Tamper detection system for detection of unauthorized access to a circuit board
AssigneeSchneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.
InventorsYuanbing Li, James Pagella, Stephen Neave
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system of detecting unauthorized access to a circuit board is provided. The method includes causing unbiasing of a biasing component in response to a position of the circuit board being changed relative to a housing within which the circuit board is disposed. A burst of kinetic energy that was included in mechanical energy stored by the biasing component is released in response to the unbiasing of the biasing component. A spike of electrical charge is released in response to the burst of kinetic energy. Performance of a protective action to a protected element is caused in response to the spike of electrical charge.
Claims20
A tamper detection system for detection of unauthorized access to a circuit board, the tamper detection system comprising:
- a housing within which the circuit board is disposed;
- a mechanical energy component coupled to the circuit board and configured to move between a biased position to a release position when tampering causes a position of the circuit board to be changed relative to the housing, wherein when in the biased position, a biasing component of the mechanical energy component is biased and stores mechanical energy, and in response to moving to the release position, the biasing component becomes unbiased and releases a burst of kinetic energy;
- an electrical energy component configured to release a spike of electrical charge in response to the burst of kinetic energy;
- and
- a protection circuit configured to respond to the spike of electrical charge by causing performance of a protective action to a protected element.
A method of detecting unauthorized access to a circuit board, the method comprising:
- causing, in response to a position of the circuit board being changed relative to a housing within which the circuit board is disposed, unbiasing of a biasing component;
- releasing, in response to the unbiasing of the biasing component, a burst of kinetic energy included in mechanical energy stored by the biasing component;
- releasing, in response to the burst of kinetic energy, a spike of electrical charge;
- and
- causing, in response to the spike of electrical charge, performance of a protective action to a protected element.
An industrial device comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a housing within which the circuit board is disposed;
- a mechanical energy component coupled to the circuit board and configured to move between a biased position to a release position when tampering causes a position of the circuit board to be changed relative to the housing, wherein when in the biased position, a biasing component of the mechanical energy component is biased and stores mechanical energy, and in response to moving to the release position, the biasing component becomes unbiased and releases a burst of kinetic energy;
- an electrical energy component coupled to the mechanical energy component and configured to release a spike of electrical charge in response to the burst of kinetic energy;
- a protection circuit in operable communication with the circuit board and configured to respond to the spike of electrical charge by causing performance of a protective action to protect a protected element that is in operable communication with the protection circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.