Firstly, security entry systems can be combined together, for example you could use a pin-code system plus the key-card system to provide added security.
We’ve spoken about pin-code systems in a previous post so we will give you more about the key-card.
The is a lock which is operated by a key-card. This is usually a flat, rectangular plastic card similar size to a credit card. On this is a type of signature that the door mechanism accepts prior to opening the door.
There are several types of cards in use:
- Mechanical hole-card – they work by shining LED’s through the holes and detecting the result.
- Bar code & Magnetic stripe – work by swiping or inserting the card
- Wiegand-wire embedded cards – the wire is strategically positioned to create a unique pattern this generates the identification number. Just like magnetic strip or barcode, this card must be swiped through a reader to be read.
- Smart card (embedded with a read/write electronic microchip) and RFID proximity cards – are scanned, but they can just be brought into the vicinity of the sensor to be read.