US 12,474,150 B2
Magnetic-key safety interlock system
Roger Archibald, Hurst, TX (US); Bulent Finci, Aledo, TX (US); Jacob Walsh, Benbrook, TX (US); and Stephen Cattanach, Hempstead, TX (US)
Assigned to Probe Technology Services, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by Probe Technology Services, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,842.
Prior Publication US 2025/0180341 A1, Jun. 5, 2025
Int. Cl. F42D 5/00 (2006.01); F42D 1/05 (2006.01); E21B 43/1185 (2006.01)
CPC F42D 5/00 (2013.01) [F42D 1/05 (2013.01); E21B 43/1185 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An interlock system comprising:
(a) a first electrically controllable switch having at least two positions;
(b) a second electrically controllable switch having at least two positions;
(c) a magnet-sensor array comprising at least three magnet sensors arranged in a geometric array, wherein each magnet sensor has at least two states, each state corresponding to a unique electrical output; and
(d) a controller electrically connected to the magnet-sensor array, to the first electrically controllable switch, and to the second electrically controllable switch;
(e) wherein the controller is configured to:
(i) determine a presence state of the magnet-sensor array by measuring, for each of one or more of the at least three magnet sensors, the electrical output of that magnet sensor;
(ii) determine, based on the presence state of the magnet-sensor array, a presence-state position for the first electrically controllable switch;
(iii) determine a presence-state electrical signal to provide to the first electrically controllable switch to set the first electrically controllable switch in the presence-state position; and
(iv) provide the presence-state electrical signal to the first electrically controllable switch to set the first electrically controllable switch in the presence-state position.