What Are Proximity Badge Portable Scanners?

Portable Scanner

• Portable proximity scanners are handheld, battery operated devices that are used to scan magnetized plastic cards called proximity cards. The scanners emit a steady frequency, which interacts with the magnetic particles on the card, resulting in a magnetic field. The scanner reads the binary data emitted by the card, stores the information in its memory and allows or rejects security access.

Proximity Cards

• Proximity cards store data on a magnetic strip. The data is stored in binary form by polarizing microscopic magnets on the surface of the magnetic strip. A portion of the strip's surface contains identifying information, such as your name and identification number. The rest of the strip contains information about what access the card holder is to be granted.

Security Uses

• Portable proximity badge scanners are popular for access control in a flexible range of environments. Scanners are used to control access to high security areas, such as prisons, medical facilities and industrial locations. They can also be used for lower-security operations, such as recreational facility access, vehicular gates and office buildings.

Tracking Uses

• Tracking systems also make use of proximity badge scanners for asset management purposes. Retailers can use a badge scanner to scan proximity cards attached to shipped goods. Proximity scanners are also used in hospitals to log patient activities. Portable badge scanners designed for tracking can detect and record data and forward it to a database server that processes and stores the scan.