Patent ID: 8966259
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: G05B,G07C,H01H,H04L

Abstract:
1. An access control system for providing bi-directional data communication between a controller and remotely connected one or more authentication devices, for identification of the one or more authentication devices to the controller, the system comprising: a first microcontroller located in the controller and configured to transmit a data signal in the form of a ping to said one or more authentication devices wherein said transmitted data signal is received by said one or more authentication devices; a second microcontroller located in the one or more authentication devices; a status mode indicator disposed within the one or more authentication devices, the status mode indicator purposed to provide a status mode of the controller to a user at the one or more authentication devices; a shared conductor and a unidirectional data communication path, both extending from the controller to each of the distantly connected one or more authentication devices, wherein said shared conductor is configured to transmit said data signal from said controller to said one or more authentication devices, and wherein the unidirectional data communication path is configured to transmit a response from the one or more authentication devices to the controller, after the one or more authentication devices recognizes said transmitted signal; a status mode indicator driver circuit in the controller, the driver circuit operably coupled to the first microcontroller for providing controller programming status; wherein the driver circuit activates the one or more authentication device's status mode indicator via the shared conductor to convey controller programming status; wherein the status mode indicator is further coupled to an internal universal synchronous-asynchronous receiver/transmitter (USART) of the second microcontroller, and the status mode indicator driver circuit is further coupled to the internal USART of the first microcontroller, whereby the controller sends a signal via the first microcontroller and the one or more authentication devices receives the signal via the second microcontroller and the one or more authentication devices provides a response on the unidirectional data communication path thereby identifying the one or more authentication devices to the controller.