Patent Description:
International Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> discloses a security sensor system. The security sensor system includes a window frame defining a window opening, a window sash movable relative to the window frame between open and closed positions, and a sensor unit embedded in the window frame. The sensor unit includes a housing having an inner end within the window frame, an outer end at a surface of the window frame, and a flexible ¼ wave wire antenna extending e.g. longitudinally of the window frame from the housing. The housing contains a sensor switch, a microprocessor, an RF transmitter and a battery for emitting signals to a master station or controller. The security sensor system also includes a magnet mounted in the window sash for actuating the sensor switch.

<CIT> discloses a system for monitoring the position of one or more RFID tags. The system has a detector incorporating circuitry for detecting changes in the range of an RFID tag from the detector and for triggering an alarm if a detected change in range of an RFID tag exceeds a predetermined threshold or if the RFID radio tag cannot be detected by the detector. Range may be detected, for example, by measuring the time of a returned radio signal from a tag, by measuring the strength of a returned radio signal from a tag, or by detecting changes in a periodic interval at which energy is transmitted by a tag.

<CIT> discloses a security alarm system. The security alarm system includes an RFID tag mounted on a window. The security alarm system includes a sensor including an RFID reader mounted on the window. The security alarm system includes a control panel. A distance between the sensor and the RFID tag increases when the window is opened. The sensor signals the control panel to trigger an alarm when the distance between the sensor and the RFID increases beyond a threshold distance and the sensor cannot read the RFID tag.

<CIT>discloses an RFID transponder for use in a security system based upon RFID techniques. The RFID transponder may be connected to an intrusion sensor. Example intrusion sensors are magnetically sensitive relay or LED detectors. The RFID transponder may also be connected to a passive infrared sensor. The RFID transponder can contain a battery, and the battery can be recharged by receiving and converting RF energy transmitted by the RFID reader. The security system also supports RFID transponders that may be carried by persons or animals, of that may contain a button used to signal an event such as an emergency. The RFID transponder typically uses backscatter modulation for responses, and can accept various modulation techniques for inbound wireless communications. The RFID transponder only responds when permitted.

<CIT>discloses a security method and apparatus. In one embodiment, a method for providing an alarm for a window by a security apparatus comprises calculating a first distance between a detector mounted within a movable portion of the window and a window frame edge and calculating a second distance between the detector and the window frame edge. The method further comprises determining whether the movable portion of the window has remained stationary for more than a predetermined time period based on the first distance and the second distance and, if the movable portion has remained stationary for more than the predetermined time period, storing the second distance in a memory, placing the security apparatus into an active alarm state, calculating a third distance observed by the detector, determining a change between the third distance and the second distance, determining whether the change exceeds a predetermined distance, and generating an alarm signal if the change exceeds the predetermined distance.

There is provided disclosed herein, and it is an object to provide, an improved security alarm system and method of installing the same.

There is accordingly provided a security alarm system. The system includes an RFID tag mounted on a first of a window/door and framing thereof. The system includes a sensor with an RFID reader mounted on a second of the window/door and the framing. A distance between the sensor and the RFID tag varies as the window/door is opened. The sensor includes a signal range adjuster actuation of which alters the range within which the sensor can read the RFID tag. The system includes a control panel. The sensor signals the control panel to trigger an alarm when the distance between the sensor and the RFID tag increases beyond a threshold distance so altered and the sensor cannot read the RFID tag, the threshold distance being the distance of the altered range beyond which the RFID tag cannot be read.

There is also provided a method of installing a security alarm system. The system includes an RFID tag and a sensor with an RFID reader. The method includes coupling a first of the RFID tag and the sensor to a first of a window/door and framing thereof. The method includes coupling a second of the RFID tag and the sensor to a second of the window/door and the framing. The method includes opening the window/door to a user-determined distance. The method includes adjusting a maximum signal range of the sensor past which the sensor is unable to read the RFID tag to correspond to said user-determined distance. The method includes providing a control panel to which the sensor signals to trigger an alarm when the distance between the sensor and the RFID tag increases beyond said maximum signal range so adjusted.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Referring to the drawings and first to <FIG> there is shown a radio frequency identification (hereinafter "RFID") tag <NUM> and a sensor <NUM>. The sensor includes a housing <NUM> having a cover <NUM>. There is a circuit board <NUM> disposed within the housing <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> includes a microprocessor <NUM> and a power source, in this example a coin cell battery <NUM>, each mounted on the circuit board. The sensor <NUM> includes an RFID reader <NUM>, a radio <NUM> and an antenna <NUM>, each also mounted on the circuit board <NUM>. The radio and antenna allow the sensor <NUM> to transmit and receive radio signals. The radio <NUM> and antenna <NUM> allow the sensor <NUM> to communicate with a control panel <NUM> as part of a wireless security alarm system. There is a wire <NUM> which may be electrically and releasably connected to the sensor <NUM>. The wire allows the sensor <NUM> communicate with the control panel <NUM> as part of a wired security alarm system. The sensor <NUM> communicates with the control panel to trigger an alarm.

The sensor <NUM> includes a signal range adjuster <NUM> mounted on the circuit board <NUM> and disposed in part within the housing <NUM>. The signal range adjuster may be referred to as an electromagnetic field adjuster or an RFID range adjuster. The signal range adjuster is in this example manually actuated via a push-button <NUM> extending partially through the cover <NUM> of the housing. The signal range adjuster <NUM> is in communication with the microprocessor <NUM> and the RFID reader <NUM>. The signal range adjuster functions to alter the strength/size of the electromagnetic field <NUM> seen in <FIG> generated by the RFID reader seen in <FIG>. In this example the signal range adjuster <NUM> alters the amount of transmitter power output of the RFID reader <NUM>. The signal range adjuster, in conjunction with the microprocessor <NUM>, may enable power to the RFID reader to be selectively increased or decreased to expand or reduce the range of the RFID reader. In addition or alternatively, the signal range adjuster may alter the amount of oscillating current passing through the antenna <NUM> of the RFID reader. Actuation of the signal range adjuster <NUM> via push-button <NUM> seen in <FIG> alters the range within which the sensor can read the RFID tag <NUM>.

<FIG> show the RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a window sensor for a window <NUM> in a first configuration of a security alarm system. The first configuration of the security alarm system is a wireless security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on a stile <NUM> of the window <NUM> and mounted on the bottom rail <NUM> of the window in part. However this is not strictly required and in other embodiments, the sensor may be mounted solely on the bottom rail and spaced-apart from the stile, or may be mounted solely on the stile and spaced-apart from the bottom rail.

The RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example a side jamb <NUM> of the window <NUM> near a sill <NUM> thereof. The window is moveably linearly relative to the framing, in this example in a vertical direction along axis <NUM>. The window <NUM> is fully closed in <FIG> with a bottom rail <NUM> of the window <NUM> abutting the sill <NUM> thereof. The sensor <NUM> is operating in a default setting with electromagnetic field <NUM> being well within range of and extending past the RFID tag <NUM> when the window is closed. The sensor is thus able to read the RFID tag when the window <NUM> is fully closed and signals that the window <NUM> is closed.

Likewise, as shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> is also able to read the RFID tag <NUM> when the window <NUM> is open up to a threshold distance D1. The sensor continues to operate in its default setting, with the RFID tag just being within range of the electromagnetic field <NUM> of the sensor. It is desirable to allow the window <NUM> to be partially opened for ventilation but not opened enough to allow an intruder to enter through the window <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> will accordingly not trigger an alarm when the sensor <NUM> is able to read the RFID tag <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, when the window <NUM> is open to a distance D2, which is greater than the threshold distance D1 seen in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> in its default setting is no longer able to read the RFID tag <NUM> and an alarm is triggered.

