Locks, systems and methods of monitoring a lock, the lock having a hub with a slot rotatable by a handle to open and close a latchbolt. A locking member is moveable into and out of engagement with the hub slot to prevent and permit movement of the hub and latchbolt. A sensor on the lock, adjacent the hub and locking member, monitors a moving lock component. The sensor may sense the position of the locking member in or out of engagement with the hub slot. The sensor may be a reed switch actuated by a magnet on the moving lock component. The lock may further include a magnet mounted on the hub and the sensor may comprise a reed switch capable of being actuated by the magnet on the hub. The lock and system may include an external control unit having an alarm for controlling operation of the lock.

A door lock alarm includes a housing affixed to a door panel that carries a door lock and is hinged to a door frame, and a sensor including a circuit substrate mounted in the housing, a microprocessor installed in the circuit substrate, a sensor component electrically coupled to the microprocessor to face toward the door lock for detecting the presence of the latch bolt of the door lock in the locking position and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor so that the microprocessor activates alarm to give off an alarm signal upon receipt of the signal from the sensor component.

A door lock detection system is disclosed. The system includes a magnet flexibly attached to a strike plate. The strike plate includes an opening. The magnet extends across the opening of the strike plate in a first orientation when a bolt does not extend into the opening of the strike plate. The magnet is configured to be deflected from the first orientation to a second orientation, distinct from the first orientation, in response to the bolt being extended into the opening of the strike plate. The system includes a magnetometer configured to detect one or more magnetic fields of the magnet that is flexibly attached to the strike plate in the first orientation and in the second orientation.

A locking system and method for a movable freight container comprises an electronic module with a shaft that goes into a cavity in a mechanical lock module. The shaft is securely retained in the cavity by a lock mechanism in the mechanical lock module by moving the lock mechanism to a locked position. A plurality of magnetic field sensors in the shaft are used to read the position of the shaft in the cavity by sensing or not sensing one or more magnets in the lock mechanism to confirm continuous time insertion of the shaft in the cavity. A wireless communication component in the electronic module wirelessly transmits an alarm signal if the magnetic field sensors detect an unexpected interruption in at least one of the continuous time shaft position magnetic sensor readings.

A lock assembly for a door, the lock assembly including a first magnetic field sensor and a second magnetic field sensor. The first magnetic field sensor and the second magnetic field sensor are moveable with respect to the door to determine an open position of the door, a close position of the door, and a fault condition. In one embodiment, the first magnetic field sensor and the second magnetic field sensor move with respect to the door as the door moves from the open position and the close position. The first magnetic field sensor is spaced from the second magnetic field sensor such that each of the first and second magnetic field sensors detects a different value of magnetic field intensity. A controller determines a position of the door with respect to a door frame using signals provided by the first and second magnetic field sensors.

A mortise lock assembly is disclosed that enables a position of a door associated with the mortise lock assembly to be determined despite whether a deadbolt is in a retracted state or an engaged state. An auxiliary latch assembly transitions between an engaged state and a retracted state. A main latch assembly may also transition between an engaged state and a retracted state. A magnetic field sensing device that is positioned on the auxiliary latch assembly detects a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generating device positioned on a door strike. The magnetic field sensing device is positioned on the auxiliary latch assembly such that the magnetic field sensing device is aligned with the magnetic field generating device positioned on the door strike when the door is in a closed position. The magnetic field sensing device may also be positioned on the main latch assembly in a similar manner.

A passive continuity monitoring device is disclosed. This device can be used to protect a lock or other locking device and to indicate when a breach of the lock has occurred. The lock can include a connector with a magnet at one end spaced from an other magnet. The connector can be held in tension when the lock is engaged to maintain the spacing between the magnets. A breach in the loop of the system will cause the magnets to touch and complete a circuit. The completion of the circuit can trigger an alarm, can take a picture of the surrounding area, and can transmit a signal to interested parties.

A locking system and method for a movable freight container comprises an electronic module with a shaft that goes into a cavity in a mechanical lock module. The shaft is securely retained in the cavity by a lock mechanism in the mechanical lock module by moving the lock mechanism to a locked position. A plurality of magnetic field sensors in the shaft are used to read the position of the shaft in the cavity by sensing or not sensing one or more magnets in the lock mechanism to confirm continuous time insertion of the shaft in the cavity. A wireless communication component in the electronic module wirelessly transmits an alarm signal if the magnetic field sensors detect an unexpected interruption in at least one of the continuous time shaft position magnetic sensor readings.

A latch assembly comprising: a latch operative to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition; a magnet imparting a magnetic field; a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field; the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor such that the sensor is able to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition.

A latch assembly comprising: a latch operable to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition; a magnet imparting a magnetic field; a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field; the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition, wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition and the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor.