Deactivating of portable device
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorSusan Melanie Callam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable device has an openable cover, the cover being open in normal operation. A method is provided for automatic deactivating the portable device. When the cover is detected to be in an open position and a key operated switch is in a locked position, the portable device is deactivated. The deactivation can be by means of a fusible element or by corruption of a non-volatile storage device required for the operation of the machine, such as a hard disk storing an operating system.
Claims5
A method for automatic deactivation of a portable, computing device having a cover, that is moveable between an open position in which a display is visible and closed position in which the display is out of view, and a lock that blocks movement of the cover from closed to open position when it is in a locked position and allows such movement when in an operating position, the cover being open in normal device operation, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting whether the cover is in the open position;
- detecting whether a key operated switch is in a normal operating position or a locked position;
- and
- responsive to a determination that the cover is in an open position and that the key operated switch is in a locked position, deactivating the portable computing device whereby the device is secured if unauthorized forced opening occurs.
Apparatus for automatic deactivation of a portable device comprising:
- an openable cover, the cover being open in normal operation;
- means for detecting whether the cover is in an open position;
- a key operated switch having a normal operating position and a locked position, the cover being locked closed in said locked position;
- and
- means for deactivating the portable device, the means for deactivating being responsive to a determination that the cover is in an open position and that the key operated switch is in a locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.