Batteries for access control systems

What are access control systems and what variants are there?

Access control systems, or ACS for short, are usually used in buildings and premises to deny access to unauthorised persons. The main tasks of the systems are therefore burglary protection and personal security. Depending on the technical design, access control systems can also be used for access authorisation with time limits, time recording systems. Identification and access authorisation is usually carried out via a communication/connection between a user's personal identification device and an associated terminal or registration station. Access control systems are available in different versions. These differ mainly in the different variants of the identification medium.  

• Mechanical/Manual access control systems
• Electronic ACS / Biometric scans
• Pin entries
• RFID means, e.g. key cards or transponders
• Bluetooth and NFC (e.g. with smartphones)
• Video and voice recognition
• Mechanical / manual access control systems

Mechanical access control systems are traditional systems that can function with the help of a key or combination lock. Although this method is very cost-efficient, it can pose a high security risk if the means of identification is lost.

Traditionally, manual access control systems can also be used in addition to mechanical systems. These are access control systems in which personnel are responsible for granting authorised persons access to buildings and unlocking passage barriers such as gates or doors for them.

Electronic access control systems

In most cases, electronic access control systems require an electronic means of identification or an electronic registration station/terminal. A distinction can also be made between active and passive systems. Active ACS are used in the automotive industry, for example. Vehicles can be opened or closed by pressing a button on a remote control. The car key serves as a means of identification, is battery-operated in most cases and ensures a long range via radio.

Active ACS for buildings can be realised by holding RFID media, such as a transponder or a key card, in front of a terminal. As an alternative to these means, smartphones can also be used for this purpose thanks to the Bluetooth function.

With electronic ACS that function without an additional means of identification, users can gain access through their knowledge or biometric scans. This can take the form of entering a pin or password at a terminal or biometric scans in the entrance area.

Passive ACS are used when users do not have to perform any active actions themselves to gain access. Similar to automatic number plate recognition in modern car parks, automatic biometric scans can be used to recognise whether people are authorised to enter. Passive access control systems can also be implemented by automatically recognising a means of identification. Probably the best-known example of this is the ‘Keyless Go’ system in vehicles. The car automatically recognises the radio signal from the key in the immediate vicinity and can thus be unlocked and started.