Appliance Design - February 2009 - (Page 21)

ELECTRoNIC LoCK Locking a door with a key is one way to secure a room, a cabinet, a drawer. But, that may not be enough to protect sensitive data or property from theft whether it is information from a data center or a retail store that accepts credit cards, money from an automatic teller machine, or other property that must be kept safe. A higher-tech method of security would be a combination of microelectronics and mechanics, a concept that is called mechatronics. A typical scenario might be a bank’s data center. In this example, several workers are authorized to enter a room where server cabinets are kept. Each set of cabinets need to be individually protected as some workers can access certain cabinets, but not others. Badge or proximity cards, fingerprint machines or retina scanners, can be a first line of security. A second level of a security, such as a PIN or password, can give authorized personnel access to the cabinets. All of these events can be accomplished with a system such as the ELM, Electronic Locking and Monitoring System, from EMKA, Middletown, Pa. John Bates, sales development manager, says that the ELM can be integrated into a range of OEM products. It is a 4-wire cable hookup, and the power draw is in the milliamps. Programming is done through EMKA’s Windows-based software. The ELM is modular and can comprise one or more modules each containing specific groups of tasks. These tasks may include controlling a lock, or multiple locks, or monitoring temperature, humidity, smoke, or other environmental activity using sensors. Multiple modules can connect through a controller area network (CAN), and up to 100 modules can be grouped. With it, the system can manage up to 512 handles or 256 sensors, 258 contacts, and up to 100 access codes per handle. The modules are housed in steel boxes or several modules can be grouped in a 19-in. rackmount unit. Units are in operation across the country, including at an automated popcorn kiosk at a movie theater. The kiosk allows customers to automatically order popcorn, pay for it, and receive the popcorn. The kiosk has two cabinets each with ELM controlled door locks. One cabinet holds paper for receipts and other supplies. That cabinet has one level of security clearance. The second cabinet contains the currency, and that has a more restrictive security rating. If that cabinet is breached by an unauthorized person, an alarm would go out over a LAN, and a text message sent through a SNMP (simplified network management protocol). Police can be called to the scene, and they might be able to track the culprit by following dropped popcorn kernels. For more information on EMKA, email j.bates@emkausa.com. JoINING A cut-away of a Hettich Quadro Compact slide that shows the ball bearing’s orientation. while the other hand reached in for ice. That person might think differently if the door had a hinge that kept it propped open. The plastic door may still be used, he says, but not having to hold the door open makes the whole product seem more substantial and of higher quality. The company specializes in the area of position-control hinges. The hinges can come as a constant torque device, which will hold an infinite variety of positions, or as a detent hinge that holds open doors at predetermined positions without the need for gas struts or door stays. These can be important in horizontally hinged applications such as compartment lids or flip-up access www.applianceDESIGN.com AD02094BTM.indd 1 applianceDESIGN February 2009 21 1/14/09 3:53:45 PM http://www.tog-l-loc.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

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Appliance Design - February 2009 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch Force-Sensing Technology Offers Designers an Alternative Approach to Creating Touch-Control Interfaces A Flammable Vapor Sensing Technology that was Originally Developed for use in Water Heaters has Evolved for use in a Broader Array of Applications Latches, Hinges, and Slides Must Reliably Secure Parts Together, Sometimes for Hundreds of Thousands of Cycles. Beyond their Utilitarian Functions, They Can Also Change Consumer Perceptions Elastomeric Electrical Connectors Can Solve Space Constraint Problems in Electronic Products and Provide Some Cost Advantages as Well A Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor with a Novel Electrode Design Can Suppress Electromagnetic Interference, Improve Circuit Performance, and Reduce the Number of Needed Components Design Marts Association Report: AHRI Advertisers’ Index

Appliance Design - February 2009

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