Anti-defeat magnetically actuated proximity sensor
AssigneeM2 Companies, Inc.
InventorsMichael P. McDonald, Morgan L. Morgan, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anti-defeat magnetically actuated proximity sensor including a switch unit and an actuating unit in separate housings. The switch unit can include one or more biased or non-biased magnetic reed switches, circuit boards, armored cable and wires. The actuating unit can include one or more magnets of specific polarity. The physical arrangement of the one or more reed switches of the circuit boards and the one or more magnets of the actuating unit result in the proximity sensor's anti-defeat characteristics.
Claims28
A proximity sensor configured to change from a secured condition to an alarm condition responsive to a proximity between a movable element to a stable structure, the secured condition and the alarm condition discernible by a security system, the sensor comprising:
- a switch housing operably positioning first and second circuit boards within the switch housing and configured to operably mount to a stable structure;
- an actuator housing operably positioning a magnet within the actuator housing and configured to operably mount to an element movable with respect to the stable structure, the actuator housing operably mounted to be proximate the switch housing when the moveable element is secured with respect to the stable structure;
- the first circuit board including a first switch arranged along a first plane, the first switch including first and second states, the first state including one of open and closed and the second state including the other of open and closed;
- the second circuit board including a second switch arranged along a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, the second switch including the first and second states;
- wherein the first plane is separated from the second plane by a distance;
- wherein when the actuator housing is proximate the switch housing such that the magnet is positioned between the first and second planes, the first switch is responsive to a first polarity of the magnet to be in its first state and the second switch is responsive to a second polarity of the magnet opposite the first polarity to be in its first state thereby placing the sensor in the secured condition;
- and
- wherein when the actuator housing is moved away from the switch housing, at least one of the first switch and the second switch changes to its second state thereby placing the sensor in the alarm condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.