Access control system with energy-saving optical token presence sensor system

• US 20050195067A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harrow Products (Delaware) LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Harrow Products (Delaware) LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Wiemeyer, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00373 whereby the wake-up circuit is situated in the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00642 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/65 using means for sensing the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

An access control system having an energy-saving optical presence sensor system is provided. The access control system includes a relatively lower operating power object presence sensor system for optically sensing the presence of a token as well in addition to a relatively higher operating power token reader for reading the token. The token reader remains unpowered until a token is detected by the object presence sensor system, which is preferably always powered. Once an object is detected by the object presence sensor system, power is supplied to the token reader and the token is read. After the token has been read, power ceases to be applied to the token reader, although the object presence sensor remains powered.

Claims

1. An identification token reader containing an object presence sensor for detecting the presence of an object within its field of view, using an emitting radiation and receiving the reflected radiation from the said object, the identification object presence sensor generating a positive token present indication upon the onset of presentation of an object within the sensor'"'"'s field of view, the object presence sensor switching operating power to energize an identification token reader upon positive indication of token present.

2. The identification token reader of claim 1 where the object presence sensor switches power to deenergize the token reader upon negative indication of token present.

3. The identification token reader of claim 1 where the object presence sensor generates a negative token present indicium upon withdrawal of the object from the sensor'"'"'s field of view.

4. The identification token reader of claim 1 where the object presence sensor deenergizes the token reader if no reader data has been received within a predetermined elapsed time after energization of the reader.

5. The identification token reader of claim 1 containing a battery or self contained power supply.

6. The identification token reader of claim 1 with a control electronics sub-circuit containing a programmable logic unit or microprocessor.

7. An identification token reader as in claim 1 whose object presence sensor contains a synchronized filter.

8. The identification token reader of claim 1 where the object presence sensor incorporates an amplifier with a switched offset null.

9. The identification token reader of claim 1 where the object presence sensor zeroes the amplifier offset null immediately preceding the radiation source pulse.

10. The identification token reader of claim 1 where the object presence sensor incorporates a clock and synchronization control.

11. The identification token reader of claim 1 containing hysteresis where the object presence sensor positively indicates token present status at a closer distance that the sensor negatively indicates token present status.

12. A locking mechanism containing an object presence sensor for detecting the presence of an object within its field of view, using an emitting radiation and receiving the reflected radiation from the said object, the identification object presence sensor generating a positive token present indication upon the onset of presentation of an object within the sensor'"'"'s field of view, the object presence sensor switching operating power to energize an identification token reader upon positive indication of token present.

13. The locking mechanism of claim 12 where the object presence sensor switches power to deenergize the token reader upon negative indication of token present.

14. The locking mechanism of claim 12 where the sensor generates a negative token present indicium upon withdrawal of the object from the sensor'"'"'s field of view.

15. The locking mechanism of claim 12 where the object presence sensor deenergizes the token reader if no reader data has been received within a predetermined elapsed time after energization of the reader.

16. The locking mechanism of claim 12 containing a battery or self contained power supply.

17. The locking mechanism of claim 12 with a control electronics sub-circuit containing a programmable logic unit or microprocessor.

18. The locking mechanism of claim 12 whose object presence sensor contains a synchronized filter.

19. The locking mechanism of claim 12 where the object presence sensor incorporates an amplifier with a switched offset null.

20. The locking mechanism of claim 12 where the object presence sensor incorporates a clock and synchronization control.

21. The locking mechanism of claim 12 containing hysteresis where the object presence sensor positively indicates token present status at a closer distance that the sensor negatively indicates token present status.

22. The locking mechanism of claim 12 where the object presence sensor zeroes the amplifier offset null immediately preceding the radiation source pulse.

23. An object presence sensor for detecting the presence of objects within the detector'"'"'s field of view, containing a clock and synchronous control, and an amplifier with a switched offset null, where the object presence sensor zeroes the receiver amplifier offset null immediately preceding the radiation source pulse.

24. The object presence sensor of claim 23 where the object presence sensor generates a logical indicium of token present.

25. The object presence sensor of claim 23 containing a battery or self contained power supply.

26. The object presence sensor of claim 23 containing hysteresis where the sensor positively indicates token present status at a closer distance that the sensor negatively indicates token present status.