Patent Publication Number: US-2017365114-A1

Title: Integrated card reader

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to door entry handles which include an integrated card reader. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional readers for RFID card or other wireless signal transmitting devices used to authenticate a user&#39;s entry are mounted on a wall adjacent a door or on the surface of the door itself. Such mountings present difficulties for particular types of doors, for example, glass doors, which necessitates the mounting of additional hardware on the glass surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a simplified and effective mounting of a reader for RFID card or other wireless signal transmitting devices on doors, particularly glass doors. 
     Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for allowing access through a glass door using a wireless identification key and receiver, the receiver located within a door handle pull on the door. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless identification receiver within a door pull or handle of a door. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a system for allowing access through a glass door using a wireless identification key and receiver, including a circuit located in the handle of the door capable of receiving an identification code from a key a user and transmitting a signal to a door locking mechanism. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a door or building access system or a method of using the door or building access system which allows a user wireless access through a glass door with the transmitter/receiver circuit located on or within the door handle secured to the glass pane of the door. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide door or building access which allows a user wireless access through a glass door without the wireless access circuit being visible on or within the glass panes of the door. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide door or building access which allows a user wireless access through a set of glass door having side glass panes without the wireless access circuit being visible on or within the glass panes of the door or glass side panels. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
     The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a door entry system for operating a door using a wireless transmitter device containing identification credentials of a user. The system includes a door operable by an uncoupling or releasing securing mechanism, a door controller capable of operating the uncoupling or releasing securing mechanism and a door handle for grasping by the user to operate the door, the handle having a cavity, the handle being secured to the door and spaced away from a surface thereof. The system includes a wireless device reader disposed in the handle cavity and a power source connected to the card reader. The wireless transmitter may be presented in the vicinity of the reader in the door handle and, upon verification of the credentials transmitted from the wireless transmitter device, the reader sends a signal to the door controller to uncouple or release the securing mechanism and permit the door to open. The door may be a glass door. The door entry system may include a second door operable by a manual securing system. The door entry system may include a second door having a second securing mechanism operable by the door controller. The glass door may include a rail at the top or bottom of the door, the rail having a latching device with a retractable latchbolt extending therefrom into a strike disposed in the door frame or floor adjacent latching device, the door operable by a latch mechanism which retracts the latchbolt in response to a command from the wireless card reader. The glass door may include a rail at the top or bottom of the door, the rail having a latching device with a retractable latchbolt extending therefrom into a strike disposed in the door frame or floor adjacent latching device, the door operable by an electric strike mechanism which opens the strike in response to a command received at a strike controller from the card reader. The door handle may be an elongated cylindrical handle. The power source may be a battery or a rechargeable battery and charging system. The charging system may include a solar cell or induction charger. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a door pull comprising an elongated handle having a cavity and a handle portion securable to a door, a wireless card reader disposed in the handle cavity and a power source electronically connected to the card reader. The card reader may be in communication with a door controller, the door controller capable of securing or releasing the glass door to or from a locked position. The wireless card reader may receive an authentication signal from an authorized wireless transmitting device to transmit an authorization signal to a door controller allowing the door to be released from a locked state. The door pull may include a wireless antenna disposed in the handle cavity and the power source may be disposed in the handle cavity, the power source wired to power the card reader and antenna, wherein the wireless card reader receives a signal from an authorized card and the antenna relays an authorization signal to an access control which releases the glass door from a locked state. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for operating a door using a wireless transmitter. The method includes providing a door operable by a releasing securing mechanism, a door controller capable of operating the releasing securing mechanism and a door handle for grasping by a user to operate the door, the handle having a cavity, the handle being secured to the door and spaced away from a surface thereof. The method includes providing a reader disposed in the handle cavity and a power supply connected to the card reader and a wireless transmitting device capable of communication with the reader. The method includes presenting the wireless transmitter device in the vicinity of the reader in the door handle and wirelessly transmitting credentials from the wireless transmitting device. The method includes upon verification of the credentials transmitted from the wireless transmitting device, sending a signal from the reader to the door controller to uncouple or release the securing mechanism and permitting the door to open. The door controller and securing mechanism may be disposed on a top or bottom rail of the door and the card reader may be capable of sending a signal to the door controller to allow the door controller to activate or deactivate the securing mechanism. The door controller and securing mechanism may be disposed in the door a door frame encompassing the door with a strike disposed in a rail disposed on the door. The card reader may be capable of sending a signal to the door controller to allow the door controller to activate or deactivate the securing mechanism. The device reader may be a wireless RFID reader. The door may be a glass door allowing building access and the entry system may allow a user wireless access through the glass door without the wireless access circuit being visible on or within the glass panes of the door. The door may be a pair of glass doors with a stationary glass pane on at least one side of the pair of glass doors whereby the entry system allows a user wireless access through the glass doors without the wireless access circuit being visible on or within the at least one stationary glass pane. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pair of glass doors having an embodiment of the door entry handle with an integrated card reader of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up perspective view, partially cut away, of a door entry handle with integrated card reader of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the door entry handle showing the integrated card reader of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a latching mechanism that may be employed on the glass door of  FIG. 1  with the integrated card reader of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a battery pack at the end of a door entry handle that may power the integrated card reader of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention. 
     The present invention allows controlled access into a building or enclosed area while minimally impacting the appearance and structure of the entrance door. An embodiment of the invention is employed in an all glass entranceway or other entryway where aesthetics are important and would be highly valued by architects. Access through the door would be given to a user having a proper RFID card or other wireless signal transmitting device in their possession. 
