Security sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9824556-B2
Application number	US-201615179083-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A security sensor including a processor, communication module, antenna, and tamper detection circuit, wherein the sensor is configured to detect tampering based at least in part on a difference between an electrical characteristic of a first signal and the electrical characteristic of a second signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting unauthorized tampering with a security sensor including a processor, an antenna and a detection circuit, the method comprising the steps:
(a) transmitting a first signal;
(b) measuring a first electrical characteristic of the first signal;
(c) generating a second signal when an object is in close proximity to the sensor;
(d) measuring a second electrical characteristic of the second signal;
(e) determining whether a difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is greater than or equal to a tamper threshold; and
(f) generating an alarm signal subsequent to determining the difference between the first electrical characteristic the second electrical characteristic is greater than or equal to a tamper threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic comprise a voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tamper threshold is adjustable.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tamper threshold is adjustable based at least in part on at least one environmental factor.

5. A security sensor comprising:
a processor;
a communication module in electrical communication with the processor, the communication module configured to transmit a first signal;
an antenna in communication with the communication module; and
a tamper detection circuit in communication with the processor, the tamper detection circuit configured to generate a second signal and measure a first electrical characteristic of the first signal and a second electrical characteristic of the second signal;
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is greater than or equal to a tamper threshold and generate an alarm signal subsequent to having determined the difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is greater than or equal to a tamper threshold.

6. The sensor of claim 5 , wherein the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic comprise a voltage.

7. The sensor of claim 5 , wherein the tamper threshold is adjustable.

8. The sensor of claim 7 , wherein the tamper threshold is adjustable based at least in part on at least one environmental factor.

9. A security system comprising:
a control unit; and
at least one sensor in communication with the control unit;
wherein the at least one sensor is configured to:
transmit a first signal;
generate a second signal; and
measure a first electrical characteristic of the transmitted first signal and a second electrical characteristic of the generated second signal;
determine whether the difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is greater than or equal to a tamper threshold; and
transmit an alarm signal to the control unit if the difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is greater than or equal to a tamper threshold.

10. The security system of claim 9 , wherein the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic comprise a voltage.

11. The security system of claim 9 , wherein the tamper threshold is adjustable.

12. The security system of claim 11 , wherein the tamper threshold is adjustable based at least in part on at least one environmental factor.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Zacchio Joseph
• Soldner Nicholas Charles

Classifications

• G08B29/046 Primary

  prevention of tampering with detection circuits · CPC title

• G08B13/06 Primary

  by tampering with fastening · CPC title