Methods and Apparatus for Security Device Removal Detection

A removal detector that detects the removal of a provided security device from a provided surface, the detector comprising:

• at least one magnet;
• and
• a sensor positioned proximate to at least one of the at least one magnet;
• wherein:
• the at least one magnet couples to the security device;
• the sensor couples to the security device;
• the sensor does not move with respect to the at least one magnet;
• the at least one magnet provides a magnetic flux;
• magnetically coupling the at least one magnet to the surface conducts at least a portion of the magnetic flux away from the sensor;
• and
• decoupling the at least one magnet from the surface conducts at least a portion of the magnetic flux through the sensor thereby indicating removal of the security device from the surface.

A security device that detects removal of the device from at least one of a first portal cover and a second portal cover, the security device comprising:

• a body;
• a first removal detector;
• and
• a second removal detector;
• wherein:
• the first removal detector magnetically couples the body to the first cover;
• the second removal detector magnetically couples the body to the second cover;
• the first removal detector detects removal of the body from the first cover;
• the second removal detector detects removal of the body from the second cover;
• at least one of the first removal detector and the second removal detector includes:
• at least one magnet;
• and
• a sensor positioned proximate to at least one of the at least one magnet;
• wherein:
• the sensor does not move with respect to the at least one magnet;
• each one magnet provides a magnetic flux;
• magnetically coupling the at least one magnet to at least one of the first portal cover and the second portal cover conducts at least a portion of the magnetic flux away from the sensor;
• and
• decoupling the at least one magnet from at least one of the first portal cover and the second portal cover conducts at least a portion of the magnetic flux through the sensor thereby indicating removal of the security device.

A method performed by a security device for detecting removal of the security device from a surface, the device having a body, the method comprising:

• detecting a change in a magnitude of a magnetic flux through a sensor;
• and
• providing a signal in accordance with detecting;
• wherein:
• at least one magnet couples to the body of the security device;
• the sensor couples to the body proximate to at least one magnet of the at least one magnet;
• the sensor does not move with respect to the at least one magnet;
• each at least one magnet provides a magnetic flux;
• magnetically coupling the at least one magnet to the surface conducts at least a portion of the magnetic flux away from the sensor;
• and
• decoupling the at least one magnet from the surface conducts at least a portion of the magnetic flux through the sensor thereby indicating removal of the security device.