Door wireless access control system including reader, lock, and wireless access control electronics including wireless transceiver

• US 7,526,934 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harrow Products (Delaware) LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Harrow Products (Delaware) LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: Conforti, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle; Patricia L
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US10/887,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 702/77, 702/787, 702/791, 70280-283, 704/17, 702/56, 702/781, 702/782, 702/78, 70/7, 340/5.2, 340/5.64, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/5.72, 340/5.73
• US Class Current: 70/279.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7921 Armoring

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an improved access control system that provides additional security for the connection between an existing locking system and an access control system, for example, to prevent tampering. The security system preferably includes a control line shield to protect a control line running from an access reader to an external lock incorporated in a door, for example. The control line shield seals the control line into the interior of the door to prevent easy access for interference and tampering Additionally, the control line shield may be removed as necessary to provide service to the access system.

Claims

1. A security system for providing security between a locking system at an access point having first and second exterior surfaces and a door face that extends between a first substantially linear edge of the first exterior surface and a second substantially linear edge of the second exterior surface and defines a third exterior surface, wireless access control electronics mounted exteriorly on the first exterior surface configured to communicate with systems external to the access point, and an access reader control mounted exteriorly on the second exterior surface, said security system including:

a reader line connecting the wireless access control electronics to the access reader control;

a passage positioned interiorly between the first and second exterior surfaces of the access point, and shielding at least a portion of the reader line;

a channel formed in the door face and defining an opening at the door face and a bottom surface;

a control line shield separate from and attached to the door face and covering the opening, the control line shield and the channel cooperating to define a control line space;

a control line coupling and extending between the locking system and the wireless access control electronics, and at least a portion of the control line being positioned within the control line space where the portion of the control line in the control line space is outside of the bottom surface and is positioned between the bottom surface and the control line shield, said control line relaying control signals from the wireless access control electronics to said locking system; and

an electric lock in said locking system, said electric lock able to perform both a locking operation and an unlocking operation, wherein said electric lock performs one of a locking operation and an unlocking operation in response to said control signals,

wherein said access reader control reads access information using a proximity reader to determine said control signals to be transmitted to said electric lock; and

wherein the wireless access control electronics generate the control signals based on access signals wirelessly received from a system external to the access point.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the access point includes a door, and wherein the control line shield includes a plate attached to the door face.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said security system is installed with said access reader control mounted at one side of said door and said access control electronics mounted at a different side of said door.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said control line runs from said access control electronics to said door face.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said control line runs along said door face to said locking system.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said control line is entirely shielded by said control line shield at said door face.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the control line shield is a face plate mounted in said door face of said door.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said reader control line and the enclosed passage runs through said door allowing said door to operate as a reader control line shield.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said face plate operates in conjunction with a preexisting face plate and latch to prevent physical access to said control line.

10. A method for providing security between a locking system at an access point having first and second exterior surfaces and a door face that extends between a first substantially linear edge of the first exterior surface and a second substantially linear edge of the second exterior surface and defines a third exterior surface, access control electronics mounted exteriorly on the first exterior surface configured to communicate with systems external to the access point, and an access reader control mounted exteriorly on the second exterior surface, said method including:

connecting a reader line to the access control electronics and the access reader control;

shielding at least a portion of the reader line interiorly between the first and second exterior surfaces of the access point;

extending a control line between a locking system and the access control electronics, at least a portion of the control line disposed in an open channel formed in the door face such that the portion of the control line is outside of the access point;

reading access information at said access reader control using a biometric reader;

wirelessly receiving access instructions from a system external to the access point at the access control electronics;

determining control signals from the access instructions;

relaying said control signals from the reader line to said locking system using said control line;

performing one of a locking operation and an unlocking operation at an electric lock in said locking system in response to said control signals wherein said electric lock is able to perform both a locking operation and an unlocking operation; and

positioning a control line shield over the channel to enclose the portion of the control line positioned outside of the access point.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the access point includes a door, and wherein the control line shield includes a plate attached to the door face.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein shielding at least a portion of the control line further comprises shielding at least a portion of the control line in the access point with a control line shield extending from the passage to the locking system.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the control line shield includes a face plate in the edge of said door.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said face plate operates in conjunction with a preexisting face plate to prevent physical access to said control line.

15. A system for securing a door having a first surface defining a first substantially linear edge, a second surface defining a second substantially linear edge, and a third surface extending between the first edge and the second edge, the system comprising:

an access reader configured to be mounted exteriorly on the first surface of the door, to read access information, and to generate reader signals;

a first link coupled to the access reader, positioned interiorly between the first and second surfaces, and configured to relay the reader signals;

a channel formed in the third surface and having an open portion between the first and second surfaces of the door, and configured to house at least a portion of the first link such that the portion of the first link is outside of the door;

control electronics coupled to the first link and mounted exteriorly on the second surface of the door to receive the reader signals, and operable to wirelessly transmit and receive wireless signals to and from a system external to the door based on the reader signals, and to generate access signals based on the wireless signals;

a second link coupled interiorly between the first and second surfaces of the door to the control electronics, at least a portion of the second link being housed in the channel, and configured to relay the control signals;

a control line shield separate from the door, the control line shield connected to the third surface to enclose the open portion of the channel and cover the portion of the first link that is outside of the door; and

an electric lock configured to be mounted to the door, coupled to the second link, and configured to receive the access signals, and to lock and unlock the door based on the access signals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the access reader comprises at least one of a biometric reader, a magnetic stripe card reader, and a proximity reader.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the control electronics is configured to be mounted on another side of the door.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the channel comprises a first passage configured to house at least a portion of the first and second links therein, and a second passage integrally connected to the first channel and configured to house at least another portion of the second link therein.

19. A system for securing a door having a first surface, a second surface, and a door face disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the door face defining an exterior surface of the door, the system comprising:

an access reader mounted on the first surface of the door to read access information and to generate reader signals;

a first link coupled to the access reader and positioned substantially interiorly between the first surface and the second surface and configured to relay the reader signals;

control electronics coupled to the first link and mounted on the second surface of the door to receive the reader signals and to wirelessly transmit and receive wireless signals to and from a system external to the door based on the reader signals, and to generate access signals based on the wireless signals;

an electric lock mounted to the door to receive the access signals and to lock and unlock the door based on the access signals;

a second link positioned to electrically connect the control electronics and the electric lock, at least a portion of the second link extending along the door face external of the door; and

a control line shield separate from the door, the control line shield connected to the door face to enclose the portion of the second link that is external of the door.