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(11) | EP 0 629 764 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Security door with biometric identifying device |
| (57) Security door (1,8,18) for protected business premises (banks, jewelry stores, etc.)
combined with means to ensure that it is passed through by only one person at a time
and comprising a biometric scanner (5), such as a finger print scanner, located inside
it, associated with a memory group (M) wherein information and personal data on each
person entering the protected environment through the controlled entrance is recorded,
with univocal correspondence. In this way the security door (1,8,18) exercises a dissuasive
effect on ill-intentioned individuals, without increasing the difficulties of passing
through for normal customers. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a security door combined with a biometric identifier, fit for installation in the entrances of business premises such as banks, jewelry stores and the like which deal with money or other valuables, and, therefore, need to be protected from the entrance of ill-intentioned individuals.
[0002] Security doors are known which, placed at the entrances of business premises that are to be protected against the entry of people who intend to commit a robbery or some other crime, have a dissuasive effect on such individuals by blocking each person entering or exiting through them inside their cells for a set interval of time.
[0003] This dissuasive effect can be integrated with a metal detector (M.D.) which prevents crossing through the cell and, therefore, entry into the protected premises, every time the person attempting to enter is in possession of a metallic mass that causes a disturbance in the magnetic field of the M.D. comparable to that which a firearm would produce. The action of the M.D. can, however, be overcome by the more determined ill-intentioned individuals who can resort to the use of single bullet pistols of the disposable type, made of nonmetallic material. Furthermore they can be overcome with the introduction of a metallic weapon by repeatedly entering the premises with single pieces of the weapon that are too small to excite the M.D., which is normally set to a low level of sensitivity in order to avoid an excessive number of false alarms. Once the weapon is reassembled inside the protected premises, it is possible to carry out the criminal action.
[0004] Some manufacturers, in order to allow businesses to maintain the M.D. at a high level of sensitivity and at the same time keep the flow of customers through the door high, with only a modest number of false alarms, have provided the doors with a biometric scanner equipped with an electronic memory group in which the images and/or personal data of regular customers, each of whom is assigned a special identification code, are memorized. Upon entrance into the cell of such a security door, the customer types in his code, has the established part of the body, such as a hand, finger, eye or other part, scanned, and if what is read by the scanner corresponds to what is memorized for that customer, the M.D. is automatically inhibited, and the customer may pass through the door independently of what he is wearing or carrying with him. For other people, the filtering action is carried out by the M.D. set to the maximum sensitivity so that even a very small metallic mass excites it, and the person attempting to pass through is halted before entering and given instructions to leave the metallic objects in his possession in a special box.
[0005] This allows for more thorough and effective control at the entrance with regard to strangers, but does not increase the dissuasiveness with regard to ill-intentioned people who try to find the weak point of the entrance control system of the business in order to overcome it and commit a crime.
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a security door structured in such a way that, placed at the entrance of business premises to be protected, it has a great dissuasive effect on ill-intentioned people, considerably increasing the actual protection with respect to common security doors, without, on the other hand, increasing the difficulties of passing through the system, for people who must normally access the protected premises, and therefore without playing a discouraging effect on them.
[0007] These objects are achieved by the present invention realized as the combination of a security door, provided with means and/or a conformations designed to ensure that only one person at a time passes through it, and a biometric scanner, such as a finger print scanner, placed inside it, provided with a memory group in which information on each person entering the protected premises through the controlled entrance is recorded with univocal correspondence. It is also realized in the succession of steps through which the system checks that only one person is inside the cell at a time: the cell moves into such a position that the customer can interact with the biometric scanner, then it moves to a position that allows the customer who has interacted with the biometric scanner to enter the protected premises while sending back to the front of the entrance any person who has not interacted with it.
[0008] Such a system, integrated or not with a metal detector and/or one or more video cameras, analyzes the individual person who intends to access the protected premises and requires that said person give his personal data which will be saved for a period of time considered necessary for the security of the premises and therefore, in the case of a robbery or other crime, will be used to trace down the criminal.
