HYBRID ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20100148918A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gerner, Nathan, Reske, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,222,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.200
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0065 by solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A wireless access apparatus for controlling access into a secure area comprises a first power source and a second power source. A controller automatically switches between the first and second power source based at least on a calculated power level of the first and second power source. The controller is connected to either the first or the first and second power source based on the switching. The access apparatus includes a switch having a first position for connecting the first power source to the controller and a second position for connecting second power source to the controller and an electromechanical transducer coupled to the controller for unlocking or locking an entrance into the secure area. The controller determines access to the secure area using information received from an access card.

Claims

1. A wireless access apparatus for controlling access into a secure area comprising:

a first power source;

a second power source;

a controller for automatically switching between the first and second power source based at least on a calculated power level of the first and second power source, the controller is connected to either the first or the first and second power sources;

a switch having a first position for connecting the first power source to the controller and a second position for connecting second power source to the controller; and

an electromechanical transducer coupled to said controller for unlocking or locking an entrance into the secure area, said controller determines access to said secure area using information received from an access card.

2. The wireless access apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power source is a solar panel and the second power source is a rechargeable battery.

3. The wireless access apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a recharging circuit electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery and electrically coupled to said solar panel, said recharging circuit adapted to recharge the rechargeable battery using power from the solar panel.

4. The wireless access apparatus of claim 3, wherein said controller issues a recharge enable signal to the recharging circuit instructing the recharging circuit to recharge the rechargeable battery, said controller issues a recharge enable signal based upon the rechargeable battery power and at least one preset condition.

5. The wireless access apparatus of claim 4, wherein said preset condition is a set time.

6. The wireless access apparatus of claim 4, wherein said preset condition is a power level of the solar panel.

7. The wireless access apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch is activated to connect the rechargeable battery to the controller when the wireless access apparatus is initialized and released to connect the solar panel to the controller.

8. The wireless access apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a diode and capacitor, said diode having a first end coupled to the solar panel and a second end coupled to a first end of the capacitor, said capacitor storing energy from the solar panel.

9. The wireless access apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a transceiver for polling access cards within a predefined area and for receiving access information from said access cards.

10. The wireless access apparatus of claim 9, wherein said transceiver transmits the received access information to a remote host control device and receives an access enable or disable signal from said remote host control device based upon a comparison of the received access information and preset list of approved access cards.

11. The wireless access apparatus of claim 9, wherein said controller calculates a voltage level of said rechargeable battery and instructs the transceiver to transmit a battery dead signal to a remote host control device if the voltage level of said battery is lower than a predetermined threshold.

26. The wireless access apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power source is a renewable power source and the second power source is a rechargeable power source.

12. A wireless access apparatus for controlling access into a secure area comprising:

a first motion sensor for detecting motion in a first predetermined range;

a transceiver for polling access cards within the first predetermined range and for receiving access information from said access cards;

a controller for activating said transceiver to poll access cards within the first predetermined range, if said first motion sensor detects motion and for determining if access card is within the first predetermined range; and

an electromechanical transducer coupled to said controller for unlocking or locking an entrance into the secure area, said controller determines access to said secure area using information received from an access card.

13. The wireless access apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second motion sensor for detecting motion in a second predetermined range, wherein said controller instructs the electromechanical transducer to unlock the entrance if the controller determines that access is allowed into the secure area using information received from an access card and if the second motion sensor detects motion within a preset period of time after the first motion sensor detects motion.

14. The wireless access apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second predetermined range is smaller than said first predetermined range.

15. The wireless access apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second motion sensor is a capacitive sensing element coupled to a handle of the entrance.

16. A method of controlling access into a protected area comprising the steps of:

detecting motion within a first predetermined range;

activating a transmitter for polling access cards within the first predetermined range;

determining if any access cards are within the first predetermined range;

determining if any of the access cards within the first predetermined range is authorized for entry into the protected area;

unlocking an entrance to the protected area based upon the determination of authorization.

17. The method of controlling access according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

detecting motion within a second predetermined ranges; and

unlocking an entrance to the protected area based upon the determination of authorization and a detection result.

18. The method of controlling access according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

determining a voltage level of a renewable power source;

determining a voltage level of a rechargeable power source; and

connecting either said renewable power source or both said renewable power source said rechargeable power source to a controller based upon the determined voltage levels.

19. The method of controlling access according to claim 18, further comprising the step of transmitting a low power message to a remote host access control device based upon the voltage level of the rechargeable power source.

20. The method of controlling access according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

switching a power source to the rechargeable power source;

calculating a rechargeable power life;

determining if it is time to recharge the rechargeable power source; and

recharging the rechargeable power source based upon the determination.

21. The method of controlling access according to claim 20, wherein the step of determining if it is time to recharge the rechargeable power source, comprising:

receiving a recharge enable signal from a remote host access control device.

22. The method of controlling access according to claim 20, wherein the step of determining if it is time to recharge the rechargeable power source, comprising:

examining a past history of recharging times; and

recharging the rechargeable power source based upon the examination.

23. The method of controlling access according to claim 20, wherein the step of determining if it is time to recharge the rechargeable power source, comprising:

examining a past history of access activity; and

recharging the rechargeable power source based upon the examination.

24. The method of controlling access according to claim 20, wherein the step of determining if it is time to recharge the rechargeable power source, comprising:

measuring a voltage level over time of said renewable power source; and

recharging the rechargeable power source if the voltage level exhibits a positive change.

25. A method of controlling access into a protected area comprising the steps of:

detecting motion within a first predetermined range;

activating a receiver for receiving signals from access cards within the first predetermined range;

determining if any access cards are within the first predetermined range;

determining if any of the access cards within the first predetermined range is authorized for entry into the protected area;

unlocking an entrance to the protected area based upon the determination of authorization.