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Abstract

An apparatus for actuating a locking device, security system and the like and for arming and disarming associated alarm systems. The apparatus includes an information carrier, preferably carrying a digitally coded set of data which is presented to a reading device by manual insertion of the data carrier. The data carrier may be a key-like object on which the data track occupies the central tang portion or it may be an actual mechanical key used to operate a tumbler cylinder and additionally provided with a central data track. Preferably, the data track is a series of transparent and opaque fields which are subjected to infrared radiation in the reading device. The read-out data from the data track is compared in the apparatus with stored information and, when coincidence occurs, an actuation signal is generated to operate the associated locking system and/or alarm system. The apparatus includes a program memory which contains stored information regarding the clock cycle to be expected and is thus able to read out the information contained on the data carrier without automatic mechanical transporting devices for passing the data carrier past the reading assemblies. The apparatus also provides the read-out and status determination during standby operation with low power sensing pulses and a switchover to data read-out in the presence of the data carrier with high-powered pulses of a current density which exceeds that normally acceptable to the light sources under continuous operation. In a preferred embodiment, the coded information on the data carrier is so distributed that, during the read-out of these data, a local clock sequence is generated automatically from the data per se without the requirement for a separate timing track.

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First Claim