Hi Andreas:
I used to manage the manufacturing engineering department at Digital
Security Controls, which is now part of Tyco. I haven't been with them
since 2000, so my information is a little out of date, but it might get
you started off in the right direction.
What you're describing is an access control system. There are many
commercial systems out there (e.g.
http://www.kantech.com/products/kits_starter.aspx), just google "Access
Control Systems". I've never seen one based on smart cards. The ones
I've seen used either magnetic stripe cards or RF proximity cards.
Having said that, the readers are separate, so it may be possible to get
a compatible reader and attach it. As someone else noted, you would not
likely be able to integrate the access control with the Solaris user
list in any way if you use a commercial system.
If you wanted to homebrew something, well that would be more fun, and
you could do the software on your Solaris server. Basically you would
need to sense the card read, validate the user, and then unlock the door
if the user has access at that time of day. Card readers can be bought
with RS232 interfaces, so you could read the cards that way (just put
enough serial ports on the server). I'm not sure how you would handle
the digital outputs for the door strikes. To unlock the door strike you
need to supply 12VDC or 24VDC at fairly high current (around 250mA if I
remember correctly), so you'll need some serious digital output
capability. There are certainly USB and/or PCI cards available that
would do it, but I've never tried to run one under Solaris (e.g.
http://advantech.com/products/Model_Detail.asp?model_id=1-1TWVG2&BU=&PD=IO).
There's also a company in the Netherlands that makes a Java-based
embedded controller with network, DIO, etc, that would be perfect for
this application, although I don't know the price.
http://www.embedded-web.com/products/sc-21x.html
For the mechanical aspect, you need an electric door strike like this:
http://www.kantech.com/products/electric_strikes_locks.aspx
Any locksmith can supply these, or you might be able to find an
electronic security distributor that will sell to the public. This door
strike simply gets installed in the door jamb in place of the standard
door strike (that's the little plate with the cutout where the door's
latch goes). To unlock it, you apply a current to the door strike's
coil, that moves the strike plate out of the way, so the door can be
opened without turning the door knob. You would usually use a "closet"
type door knob, that turns freely on one side (the secure side), but is
always locked on the other side (the public side). So you don't need to
card out for exit, you just turn the knob. That's important for fire
code compliance; if there's access control on a fire egress door, it
needs to be interlocked with your fire alarm system, whereas if it's
free-exit you don't need to worry about it.
Have fun,
Greg.
On Wed, 2006-11-15 at 08:52, Andreas Höschler wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> this is an unsual request but after googling for days I have no idea
> whom else to ask. We are currently setting up our new office and intent
> to use Sun Rays for all work places. The new office has a lot of doors
> that employees need to go through regularily. Our idea is to use the
> Sun Ray smart cards as keys for the several office doors. We intend to
> install little smart card readers next to the doors that are somehow
> connected with the Solaris server in the server room (we still can
> install wires from the server room to all doors) that then opens the
> doors depending on whatever measure.
>
> Any ideas what electromechanical components could be used for this and
> where to get them?
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> Regards,
>
> Andreas
>
> _______________________________________________
> SunRay-Users mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://www.filibeto.org/mailman/listinfo/sunray-users
--
Greg Trasuk, President
StratusCom Manufacturing Systems Inc. - We use information technology to
solve business problems on your plant floor.
http://stratuscom.com
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