Patent ID: 12203316

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1is a schematic illustration of an exemplary situation in a building having an access control system1which comprises a sliding door system5and a controller8,10. The sliding door system5is inserted into a building wall and represents a physical barrier between a public area21and a restricted area22. In relation to the x-y-z coordinate system drawn inFIG.1, the building wall extends in a plane that is spanned by the x and z axes. The restricted area22can be, e.g., an apartment, an office or another space in a building. The sliding door system5can be inserted into a building's inner wall (for access control within the building, e.g., access to an apartment) or in a building's outer wall (for controlling access to the building). As explained in more detail elsewhere in this description, the sliding door system5opens a sliding door4for an object20that is authorized to enter, whereas it remains closed for an object20not authorized to enter. The object20can be a person, an animal or, as indicated inFIG.1, a robot. The term “building” in this description is to be understood as meaning residential and/or commercial buildings, sports arenas, airports or ships, for example.

In the situation shown inFIG.1, the technology described here can be used in an advantageous manner in order to operate the access control system1with the highest possible degree of security, although the object20can nevertheless be granted access to the restricted area22comfortably. Summarized briefly and by way of example, the access control system1according to one embodiment is operated as follows: The technology recognizes the object20as authorized to enter and opens the sliding door4for the object20in the direction of the x-axis. The sliding door4is only opened as wide as is defined in a user profile for the object20. In addition, the technology described here determines a height H of the object20in the direction of the z-axis and checks whether this height H matches the height also defined in the user profile. If this is not the case, a safety measure (e.g., an alarm) can be triggered. Such a situation can occur, for example, if the sliding door4is opened for an object20of low height (e.g., child, pet (dog, cat), robot) and an unauthorized person passes through the opened sliding door4at the same time or shortly before or shortly after. Exemplary designs of the technology are described in more detail below.

The sliding door system5shown inFIG.1comprises a door frame2and the sliding door4. The door frame2has a passage region24and a wall shell region18which is designed to at least partially accommodate the sliding door4. For this purpose, the wall shell region18has a structure which forms a cavity which is dimensioned so as to accommodate the sliding door4. The passage region24is the region in the building wall in which it is possible to pass through from one area (21,22) to the other area (21,22) in the direction of the y-axis: the passage is between a vertical frame part2a(door post) and the opposite wall shell region18. Depending on the design, the wall shell region18is accommodated in a cavity in the building wall, or the wall shell region18can be regarded as part of the building wall, perhaps in the manner of cladding.

The sliding door4is displaceable in the door frame2between a closed position shown inFIG.2Aand an open position shown inFIG.2C. In relation to the x-y-z coordinate system drawn inFIG.1, the sliding door4is displaced along the x-axis. In the open position, the sliding door4is substantially within the wall shell region18in one embodiment. Between these maximum positions, the sliding door4can assume an intermediate position shown inFIG.1, in which the sliding door4(and correspondingly the passage region24) is open to a lesser or greater extent, i.e., an end face30of the sliding door4has a variable distance from the frame part2a. This variable distance is shown as the opening width W inFIG.2B.

The sliding door4has two substantially parallel door leaves26(on an inner side and an outer side of the sliding door4, respectively). The door leaves26are spaced apart from one another (in the y-direction) such that there is an inner space between the door leaves26in which system components and insulating material for soundproofing and fire protection can be arranged. The door leaves26are connected to one another in the region of the end face30, as shown for example inFIG.2A. Each of the door leaves26extends parallel to the x-z plane. Further details of the sliding door4are disclosed elsewhere in this description.

FIG.1also shows a controller8,10, a recognition device14, an interface device7and a drive unit6(M), which in one embodiment are components of the sliding door system5. In one embodiment, the sliding door system5is connected to a building management system12(BM); in the embodiment shown inFIG.1, this connection is established by means of a communication network28to which the building management system12and the interface device7are coupled. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the building management system12can be entirely or partially outsourced to an IT infrastructure for cloud computing (also known as the “Cloud” in colloquial terms). This includes, for example, storing data in a remote data center, but also executing programs that are not installed locally but rather remotely. Depending on the design, a specific function can be made available, for example, in the controller8,10or via the “Cloud.” For this purpose, a software application or program parts thereof can be executed in the “Cloud,” for example. The controller8,10then accesses this infrastructure via the interface device7as required in order to execute the software application.

