Patent ID: 7051560

Claim:
An exit sensor bar for mounting to a door, the door operable between a locked and unlocked condition by selectively energizing and de-energizing an electromagnetic lock affixed thereto, the exit sensor bar comprising: a mounting pad for affixing the exit sensor bar to the door, the mounting pad including a blade extending away from the mounting pad; an elongated housing having an interior chamber, the interior chamber having a first portion for receiving the mounting pad and a second portion; at least one return spring disposed on the mounting pad and within the interior chamber for biasing the elongated housing in a direction away from the mounting pad; and a circuit board assembly disposed within the second portion of the interior chamber in close proximity to the mounting pad, the circuit board assembly including at least an electro-optical source and an electro-optical detector coupled to the electromagnetic lock, the electro-optical detector being disposed a distance away from the electro-optical source to define a transmission path for light emitted from the electro-optical source, the electro-optical detector selectively energizing and de-energizing the electromagnetic lock in response to the detection of the emitted light; wherein when a push force is applied to the elongated housing, the elongated housing is displaced toward the mounting pad such that the blade of the mounting pad traverses the transmission path obstructing light emitted from the electro-optical source so that the emitted light is not detected by the electro-optical detector, and in response to the non-detection of the emitted light the electro-optical detector de-energizes the electromagnetic lock.