The sensor <NUM> as herein described enables the threshold distance past which the alarm is trigged to be customized. Referring to <FIG>, in order to alter the threshold distance and extent to which the window may be opened without triggering an alarm, the signal range adjuster is first actuated as seen by box <NUM> in <FIG>. Upon this actuation, the microprocessor <NUM> seen in <FIG> determines whether the sensor <NUM> reads the RFID tag <NUM>, as generally shown by box <NUM> in <FIG>. If the sensor does not read the RFID tag, the microprocessor causes the signal range adjuster to incrementally increase the range of the RFID reader, as shown by box <NUM> in <FIG>, by incrementally strengthening/enlarging the electromagnetic field <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> in <FIG>.

The microprocessor next determines if the RFID reader so incrementally adjusted can now read the RFID tag as shown by box <NUM> in <FIG>. If no, the process is selectively repeated, as shown by numeral <NUM>, until the sensor <NUM> reads the RFID tag <NUM> seen in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the sensor so altered has a further incrementally increased/enlarged electromagnetic field <NUM> which now overlaps with and reads the RFID tag <NUM>. Referring back to <FIG>, after the microprocessor causes the signal range adjuster to incrementally increase the range of the RFID reader until the sensor reads the RFID tag, the microprocessor calibrates these adjusted settings to determine a new/altered threshold distance D2 as seen in box <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> signals the control panel <NUM> seen in <FIG> to trigger an alarm when the distance between the sensor and the RFID tag <NUM> increases beyond a threshold distance so altered and the sensor cannot read the RFID tag.

The sensor has thus been user-customized via actuation of its signal range adjuster <NUM> seen in <FIG> to enable the window <NUM> seen in <FIG> to open threshold distance D2, which is greater than threshold distance D1 seen in <FIG>. The microprocessor may next render the signal range adjuster inoperable and/or render the signal adjuster inoperable until the signal range adjuster is actuated once more. The signal range adjuster <NUM> seen in <FIG> thus enables the extent to which the window is opened to be selectively increased as desired by the inhabitant or installer of the sensor <NUM>.

Similarly, the signal range adjuster may be actuated and the window <NUM> thereafter fully opened correspond to a threshold distance D4 seen in <FIG>. In this manner the range of the RFID reader would be enlarged such that a signal would not be sent to trigger an alarm regardless of the extent to which the window is opened. This may be convenient to the user where the user wants to open a window in a building while avoiding having to deactivate the security alarm system of the building as a whole to proceed. This may ensure that the building in non-occupied rooms is still secure.

Conversely and referring to <FIG>, the signal range adjuster may be actuated to restrict the extent to which the window <NUM> may be opened past which the alarm is triggered. The sensor <NUM> as herein described enables a user to select a reduced threshold distance, compared to threshold distance D1, or provide no threshold distance whereby opening the window <NUM> causes a signal to be sent to trigger the alarm. The sensor <NUM> in its default setting seen in <FIG> enables the window to be opened to threshold distance D1 seen in <FIG>. To reduce this distance, the user adjusts the window to a lower position, such as the closed position seen in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the signal range adjuster is next actuated as seen by box <NUM>. If after the signal range adjuster is actuated the microprocessor determines that the sensor reads the RFID tag, which is the case where the window <NUM> in the closed position seen in <FIG>, the microprocessor causes the signal range adjuster to incrementally decrease as seen by box <NUM> in <FIG>.

The process may be selectively repeated, as shown by numeral <NUM>, until the sensor <NUM> no longer reads the RFID tag. Thereafter the microprocessor causes the signal range adjuster to incrementally increase the range of the RFID reader, as seen by box <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> so altered has an incrementally reduced/smaller electromagnetic field <NUM> which now just barely overlaps with and reads the RFID tag <NUM>. Referring back to <FIG>, after the microprocessor causes the signal range adjuster to incrementally increase the range of the RFID reader until the sensor reads the RFID tag, the microprocessor calibrates these adjusted settings to determine a new/altered threshold distance as seen in box <NUM> which may correspond to the window always being closed, for example.