The communication network28can comprise an electronic bus system in an execution system. In one embodiment, the electrical connection of the sliding door system5, including its supply with electrical energy, is established via the interface device7. A person skilled in the art would recognize that a plurality of sliding door systems5can be provided in the building and that each of these sliding door systems5is coupled to the communication network28in order to communicate with the building management system12, for example in conjunction with determining and checking access authorizations, if this is carried out centrally by the building management system12.

The controller8,10comprises a processor unit8(DC) and a sensor unit10, which is connected to the processor unit8by an electrical connection32. The processor unit8is also connected to the drive unit6and the interface device7by means of an electrical connection34. The electrical connections32,34are designed for signal and/or energy transmission: for this purpose, they can each comprise individual electrical lines or an electrical bus system.

The processor unit8is also connected to the recognition device14. The recognition device14is designed to capture credentials from the object20, on the basis of which the access control system1can determine the access authorization of the object20. The credentials can, for example, be in the form of a physical key, a manually entered password (e.g., a PIN code), a biometric feature (e.g., fingerprint, iris pattern, speech/voice characteristics) or one of a magnetic card, chip card or RFID card or an (NFC-, Bluetooth- or cellular network-based) access code captured on an electronic device. The object20presents the credentials when it wishes to access the restricted area22.

Corresponding to the mentioned forms which the credentials can take, the credentials can be presented in different ways, for example by a conscious manual action (e.g., entering a PIN code or holding out an RFID card) or by approaching the door to come within radio range of the recognition device14(e.g., to establish an RFID or Bluetooth connection). The recognition device14can be arranged on the sliding door4or in the vicinity thereof; it can be arranged, for example, on an outer side of the sliding door4such that it can capture the credentials if the object20is in the public area21.

The recognition device14is designed according to the credentials provided in the access control system1. This means that the recognition device14has, for example, a door cylinder, a device for capturing a biometric feature, a device for capturing an optical code, a reader for a magnetic stripe card or a chip card, a keypad or a touch-sensitive screen for manually entering a password, or a transceiver for radio signals. A person skilled in the art would recognize that, in one embodiment, the sliding door system5can have more than one recognition device14, each for a different type of credentials, or that one recognition device14is designed for several types of credentials.

In the embodiment shown inFIG.1, the recognition device14captures credentials, which a radio device21of the object20or a radio device21carried by the object20transmits as a radio signal. The radio signal can be sent in accordance with a known standard for radio communication (e.g., RFID, WLAN/Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth). Accordingly, the recognition device14is designed to receive such a radio signal; for this purpose, a transceiver16and an antenna connected thereto are shown inFIG.1.

The transceiver16, alone or in conjunction with the processor unit8, determines the credentials from the received radio signal, which is then used to determine the access authorization. If the credentials are valid, access is granted to the object20; in this case, the processor unit8controls the drive unit6, which moves the sliding door4toward the open position. If the credentials are not valid, the sliding door4remains closed and locked.

The sensor unit10is arranged on the end face30of the sliding door4, for example in a region of an upper (corner) edge of the sliding door4. From this elevated region, the sensor unit10has an optimized detection field11in the direction of the passage region24and the floor. An exemplary detection field11is shown inFIG.1(vertical) and inFIG.2B(horizontal). In addition, the sensor unit10is better protected in this region from dirt and damage (e.g., from vandalism).