[0009] This system has a high dissuasive action since the ill-intentioned person is aware that the information on every person passing through the security door remains in the memory group combined with the biometric scanner and, therefore, also his own information will be recorded making him identifiable. At the same time such a system, with respect to the current situation, creates no complication for ordinary people passing through the door who, otherwise, could be persuaded to patronize other businesses not equipped with such devices.
[0010] The invention will become more apparent in its structure and function in the following detailed description referring to preferred practical embodiments, given as examples in the attached drawings in which:
- figure 1 shows the schematic form a tunnel-like cell with interlocking doors, a panel-type metal detector at the entrance and a biometric scanner inside;
- figure 2 is a schematic view of a turnstile-type cell with doors provided with space reducers, a metal detector with a radial line of action and a biometric scanner;
- figure 3 is a schematic view of a cell with a metal detector in the entrance and an access structure in the form of a rotating cylindrical drum, shown oriented toward the biometric scanner located inside the structure itself;
- figure 4 shows the block diagram that governs the functioning of the cell of the present invention in the absence of a metal detector;
- figure 5 reproduces the same block diagram in the presence of a metal detector;
- figure 6 shows a system integrated with access control according to the invention.
[0011] It is to be understood that the drawings are given only as examples and do not constitute in any way a limitation to the invention.
[0012] With reference to figures 1, 2 and 3, 1 indicates the tunnel-like cell, 2 and 3 indicate its interlocking doors each shown in an open position and therefore in a non functioning condition, 4 indicates its base, 5 the biometric scanner located inside it, with 6 the two flat panel transducers of the metal detector located at its entrance, and with 7 the fixed structure delimitating the entrance of the business premises to be protected.
[0013] Indicated with 8 is the cell with a turnstile 9 rotating inside it, with 10 its rotating doors, with 13 the space reducers on the rotating doors, with 11 the curved wall that laterally delimitates the path of the passage, with 12 the window through which the biometric scanner 5 is accessible, with 14 and 15 the two transducers of the metal detector, hypothesized with column structures and radial lines of action.
[0014] In figure 3, indicated with 18 is the cell with a cylindrical drum 19 rotating inside it, with 20 and 21 the two transducers of the metal detector, with 11 the curved surface delimitating the compartment inside the cell on which the window 12 is formed for accessing the biometric scanner 5.
[0015] Finally, in the block diagrams of the functioning of the security door, indicated with SEN is the sensor that signals the presence of a person in the cell, with MOV the activation and movement group for the entrance, with 5 the biometric scanner, with TC the video camera, with M the memory group, with MOU the exiting movement, with MOR the retreating movement, with SE the signal group and with MD the metal detector.
[0016] The invention provides for the use of a security cell or enclosure to be placed in the entrance of the premises to protect, delimitated by the fixed structures 7, provided normally with a metal detector which can be placed directly upstream from the access door, as shown by example in figure 1, or in the entrance but incorporated in the structure of the cell itself, as shown by example in figure 3, or yet still incorporated in the structure, but with a radial line of action or control, as shown by example in figure 2.
[0017] The cell is normally provided with an entry sensor SEN which is activated upon the entry of a person who must access the protected premises; this sensor can be of type that senses pressure on the carpet 4, a photocell or other equivalent device currently used in the sector.
[0018] The cell is also provided with means and/or conformations suited to ensure that only one person at a time passes so that in the memory group M associated with the biometric scanner 5, information and data on each person entering the protected premises through the security door is recorded with unique correspondence. Said means and/or conformations are such that they impede the simultaneous transit of two or more people, only one of which would be analyzed by the biometric scanner with which the cell is provided; in fact, if more than one person entered simultaneously, some of the people who entered the premises would not have left their biometric information in the memory M associated with the scanner 5. In order to prevent this circumstance from occurring, the door is preferably provided with an inner shell which is vertically mobile with respect to the external support structure and rests on a device that senses pressure on the carpet. Said weight sensing device has the purpose of disabling the steps which allow the crossing through the cell when the weight of the person or persons present in it is greater than a pre-established value. In that case the subsequent steps which would otherwise allow the crossing of the cell are disabled and those who have entered the cell are signaled to go back out, while an operator inside the protected premises checks whether more than one person is in the cell. If the operator sees that only one person is present in the cell, he intervenes inhibiting the blocking action of the weight sensing group.
