Radio frequency access control system and method
First Claim
1. An access control system comprising:
- at least one receiver-responder comprisinga receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna,a plurality of RF tone detectors electrically coupled with the receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna,a microcontroller electrically coupled with the plurality of RF tone detectors,a responder RF burst generator electrically coupled with the microcontroller and the receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna; and
a transmitter initiator comprisinga transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna constructed and arranged to direct a magnetic field in a particular angular direction across an open-air gap, wherein the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna and the receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna define the open-air gap therebetween, and wherein the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna comprisesa paramagnetic housing,electromagnetic windings disposed within the paramagnetic housing, andat least one ferromagnetic element disposed within the open-air gap, wherein the paramagnetic housing and the ferromagnetic element are constructed and arranged to direct the magnetic field in the particular angular direction across the open-air gap, anda plurality of RF tone detectors electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna,a transmitter-initiator microcontroller electromagnetically coupled with the plurality of RF tone detectors, the transmitter-initiator microcontroller demodulating communication from the receiver responder and controlling communication to the receiver responder, anda plurality of RF burst generators electrically coupled with the transmitter-initiator microcontroller and with the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna;
wherein the system wirelessly communicates between the transmitter initiator and the at least one receiver responder disposed in the specific angular region via near-field magnetic induction across the open-air gap; and
wherein the microcontroller of the receiver responder demodulates communication from the transmitter initiator and controls communication to the transmitter initiator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An access control system includes a transmitter initiator that has a magnetic flux antenna constructed and arranged to direct magnetic energy in an angular direction, a plurality of RF tone detectors, a microcontroller, and a plurality of RF burst generators. The system includes at least one receiver responder that has a magnetic flux antenna, a plurality of RF tone detectors, a microcontroller, and a RF burst generator. The transmitter initiator'"'"'s magnetic flux antenna and the receiver responder'"'"'s magnetic flux antenna define an open-air gap therebetween. The transmitter initiator'"'"'s magnetic flux antenna has a paramagnetic housing, electromagnetic windings within the paramagnetic housing, and at least one ferromagnetic element disposed within the open air gap. The paramagnetic housing and the ferromagnetic element are constructed and arranged to direct a magnetic field across the open air gap. The system is configured for wireless communication via near-field magnetic induction.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An access control system comprising:
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at least one receiver-responder comprising a receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna, a plurality of RF tone detectors electrically coupled with the receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna, a microcontroller electrically coupled with the plurality of RF tone detectors, a responder RF burst generator electrically coupled with the microcontroller and the receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna; and a transmitter initiator comprising a transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna constructed and arranged to direct a magnetic field in a particular angular direction across an open-air gap, wherein the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna and the receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna define the open-air gap therebetween, and wherein the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna comprises a paramagnetic housing, electromagnetic windings disposed within the paramagnetic housing, and at least one ferromagnetic element disposed within the open-air gap, wherein the paramagnetic housing and the ferromagnetic element are constructed and arranged to direct the magnetic field in the particular angular direction across the open-air gap, and a plurality of RF tone detectors electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna, a transmitter-initiator microcontroller electromagnetically coupled with the plurality of RF tone detectors, the transmitter-initiator microcontroller demodulating communication from the receiver responder and controlling communication to the receiver responder, and a plurality of RF burst generators electrically coupled with the transmitter-initiator microcontroller and with the transmitter-initiator magnetic flux antenna; wherein the system wirelessly communicates between the transmitter initiator and the at least one receiver responder disposed in the specific angular region via near-field magnetic induction across the open-air gap; and wherein the microcontroller of the receiver responder demodulates communication from the transmitter initiator and controls communication to the transmitter initiator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of access control comprising the steps of:
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generating at least one RF burst at a transmitter initiator; summing the at least one RF burst into a summed RF burst signal; transforming the summed RF burst signal into a drive current; conducting the drive current through coil windings of a directional magnetic flux antenna; transmitting an RF initiator signal directed in a particular angular direction via magnetic induction across an open air gap to at least one receiver responder using the directional magnetic flux antenna; receiving the RF initiator signal across the open air gap by the at least one receiver responder, wherein the at least one receiver responder has a receiver-responder magnetic flux antenna and a RF tone detector; detecting a frequency of the RF initiator signal by using the at least one receiver responder; generating a serial data stream by the at least one receiver responder and based on the frequency of the RF initiator signal, the serial data stream having a unique identifier corresponding to the at least one receiver responder; transmitting at least one responder tone burst by using the receiver responder, the at least one responder tone burst containing the serial data stream; receiving the responder tone burst at the directional magnetic flux antenna; demodulating the at least one responder tone burst to provide a unique identifier value by using the transmitter initiator; and determining whether access is permitted based on the unique identifier value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification