Automatic lockset tamper detection device and method
First Claim
1. A lockset tampering detection device which comprises:
- sensing circuitry, operatively coupled to said lockset, responsive to signals indicative of tampering directed at defeating said lockset'"'"'s locking means andmeans to determine if the lockset is in its open or locked state andmeans to signal a tampering alarm when said sensing circuitry detects said tampering directed at defeating said lockset after said lockset is transitioned from its unlocked state to its locked state,wherein the operative connection between said lockset tampering sensing circuitry and said lockset is achieved through circuitry'"'"'s coupling to the lockset through its bolt by electrical, acoustic, magnetic, optical or other like means serving to signal tampering with the lock, through the bolt, to said sensing circuitry,wherein said sensing circuitry monitors qualified changes in capacitance between said lockset and a reference conductor as indicative of tampering.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for detecting tampering with standard mechanical locksets has a pair of electrical contacts placed within the recess that receive lock'"'"'s bolt and a third conductor positioned to run vertically along the door frame. A control box sends a low-level radio frequency (RF) signal to the first contact that in turn energizes the entire lockset when the bolt is in its extended position. The second contact returns RF energy to the control box to signal that the bolt is in its extended or locked position. Measured changes in capacitance serve to automatically enable tamper detection when the lockset is in its locked position; further, to automatically signal an alarm when the locked lockset is tampered with, to automatically disable tamper detection when the lockset is in its unlocked position and to define one or more protected areas whose status may then be signaled through conventional multi-zone security systems.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A lockset tampering detection device which comprises:
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sensing circuitry, operatively coupled to said lockset, responsive to signals indicative of tampering directed at defeating said lockset'"'"'s locking means and means to determine if the lockset is in its open or locked state and means to signal a tampering alarm when said sensing circuitry detects said tampering directed at defeating said lockset after said lockset is transitioned from its unlocked state to its locked state, wherein the operative connection between said lockset tampering sensing circuitry and said lockset is achieved through circuitry'"'"'s coupling to the lockset through its bolt by electrical, acoustic, magnetic, optical or other like means serving to signal tampering with the lock, through the bolt, to said sensing circuitry, wherein said sensing circuitry monitors qualified changes in capacitance between said lockset and a reference conductor as indicative of tampering. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. The method of arming, or disarming a lockset tampering detection device having, sensing circuitry, operatively coupled to said lockset, responsive to signals indicative of tampering directed at defeating said lockset'"'"'s locking means, means to signal if the lockset is in its open or locked state and means to signal a tampering alarm when said sensing circuitry detects tampering after said lockset is transitioned from its unlocked state to its locked state, comprising the steps of:
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arming the lockset tampering detection device after the lockset is transitioned from its unlocked to its locked state and disarming the lockset tampering detection device after the lockset is transitioned from its locked state to its unlocked state wherein said arming steps further comprise the sub-steps of; providing alarm inhibition for a sufficient time to allow normal, authorized means for transitioning the lockset from its locked to its unlocked state and providing a sustained tampering alarm when said inhibition time expires without locketset transition to its unlocked state with said sustained tampering alarm then made resetable only by first unlocking and relocking said lockset. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A lockset tampering detection device which comprises:
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sensing circuitry operatively coupled to said lockset responsive to signals indicative of tampering directed at defeating said lockset'"'"'s locking means and means to determine if the lockset is in its open or locked state and means to signal a tampering alarm when said sensing circuitry detects said tampering directed at defeating said lockset after said lockset is transitioned from its unlocked state to its locked state further comprising means to send a signal to a conventional multizone security system, said signal serving to communicate the status of said lockset such that the state of lockset tampering detection device may be determined to be; disarmed or armed or in alarm and further comprising; a conventional multi-zone security system through which lockset tampering alarms may be announced and a protected area, comprised of one or more zones, each secured by one or more lockset tampering detection devices and conventional means for the concurrent or rapid sequential determination of the state of each of the lockset tampering detection devices used to secure said protected area. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification