Patent ID: 7948357

Claim:
A method for detecting a free-space gesture signature conducted with a gesturing instrument, the method comprising: providing a panel mounted on a controlled system, the panel having a plurality of gesturing sensors in a two-dimensional arrangement, each sensor being adapted to detect a gesturing instrument within a proximity of a sensor, each sensor having an independent detection event signal, wherein the sensors comprise at least one type of sensor selected from a group consisting of an array of acoustic type sensors adapted to detect movement of acoustic-reflective gesturing instruments, and an array of infrared (“IR”) type sensors adapted to detect movement of gesturing instruments which are distinguishable by heat determining a sensor sequence from a series of sensor detection events responsive to movement of a gesturing instrument within the proximity of the plurality of sensors; correlating the sensor sequence to a predetermined sequence in order to authenticate a user of the gesturing instrument; and responsive to authentication of the user, authorizing a physical security action, wherein the providing a plurality of gesturing sensors comprises providing a combination of two or more types of sensors selected from a group consisting of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) type sensors acoustic sensors, acoustic type sensors adapted to detect movement of acoustic-reflective gesturing instruments, and infrared (“IR”) type sensors.