Patent · US Active

Access control system that detects static electricity

US9478086B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
7References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 2015
Grant dateOct 25, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L63/101
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An access control system removes the human element from static protection by detecting a level of static energy when the user attempts to authenticate to the access control system, and when the user's detected level of static energy exceeds a defined threshold, access is denied until the user discharges the static energy. A static energy detection mechanism in a badge reader includes two conductive plates that form a first capacitor, and the space between an electrically conductive badge and one of the conductive plates on the badge reader forms a second capacitor. Using these two capacitors, the level of static energy on the user can be measured by the sum of the voltage across these two capacitors as the user presents the badge to the badge reader. The access control system assures the user is properly grounded before allowing access to an area, equipment, etc.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.