Self-testing security sensor for monitoring closure of vault doors and the like

A security device and monitoring system for monitoring the closed status of a door, comprising:

• (a) a switch means adapted to be mounted on a door frame of a door being monitored, said switch means further comprising at least one magnetically biased switch connected to at least one electrical monitoring circuit including an alarm means wherein said switch means is switchable between first and second states;
• (b) a magnet means to be mounted on the said door, said magnet means further comprising at least one magnet for causing said switch to assume said first state when said closure member is closed with respect to said door frame, and for causing said switch means to assume said second state when said door is opened with respect to said door frame;
• (c) a self-testing means controllable from a remote location for magnetically simulating the effect of movement of said door from said door frame so as to test the response of said system to said opening of said door, wherein said at least one magnet further comprises at least one permanent magnet for producing a first magnetic flux and said self-testing means comprises at least one electromagnet mounted within said magnet means for generating a second magnetic flux which reduces the effect of the first magnetic flux produced by said at least one permanent magnet;
• (d) a tamper means for detecting tampering to said security system;
• and wherein the alarm means is activated when the door being monitored is actually or simulated to be opened or when said security system is being tampered with.

A self-testing device and monitoring system for panel closure monitoring, comprising:

• a) a switch unit adapted to be mounted on a frame part for a moveable panel being monitored, said switch unit further comprising at least one magnetically biased switch connected to at least one electrical monitoring circuit, said switch unit switchable between first and second states;
• b) a magnet unit adapted to be mounted on a moveable panel being monitored by said security system, said magnet unit further comprising at least one magnet for enabling said switch unit to assume said first state when said moveable panel is closed with respect to said frame part and for causing said switch to assume said second state when said moveable panel is opened with respect to said frame part, wherein said at least one magnet generates a magnetic flux for causing said switch to assume said first state;
• c) a self-testing means controllable from a remote location for magnetically simulating the effect of movement of the moveable panel from the closed position to the open position without any actual movement of said moveable panel so as to test the response of the system to movement of said moveable panel, wherein self-testing means comprises magnetic means for generating a magnetic flux which cancels or diverts the magnetic flux produced by said magnet means;
• d) a tamper means for detecting tampering to said security system;
• and
• e) an alarm indicating means which is activated when said moveable panel being monitored is actually or simulated to be moved from the closed state to the opened state or when said security system is being tampered with.