Lockset with cylinder integrity sensor

1. A lock cylinder comprising:

a cylinder body;

a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, the cylinder plug including a cover attached to a face of the cylinder plug, the cover including a keyway, wherein the cover is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;

a sensor assembly configured to detect deformation and/or separation between the cover and the cylinder body, the sensor assembly including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug; and

an exterior cover fitted to the cylinder body, the sensor assembly being disposed between the cylinder body and the exterior cover.

2. The lock cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly detects deformation and/or separation of the cover from the cylinder body with a strain gauge.

3. The lock cylinder of claim 2 , wherein the strain gauge includes at least one spring surrounding at least a portion of the cylinder plug.

4. The lock cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly detects deformation and/or separation of the cover from the cylinder body with a continuity circuit.

5. The lock cylinder of claim 4 , wherein the continuity circuit is configured to become an open circuit when the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body.

6. The lock cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly detects deformation and/or separation of the cover from the cylinder body with a micro-switch.

7. The lock cylinder of claim 6 , wherein the micro-switch contacts the cylinder plug.

8. The lock cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly detects deformation and/or separation of the cover from the cylinder body with an optical sensor.

9. The lock cylinder of claim 8 , wherein the optical sensor includes a light source and a light sensor.

10. The lock cylinder of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the cylinder plug blocks the light source from the light sensor prior to deformation and/or separation of the cover.

11. The lock cylinder of claim 10 , wherein the light sensor detects the light source upon the deformation and/or separation of the cover from the cylinder body.

12. The lock cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly detects deformation and/or separation of the cover from the cylinder body with a contact microphone.

13. The lock cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes an opening dimensioned to receive the cylinder plug.

14. The lock cylinder of claim 13 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a raised edge surrounding the opening.

15. The lock cylinder of claim 14 , wherein the sensor assembly includes one or more sensors in the raised edge.

16. The lock cylinder of claim 13 , wherein the opening in the sensor assembly is coaxial with an opening in the cylinder body that receives the cylinder plug.

17. The lock cylinder of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the sensor assembly contacts the cylinder body.

18. A lock cylinder comprising:

a cylinder body;

a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, the cylinder plug including a cover attached to a face of the cylinder plug, the cover including a keyway, wherein the cover is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied; and

means for detecting deformation and/or separation between the cover of the cylinder plug and the cylinder body, wherein the means for detecting deformation and/or separation includes a sensor assembly positioned between the cover and the cylinder body and including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug.

19. The lock cylinder of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting when at least a portion of the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body includes a strain gauge.

20. The lock cylinder of claim 19 , wherein the strain gauge includes at least one spring surrounding at least a portion of the cylinder plug.

21. The lock cylinder of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting when at least a portion of the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body includes a continuity circuit.

22. The lock cylinder of claim 21 , wherein the continuity circuit is configured to become an open circuit when the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body.

23. The lock cylinder of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting when at least a portion of the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body includes a micro-switch.

24. The lock cylinder of claim 23 , wherein the micro-switch contacts a portion of the cylinder plug.

25. The lock cylinder of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting when at least a portion of the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body includes an optical sensor.

26. The lock cylinder of claim 25 , wherein the optical sensor includes a light source and a light sensor.

27. The lock cylinder of claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of the cylinder plug blocks the light source from the light sensor prior to deformation and/or separation of the cover.

28. The lock cylinder of claim 27 , wherein the light sensor detects the light source upon deformation and/or separation of the cover.

29. The lock cylinder of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting when at least a portion of the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body includes a contact microphone.

30. The lock cylinder of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting when at least a portion of the cover deforms and/or separates from the cylinder body includes a sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly includes an opening dimensioned to receive the cylinder plug.

31. The lock cylinder of claim 30 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a raised edge surrounding the opening.

32. The lock cylinder of claim 31 , wherein the sensor assembly includes one or more sensors in the raised edge.

33. The lock cylinder of claim 31 , wherein the opening in the sensor assembly is coaxial with an opening in the cylinder body that receives the cylinder plug.

34. The lock cylinder of claim 33 , wherein at least a portion of the sensor assembly contacts the cylinder body.

35. A lockset comprising:

an exterior assembly comprising:

a cylinder body;

a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, wherein the cylinder plug is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;

a sensor assembly configured to detect deformation and/or separation between at least a portion of the cylinder plug and the cylinder body, the sensor assembly including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug;

an interior assembly comprising:

an interior driver operatively coupled to the cylinder plug with a torque blade extending there between;

a circuit electrically connected to the sensor assembly; and

a tamper lock operative to restrict movement of the interior driver, separate from the cylinder plug;

wherein the circuit is configured to actuate the tamper lock responsive to detection by the sensor assembly that at least a portion of the cylinder plug has deformed and/or separated from the cylinder body.

36. The lockset of claim 35 , wherein the circuit is configured to signal an alarm responsive to detection by the sensor assembly that at least a portion of the cylinder plug has deformed and/or separated from the cylinder body.

37. The lockset of claim 35 , further comprising a speaker in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to actuate an audible alarm with the speaker responsive to detection by the sensor assembly that at least a portion of the cylinder plug has deformed and/or separated from the cylinder body.

38. The lockset of claim 35 , further comprising a wireless communication device in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit a wireless message with the wireless communication device indicating that the sensor assembly has detected deformation and/or separation of the cylinder plug from the cylinder body.

39. The lockset of claim 35 , wherein the tamper lock includes a solenoid with a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the circuit controls movement of the bolt between the extended and retracted positions.

40. The lockset of claim 39 , wherein the interior driver includes an opening into which the bolt of the solenoid is received when in the extended position.

41. A method of detecting tampering with a lock cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a cylinder body;

providing a cylinder plug disposed in the cylinder body, the cylinder plug having a cover including a keyway, wherein the cover is configured to deform and/or separate from the cylinder body when a sufficient force is applied;

monitoring the cylinder plug to detect deformation and/or separation between at least a portion of the cover and the cylinder body using a sensor assembly positioned between the cover and the cylinder body and including a base that defines an opening, the opening at least partially surrounding the cylinder plug; and

responsive to detection of deformation and/or separation between at least a portion of the cover and the cylinder body by the sensor assembly, generating an electrical signal indicating tampering of the cylinder plug.

42. The method of claim 41 , further comprising the step of generating an audible alarm responsive to detection that at least a portion of the cover has deformed and/or separated from the cylinder body.

43. The method of claim 41 , further comprising the step of actuating a tamper lock that locks the cylinder plug responsive to detection that at least a portion of the cover has deformed and/or separated from the cylinder body.