US 12,094,278 B2
Access system
Hitesh Hirani, Oldham (GB); and Andy Alexander, Arborfield (GB)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/394,877.
Claims priority of application No. 2012346 (GB), filed on Aug. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0044508 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G07C 9/22 (2020.01); G06F 21/34 (2013.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); G06Q 50/04 (2012.01)
CPC G07C 9/22 (2020.01) [G06F 21/34 (2013.01); G06K 19/0723 (2013.01); G06F 2221/2141 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An access system comprising:
an area access controller configured to control an inspection area access means for controlling access to an inspection area;
a product inspection apparatus controller configured to control access to one or more functions of a product inspection apparatus within the inspection area after access to the inspection area has been granted by the area access controller;
a first RFID reader configured to read an external RFID tag of a user; and
one or more memory devices configured to store authorised RFID data corresponding to one or more RFID tags each associated with an authorised user;
wherein the area access controller is configured to:
receive, from the first RFID reader, first identification data indicative of the external RFID tag;
receive, from at least one of the memory devices, the authorised RFID data;
determine whether the external RFID tag is associated with an authorised user; and
in dependence on the determination, output a control signal to control the inspection area access means to enable access to the inspection area; and
wherein the product inspection apparatus controller is configured to:
receive second identification data indicative of the external RFID tag;
receive, from at least one of the memory devices, the authorised RFID data;
determine whether the external RFID tag is associated with an authorised user; and
in dependence on the determination, output a control signal to enable access to one or more functions of the product inspection apparatus.