APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE PASSAGE OF PERSONS AND OBJECTS BETWEEN TWO AREAS UTILIZING CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION

• US 3,564,132 A
• Filed: 01/17/1966
• Issued: 02/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1966
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard C. Hix, Richard H. Baker
• Original Assignee: Richard C. Hix, Richard H. Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Richard H., Hix, Richard C.
• Application Number:
  US04/523,499
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A security system and method for controlling the passage of persons and objects between two areas employs scanning means for monitoring the contents of a control space having controlled access. Prior to admitting a person to this space, the contents are examined by the scanning means to determine the presence of any objects or persons therein. After a person is admitted to the space, access thereto is secured, such as by locking all doors thereto, and the scanning of the space continues to determine whether the admitted person has brought any unauthorized objects into the space with him. An identification procedure is then carried out for the admitted person, and if his identity is satisfactorily established, another one of the access doors is unlocked to allow the person to proceed. After departure of this person and prior to admitting another person to the space, the contents of the space are again monitored to insure that the person did not remain behind in the space, that he did not leave any unauthorized objects in the space and that he did not admit another person to the space while he was obtaining ingress or egress.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the passage of persons and objects through a passageway leading into a secured area comprising:

an enclosure means having an examination compartment large enough to accommodate a single person in a standing position for disposition in said passageway and having a first lockable door and a second lockable door providing an entrance and an exit respectively, to said compartment, said enclosure means blocking said passageway except when said lockable doors are open;

first sensing means for examining the contents of saiD compartment from at least two orthogonal directions to determine the presence of a person or object therein, said first sensing means being a first video scanner means for alternatively providing a vertical overhead view of substantially the entire interior of said examination compartment and a horizontal view of said compartment;

men means for remotely opening one of said doors and for energizing said first sensing means;

second sensing means for examining a characteristic of a person in said enclosure means to determine that person'"'"''"'"'s suitability to proceed through said enclosure means, said second sensing means including a second video scanner means which scans a photograph on an identification card carried by said person while said first video scanner means scans the face of said person during said horizontal view; and

means responsive to said sensing means for determining the suitability of said person to proceed through said enclosure means and for unlocking the other of said doors to permit said person to proceed therethrough if said examined characteristic indicates his suitability to proceed, said means responsive to said sensing means including a means for comparing the images produced by said first and second scanner means to determine correspondence therebetween as a measure of said person'"'"''"'"'s suitability to proceed through said enclosure means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including movable mirror means having a first position for reflecting an overhead view of the interior of said enclosure means to said first video scanner means for examining the contents of said enclosure means, and having a second position for permitting an image of said person'"'"''"'"'s face to be transmitted to said first video scanner means.