[0019] In other solutions, particularly that with the rotating turnstile 9 shown in figure 2, the presence of more than one person in the same compartment is prevented with the use of internal rotating doors 10 with molded surfaces and/or surfaces provided with space reducers 13 which turn to impede the simultaneous passage in front of the biometric scanner 5 of more than one person, or rather to prevent the presence of more than one person in the space comprised between two adjacent rotating doors 10 since only one would be able to interact with the biometric scanner 5.
[0020] The biometric scanner is housed inside the cell and can be reached only when the steps for passing through the cell are begun in order to prevent the scanner from interacting with one person who is then substituted by another in the course of passing through. The door is provided with a biometric scanner 5 combined with at least a memory group M suited to memorize at least information of a biometric nature for every person entering the protected premises. It can also be combined with a video camera so that, in the memory group M, the photographic image and biometric data of one part of the body, such as a finger or hand, is memorized for each person who enters the protected business premises.
[0021] The biometric scanner 5 is placed inside the cell, or can be reached from the inside of the cell through a window 12 formed in the curved wall 11 laterally delimitating the path of entry into the premises and is activated after it has been ascertained that only one person is in transit and, in any case, after the cell has moved to a position suited to allow his passage.
[0022] In particular, in the example shown in figure 1, it is activated when both the doors 2 and 3 are in the closed position, while in the examples of figures 2 and 3, when the turnstile 9 or the cylindrical drum 19 are rotated by about 90 degrees impeding, respectively, access to the same compartment occupied by the person or to the inside of the cylindrical structure 19 by other people.
[0023] In said position the cell is blocked, the scanner 5 is prepared and/or activated to carry out the reading and memorization of the detected information by means of group M, then the cell is unblocked and, if the person has undergone the biometric scanning, the door 3 opens and the turnstile 9 or the drum 19 rotates toward the inner entrance where it stops to allow the person to access the protected premises: if the biometric scanning does not take place, after repeated invitations with prerecorded messages, the outer entrance door 2 opens or the turnstile 9 or drum 19 rotates backwards toward the outer opening to let out a person from inside.
[0024] In the case in figure 3, the drum 19, automatically or upon being called for again, will rotate 180 degrees to prepare itself to receive another entering person.
[0025] Substantially therefore, in its functioning logic, the invention is governed by a succession of steps with which the cell, upon entry of the person who wishes to pass through it, in the absence of a metal detector M.D. or alarm of the M.D., prepares itself, with the blocking of the doors 2 and 3 or the rotation of the turnstile 9 or the drum 19 by 90 degrees, following which the person is blocked inside the cell, for the memorization of the preestablished biometric parameters for the reading of which the scanner 5 is suitable, with or without the photographic information taken by the group TC. Then the cell prepares to allow the entry of the person in transit into the protected premises, or to send him back to the front of the entrance if he has not submitted himself to the biometric reading.
[0026] In the absence of alarm, the presence of the M.D. is ignored. When, however, the M.D. is excited, the weight checking device and the interlocking system of the doors, in the case indicated in figure 1, as well as the movement group of the turnstile 9 or the drum 19 are deactivated, making access to the protected premises impossible, as shown in figure 5.
[0027] The memorization of the biometric and photographic data, if the cell is provided with a video camera TC, is maintained for a pre-established period, and then automatically or on the order of an operator erased to leave space for that of subsequent customers.
[0028] A typical biometric scanner useful for engagement in the arrangement according to the invention is the Finger Check device produced by STARTEK ENG. INC., TAIWAN, R.O.C. for the reading of finger prints.
[0029] It should be noted that in place of or addition to the finger print scanner, other devices for biometric analysis, such as a voice analyzer, can be employed.
[0030] In figure 6, the block diagram of a possible complete system according to the present invention is shown. With reference to this figure, the system comprises a door 100 for the control of entry into the protected area operated by a movement control unit 101 of a type already known.
[0031] Inside the cell 100 is a video camera 102 and a finger print scanner 103. Auxiliary video cameras 104 and 105 can also be provided for outside the door 100 to increase the amount of video information collected. The system is run by a control unit, indicated in its entirety in 106, which comprises a computer 107 of a conventional type associated with mass memories 108, 109, respectively associated with a hard-disk and a floppy disk unit.
