Access control system with a sliding door that can be opened from the inside without contact

A system for controlling access to a restricted-access area in a building, comprising:

• a sliding door system which comprises a door frame and a sliding door which can be displaced in the door frame between a closed position and an open position by means of a drive unit, wherein the door frame has a passage region and a wall shell region which at least partially accommodates the sliding door in the open position;
• a controller which is arranged on the sliding door and is communicatively connected to the drive unit, wherein the controller is designed to move the sliding door between the closed position and the open position;
• and
• an activation device which is arranged in an interior space of the sliding door and is communicatively connected to the controller, the activation device comprising a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor, both proximity sensors being mounted horizontally next to each other in the interior space of the sliding door at substantially the same height, wherein the activation device is operable to generate an activation signal based on a time sequence of generated detection signals from the first and second proximity sensors, the activation signal indicating a direction of movement of at least a part of a user, and wherein the controller is operable to move the sliding door from the closed position to the open position in accordance with the activation signal.