# US 11,999,318 B2 · Tamper detection system

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- Number: US 11,999,318 B2
- Document ID: US11999318B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/674,277
- Filed: 2022-02-17
- Published: 2023-08-17
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-17
- Assignees: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
- Applicants: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
- Inventors: Pratima Vishwakarma; Tandi Wijaya; Daniel P Zula
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999318B2

## CPC

- B60R 25/30: Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems
- B60R 25/01: operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
- B60R 25/20: Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
- G01J 1/4204: {with determination of ambient light (solar light G01J2001/4266)}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)

## Abstract

A tamper detection system for a controller includes a housing, a circuit board mounted in the housing, a voltage input line on the circuit board receiving an operating voltage, a light detection circuit mounted on the circuit board receiving the operating voltage from the voltage input line and a signal conditioning device conditioning the operating voltage and connected to the light detection circuit. The light detection circuit interrupts the operating voltage at the signal conditioning device in response to detecting a source of light having a light value greater than a threshold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tamper detection system for a controller comprising:
a housing;
a circuit board installed in the housing;
a voltage input line on the circuit board receiving an operating voltage;
a light detection circuit provided on the circuit board receiving the operating voltage from the voltage input line;
a signal conditioning device conditioning the operating voltage and connected to the light detection circuit,
wherein the light detection circuit interrupts the operating voltage at the signal conditioning device in response to detecting a source of light having a light value greater than a threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1, wherein the light detection circuit contains a plurality of light sensors.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1, wherein the signal conditioning device includes a signal conditioning circuit and a regulator circuit separately connected to the light detection circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The tamper detection system as in claim 3, wherein the regulator circuit is one of a switching regulator, a linear regulator, and a low drop out regulator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1, wherein the light detection circuit includes a light switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1, wherein the light detection circuit includes a light sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1, wherein the light detection circuit is adapted to detect ambient light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1, wherein the threshold is defined to be greater than the ambient lighting inside the enclosure in a normal operating condition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tamper detection system as in claim 1 wherein the light detection circuit operates independently from a microcontroller on the circuit board.

### Claim 10

A method for disabling a controller in response to unauthorized access comprising:
receiving an operating voltage;
powering a light detection circuit and a signal conditioning device of the controller with the operating voltage; and
comparing a light value to a threshold in the light detection circuit, wherein the light detection circuit inhibits the operating voltage from reaching the signal conditioning device in response to the light value being greater than the threshold, thereby disabling the controller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method as in claim 10, further comprising adjusting the threshold based on the type of sensor being used and the gain of the amplifier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method as in claim 10, further comprising adjusting the threshold to be greater than the ambient lighting inside the enclosure under normal operating conditions.