Atmel AVR 2004 Design Contest

Project Number A3548

Stealth Keyless Entry System
Abstract

Often a ten button keyless entry pad, usually controlling a garage door, is used to provide entry
into a home by anyone knowing the numerical entry code. Security problems can develop over
time as small amounts of finger dirt and grime collect on the keypad buttons used for the entry
code. This along with keypad button wear can make it relatively easy for someone to identify the
keypad buttons, and therefore the digits, used for the entry code. Knowing the digits used for the
entry code greatly reduces the number of permutations a thief would need to try in order to gain
entry to a residence. This system modifies a home’s existing doorbell to become a “hidden”
keyless entry system. The doorbell will operate normally unless a secret code is entered via the
doorbell button. When the secret code is entered, the doorbell does not ring and the garage door
is opened. An Atmel Microcontroller is used to decipher the entered code, compare it with a
master code stored in EEPROM, and control opening the garage door when the entered code
matches the master. When pushing the doorbell button, the doorbell will be rung as soon as there
is a deviation from the master code. This will essentially be immediately to anyone not aware
that the doorbell button doubles as a keyless entry system.

Old fashioned Morse code is used for entering the secret code. Ugh! Learn the Morse code?
One should not be discouraged, as the entire Morse code does not need to be learned to use this
system. Only a few letters, perhaps three or four, will be all that is needed. Moreover, the
Microcontroller has a wide tolerance on what it accepts for the “dots” and “dashes” of the code.
This system even provides the user with options that can be used to practice its operation. When
a dumb terminal is connected to the system’s 2400 baud RS-232 output, these options allow the
user to:

• Print the doorbell button closure times. This is useful if the user wants to modify the
software tune parameters that the Microcontroller uses in interpreting the coded input.
• Print the Morse code characters entered via the doorbell button. This is very useful when
first trying out the system.
• Print out the master code stored in EEPROM as well as print out successes and failures as
the user tries out the system.

An option is also provided that allows a chosen master code to be entered into EEPROM by just
keying it into the system via the doorbell button.

Not knowing that the doorbell button is also a “hidden” keyless entry system does provide a level
of security above that obtained with one of those keypad entry systems.
 Atmel AVR 2004 Design Contest
Project Number A3548
Stealth Keyless Entry System

Block Diagram

Microcontroller/
Switch
Software
Input Opto- ICP
Isolator Switch
LED
Debouncer

Morse Element
Classifier Terminal
Reset RST (optional)
Circuit Morse Character RS-232
Recognizer Driver

Key
Matcher Bell
Option Bell Control
Output
Jumpers Relay
Action
Driver

Timing Door
Service Door Control
Relay
Driver
Key