Tri-angled antenna array for secure access control

An access control device adapted to be secured to a door having an interior side and an exterior side, the access control device comprising:

• an access control mechanism adapted to control access to a passageway;
• a housing adapted to be positioned at the exterior side of the door;
• an antenna array secured within the housing and including a plurality of antennas that are angularly offset relative to one another;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the access control device to:
• determine a first signal strength of a first signal received by one of the plurality of antennas from a mobile device;
• determine a second signal strength of a second signal received by another of the plurality of antennas from the mobile device;
• determine whether a location of the mobile device relative to the access control device is indicative of an intent of the user of the mobile device to access the passageway based on the first signal strength and the second signal strength;
• and
• automatically unlock the access control mechanism to allow access to the passageway in response to a determination that the location of the mobile device relative to the access control device is indicative of the intent of the user to access the passageway.

An access control device adapted to be secured to a door having an interior side and an exterior side, the door adapted to extend along a first plane, the access control device comprising:

• an access control mechanism adapted to control access to a passageway;
• a housing adapted to be secured to the exterior side of the door;
• an antenna array secured within the housing and including a plurality of directional antennas that are positioned at oblique angles relative to one another;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, causes the access control device to:
• determine a first signal strength of a first signal received by one of the directional antennas from a mobile device;
• determine a second signal strength of a second signal received by another of the directional antennas from the mobile device;
• determine whether a location of the mobile device relative to the access control device is indicative of an intent of the user of the mobile device to access the passageway based on the first signal strength and the second signal strength;
• and
• automatically unlock the access control mechanism to allow access to the passageway in response to a determination that the location of the mobile device relative to the access control device is indicative of the intent of the user to access the passageway.