Electronically alarmed lock

An electronically alarmed lock comprising:

• a mechanical lock structure including a lock body, cylinder means rotatably mounted within said lock body, said cylinder means having a key slot formed therein;
• a key having a shank adapted to fit into said key slot, said shank having defined thereon a plurality of coded sections;
• sensor means mounted on said lock body and including a plurality of code sensing elements with one of said code sensing elements being operatively associated with each one of said coded sections;
• decoding circuit means operatively connected to said sensor means for decoding said coded sections, said decoding circuit means including a plurality of logic gates, each of said logic gates having an input connected from said sensor means;
• biasing means connected to said logic gate inputs for maintaining said inputs at a high voltage level, said biasing means being located physically near said lock body, said logic gates being located physically remote from said lock body;
• a cable extending between and connecting said biasing means and said logic gates;
• and
• alarm means operatively connected to said decoding circuit means for producing an alarm in response to all but certain predetermined decoded signals.