US5097454A — Security door with improved sensor for detecting …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 236 words

A control system for a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and movable door means for normally blocking passage through the second portal, the control system comprising: means for identifying an authorized user; means for moving the door means to allow passage through the second portal; sensing means disposed in the housing for emitting energy waves into the housing between the first and second portals, and for detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing and outputting a signal indicative of an echo or no echo; detection means for determining the position of the authorized user; and controller means, connected to the sensing means, the means for identifying, and the detection means, for driving the means for moving in response to identification of an authorized user, and for detecting passage of any objects or persons other than the authorized user based on the position of the authorized user and the detection of any echoes by the sensing means, wherein the controller means has a memory associated therewith for digitally storing an indication of one of a detected echo and no detected echo for each of a selected number of bits in the memory, each bit corresponding to a predetermined distance from the sensing means, so that the selected number of bits corresponds to a predetermined range from the sensing means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 236 words

A control system for a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and movable door means for normally blocking passage through the second portal, the control system comprising: means for identifying an authorized user; means for moving the door means to allow passage through the second portal; sensing means disposed in the housing for emitting energy waves into the housing between the first and second portals, and for detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing and outputting a signal indicative of an echo or no echo; detection means for determining the position of the authorized user; and controller means, connected to the sensing means, the means for identifying, and the detection means, for driving the means for moving in response to identification of an authorized user, and for detecting passage of any objects or persons other than the authorized user based on the position of the authorized user and the detection of any echoes by the sensing means, wherein the controller means has a memory associated therewith for digitally storing an indication of one of a detected echo and no detected echo for each of a selected number of bits in the memory, each bit corresponding to a predetermined distance from the sensing means, so that the selected number of bits corresponds to a predetermined range from the sensing means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 214 words

A control system for a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and a movable door means for normally blocking passage through the second portal, the control system comprising: means for identifying an authorized user; means for moving the movable door means to allow passage through the second portal; sensing means disposed in the housing for emitting bursts of energy waves into the housing between the first and second portals, and for detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing and outputting a signal indicative of an echo or no echo; detection means for determining the position of the authorized user; and controller means, connected to the sensing means, the means for identifying, and the detection means, for driving the means for moving in response to identification of an authorized user, and for detecting passage of any objects or persons between the first and second portals based on the position of the authorized user and the detection of any echoes by the sensing means. wherein the controller means generates a gain clock signal, and the sensing means includes means for incrementally increasing a gain of the sensing means, the gain of the sensing means being reset by each burst.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 214 words

A control system for a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and a movable door means for normally blocking passage through the second portal, the control system comprising: means for identifying an authorized user; means for moving the movable door means to allow passage through the second portal; sensing means disposed in the housing for emitting bursts of energy waves into the housing between the first and second portals, and for detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing and outputting a signal indicative of an echo or no echo; detection means for determining the position of the authorized user; and controller means, connected to the sensing means, the means for identifying, and the detection means, for driving the means for moving in response to identification of an authorized user, and for detecting passage of any objects or persons between the first and second portals based on the position of the authorized user and the detection of any echoes by the sensing means. wherein the controller means generates a gain clock signal, and the sensing means includes means for incrementally increasing a gain of the sensing means, the gain of the sensing means being reset by each burst.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 174 words

A method for controlling a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and movable door means for normally blocking passage through the second portal, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorized user; moving the movable door means to allow passage through the second portal in response to identification of an authorized user; emitting bursts of energy waves from a sensor into the housing between the first and second portals, and detecting echoes of the energy waves with the sensor due to any objects or persons in the housing; and determining the position of the authorized user, and preventing passage of any objects or persons detected other than the authorized user as determined by the position of the authorized user and detection of any echoes, wherein an indication of one of a detected echo and no detected echo is stored in a memory for each bit of a selected number of bits in the memory, each bit corresponding to a predetermined range from the sensor.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 174 words

A method for controlling a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and movable door means for normally blocking passage through the second portal, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorized user; moving the movable door means to allow passage through the second portal in response to identification of an authorized user; emitting bursts of energy waves from a sensor into the housing between the first and second portals, and detecting echoes of the energy waves with the sensor due to any objects or persons in the housing; and determining the position of the authorized user, and preventing passage of any objects or persons detected other than the authorized user as determined by the position of the authorized user and detection of any echoes, wherein an indication of one of a detected echo and no detected echo is stored in a memory for each bit of a selected number of bits in the memory, each bit corresponding to a predetermined range from the sensor.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 152 words

A method for controlling a security door of a type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and a movable door means normally blocking passage through the second portal, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorized user; moving the movable door means to allow passage through the second portal in response to identification of an authorized user; emitting bursts of energy waves from a sensor into the housing between the first and second portals, and detecting echoes of the energy waves with the sensor due to any objects or persons in the housing; and determining a position of the authorized user, and preventing passage of any objects or persons detected other than the authorized user as determined by the position of the authorized user and detection of any echoes, wherein a gain of the sensor is increased incrementally after each burst, and reset by a subsequent burst.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 152 words

A method for controlling a security door of a type having a housing with a first portal, a second portal, and a movable door means normally blocking passage through the second portal, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorized user; moving the movable door means to allow passage through the second portal in response to identification of an authorized user; emitting bursts of energy waves from a sensor into the housing between the first and second portals, and detecting echoes of the energy waves with the sensor due to any objects or persons in the housing; and determining a position of the authorized user, and preventing passage of any objects or persons detected other than the authorized user as determined by the position of the authorized user and detection of any echoes, wherein a gain of the sensor is increased incrementally after each burst, and reset by a subsequent burst.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 252 words

A control system for a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal and a second portal, a door member rotatably disposed in the housing, and having a plurality of wings which, in cooperation with the housing, define a plurality of compartments movable between the first and second portals in response to rotation of the door member, the control system comprising: means for identifying an authorized user; means for rotating the door member; sensing means disposed in the housing for emitting bursts of energy waves into the housing between the first and second portals, for detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing and outputting a signal indicative of an echo or no echo; and controller means, connected to the sensing means, the means for rotating, and the means for identifying, for driving the sensing means and the means for rotating in response to identification of an authorized user, and for detecting passage of any objects or persons in any of the compartments based on the detection of any echoes by the sensing means. wherein the controller means further comprises means for ignoring any echoes detected from the door member wings as the door member wings pass by the sensing means, the means for ignoring comprising means for determining that a door member wing is passing by on the basis of receiving an echo within a predetermined elapsed time of emission of a burst of energy waves by the sensing means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 252 words

A control system for a security door of the type having a housing with a first portal and a second portal, a door member rotatably disposed in the housing, and having a plurality of wings which, in cooperation with the housing, define a plurality of compartments movable between the first and second portals in response to rotation of the door member, the control system comprising: means for identifying an authorized user; means for rotating the door member; sensing means disposed in the housing for emitting bursts of energy waves into the housing between the first and second portals, for detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing and outputting a signal indicative of an echo or no echo; and controller means, connected to the sensing means, the means for rotating, and the means for identifying, for driving the sensing means and the means for rotating in response to identification of an authorized user, and for detecting passage of any objects or persons in any of the compartments based on the detection of any echoes by the sensing means. wherein the controller means further comprises means for ignoring any echoes detected from the door member wings as the door member wings pass by the sensing means, the means for ignoring comprising means for determining that a door member wing is passing by on the basis of receiving an echo within a predetermined elapsed time of emission of a burst of energy waves by the sensing means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

The control system of claim 5, further comprising means for tracking the position of the authorized user by tracking the compartment entered by the authorized user, and wherein the controller means further comprises means for stopping rotation of the door member in response to detection of passage of objects or persons in any compartment other than the entered compartment.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 87 words

