Tamper detector for a security sensor

A security arrangement comprising:

• a mounting device including an upstanding wall, the mounting device being configured to be mounted to a surface of a structure such that the wall is oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface;
• a security sensor configured to sense an event that occurs outside of the security arrangement;
• a tamper detector attached to the security sensor, the tamper detector including an optical emitter, an optical receiver, and a slot disposed between the emitter and the receiver, the emitter being configured to transmit optical energy that is received by the receiver through the slot, the wall of the mounting device being received in the slot when the tamper detector is coupled to the mounting device to thereby block the transmission of the optical energy from the emitter to the receiver;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the receiver, the controller being configured to produce a tamper signal in response to the receiver receiving the optical energy.

A security method comprising the steps of:

• mounting a mounting device to a surface of a structure such that at least a portion of the mounting device is cantilevered from the surface;
• providing a security sensor configured to sense a security breach;
• providing a tamper detector including an optical emitter, an optical receiver, and an air gap disposed between the emitter and the receiver, the emitter and receiver being configured such that the receiver is capable of receiving optical energy that is transmitted by the emitter through the air gap;
• attaching the tamper detector to the security sensor;
• coupling the tamper detector to the mounting device such that the cantilevered portion of the mounting device is received in the air gap to thereby block the transmission of the optical energy from the emitter to the receiver;
• and
• producing a tamper signal in the event that the tamper detector is decoupled from the mounting device to thereby enable the receiver to receive the optical energy from the emitter.

A security arrangement comprising:

• a security device including an optical emitter and an optical receiver;
• and
• a mounting device configured to be mounted to a building structure, the mounting device being configured to one of:
• allow the receiver to receive optical energy from the emitter when the security device is coupled to the mounting device, and at least temporarily prevent the receiver from receiving optical energy from the emitter when the security device is decoupled from the mounting device;
• and
• prevent the receiver from receiving optical energy from the emitter when the security device is coupled to the mounting device, and at least temporarily allow the receiver to receive optical energy from the emitter when the security device is decoupled from the mounting device.

A security method comprising the steps of:

• mounting a mounting device to a surface of a structure;
• providing a security sensor configured to sense a security breach;
• providing a tamper detector including an optical emitter, an optical receiver, and an air gap disposed between the emitter and the receiver, the emitter and receiver being configured such that the receiver is capable of receiving optical energy that is transmitted by the emitter through the air gap;
• attaching the tamper detector to the security sensor;
• coupling the tamper detector to the mounting device such that at least a portion of the mounting device is received in the air gap to thereby one of:
• block the transmission of the optical energy from the emitter to the receiver;
• and
• allow the transmission of the optical energy from the emitter to the receiver;
• and
• producing a tamper signal in the event that the tamper detector is decoupled from the mounting device, the decoupling of the tamper detector from the mounting device one of:
• allowing the receiver to receive the optical energy from the emitter;
• and
• preventing the receiver from receiving the optical energy from the emitter.