According to the technology described here, a (vertical) height of the object20is determined using the sensor unit10. In the present description, the term “height” is used for the extension of the object20in the direction of the z-axis; however, the object20according to the technology described here can also be a person (for people, their size is usually specified). The height of the object20(person, animal or robot) indicates a distance between the floor and a topmost point or region of the object20. At the instant of determination (measurement instant), the object20is on the floor, substantially in the passage region24. The sensor unit10has a fixed and known distance from the floor (floor distance). In this situation, according to one embodiment, an object distance between the sensor unit10and the object20is determined. The height H of the object20results from a difference between the floor distance and the object distance.

In one embodiment, the sensor unit10comprises a 3D camera. A camera based on the principle of time-of-flight measurement (TOF sensor) can be used as the 3D camera. The 3D camera comprises a light-emitting diode unit or laser diode unit which, for example, emits light in the infrared range, the light being emitted in short pulses (e.g., several tens of nanoseconds). The 3D camera also comprises a sensor group consisting of a number of light-sensitive elements. The sensor group is connected to a processing chip (e.g., a CMOS sensor chip), which determines the time of flight of the emitted light. The processing chip simultaneously measures the distance to a number of target points in space in a few milliseconds.

The 3D camera can also be based on a measuring principle according to which the time of flight of emitted light is captured over the phase of the light. The phase position when the light is emitted and when it is received is compared and the time elapsed or the distance to the reflecting object is determined therefrom. For this purpose, a modulated light signal is preferably emitted instead of short light pulses. Further details on measurement principles are given, for example, in the following publications: “Fast Range Imaging by CMOS Sensor Array Through Multiple Double Short Time Integration (MDSI),” P. Mengel et al., Siemens AG, Corporate Technology Department, Munich, Germany, and “A CMOS Photosensor Array for 3D Imaging Using Pulsed Laser,” R. Jeremias et al., 2001 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, p. 252. A person skilled in the art would recognize that, as an alternative to such a 3D camera, another device can also be used for determining the object distance, for example, a device based on electromagnetic waves in the radio wavelength range (radar).

The components mentioned (controller8,10, recognition device14, interface device7, drive unit6) are arranged on the sliding door4and move together with the sliding door4. In one embodiment, the processor unit8is arranged in a region between the door leaves26, for example in the region of a rear face31of the sliding door4opposite the end face30. In one embodiment, the rear face31of the sliding door4is not visible from the outside because the sliding door4can be wider than the passage region24and the rear face31therefore remains in the wall shell region18when the sliding door4is in the closed position. The drive unit6and the interface device7can also be arranged in said region. The electrical connections32,34are accordingly arranged between the door leaves26and are not visible from the outside. However, the technology described here is not restricted to this arrangement of the components, which is mentioned by way of example.

FIG.3is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the processor unit8for the access control system1shown inFIG.1. The processor unit8has an interface device44(I/O) which is electrically connected to a processor40(uP) and has a plurality of terminals46,48,50,52for input and output signals. Terminal46is connected to the drive unit6, terminal48to the sensor unit10, terminal50to the recognition device14and terminal52to the building management system12via the interface device7.

The processor unit8also comprises a storage device36which is electrically connected to the processor40. In the embodiment shown, the storage device36has a storage area38for a database (DB) and a storage area42for one or more computer programs (SW) for operating the sliding door system5. In one embodiment, the operation of the sliding door system5comprises opening the sliding door4depending on the recognized object20and determining the height H of the object20. The computer program can be executed by the processor40.

The database stores a record for the object20that is authorized to enter the restricted area22. The stored record is also referred to below as a user profile. The user profile comprises object-specific data, e.g., name, information relating to credentials (key number, PIN code, access code, including biometric data) and any time restrictions for access (e.g., access from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 to 20:00). If a plurality of objects20are authorized to enter the restricted area22, the database stores a user profile for each object20. As an alternative to creating a user profile in the database of the storage device36, the user profile can be created in a database of the building management system12, with the access control system1being able to access said database by means of the communication network28.