     The reader for the RFID or other wireless reader device may be integrated into the handle or pull used to open and close the door. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an all glass entryway comprises glass walls or glass side panes  70 ,  72  within which are mounted glass doors  50 ,  50 ′. In one example, one door  50  may include the wireless door entry system while the other door  50 ′ is operable by a manual securing system, or the doors  50 ,  50 ′ may both be operable by a door controller in communication with the wireless reader device. An elongated door pull or other type of handle includes a hollow tube main body  30 , an integrated, battery powered wireless reader  10  and a handle connector portion  40  secured to the exterior of glass door  50  adjacent swinging free edge  52 . The door handle or pull as shown in the cutaway view of  FIG. 2  may be a hollow cylindrical or other shape tube  30  with end caps  30   a ,  30   b  secured to the hollow tube. The handle connector portion  40  may be perpendicular to the tube or handle  30  to secure to the face of the door  40  and space the handle from the surface of door  50  a distance sufficient to enable users to wrap their hands around and grasp the tube  30 . The wireless reader  10  as shown may be disposed inside the hollow handle at a mid-point between upper and lower ends  30   a ,  30   b  and includes a bezel which may be secured, e.g., by snapping in a compression fit, so that face  10 ′ is disposed on the surface of the hollow tube  30 . The face  10 ′ in the embodiment shown is of cylindrical configuration to match the tube  30 . The face  10 ′ configuration may be shaped to conform to the exterior of other tube configurations, e.g., oval, or flat for rectangular or square. Alternatively, the wireless reader  10  may be disposed in the edge of the top end  30   a  of the door pull  30  if door pull end is located at a convenient height for users, making it less visible in the door pull. The wireless reader assembly  10 ,  10 ′, and  20  may also be constructed in a one piece design to be located on the top end of the handle. Placement of the card reader  10  inside the hollow tube eliminates the visibility of a separate card reader in an all glass entryway, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . For longer door pulls where the top of the pull is not easily accessible, the reader may be disposed in a central or lower portion of the pull and wired to a top edge that may secure the battery  20 . The door pull may alternately include a rechargeable battery including a charging system such as a solar cell or induction charger. 
     The wireless RFID or other device reader is shown disposed entirely within tubular handle  30  in  FIG. 3 . The reader  10  includes within housing  18  controller circuitry  16  in communication with an RFID transmitter/receiver located in face  10 ′, and a transmitting antenna  14  for Wi-Fi or other radio signal. In the case of a passive RFID card or other device  90 , transmitter/receiver  10 ′ sends an inductive interrogator signal  102 , which then causes an authentication reply signal  104  to be emitted from RFID device  90 . Controller  16  determines whether signal  104  is from an authorized device, in which case it may cause signal  106  to be transmitted to a door controller or other device. 
     A plurality of conductors  12  electrically connect the battery  20  to the card reader  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , battery  20  may be located inside a battery pack  22  that is configured with an end cap  32  of tube  30 . Alternately, a solar charger  24  located on a surface of handle  30  may charge a rechargeable battery to power the card reader  10 , so less maintenance would be required. 
     Door  50  as shown includes a wirelessly controlled door latching system, as shown in  FIG. 4 , which provides an uncoupling/releasing securing mechanism. Door  50  includes a sill or rail  58 , at the top or bottom of the door, having a latching device  56  with a retractable latchbolt  57  extending therefrom into strike  60 , located in the door frame  62  or floor adjacent latching device  56 . The door may be unlocked either by use of a latch mechanism  56  which retracts latchbolt  57  in response to a command from latch controller  70  or an electric strike mechanism  60  which opens the strike in response to a command from strike controller  80 . 
     In use, users would place their unique RFID card or other wireless signal transmitting device  90  near the card reader face  10 ′ where it may be powered by an inductive signal from the reader  10  to emit proper credentials from the antenna in the form of a signal  104 . Alternately, the unique device  90  may be self-powered to send out a signal  104 , or may not need power to relay the card code signal to the reader  10 . This signal  104  from device  90  would be sent to a Wi-Fi or other wireless hub which is tied into the access control system, disposed in or otherwise in communication with latch controller  70  and/or strike controller  80 . The access control system determines if the signal is one that is permitted access to that opening. If access is granted, the access control system unlocks the door securing mechanisms (strike  60  or latching device  56 ) allowing the user to enter. 
     A method for using the system may include presenting the wireless transmitter device  90  in the vicinity of the reader  10  in the door handle and wirelessly transmitting credentials from the wireless transmitting device. Upon verification of the credentials transmitted from the wireless transmitting device  90 , a signal is sent from the reader  10  to the door controller or latching device  56  to uncouple or release the securing mechanism, permitting the door to open. The door controller and securing mechanism may be disposed on a top or bottom rail of the door and the card reader is capable of sending a signal to the door controller to allow the door controller to activate or deactivate the securing mechanism. Alternately, the door controller and securing mechanism may be disposed in the door a door frame encompassing the door with a strike disposed in the rail on the door and the card reader sends the signal to the door controller to allow the door controller to activate or deactivate the securing mechanism. 
     Thus, the present invention provides a system for allowing access through a glass door using a wireless identification key and receiver, the receiver located within a door handle pull on the door and a wireless identification receiver within a door pull or handle of a door. The present invention also provides a system for allowing access through a glass door using a wireless identification key and receiver, including a circuit located in the handle of the door capable of receiving an identification code from a key a user and transmitting a signal to a door locking mechanism. The present invention also provides a door or building access system and a method of using the door or building access system which allows a user wireless access through a glass door with the transmitter/receiver circuit located on or within the door handle secured to the glass pane of the door so the wireless access circuit is not visible on or within the glass panes of the door. The present invention also provides the wireless access circuit not being visible on or within glass side panels of the doors. 
     While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is: