System for supervising access to restricted area, and method for controlling such a system

• US 9,121,215 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Raynal, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): REPHANN, JUSTIN B
• Application Number:
  US14/124,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20140115965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 49/42, 49/43, 49/44, 49/49, 109 6- 8, 109/64
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/79 using time control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/31 Force or torque control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/508 of detection
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/812 with acoustic display
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use E05Y2400/51, E05Y2400/522 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for supervising access to a restricted area, including at least one obstacle that is mobile between a deployed configuration, in which said obstacle extends across a passageway for the entry and/or exit to/from said restricted area, and a stowed configuration in which said obstacle is removed from said passageway. The system also includes a unit for driving the obstacle between the deployed configuration and the stowed configuration, a device for measuring the position of the obstacle, and a module for controlling the drive unit. The control module is suitable for comparing the measured position of the obstacle at at least one moment in time with a theoretical position of the obstacle at said moment in time, and to derive a rule for controlling the drive unit.

Claims

1. A system for supervising access to a restricted area, comprising at least one obstacle that is mobile between a deployed configuration, in which said obstacle extends across a passageway leading to or out of said restricted area, and a stowed configuration, in which said obstacle is removed from said passageway, the system also comprising:

a drive unit driving the obstacle between the deployed configuration and the stowed configuration, exerting an applied torque on the obstacle,

a measuring device measuring a measured position of the obstacle,

a circulation authorization system, installed in a motor compartment of the access supervision system, and comprising a central unit and document readers, each document reader communicating with a travel document of a user, and the central unit determining whether the user owning the travel document is authorized to use the passageway, and

a control module controlling the drive unit,

comparing the measured position of the obstacle at at least one moment in time with a theoretical position of the obstacle at said moment in time, and performing at least one of stabilizing and reducing the applied torque when the applied torque exceeds a threshold torque,

wherein the value of the threshold torque is different depending on whether the difference between the measured position and the theoretical position of the obstacle is positive or negative.

2. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the control module increases the applied torque when the measured position differs from the theoretical position and the applied torque is lower than the threshold torque.

3. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the control module immobilizes the obstacle when the measured position differs from the theoretical position.

4. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is an electric drive unit and is capable of operating at a voltage lower than 42 V.

5. The access supervision system according to claim 1, comprising a fraud detection device.

6. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the motor compartment defines an edge of the passageway.

7. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a synchronous electric motor.

8. The access supervision system according to claim 7, wherein the electric motor is a brushless motor.

9. The access supervision system according to claim 7, wherein the motor is supplied with driving current for the motor and vibrating current for the motor, the vibrating current causing the motor to produce a frequency sound comprised between 2 kHz and 20 kHz when it is supplied with vibration current.

10. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is integrated into the drive unit.

11. The access supervision system according to claim 1, wherein the control module is integrated into the drive unit.

12. A method for controlling an access supervision system, said access supervision system comprising at least one obstacle that is mobile between a deployed configuration, in which said obstacle extends across a passageway leading to or out of a restricted area, and a stowed configuration, in which said obstacle is removed from said passageway, the system also comprising:

a driving unit for driving the obstacle between the deployed configuration and the stowed configuration;

a measuring device;

a circulation authorization system, installed in a motor compartment of the access supervision system, and comprising a central unit and document readers, each document reader communicating with a travel document of a user, and the central unit determining whether the user owning the travel document is authorized to use the passageway; and

a control module controlling the drive unit,

wherein the method comprises the following successive steps;

exerting an applied torque on the obstacle with the drive unit;

measuring with the measuring device a measured position of the obstacle at at least one moment in time;

comparing with the control module the measured position with a theoretical position of the obstacle at said moment in time;

detecting a difference between the measured position and the theoretical position;

deriving with the control module a control rule controlling the drive unit, said control rule increasing the applied torque exerted by the drive unit;

detecting that the applied torque exceeds a threshold torque; and

modifying the control rule so that said control rule stabilizes or reduces the applied torque exerted by the drive unit,

wherein the value of the threshold torque is different depending on whether the difference between the measured position and the theoretical position of the obstacle is positive or negative.