Overview and Types of Keycards
– Keycard locks are operated by a keycard, a flat, rectangular plastic card.
– The card stores a physical or digital pattern that the door mechanism accepts before disengaging the lock.
– Common types of keycards include mechanical holecard, barcode, magnetic stripe, Wiegand wire embedded cards, smart card (embedded with a read/write electronic microchip), RFID, and NFC proximity cards.
– Keycards are frequently used in hotels as an alternative to mechanical keys.
– Keycards can also serve as ID cards or be used in NFC systems for digital wallet applications.
Types of Card Readers
– Mechanical keycard locks employ detainers that must be arranged in pre-selected positions by the key before the bolt will move.
– Wiegand cards have the keycode permanently set into the card at manufacture using magnetic wires.
– Magnetic stripe-based keycard locks function by running the magnetic stripe over a sensor that reads its contents.
– Passive RFID cards contain a small chip and induction loop that can be accessed by the keycard reader.
– Newer keycard systems use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.
Access Control
– Keycard systems can communicate with a central system to unlock doors.
– The central system controls which locks can be opened by a card and allows for changes in access permissions.
– Logs are often kept to track which cards unlocked doors at specific times.
– Keycards can provide more control over locks, allowing specific cards to work only on certain days or times.
– Keycard systems in hotel room locks function similarly to standard key and lock systems without a central system.
Privacy and Security
– Computerized authentication systems, such as keycards, raise privacy concerns due to potential computer surveillance.
– RFID cards and key fobs are popular due to their ease of use and are often combined with biometric fingerprint and keypad PIN options.
– Digital locks in modern households and offices integrate keycards and biometric technology.
– Keycards allow for more secure access control and reduce the risk of unauthorized entry.
– Keycards can be easily deactivated or reprogrammed in case of loss or theft.
Gallery
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to access control systems and electronic locks.
– A hotel entry card can be used to enable a light switch.
– Illustrated instructions are available for the use of mag stripe key cards.
– Access control systems utilize magnetic strip technology.
– Keycard locks are visually represented in the gallery section.Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keycard
