Acoustically-controlled access control installation and an access control device for such an installation

An access control installation adapted for controlling access from a first zone to a second zone, said installation comprising:

• at least one separating panel separating the first and second zones and having a first surface on the same side as the first zone and a second surface on the same side as the second zone, said separating panel having at least one opening, and at least one moving closure element adapted for selectively opening or closing the opening;
• at least one opening actuator adapted for causing the closure element selectively to prevent or to allow access via the opening;
• and
• a control circuit for controlling the opening actuator;
• said access control installation being characterized in that it further comprises at least one sound sensor fastened to the separating panel on the same side as the second zone and adapted for detecting knocks on the first surface of said separating panel, and in that the control circuit is adapted for:
• determining relative positions of the knocks on the first surface of the separating panel;
• recognizing a predetermined code represented by a particular sequence of the relative position of knocks on the first surface;
• and
• controlling the opening actuator as a function of the recognized code;
• the code that the control circuit is adapted to recognize comprising a sequence of a plurality of relative positions of knocks of the sequence on the first surface of the separating panel.