LOCKABLE ENCLOSURE HAVING IMPROVED ACCESS SYSTEM

• US 20110199183A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digitus Biometrics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digitus Biometrics Incorporated
• Inventors: Marsden, Christopher D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns

Abstract

A biometric security system, including a biometric validation module for receiving a biometric profile (such as a fingerprint scan) and asserting a control signal responsive to a biometric evaluation of the biometric profile for securing access to a physical locking storage unit, such as a cabinet. Disclosed is a system that not only provides secured mechanical locking devices for security and access control, it further augments such a system with a computer controlled biometric access control and access monitoring system. The system is managed by central management software which may encompass a standalone configuration or a networked configuration. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a solution that provides a software platform and firmware that provides a control signal controls an electromechanical locking assembly for an electrical physical locking unit, such as a server cabinet having at least one locking/unlocking door panel for gaining entry thereof.

Claims

1. An enclosure having an improved access system comprising:

a frame;

a door connected to the frame in a manner that allows the door to rotate from a closed position to an open position with respect to the frame;

an electromechanical locking mechanism configured to fit in the door and to secure the door to the frame in the closed position when in a locked state and allow the door to be rotated to the open position in an unlocked state;

a biometric scanner configured to receive biometric information from a user;

memory configured to store data representative of biometric information; and

a processing device operatively connected to the memory, the biometric scanner, and the electromechanical locking mechanism, wherein the processing device is configured to receive the biometric information from the biometric scanner, compare the biometric information received from the biometric scanner to the data representative of biometric information stored in memory, and instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the biometric information received from the biometric scanner matches at least a portion of the data representative of biometric information stored in the memory.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the biometric scanner comprises a fingerprint reader.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the biometric scanner comprises a retinal scanner.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader operatively connected to the processing device and configured to receive RFID data, wherein the memory is configured to store data representative of RFID data, and wherein the processing device is configured to receive the RFID data from the RFID reader, compare the RFID data received from the RFID reader to the data representative of RFID data stored in the memory, and instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the RFID data received from the RFID reader matches at least a portion of the data representative of RFID data stored in the memory.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein the processing device is configured to instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the RFID data received from the RFID reader is associated with the biometric information received from the biometric scanner.

6. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a personal identification number (“

PIN”

) pad operatively connected to the processing device and configured to receive a PIN number, wherein the memory is configured to store a plurality of PIN numbers, and wherein the processing device is configured to receive the PIN number from the PIN pad, compare the PIN number received from the PIN pad to the plurality of PIN numbers stored in the memory, and instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the PIN number received from the PIN pad matches one of the plurality of PIN numbers stored in the memory.

7. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein the processing device is configured to instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the PIN number received from the PIN pad is associated with the biometric information received from the biometric scanner.

8. The enclosure of claim 4 further comprising a personal identification number (“

PIN”

) pad operatively connected to the processing device and configured to receive a PIN number, wherein the memory is configured to store a plurality of PIN numbers, and wherein the processing device is configured to receive the PIN number from the PIN pad, compare the PIN number received from the PIN pad to the plurality of PIN numbers stored in the memory, and instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the PIN number received from the PIN pad matches one of the plurality of PIN numbers stored in the memory.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the processing device is configured to instruct the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states based on whether the RFID data received from the RFID reader and the PIN number received from the PIN pad are associated with the biometric information received from the biometric scanner.

10. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising a sensor operatively configured to monitor for an occurrence of a condition and configured to transmit a signal to the processing device, whereby the processing device determines whether the condition has occurred based on the signal.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the processing device determines the condition has occurred based on a change in the signal.

12. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the processing device determines the condition has occurred when the processing device ceases receiving the signal.

13. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the processing device is configured to generate an alarm condition when the condition occurs.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 wherein the alarm condition causes a speaker associated with the server cabinet to output an audible alert.

15. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the processing device outputs a second signal to another device when the condition has occurred.

16. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the processing device transmits an electronic message to an administrator associated with the server cabinet.

17. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the condition is removal of a panel of the server cabinet.

18. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the condition is met when the door opens.

19. An electromechanical locking mechanism for a cabinet having a frame and a door, wherein the door defines an aperture and is connected to the frame in a manner that allows the door to rotate from a closed position to an open position with respect to the frame, the electromechanical locking mechanism comprising:

a locking portion configured to pass through the aperture whereby the electromechanical locking mechanism is configured to secure the door to the frame in the closed position when the locking portion exhibits a locked stated and allow the door to be rotated to the open position when the locking portion exhibits an unlocked state;

an external portion configured to receive a biometric acquisition area that is configured to receive biometric information from a user, whereby the external portion is configured to present the biometric acquisition area to the user when the door is in the closed position; and

control circuitry configured to receive a control signal instructing the electromechanical locking mechanism to change states of the locking portion.

20. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein the biometric acquisition area is a fingerprint scanner.

21. A method for managing access to a cabinet having a frame, a door, an electromechanical locking mechanism, and a biometric scanner, wherein the door is connected to the frame in a manner that allows the door to rotate from a closed position to an open position with respect to the frame, and wherein the electromechanical locking mechanism is configured to fit in the door to secure the door to the frame in the closed position when in a locked state and allows the door to be rotated to the open position when in an unlocked state, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a processing device biometric information from the biometric scanner;

comparing the biometric information to data stored in memory operatively connected to the processing device; and

instructing the electromechanical to change states based on whether the biometric information matches at least a portion of the data.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of generating an alarm when the at least a portion of the data comprises an indication that the biometric information is associated with a duress finger.