Identification module for key making machine

Abstract

An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A key making machine, comprising:
 a housing;   an identification system, including:
 a slot opening in the housing configured to receive the shank of an existing key; and 
 an imaging system comprising at least one light source and at least one camera, the imaging system configured to: 
 determine, using the camera, a channel profile of the shank of the existing key; and 
 identify a key blank associated with the existing key based at least on the determined channel profile; and 
   a fabrication system configured to:
 receive the key blank identified by the identification system; and 
 cut a bitting pattern into the received key blank based on a bitting pattern of the existing key determined by the identification module; and 
   a user interface associated with the housing,
 wherein the user interface includes a touch screen, and 
 wherein the user interface is configured to provide status information to a user regarding a key duplication process of the existing key. 
   
     
     
         2 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one light source includes a back light;   an image captured by the at least one camera includes a backlight image; and   the identification system is configured to determine whether the existing key is an edge-cut key or a milled key based on the captured backlight image.   
     
     
         3 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein determining the channel profile of the shank of the existing key further includes determining at least one of a thickness of the shank of the existing key, a shape of a channel formed in the shank of the existing key, the size of the channel formed within the existing key, and the location of the channel formed within the existing key. 
     
     
         4 . The key making machine of  claim 3 , wherein the identification system is configured to identify the key blank based on at least one of the shape of the channel and the thickness of the shank. 
     
     
         5 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein the identification system includes a transponder sensor configured to detect the presence of a transponder within the existing key. 
     
     
         6 . The key making machine of  claim 5 , wherein the transponder sensor is configured to read the transponder code associated with the detected transponder upon the existing key being fully inserted into the slot opening. 
     
     
         7 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein the channel profile is a channel profile of a first side of the shank, and the imaging system is configured to further determine a channel profile of a second side of the shank disposed opposite the first side. 
     
     
         8 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive input from a user via the touchscreen comprising a delivery address for a duplicated key that is to be fabricated at a location remote from the key making machine. 
     
     
         9 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein the key making machine is configured to generate a queue of key duplication events and transmit information associated with the queue to the user interface for display. 
     
     
         10 . The key making machine of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to ask the user if the user wishes to store data associated with the key duplication event for later use. 
     
     
         11 . The key making machine of  claim 10 , wherein the machine is configured to store the data. 
     
     
         12 . The key making machine of  claim 10 , wherein the machine is configured to communicate the data associated with the key duplication event to a remote location. 
     
     
         13 . A system for duplicating a key, comprising:
 an identification system, wherein the identification system includes:
 a housing; 
 a slot opening in the housing configured to selectively receive the shank of an existing key; 
 an imaging system comprising at least one light source and at least one camera, wherein the imaging system is configured to determine at least a channel profile of the shank of the existing key; 
 wireless communication hardware; and 
 a user interface associated with the housing,
 wherein the user interface includes a touch screen, and 
 wherein the user interface is configured to provide status information to a user regarding a key duplication process; and 
 
   a fabrication system located at a location remote from the identification system, wherein the fabrication system includes:
 wireless communication hardware; and 
 at least one system for duplication of the existing key; 
   wherein the wireless communication hardware of the identification system is configured to transmit information associated with the determined channel profile of the shank of the existing key and the determined bitting pattern of the existing key to the wireless communication hardware of the fabrication system.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the identification system includes a transponder sensor configured to detect the presence of a transponder within the existing key. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein upon detection of the presence of a transponder within the existing key, the user interface is further configured to receive input from a user via the touchscreen comprising at least one input selected from the group of inputs consisting of a make of an automobile associated with the existing key, a model of an automobile associated with the existing key, and a year of an automobile associated with the existing key. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transponder sensor is configured to read the transponder code associated with the detected transponder upon the existing key being fully inserted into the slot opening. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the identification system is configured to transmit information associated with the transponder code read from the transponder and the user input comprising to the fabrication system via the wireless communication hardware. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the fabrication system includes a transponder cloning pocket; and   the fabrication system is configured to program a transponder within a key blank with the transponder code received from the identification system.   
     
     
         19 . A key making machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a credit card reader;   an identification system, including:
 a slot opening in the housing configured to receive the shank of an existing key; 
 an imaging system comprising at least one light source and at least one camera, the imaging system being configured to determine a channel profile of the shank of the existing key, and 
 wherein the identification system is configured to identify the existing key based on the determined channel profile and identify a key blank associated with the existing key based on the determined channel profile; and 
   a fabrication system configured to cut a bitting pattern of the existing key determined by the identification system into the identified key blank.   
     
     
         20 . The key making machine of  claim 19 , wherein identification system further include a transponder sensor configured to detect the presence of a first transponder in the existing key and to read a transponder code associated with the detected first transponder, and
 the key making machine is configured to transmit the transponder code to a remote system to permit the remote system to program a second transponder associated with the key blank with the transponder code received from the identification.