The sensor <NUM> has thus been user-customized via actuation of its signal range adjuster <NUM> seen in <FIG> to send a signal to trigger an alarm when the window is at all opened in this example. Actuation of the signal range adjuster when the window is closed thus causes the control panel to trigger the alarm when the window is opened. The microprocessor may next render the signal range adjuster inoperable and/or render the signal adjuster inoperable until the signal range adjuster is actuated once more.

Alternatively and referring to <FIG>, after the microprocessor incrementally decreases the range of the RFID reader as seen in box <NUM>, the microprocessor may determine if the sensor has reached a predetermined minimum threshold level of reading the RFID tag, as seen by box <NUM>. If no, the process of incrementally decreasing the range of the RFID reader increases, as shown by arrow <NUM>. If the microprocessor does determine that the sensor has reached a predetermined minimum threshold level of reading the RFID tag, then the microprocessor calibrates these adjusted settings to determine a new/altered threshold distance as seen in box <NUM> which may correspond to the window always being closed, for example.

Similarly, the signal range adjuster may be actuated with the window being positioned at a threshold distance D3 seen in <FIG>, which is less than threshold distance D1. This may be convenient to the user where the user wants to open a window to a level less than the default setting of the sensor.

The signal range adjuster <NUM> seen in <FIG> thus enables the extent to which the window <NUM> seen in <FIG> is open without triggering the alarm to be customized. Selective actuation of the signal range adjuster enables the extent to which the window is open without triggering the alarm to vary. Selective actuation of the signal range adjuster enables a user-determined extent to which the window is open past which the alarm is triggered, to vary incrementally from a fully closed position of the window <NUM> seen in <FIG> towards/to a fully open position of the window.

Actuation of the signal range adjuster while or prior to opening the window may enable the window <NUM> to be opened without triggering the alarm.

There is also provided a method of installing a security alarm system. Referring to <FIG>, the method includes coupling a first of the RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> to a first of the window <NUM> and framing <NUM> thereof. The method includes coupling a second of the RFID tag and the sensor to a second of the window and the framing. In this example the RFID tag is coupled to framing <NUM> and the sensor is coupled to window <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the method includes opening the window/door <NUM> to a user-determined position D2. The method includes adjusting a maximum signal range of the sensor <NUM> past which the sensor is unable to read the RFID tag to correspond to the user-determined position. In this example, the maximum signal range is adjusted by actuating the signal range adjuster <NUM>, with the microprocessor <NUM> seen in <FIG> then following the steps set out in <FIG> and as described above. The method includes providing control panel <NUM>, seen in <FIG>, to which the sensor <NUM> signals to trigger an alarm when the distance between the sensor and the RFID tag increases beyond said maximum signal range so adjusted. The method further includes opening the window/door to facilitate ventilation and inhibit an intruder from passing through the window/door.

According to another aspect, there is further provided a method of installing the security alarm system. Referring to <FIG>, the method includes coupling a first of the RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> to a first of window <NUM> and framing <NUM> thereof. The method includes coupling a second of the RFID tag and the sensor to a second of the window and the framing. In this example the RFID tag is coupled to framing <NUM> and the sensor is coupled to window <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the method includes determining whether the RFID reader <NUM> is in range of the RFID tag <NUM>, in this example via microprocessor <NUM> seen in <FIG>. If the RFID reader is not in range of the RFID tag, the method includes incrementally increasing the range of the RFID reader via signal range adjuster <NUM> until the sensor reads the RFID tag via the steps set out in <FIG>. The method includes providing control panel <NUM> to which the sensor signals to trigger an alarm if the distance between the sensor and the RFID tag increases thereafter and the RFID reader is no longer able to read the RFID tag.

