High security balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system
First Claim
1. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
- a magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure, said magnetic switch assembly including (1) first and second switch magnets fixed in relative position wherein they are axially aligned and wherein adjacent ends thereof have the same polarity, and (2) first and second reed switches positioned on opposite outside ends of respective said first and second switch magnets and generally perpendicular to an axial magnet alignment and both operatively connectable to ab electric circuit; and
an actuator magnet assembly mountable to a second structure which is movable between open and closed positions relative to the first structure;
wherein said first and second reed switches, when the second structure is in the open position, are in a first condition relative to the electrical circuit indicating the open position, due to the magnetic influence of said first and second switch magnets thereon; and
wherein said first and second reed switches, when the second structure is in the closed position, are in a second condition relative to the electrical circuit indicating the closed position, due to the magnetic influence of said actuator magnet assembly thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetically-actuated, proximity switch system for use in physical security monitoring systems, machinery control systems and the like, including a stationary assembly and an actuator assembly moveable relative thereto. The stationary assembly includes at least two electrically-interconnected magnetic reed switches and at least two interacting permanent biasing magnets disposed in a predetermined physical relationship. The magnets are arranged to have opposing polarity orientations which produce a resultant interactive magnetic field. Each reed switch is biased in a magnetically actuated state by its orientation and position within that field. The actuator assembly in turn includes at least two permanent actuating magnets arranged to produce a number of apparent magnetic poles corresponding to the number of apparent (or consequent) poles produced by the permanent biasing magnets and in opposition thereto. Thereby, the permanent magnet resultant interactive field is altered, thereby overcoming the effect of the permanent biasing magnets when the stationary assembly and the actuator assembly are in a predetermined relative physical relationship. The number of apparent poles is odd, and they are interactive so that the stationary assembly advantageously cannot be deceived or defeated using only a single permanent external magnet. A ferrous metal slug can be provided between the two bias magnets to aid in adjusting the positioning of the components to yield the desired performance and to magnetically short out a powerful individual magnet that could be eternally positioned in the center of the bias magnets in an attempt to defeat the device. A U-shaped ferrous metal shield can be used as an outer enclosure for the switch module.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure, said magnetic switch assembly including (1) first and second switch magnets fixed in relative position wherein they are axially aligned and wherein adjacent ends thereof have the same polarity, and (2) first and second reed switches positioned on opposite outside ends of respective said first and second switch magnets and generally perpendicular to an axial magnet alignment and both operatively connectable to ab electric circuit; and an actuator magnet assembly mountable to a second structure which is movable between open and closed positions relative to the first structure; wherein said first and second reed switches, when the second structure is in the open position, are in a first condition relative to the electrical circuit indicating the open position, due to the magnetic influence of said first and second switch magnets thereon; and wherein said first and second reed switches, when the second structure is in the closed position, are in a second condition relative to the electrical circuit indicating the closed position, due to the magnetic influence of said actuator magnet assembly thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure, said magnetic switch assembly including (1) first and second switch magnets affixed relative to one another such that the magnetic repulsive forces between them create a resultant interactive magnetic field, and (2) first and second magnetically-actuatable switches mounted relative to said first and second magnets and in the interactive magnetic field and operatively connectable to an electrical circuit; and an actuator magnet assembly mountable to a second structure which is movable between open and closed positions relative to the first structure, said actuator magnet assembly including first and second actuator magnets; wherein when the second structure is in the open position, the interactive magnetic field causes said first and second switches to assume a first condition relative to the electrical circuit to indicate the open position; and wherein when the second structure is in the closed position, said first and second actuator magnets act together on the interactive magnetic field to thereby cause said first and second switches to both assume a second condition relative to the electrical circuit to indicate the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure; a magnetic actuator assembly mountable to a second structure which is movable between open and closed positions relative to the first structure; wherein said switch assembly includes a plurality of permanent biasing magnets arranged with opposing polarity orientations so as to produce a resultant interactive magnetic switch field, said switch field producing a plurality of switch field apparent poles; wherein said switch assembly includes a plurality of electrically-interconnected magnet reed switches, each said switch being biased to a magnetically actuated state by the interactive magnetic switch field; wherein said actuator assembly includes a plurality of permanent actuator magnets arranged to produce a plurality of actuator field apparent poles; wherein the number of said actuator field apparent poles is the same as the number of said switch field apparent poles; wherein when the second structure is in the closed position, said actuator field apparent poles alter the switch field thereby overcoming the actuating effect of the switch field on said switches; and wherein the number of said switch field poles is an odd number such that said magnetic switch assembly cannot be deceived using only a single permanent foreign magnet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. For a balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, a stationary switch assembly comprising:
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first and second high coercivity magnets; mounting means for mounting said magnets in place such that their poles are in opposition and such that said magnets are fixed in position relative to one another to thereby form an interactive magnetic field; and first and second reed switches connectable to a central unit, and mounted relative to said magnets such that the interactive magnetic field biases both said switches to inactive conditions and such that a single external magnet alone is unable to bring both said switches to simultaneous active conditions to thereby defeat the central unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. For a balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, a stationary switch assembly comprising:
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first and second high-coercivity permanent switch magnets fixed substantially in line with their poles in opposition and with a gap between adjacent ends thereof, both said magnets having substantially the same length, the gap being generally equivalent to each of the magnet lengths, and the lengths being generally equivalent to the diameters of the faces of said magnets, said first and second magnets creating an interactive resultant magnetic field; and first and second reed switches operatively connectable to a control system and affixed relative to said first and second switches magnets such then said reed switches are in non-activated conditions, the control system is in a non-actuated state, and when said reed switches are in actuated conditions by the close proximity thereto of an actuator magnet assembly, the control system is in an actuated state. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure, said magnetic switch assembly including (1) first and second switch magnets affixed relative to one another such that the magnetic repulsive forces between them create a resultant interactive magnetic field having first and second lobes, (2) magnetically-actuatable switch means mounted relative to said first and second magnets and in the interactive magnetic field and operatively connectable to an electrical circuit, and (3) a ferrous slug extending perpendicularly to and sandwiched directly between said first and second switch magnets to cancel a single foreign magnet introduced along a line between said first and second switch magnets; an actuator magnetic assembly mountable to a second structure which is movable between first and second positions relative to the first structure; wherein when the second structure is in the first position, the interactive magnetic field causes said switch means to assume a first condition relative to the electrical circuit to indicate the first position; and wherein when the second structure is generally in the second position, said actuator magnetic assembly acts on the interactive magnetic field to thereby cause said switch means to assume a second condition relative to the electrical circuit to indicate the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a magnetic switch assembly including magnet means for defining a magnetic field and switch means positioned in the magnetic field and operatively connectable to an electrical circuit, said magnetic switch assembly being mountable to a first structure; a U-shaped ferrous shield enclosing said magnetic switch assembly on three sides thereof, supportable by the first structure and having an open fourth side; an actuator magnet assembly mountable to a second structure which is movable between first and second positions relative to the first structure; wherein when the second structure is in the first position, the magnetic field causes said switch means to assume a first condition relative to the electrical circuit to indicate the first position; and wherein when the second structure is in the second position, said actuator magnet assembly acts through said open side on the magnetic field to cause said switch means to assume a second condition relative to the electrical circuit to indicate the second position. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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(1) a first switch system including; (a) a first magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure, said first magnetic switch assembly including a first switch means and first switch magnet means for producing a first switch pole arrangement; and (b) a first magnetic actuator assembly mountable to a second structure, said first magnetic actuator assembly including first actuator magnetic means for producing a first actuator pole arrangement; wherein the first actuator pole arrangement is in magnetic opposition to the first switch pole arrangement such that when the first and second structures are moved between distant and proximate positions relative to one another a switch actuation condition of said first switch means is changed; and (2) a second switch system including; (a) a second magnetic switch assembly mountable to a third structure, said second magnetic switch assembly including a second switch means and second switch magnet means for producing a second switch pole arrangement; and (b) a second magnetic actuator assembly mountable to a fourth structure, said second magnetic actuator assembly including second actuator magnet means for producing a second actuator pole arrangement; wherein the second actuator pole arrangement is in magnetic opposition to the second switch pole arrangement such that when the third and fourth structures are moved between distant and proximate positions relative to one another a switch actuation condition of said second switch means is changed; and wherein the second actuator pole arrangement is the opposite of the first actuator pole arrangement such that said second magnetic actuator assembly cannot deactivate said first magnetic switch assembly; and wherein each of the pole arrangements includes a plurality of apparent poles formed by interactive fields of said first and second switch magnet means, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A balanced-type, magnetically actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a magnetic switch assembly including a case, magnet means and switch means, both said magnet means and said switch means being positioned in said case, said case being mountable to a surface of a first structure; a magnetic actuator assembly mountable to a second structure which is moveable between first and second positions relative to the first structure and positioned relative to said magnetic switch assembly to alter the actuation condition of said switch means when the second structure is moved between the first and second positions; and a tamper indicator assembly including (a) a mechanical push switch having a plunger whose end does not extend beyond a back plane of said case and (b) a member having an end and insertable into the surface such that said end is exposed, said plunger being exposed at a back of said case such that with said back mounted to the surface of the first structure, said member end pushes against and operatively engages said plunger and such that in a tamper event when said member end no longer operatively pushes against said plunger an alarm is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A balanced-type, magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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a barrier frame; an outswinging barrier which swings relative to said barrier frame between a closed position and an outswung open position; a magnet pack; a first elongate fastener extending in a first direction and securing said magnet pack to said outswinging barrier; a magnetically-actuable switch module; a second elongate fastener extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and securing said switch module to said barrier frame; and a cable extending from said switch module into said barrier frame and operatively to an alarm system; wherein with said outswinging barrier in the closed position, said magnet pack and said switch module are proximate one another and oriented such that said magnet pack magnetically actuates said switch module to a first switch condition, and with said outswinging door swung from the closed position out to the open position, the relative positioning of said magnet pack and said switch module assumes a second switch condition causing the alarm system to actuate. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A magnetically-actuated proximity switch system, comprising:
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(1) a first switch system including; (a) a first magnetic switch assembly mountable to a first structure;
said first magnetic switch assembly including a first switch means and first switch magnet means for producing a first switch pole arrangement; and(b) a first magnetic actuator assembly mountable to a second structure, said first magnetic actuator assembly including first actuator magnetic means for producing a first actuator pole arrangement; wherein the first actuator pole arrangement is in magnetic opposition to the first switch pole arrangement such that when the first and second structures are moved between distant and proximate positions relative to one another, a switch actuation condition of said fast switch means is changed; (2) a second switch system including; (a) a second magnetic switch assembly mountable to a third structure, said second magnetic switch assembly including a second switch means and second switch magnet means for producing a second switch pole arrangement; and (b) a second magnetic actuator assembly mountable to a fourth structure, said second magnetic actuator assembly including second actuator magnet means for producing a second actuator pole arrangement; wherein the second actuator pole arrangement is in magnetic opposition to the second switch pole arrangement such that when the third and fourth structures are moved between distant and proximate positions relative to one another, a switch actuation condition of said second switch means is changed; and wherein the second actuator pole arrangement is the opposite of the first actuator pole arrangement such that said second magnetic actuator assembly cannot deactivate said first magnetic switch assembly; and wherein the first switch pole arrangement comprises a north-south-north apparent pole arrangement and the second switch pole arrangement comprises a south-north-south apparent pole arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification