Non-intrusive dial rotation detection of high security locks

1. A rotation detection system for detecting the rotation of a lock dial, the system comprising:

a magnet coupled to the lock dial and adapted to generate a changing magnetic field in response to rotation of the lock dial;

a mountable detector for detecting the magnetic field generated by the magnet and providing an output signal to a monitoring system in response to a change in the detected magnetic field.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the detector includes a magnetic rotation detector, the magnetic rotation detector including a transducer that varies its output in response to a magnetic field.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the detector further includes a controller coupled to the tranducer for receiving the tranducer output.

4. The system of claim 3 further including an alarm interface coupled to the detector for receiving an output signal from the controller and providing an alarm signal in response to the controller output signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the detector includes a Hall effect sensor.

6. A rotation detection system for detecting the rotation of a lock dial, the system comprising:

a rotating lock dial coupled to a lock body by a spindle;

a magnet for providing a magnetic field, the magnet being disposed in the lock body and coupled to the lock dial for rotation therewith, the magnetic field changing as the magnet moves in response to the rotation of the lock dial;

a sensor disposed near enough to the magnet to detect the magnetic field and provide a sensor output signal indicative of the magnetic field, the sensor output signal indicative of the magnetic field changing as the magnetic field changes;

a controller coupled to the sensor for receiving the sensor output signal indicative of the magnetic field, the controller providing a controller output signal in response to a change in the sensor output signal indicative of the magnetic field; and

an alarm interface coupled to the controller for receiving the controller output signal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the sensor includes a Hall effect sensor.

8. A method of detecting the rotation of a lock dial comprising the steps of:

establishing a baseline magnetic field;

providing a magnet coupled to a lock dial, the magnet providing a changing magnetic field in response to rotation of the lock dial;

monitoring the magnetic field; and

providing a magnetic rotation detector for detecting the magnetic field generated by the magnet and providing an output signal in response to a change in the detected magnetic field.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing a magnetic rotation detector further includes the steps of providing a transducer that varies its output in response to a magnetic field.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a magnetic rotation detector further includes the steps of providing a controller coupled to the tranducer for receiving the tranducer output.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the controller provides the output signal to an alarm interface.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of coupling the alarm interface to the controller for receiving the controller output signal and providing an alarm output signal in response to receiving the controller output signal.

13. The method of claim 8 further including the steps of providing a lock body having a cam coupled to the lock dial, the magnet being coupled to the cam for rotation with the lock dial.

14. The method of claim 8 further including sending the output signal to an alarm interface when it is determined the average magnetic field falls outside a predetermined range.

15. The system of claim 6 , further including the controller sending the output signal to the alarm interface when it is determined the average magnetic field falls outside a predetermined range.