Identifying process and an automatically operated booth equipped with interblocking doors

• US 6,611,195 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alessandro Manneschi, Luca Manneschi
• Original Assignee: Alessandro Manneschi, Luca Manneschi
• Inventors: Manneschi, Luca, Manneschi, Alessandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US09/348,244
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/545.1, 340/5.7, 340/5.73, 109/9, 382/115
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/003 Entrance control E05G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/02 Trapping or confining mechanisms, e.g. transaction security boothsthief or burglar incapacitating means in general G08B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/116 for sluices
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

An identifying process and a booth provided with interblocking doors operated in accordance with the process. The booth is provided with a weighing mechanism and a biometric reader placed inside of the booth, which operates in conjunction with a programmed logic unit. Critical information relating to the person who seeks to pass through the booth to a secured area is transmitted from a data card carried by the person to the programmed logic unit from an identity card reading unit, from a reading of the weight of the person and from reading of biometric data, so that after comparison of the data with that on the person'"'"'s identify card, the programmed logic unit will verify if the person in transit is to be permitted entry and then command the opening and closing of the interblocking doors of the booth as well as any other desired apparatus.

Claims

1. In a process for the recognition of persons authorized to transit through a controlled passage to access protected areas comprising the steps of;

providing a booth having interblocking doors wherein a first booth door may be opened to admit the person carrying an identification card on which critical data including an identification code is recorded to enter the booth and the second booth door will only open to allow entry into the protected area after the person has been identified as having access to that area;

opening the said first booth door in the event that the code is verified to admit the person into the booth;

weighing the person entering into the booth to verify, with both booth doors closed, within a pre-determined tolerance, that this weight matches the weight of the authorized person who holds the identification code that allowed opening of the first booth door;

performing a biometric reading on the person in the booth and matching the results of said reading with that person'"'"'s identification code; and

activating said second door and auxiliary devices after a determination that the person is allowed entry, so that the person may exit the booth into the access protected area;

the improvement comprising, reading the identification code of the person in a hands-free manner utilizing an electromagnetic wave detector and antennas associated with the booth while the person is outside of and in close proximity to the booth in order to verify if the code is among those authorized to enter said area, to activate the opening of the entry door;

a second reading of the identification code being made when the person is stepping into the booth and the weighing means begin to be activated, in order to verify that the entering person is the one carrying the authorized card and, if the two readings coincide, to activate the closing of the entry door.

2. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the time from the opening of the first door of the booth is measured, and if no weight is detected in the weighing step after a predetermined interval, the first door is again closed.

3. In a booth with interblocking separately operable entry and exit doors and provided with a floor comprising, in combination;

first reading means to identify an identification code card carried by a person desiring entry to said booth, a pre-programmed logic unit in communication with said detector which stores critical information concerning the identity of users and which compares this information to information received from said detector to control the operation of the doors of the booth, means in association with the floor of said booth for weighing the person gaining entry through said entry door, biometric reading means in said booth for detecting critical information concerning the identity of the user, whereby when said identity of the person gaining entry to the booth is confirmed, said exit door will open allowing the user to gain entry to an area beyond said booth, the improvement comprising an electromagnetic wave transmitter and detector including antenna means located near the entry door to send and receive electromagnetic waves for interrogation of persons located in proximity to the entry door to activate the opening of said entry door and when the person is entering the booth through said entry door to activate the second reading of said card, and if the two readings coincide, to activate the closing of said entry door, and adopted to detect and to read the identification code without the person needing to use his hands to allow said readings.

4. The booth as defined in claim 3, wherein weight and biometric data relating to the identity of an authorized user are recorded on said identification card so that after reading and comparison of said data when both doors are closed, proper authentication will cause opening of the exit door of the booth.

5. The booth as defined in claim 3, wherein the biometric reading means and data relate to voice patterns and recognition.

6. The booth as defined in claim 3, wherein the identification card is an induction card of the passive type and of such a size as not to be visible when being carried by the authorized user.