Electronic combination lock with covert entry detection feature and method of covert entry detection

An electronic combination lock comprising a covert entry detection and alerting function, said lock comprising:

• a housing and a housing cover;
• a bolt, movable from a locked to an unlocked position;
• an electronic control for controlling acceptance of combinations, validation of combinations and movement of said bolt for opening;
• a dial for entering said combination and providing force to move said bolt;
• a bolt movement detector;
• said electronic control further responsive to said bolt movement detector to store an indication of covert entry;
• said electronic control responsive to said bolt movement detector to determine when said bolt movement is responsive to a validated combination entered into said electronic control;
• said electronic control further responsive to said entry of said authorized combination for inhibiting said electronic control from storing said indication of said covert entry.

An electronic combination lock comprising:

• electronic controls for controlling operations of said lock, including means for validating authorized combinations provided to said electronic controls;
• a bolt movable from a locked position to an unlocked position;
• a bolt movement detector;
• said electronic controls comprising determining means responsive to said bolt movement detector for determining if movement of said bolt results from entry of an authorized combination;
• means, responsive to said determining means for alerting an operator of a prior movement of said bolt without an authorized combination having been entered.

An electronic combination lock comprising:

• electronic controls, including electronic memory, for controlling said lock:
• a container for containing said controls:
• said container comprising a housing and a cover attached to said housing;
• means for detecting removal of said cover;
• said electronics comprising means, responsive to said means for detecting removal, for storing in said memory an indication of covert entry;
• said electronics further comprising alerting means responsive to said indications for alerting an operator of said lock that said lock has been violated.

A method of detecting covert entry of a lock comprising the steps of:

• providing a lock comprising a bolt, a means for entering a combination into said lock, electronic means for validating said combination and memory for storing indications of conditions effecting operation of said lock;
• detecting movement of said bolt;
• determining any acceptance of a valid combination by said means for validating;
• and
• storing an indication of any said bolt movement when said step of determining results in a determination that no valid combination has been accepted by said means for validating.