Control panels are usually enclosed printed circuit boards with connections to all peripheral devices in their area. These peripheral devices may include door hardware (such as a card reader, door position switch, or door strike) and other inputs and relays as required. The control panel manages the peripheral devices and communicates between the host computer and the peripheral devices. The control panels have the following functions:
Consolidation of all connections to peripheral devices
Provision of power, as needed, to peripheral devices
Management of peripherals when communications to the host computer are absent or when acting in a distributed manner
