Electronic access control device and access control method

An electronic access control device comprising:

• a radio communication module configured to perform a wireless data exchange in a first radio frequency band with a mobile device over a direct wireless communication link between the radio communication module and the mobile device;
• a controller connected to the wireless radio communication module and configured to generate an access control signal using an access key received by the radio communication module via the direct wireless communication link from the mobile device;
• and
• a radio based proximity detector configured to detect a presence of the mobile device using a radio frequency in a second radio frequency band different from the first radio frequency band;
• the controller being connected to the radio based proximity detector and further configured to control the radio communication module to establish the direct wireless communication link with the mobile device, upon detection of the mobile device by the radio based proximity detector, for enabling the mobile device to transmit the access key to the radio communication module,
• wherein the radio based proximity detector is configured to detect the presence of the mobile device in close proximity of the electronic access control device by emitting an electromagnetic field pulse, by detecting a return signal during emission of the electromagnetic field pulse, and using the return signal to detect the presence of the mobile device thereby detecting a change in the electromagnetic field pulse emitted by the proximity detector as caused by the presence of the mobile device, where the mobile device is placed within a distance range of up to one of:
• five centimeters, ten centimeters, and fifteen centimeters from the electronic access control device, and
• the controller is further configured to establish the direct wireless communication link with the mobile device, upon detection of the mobile device by the radio based proximity detector in said close proximity of the electronic access control device.