The control system of claim 5, wherein the controller means has a memory associated therewith for digitally storing an indication of one of a detected echo and no detected echo for each of a selected number of successive bits in the memory, each successive bit corresponding to a predetermined echo return time to the sensing means, so that the selected number of bits corresponds to a maximum return time to the sensing means, and the predetermined elapsed time corresponds to a first number of the successive bits.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The control system of claim 7, wherein the sensing means comprises multiple ultrasonic sensors, and the memory comprises an array having the selected number of bits for each sensor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The control system of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises multiple arrays, and the controller means further comprises means for logically ANDing corresponding bits in each array for each sensor, and storing the results in an additional array in the memory.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

The control system of claim 9, wherein the multiple arrays are arranged such that values stored in a successive one of the arrays in the memory are updated for each successive burst, and values stored in the additional array are updated after each burst.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The control system of claim 9, wherein the bursts occur at varying cycle times.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

The control system of claim 9, wherein the controller means further comprises means for, prior to ANDing, clearing any echoes from all of the bits from each array associated with a sensor for which the means for determining has determined that a door member wing is passing by.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The control system of claim 5, wherein the sensing means comprises multiple ultrasonic sensors driven sequentially.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 192 words

A method for controlling a security door of a type having a housing with a first portal and a second portal, a door member rotatably disposed in the housing and having a plurality of wings which, in cooperation with the housing, define a plurality of compartments movable between the first and second portals in response to rotation of the door member, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorized user; rotating the door member in response to identification of an authorized user; emitting bursts of energy waves from sensors into the housing between the first and second portals, and detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing; determining whether any echoes are detected from a door member wing passing by a sensor based on whether any echoes are received within a predetermined elapsed time following emission of a burst of energy waves from that sensor; and determining the position of the authorized user, and preventing passage of any objects or persons detected in compartments other than the compartment containing the authorized user, except that echoes detected from a passing door member wing are ignored.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 192 words

A method for controlling a security door of a type having a housing with a first portal and a second portal, a door member rotatably disposed in the housing and having a plurality of wings which, in cooperation with the housing, define a plurality of compartments movable between the first and second portals in response to rotation of the door member, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorized user; rotating the door member in response to identification of an authorized user; emitting bursts of energy waves from sensors into the housing between the first and second portals, and detecting echoes of the energy waves due to any objects or persons in the housing; determining whether any echoes are detected from a door member wing passing by a sensor based on whether any echoes are received within a predetermined elapsed time following emission of a burst of energy waves from that sensor; and determining the position of the authorized user, and preventing passage of any objects or persons detected in compartments other than the compartment containing the authorized user, except that echoes detected from a passing door member wing are ignored.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the position of the authorized user is determined by determining which compartment the authorized user has entered.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method as recited in claim 15, wherein an indication of one of a detected echo and no detected echo is stored in a memory for each bit of a selected number of successive bits in the memory, each successive bit corresponding to a respective predetermined echo return time to the sensors, so that the selected number of bits corresponds to a maximum echo return time to the sensors.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as recited in claim 16, wherein multiple ultrasonic sensors are used, and the energy waves are ultrasonic waves.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 95 words

The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the echoes or no echoes detected are stored in the memory separately for each sensor, the memory having at least two successive arrays, and each successive array is filled in response to the echoes or no echoes detected following each successive burst, wherein corresponding bits in each successive array for each sensor are logically ANDed and stored in an additional array updated after each successive burst, and a person or object is detected only if a bit in the additional array contains an indication of an echo.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising the step of clearing all bits associated with each successive array prior to ANDing, for any sensor that has detected an echo within the predetermined elapsed time.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the energy waves are emitted from ultrasonic sensors.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-17	1995-09-16	1996-03-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-17	1999-09-16	2000-03-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-17	2003-09-16	2004-03-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Security door with improved sensor for detecting unauthorized passage

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