Hybrid access control system and method for controlling the same

A wireless access apparatus for controlling access into a secure area comprising:

• a first motion sensor for detecting motion in a first predetermined range;
• a transceiver for polling access cards within the first predetermined range and for receiving access information from said access cards;
• a controller for activating said transceiver to poll access cards within the first predetermined range, if said first motion sensor detects motion and for determining if an access card is within the first predetermined range;
• and
• an electromechanical transducer coupled to said controller for unlocking or locking an entrance into the secure area, said controller determines access to said secure area using information received from an access card;
• and
• two different power sources coupled to the controller and a manually operable switch coupled to the controller to select a source to energize at least the controller wherein a first of the two different power sources is a solar panel and a second of the two different power sources is a rechargeable battery and wherein the controller decides if there is enough solar power for operation, if there is enough power for solar operation, the controller disconnects the rechargeable battery and if there is not enough power for solar operation the controller remains connected to the rechargeable battery and wherein the controller is initially connected to the solar panel during start up and the manually operable switch is a pushbutton that is depressed during startup to force the battery to be connected to and to power the controller during installation where the solar cell may not have had access to light.

A method of controlling access into a protected area comprising the steps of:

• a controller detecting motion within a first predetermined range;
• the controller activating a transmitter for polling access cards within the first predetermined range;
• the controller determining if any access cards are within the first predetermined range;
• the controller determining if any of the access cards within the first predetermined range is authorized for entry into the protected area;
• the controller unlocking an entrance to the protected area based upon the determination of authorization;
• the controller deciding if there is enough renewable power for operation, if there is enough renewable power for operation, disconnecting the rechargeable power source and if there is not enough renewable power for operation remaining connected to the rechargeable power source, wherein during startup, the controller is initially connected to the solar panel;
• and
• manually depressing a pushbutton during startup to force the rechargeable power source to be connected to and to power the controller in the case where the solar cell may not have had access to light.