Card Readers

Magnetic Stripe
An encoded magnetic stripe which holds 3 data tracks. The data on the access card usually resides on track 2. The access card must be swiped or inserted in the reader to enable the magnetic reader head to pick up the cards encoded data. The contact operation creates wear on the access card and reader head. Magnetic stripe cards provide a medium level of security, therefore all access control systems with this type of reader should have an integral keypad or biometric reader in the higher security areas.

Bar Code
Barcode readers decode a barcode by scanning across the bar code and measure the intensity of the light reflected back. The light variation is converted in a digital signal. The barcode reader contains a scanner that scans the image and converts it into digital signal and a decoder which combines the binary digital signals into a series of characters that can be translated into relevant data. There are four general types of barcode readers; laser scanners, wands, CCD scanners, and camera based readers. Due to barcode design, it does not matter if you scan from the left or right. Barcodes are typically used in supplement to other card technologies for applications where additional and provisional data may be required on a card badge.

Wiegand
Wiegand technology is widely recognized and field proven. The cards and reader are low cost and durable and provide a high level of security. Wiegand effect is a pulse generating phenomenon is a special alloy wire that is processed in such a way as to create two distinct magnetic regions in the same piece of wire. These two magnetic regions react differently to any applied magnetic field which generates a distinct Wiegand pulse that sensed by the reader. Due to the complexity of manufacturing the Wiegand wire, Wiegand cards a virtually impossible to duplicate and remain one of the most secure access control technologies.

Proximity
Proximity readers and cards are the fastest growing technology for access control. The proximity reader transmits a low-level RF signal that provides energy to the card when it is held a certain distance from the reader. The RF signal energizes a coil in the card which in turn powers up a microchip that contains a unique identification code that is transmitted to the reader. The whole process in instantaneous and the advantages of proximity over other reader technologies are many. There is significantly less maintenance due to less wear on the both the cards and readers, prox readers can be easily concealed, fast and easy to use, almost impossible to duplicate and are very secure.

Smart Card
Smart Cards generally are called "smart" because they have an imbedded storage capacity of 1K to 64K in memory. In addition to memory smart cards can incorporate a microprocessor chip and a serial communications interface. Smart cards are dependant on an outside power source provided by the reader interface. The primary advantages of smart cards are that can serve multi-purposes in a single card and provide a much higher level of security especially when used in conjunction with biometric reader technologies. These cards can be used in vending machines, fare collection, prepaid purchasing, university ID's and medical information.