As described above, if the RFID reader <NUM> seen in <FIG> is in range of the RFID tag <NUM> after the determining step, the method includes incrementally decreasing the range of the RFID reader via the signal range adjuster until the distance between the sensor and the RFID tag equals to a threshold distance past which the sensor signals to the control panel to trigger the alarm as set out in <FIG>. Alternatively, if the RFID reader is in range of the RFID tag after the determining step, the method includes incrementally decreasing until the sensor no longer reads the RFID tag and thereafter incrementally increasing the range of the RFID reader via the signal range adjuster until the sensor reads the RFID tag once more as set out in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a substrate strip <NUM> with a plurality of RFID tags, namely a first RFID tag <NUM>, a second RFID tag <NUM>, a third RFID tag <NUM>, and a fourth RFID tag <NUM>. The substrate strip <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> are used as a window sensor for window <NUM> in a second configuration of a security alarm system. The second configuration of the security alarm system is a wireless security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the window <NUM> and the substrate strip <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the side jamb <NUM> of the window <NUM> near the sill <NUM> thereof.

The sensor is able to read at least the first RFID tag <NUM> when the window is fully closed. The sensor <NUM> is no longer able to read the first RFID tag when the window is open a first threshold distance D1. The sensor <NUM> is able to read at least the second RFID tag <NUM> when the window/door is open to the first threshold distance D1 and signals the control panel that the window/door is open to the first said threshold distance. When the window/door is open to a second threshold distance (not shown), which is greater than the first threshold distance, the sensor is no longer able to read the second RFID tag. The sensor <NUM> is able to read at least the third RFID tag <NUM> when the window is open to the second threshold distance and signals the control panel that the window is open to the second said threshold distance. The security alarm system thereby determining how much the window is open. The control panel <NUM> seen in <FIG> or other component of the security alarm system is further configured to communicate wirelessly with a handheld device to remotely provide a homeowner with information regarding the extent to which the window is opened thereby and with information regarding the status of the security alarm system.

The sensor <NUM> includes a signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows an elongate RFID tag <NUM> instead of a substrate strip, with a plurality of subsections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> employed to determine how much the window is open instead of a plurality of RFID tags. The elongate RFID tag and the sensor <NUM> are used as a window sensor for window <NUM> in a third configuration of a security alarm system. The third configuration of the security alarm system is a wireless security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the window <NUM> and the elongate RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the side jamb <NUM> of the window <NUM> near the sill <NUM> thereof. The elongate RFID tag operates in a similar manner to the substrate strip with RFID tags of <FIG>, with each subsection <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of the elongate RFID tag performing a similar function to a corresponding RFID tag <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> for the substrate strip <NUM> as described for <FIG> above. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a window sensor for window <NUM> in a fourth configuration of a security alarm system. The fourth configuration of the security alarm system is a wired security alarm system in which the RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the window <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the side jamb <NUM> of the window <NUM> near the sill <NUM> thereof. This allows the sensor <NUM> to be wired in the fourth configuration of the security alarm system. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the substrate strip <NUM> with RFID tags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a window sensor for window <NUM> in a fifth configuration of a security alarm system. The fifth configuration of the security alarm system is a wired security alarm system in which the substrate strip <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the window <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the side jamb <NUM> of the window <NUM> near the sill <NUM> thereof. This allows the sensor <NUM> to be wired in the fifth configuration of the security alarm system and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner as that set out in <FIG>. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the elongate RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a window sensor for window <NUM> in a sixth configuration of a security alarm system. The sixth configuration of the security alarm system is a wired security alarm system in which the elongate RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the window <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the side jamb <NUM> of the window <NUM> near the sill <NUM> thereof. This allows the sensor <NUM> to be wired in the sixth configuration of the security alarm system and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner as that set out in <FIG>. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> show the RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a door sensor for a door <NUM> in a seventh configuration of a security alarm system. The seventh configuration of the security alarm system is a wireless security alarm system in which the RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example a side jamb <NUM> of the door <NUM> near a sill <NUM> thereof and the sensor <NUM> is mounted on a stile <NUM> of the door <NUM> in part and mounted on the bottom rail <NUM> of the door in part. However this is not strictly required and in other embodiments, the sensor may be mounted solely on the bottom rail and spaced-apart from the stile, or may be mounted solely on the stile and spaced-apart from the bottom rail. The door <NUM> is moveable linearly relative to framing <NUM> in a horizontal direction along horizontal axis <NUM> in this example.