According to the technology described here, each user profile also specifies the opening width W (seeFIG.2B) up to which the sliding door4is to be opened and the height H of the object20. The height H of the object20can be a maximum height or a height range because, for example, a cat can walk through the passage region24with its head lowered or raised and/or its tail raised. In one embodiment, the length (in the y direction) of each object20can also be specified. The height H and the length (if present) are plausibility parameters, as explained elsewhere in this description.

These data can be organized in a table, as shown in the following table. The table shows four user profiles for four objects20(human, cat, dog, robot). Each object20is assigned an identifier (ID) which is linked to the width W and the height H. For example, if the recognition device14recognizes the identifier ID=78, then user profile no. 4 for a robot is accessed. In this case, the sliding door4is opened approx. 50 cm and the height determined using the sensor unit10is compared with the height H=50 stored for the robot. The determined height must lie in a height range that matches the stored height of the object20, i.e., it must be plausible that it is actually the object20. Instead of a specific height H, in one embodiment a height range can be specified in the table for one or more (all) objects20. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the values given in the table are exemplary and can differ from real situations.

UserprofileWHno.ObjectID(cm)(cm)1Name12701852Cat3412303Dog5625504Robot785050
With an understanding of the basic system components described above and their functions, an exemplary method for operating the access control system1based on the situation shown inFIG.1is described below in conjunction withFIG.4. The following is described with reference to the object20(robot) which, coming from the public area21, moves toward the sliding door4in order to enter the restricted area22. The radio device21of the object10is ready for use. The method shown inFIG.4begins with step S1and ends with step S6. A person skilled in the art would recognize that the division into these steps is exemplary and that one or more of these steps may be divided into one or more sub-steps or that several of the steps may be combined into one step.

In step S2, the recognition device14receives credentials of the object20. The credentials can be in one of the above-mentioned forms. The processor unit40checks whether a user profile has been created in the database38for the credentials. If this check shows that the object20is authorized to enter, the object20is recognized as being authorized to enter.

In step S3, the drive unit6of the sliding door system5is actuated by the controller8,10, in particular by the processor unit8thereof, in order to open the sliding door4. As a result, the passage region24is opened for the object20by moving the sliding door4from the substantially closed position into the open position. Part of the sliding door4is pushed into the wall shell region18of the door frame2, as shown for example inFIG.2B. Controlled by the processor unit40and taking into consideration the width W stored in the user profile, the drive unit moves the sliding door4until the width W is reached.

In step S4, the sensor unit10arranged on the end face30is activated by the processor unit8. As explained above, the sensor unit10determines the (vertical) height of the object20in the passage region24.

In step S5, an alarm signal is generated by the controller8,10if the height H of the object20in the passage region24, as determined by the sensor unit10, deviates from the height H or height range stored for said object20by a defined degree. The degree of the deviation can be defined in such a way that it is expressed that the determined height H does not match the object20at all (is not plausible). If, for example, instead of an expected height H of 50 cm, a height H of 180 cm is determined for a pet, it can be concluded therefrom that not only the pet is passing through the opened sliding door4, but a person as well. It could also be the case, for example, that an unauthorized person removes a pet's credentials (e.g., RFID tag) in order to try to gain access instead. Similarly, an expected height H of 170 cm does not match a determined height H of 100 cm. For example, this may happen if a child is using a parent's credentials. Although the child is an authorized person, the parents potentially may not want the child to use the credentials.

In the access control system1, a set of rules can be specified which indicates whether and which action should be triggered after an alarm signal. These actions can be situation-specific, i.e., depending at what time (day or night) and on what day (working day or weekend, vacation time) the alarm signal is generated. Exemplary actions can be: an audible and/or visually perceptible alarm (siren, warning light); automatically notifying security personnel (police or private security service); and automatically notifying a person responsible for the restricted area22(tenant, owner, building manager, etc.). A person skilled in the art would recognize that these actions can also be combined.

