Access control system and method

• US 9,317,982 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2262058 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: 2262058 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Hartmann, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US13/841,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.65, 340/5.6, 340/5.2, 340/528, 340/572.1, 340/5.52, 340/5.7, 340/10.1, 340/13.24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An access control system is provided for controlling access between a secured side and a non-secured side of an access control point. A reader module is disposed on the secured side of the access control point for receiving authentication data from an individual. A controller unit is disposed on the non-secured side of the access control point, and has a housing that encloses an access control panel and a request-to-exit motion sensor. The access control panel is in communication with the reader module, an electronic lock mechanism, and the request-to-exit motion sensor. In response to receiving a data signal from the reader, the access control panel determines whether or not to unlock the lock. When it is determined that the lock should be unlocked, the access control panel provides a signal to the electronic lock for switching the lock from a secured condition to a released condition.

Claims

1. An access control system for controlling access between a secured side of an access control point and a non-secured side of the access control point, the system comprising:

a reader module disposed on the secured side of the access control point, the reader module for receiving authentication data from an individual;

an electronic lock mechanism operable between a secured condition and a released condition, wherein access between the secured side of the access control point and the non-secured side of the access control point is controllably provided by switching the electronic lock mechanism from the secured condition to the released condition; and

a controller unit disposed on the non-secured side of the access control point, the controller unit having a housing that encloses an access control panel and a request-to-exit motion sensor, the access control panel in communication with each one of the reader module, the electronic lock mechanism and the request-to-exit motion sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the access control point is a doorway having a door panel, and wherein the controller unit is disposed vertically above the doorway and is approximately horizontally aligned therewith.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the access control panel is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the controller unit are substantially the same as the dimensions of a stand-alone request-to-exit motion sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a base portion that supports circuitry defining the access control panel and circuitry defining the request-to-exit motion sensor, and a cover portion that is detachably mountable to the base portion.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the access control panel comprises a display portion for providing human intelligible diagnostic messages relating to a status of the system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the access control panel comprises a memory portion for storing an event log relating to the access control point.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a transmitter for transmitting an interrogation signal for interrogating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is carried by the individual, the RFID tag having stored thereon the authentication data.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a keypad for receiving a secret code that is input by the individual, and wherein the authentication data comprises the secret code.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the reader comprises a biometric information sensor, and wherein the authentication data is based on a sensed biometric feature of the individual.

11. A controller unit for an access control system, comprising:

a base portion having a mounting structure for securing the controller unit to a surface at a location proximate an access control point;

circuitry defining an access control panel and a request-to-exit motion sensor, the circuitry being secured to the base portion, and the circuitry that defines the access control panel including communication ports for supporting communication with peripheral devices of the access control system; and

a cover portion that is detachably secured to the base portion and that encloses the circuitry defining the access control panel and the request-to-exit motion sensor.

12. The controller unit of claim 11 wherein an opening is defined within a wall along one edge of the cover, the opening sized to accommodate a sensing element of the request-to-exit motion sensor.

13. The controller unit of claim 11 wherein the access control panel is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) device.

14. The controller unit of claim 11 wherein the dimensions of the controller unit are substantially the same as the dimensions of a stand-alone request-to-exit motion sensor.

15. The controller unit of claim 11 wherein the access control panel comprises a display portion for providing human intelligible diagnostic messages relating to a status of the access control system.

16. The controller unit of claim 11 wherein the access control panel comprises a memory portion for storing an event log relating to the access control point.

17. A method for controlling access between a secured side of an access control point and a non-secured side of the access control point, comprising:

providing a reader on the secured side of the access control point for receiving authentication data from an individual;

providing a local controller assembly on the non-secured side of the access control point, wherein the local controller assembly comprises an access control panel and a request-to-exit motion sensor housed within a same housing;

transmitting from the reader to the access control panel a data signal including reader data relating to the authentication data that is received from the individual;

using the access control panel, determining if the individual is authorized to enter the non-secured side of the access control point based on the reader data; and

when it is determined that the individual is authorized to enter the non-secured side of the access control point, providing a control signal from the access control panel to an electronic lock mechanism of the access control point, the control signal for changing the lock mechanism from a secured condition to a released condition.

18. The method of claim 17 comprising, when it is determined that the individual is other than authorized to enter the non-secured side of the access control point, other than providing a control signal from the access control panel to the electronic lock mechanism of the access control point, such that the lock mechanism remains in the secured condition and other than changes to the released condition.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the reader comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader, and wherein the authentication data is stored on an RFID tag embedded in a token that is carried by the individual.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the reader comprises a keypad for receiving a secret code that is input by the individual, and wherein the authentication data comprises the secret code.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the reader comprises a biometric information sensor, and wherein the authentication data is based on a sensed biometric feature of the individual.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the access control point is a doorway having a door panel, and wherein the controller unit is disposed vertically above the doorway and is approximately horizontally aligned therewith.