Theft resistant circuit assembly
AssigneeKnogo North America Inc.
InventorsPeter Y. Zhou, Thomas A. Nicolette, Edward J. Callaghan, Paul F. McNamara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Printed circuit boards and integrated circuit assemblies have security markers formed thereon by deposition techniques or affixed thereto, either directly or by prior encasement of the markers in a resin prior to such affixation.
Claims48
A printed circuit board assembly comprising:
- at least one sheet of electrically non-conductive material;
- an electrically conductive layer formed on a surface of said sheet, said layer being shaped to provide a portion of an electrical circuit;
- a security element comprising a film of low magnetic coercivity material which is easily magnetically saturated, said security element being formed on said electrically conductive layer.
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board assembly having theft resistant capability, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming an electrically conductive layer on a surface of a sheet of electrically non-conductive material, said electrically conductive layer being shaped and arranged to form a portion of an electrical circuit, and
- depositing on said electrically conductive layer a film of low magnetic coercivity material which is easily magnetically saturated.
A theft resistant integrated circuit assembly comprising
- at least one integrated electrical circuit which incorporates a metallic heat dissipation element, and
- a security member in the form of a film of magnetizable material which becomes driven into and out of magnetic saturation in response to an alternating magnetic interrogation field, said security element being formed directly on the surface of said heat dissipation element.
A method of making a theft resistant integrated circuit assembly said method comprising the steps of
- providing a metallic heat dissipation element,
- directly forming on the surface of said heat dissipation element a film of magnetizable material which becomes driven into and out of magnetic saturation in response to an alternating magnetic interrogation field, and
- mounting said heat dissipation element on an integrated electrical circuit.
A theft resistant integrated circuit assembly comprising
- at least one integrated electrical circuit supported by a rigid non-metallic support element and,
- a security element in the form of an elongated strip of magnetizable material of nearly zero magnetostriction which becomes driven into and out of magnetic saturation in response to an alternating magnetic field, said security element being mounted to extend along said support element adjacent said integrated electrical circuit.
A method of protecting an electronic assembly during successive stages of manufacture and distribution, said method comprising the steps of
- providing an integrated circuit assembly comprising at least one integrated electrical circuit supported by a rigid non-metallic support element and further comprising a security element in the form of an elongated strip of magnetizable material of nearly zero magnetostriction which becomes driven into and out of magnetic saturation in response to an alternating magnetic field,
- said security element being mounted to extend along said support element adjacent said integrated electrical circuit and
- thereafter incorporating said integrated circuit assembly into a larger assembly.
A method of attaching a security marker to the surface of an object, said method comprising the steps of:
- coating said security marker with a fluid material which is capable of becoming solid;
- solidifying said material to form an enclosure which encases said security marker and holds the marker in place mechanically without adhering to it;
- and
- thereafter adhering said enclosure to the surface of an object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.