In one embodiment, the controller8,10can comprise an additional function that determines a dwell time for the object20in the passage region24and compares it with a defined dwell time. This function is similar to a function for a security door or elevator door, according to which a signal tone sounds if the door is kept open for too long or is blocked. The defined dwell time can also be stored in the record of the object20. If the defined dwell time is exceeded, the alarm signal can also be generated. This function makes it possible, for example, to reduce the risk of an unauthorized person blocking the open sliding door4or manipulating the sensor unit10.

In a further embodiment, the controller8,10can have a further function. This function determines a length of the object20(in the y direction) in the passage region24and compares it with a defined stored object length range. The sensor device10, for example designed as a 3D camera comprising a TOF sensor, has the detection field11shown inFIGS.1and2B. In conjunction with the processor unit8, the length of the object20can thus be determined. From an image recording, e.g., a contour of the object20can be recognized and its length can be determined therefrom. The defined object length range can also be stored in the record of the object20. If the defined object length range is exceeded, the alarm signal can also be generated. This function makes it possible, for example, to reduce the risk of an unauthorized person feigning a lower height, but extending their length in the process, when the sliding door4is open, for example by crawling on the floor.

Referring again to the positions of the sliding door4shown inFIG.2A-2C, an embodiment of the sliding door system5is described below.2A-2C are each schematic illustrations of a plan view of the sliding door system5. Each of these plan views show the components comprised by the sliding door4(sensor unit10(S), processor unit8(DC) and drive unit6(M)): for the purpose of illustration, the interface device7and the connection thereof to the building management system12are not shown. The drive unit6and the processor unit8are arranged inside the sliding door4, in particular between the door leaves26. The wall shell region18comprising the structure for receiving the sliding door4in the open position is also shown inFIG.2A-2C.

The sensor unit10is arranged on the end face30. The arrangement is selected such that the electromagnetic radiation (light or radio waves) can propagate unhindered toward the passage region24during operation. The sensor unit10can, e.g., be inserted into a recess in the end face30and protected from damage and dirt by a radiation-permeable cover. The electrical connection32(FIG.1) between the sensor unit10and the processor unit8and the electrical connection34(FIG.1) extend within the sliding door4, for example between the door leaves26.

The illustrated embodiment of the sliding door4is based on a principle that is similar to a principle known from EP 2876241 A1. Said document describes a sliding door system in which two opposing door surfaces are coupled to an actuator which moves the door surfaces toward or away from one another. In relation to the sliding door system5according to the technology described here, this means that the two door leaves26have a leaf spacing d1when the sliding door4is in the closed position. During the opening of the sliding door4, the two door leaves26are moved toward one another by means of an actuator9(FIG.2A-2C) until they have a leaf spacing d2which is dimensioned such that the sliding door4, when in the fully or partially open position (2B and2C) thereof, has such a small thickness that it fits into the receiving structure of the wall shell region18. The leaf spacing d1is greater than the leaf spacing d2. If the sliding door4is pushed out of the wall shell region18, the two door leaves26are moved away from one another (spread apart) such that the sliding door4assumes a defined thickness when closed (FIG.2A). The thickness is determined in such a way that the outer sides of the two door leaves26in the closed position are substantially flush with the outer sides of the wall shell region18or the cladding thereof. As a result, a substantially smooth finish is achieved on both wall sides in the door region.

In one embodiment, the sliding door system5has a guide device on a door cross member, which supports the sliding door4and guides it on its path between the closed position and the open position. The sliding door4has a complementary device on its upper edge. The guide device and the complementary device cooperate when the drive unit6causes the sliding door4to move and acts on the complementary device; they can, for example, form a system having a telescopic extension. The drive unit6can comprise, for example, a motorized or pneumatic sliding drive which acts on the telescopic extension.

In one embodiment, the two door leaves26are moved toward or away from one another by the actuator9. The actuator9can comprise a spreading device which is activated mechanically, electrically or electro-mechanically. The spreading device is designed to move the door leaves26toward one another when the sliding door4is to be opened, and to move them away from one another when the sliding door4is to be closed. A person skilled in the art would recognize that other spreading devices can also be provided instead, for example cylinders actuated by a pressure medium.