their offered ?ngerprint on the ?ngerprint sensor.

battery voltage, and determines 152 whether the battery volt age has fallen below 2.7 Volts. If the battery voltage is less