[0032] The usual interfaces of the computer 107 control, by means of a video digitizer 114, a television monitor 110, a keyboard 111, a gearbox 112 for the movement control unit 101 previously cited, and a multiplex 113 for the video cameras 102, 104, 105.
[0034] Equipment for data compression 116 of a type per se known can be associated with the computer 107 for the reduction of the volume of data recorded by video cameras 102, 104, 105, which if not compressed would occupy an excessive space in the memory.
1. Security door with biometric identifier, suited for installation in the entrances
of business premises such as banks, jewelry stores and the like, which deal with money
or other valuables and therefore must be protected against the entry of ill-intentioned
individuals, characterized by the combination of a security door (1, 8, 18) provided
with means and/or conformations (13) designed to ensure that only one person at a
time is able to pass through it, and with a biometric scanner (5) with a memory group
(M) wherein information and personal data on each person entering the protected business
premises through the security entrance is recorded with univocal correspondence.
2. Security door according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a structure
provided with a weight sensing device under the carpet of its internal shell having
the purpose of disabling the steps that allow transit through the cell when the weight
of the person or people present in the cell exceeds a pre-established value.
3. Security door according to claim 1, characterized by a turnstile (9) with rotating
doors (10) having molded surfaces and/or space reducers (13) which turn to impede
the simultaneous passage in front of the biometric scanner (5) of more than one person.
4. Security door according to claim 1, characterized by a biometric scanner (5) combined
with a memory group (M) suited to record information of at least a biometric nature
on each person entering the protected premises.
5. Security door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cell is combined
with a biometric scanner (5), a video camera (TC) and a memory group (M) on which
the photographic images and biometric data of some part of the body of each person
entering the protected premises are recorded.
6. Security door according to claim 1, characterized by a window (12), formed in the
curved wall (11) laterally delimitating the path of access to the premises, through
which the biometric scanner (5) is reached.
7. Security door with biometric scanner, characterized by the fact that its functioning
is controlled by a succession of steps through which it is checked that only one person
is present in the cell at a time and that, in the absence of a metal detector or a
metal detector alarm, it moves to the position in which the person can interact with
the biometric scanner (5), or to a position that allows the person to interact with
the scanner (5) and then enter the protected premises and the person who did not interact
with the scanner to return to the front of the entrance.
8. Security door with biometric scanner, characterized by the fact that the turnstile
(9) or the cylindrical drum (19) receiving the entering person, rotates about 90 degrees
and becomes blocked, the biometric scanner (5) moves to a position in which it can
carry out the scanning and memorization, then if the person has submitted himself
to the biometric scanning, it rotates toward the inner side of the entrance where
it stops to allow the person to enter the protected premises, whereas in the absence
of biometric scanning, after repeated invitations with prerecorded messages, it rotates
backwards toward the street-side of the entrance to let out the person who is inside.
9. Security door with biometric scanner according to claim 7, characterized by the presence
of a metal detector (MD) the excitation of which disables the succession of steps
by which the cell may move into a position to allow its crossing through and blocks
the entry and/or invites the person who caused the excitation to go back out the front
of the door.
10. Security door according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized by the
fact that said biometric scanner (5) is composed of a finger print scanner (103).
11. Security door according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 9, wherein said biometric
scanner (5) is composed of a finger print scanner (103) and one or more video cameras
(102, 104, 105).
12. Security system for entry control characterized by the fact that it comprises the
following combination:
- a cell (100) for control of access to the protected environment;
- a finger print scanner (103) for the individuals who enter said cell;
- at least one video camera (102) positioned to film the person who enters said cell;
- a control unit (106) of the movement of already known mechanical organs that are parts of said cell;
- a computer system (107) arranged to control said cell and the equipment associated with it, and to control interfaces with which a human operator can interact.
13. System according to claim 12, wherein said computer is associated with a data compression
system (116) to reduce the mass of raw data that must be managed and/or memorized
by said computer.
14. System according to claim 12 and/or 13, wherein said computer system is associated
with an interface for the transmission of data (118) to a remote surveillance and
management center (119).