ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,247,415, issued on March 11, was assigned to Schlage Lock Co. LLC (Carmel, Ind.).
"Electronic key reader for mechanical keys" was invented by Dan Pfunder (Noblesville, Ind.) and Brian C. Eickhoff (Danville, Ind.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An exemplary system includes a mechanical key and an access control device. The access control device includes a housing defining a keyway that has a fixed position within the housing. The access control device further includes a root depth sensor assembly, an insertion depth sensor assembly, a control assembly in communication with the sensor assemblies, and an electronic lock device. The control ...