The door <NUM> is fully closed in <FIG> with the stile <NUM> of the door <NUM> abutting the side jamb <NUM> thereof. The sensor <NUM> is able to read the RFID tag <NUM> when the door <NUM> is fully closed and signals that the door <NUM> is closed. With reference to <FIG>, when the door <NUM> is open to a distance D2, the sensor <NUM> in its default setting is no longer able to read the RFID tag <NUM> and an alarm is triggered.

The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> which enables the range of the sensor to be selectively increased such that the alarm is not trigged until the door is opened past distance D2, for example, as seen in <FIG>. The signal range adjuster also enables the range of the sensor to be decreased such that the alarm is triggered when the door is opened at all, as seen in <FIG>. The signal range adjuster <NUM> operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> and thus will not be described in further detail.

<FIG> shows the substrate strip <NUM> with RFID tags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a door sensor for door <NUM> in an eighth configuration of a security alarm system. The eighth configuration of the security alarm system is a wireless security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the door <NUM> and the substrate strip <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the sill <NUM> of the door. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the elongate RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a door sensor for door <NUM> in a ninth configuration of a security alarm system. The ninth configuration of the security alarm system is a wireless security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the door <NUM> and the elongate RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the sill <NUM> of the door. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a door sensor for door <NUM> in a tenth configuration of a security alarm system. The tenth configuration of the security alarm system is a wired security alarm system in which the RFID tag <NUM> is mounted on the stile <NUM> of the door <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the side jamb <NUM> of the door <NUM> near the sill <NUM> thereof. This allows the sensor <NUM> to be wired in the tenth configuration of the security alarm system. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the substrate strip <NUM> with RFID tags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, and the sensor <NUM> being used as a door sensor for door <NUM> in an eleventh configuration of a security alarm system. The eleventh configuration of the security alarm system is a wired security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the sill <NUM> of the door <NUM> and the substrate strip <NUM> is mounted on the bottom rail <NUM> the door <NUM> and. This allows the sensor <NUM> to be wired in the eleventh configuration of the security alarm system. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

<FIG> shows the elongate RFID tag <NUM> and the sensor <NUM> being used as a door sensor for door <NUM> in a twelfth configuration of a security alarm system. The twelfth configuration of the security alarm system is a wired security alarm system in which the sensor <NUM> is mounted on framing <NUM>, in this example the sill <NUM> of the door <NUM> and the substrate strip <NUM> is mounted on the bottom rail <NUM> the door <NUM> and. This allows the sensor <NUM> to be wired in the twelfth configuration of the security alarm system. The sensor <NUM> includes signal range adjuster <NUM> and otherwise operates in a substantially similar manner to the sensor <NUM> described in <FIG> above.

Claim 1:
A security alarm system comprising:
an RFID tag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) mounted on a first of a window/door (<NUM>, <NUM>) and framing (<NUM>, <NUM>) thereof;
a sensor (<NUM>) including an RFID reader (<NUM>) mounted on a second of the window/door (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the framing (<NUM>, <NUM>), a distance (D1, D2, D3, D4) between the sensor (<NUM>) and the RFID tag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) varying as the window/door (<NUM>, <NUM>) is opened, and
a control panel (<NUM>),
characterized in that the sensor (<NUM>) comprises a signal range adjuster (<NUM>) actuation of which alters the range within which the sensor (<NUM>) can read the RFID tag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and
characterized in that the sensor (<NUM>) signals the control panel (<NUM>) to trigger an alarm when the distance between the sensor (<NUM>) and the RFID tag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) increases beyond a threshold distance so altered and the sensor (<NUM>) cannot read the RFID tag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the threshold distance being the distance of the altered range beyond which the RFID tag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) cannot be read.