# US 9,519,018 B2 · Systems and methods for detecting unauthorized population of surface-mount devices on a printed circuit board > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,018 B2 - Document ID: US9519018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/284,451 - Filed: 2014-05-22 - Published: 2015-11-26 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-22 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: James Lewis Petivan; Alan R. Dellinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519018B2 ## CPC - G01R 31/67: Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits - G01R 31/66: Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints (testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55) - H05K 1/0275: {Security details, e.g. tampering prevention or detection} - H05K 3/42: Plated through-holes {or plated via connections} - G01R 31/2813: {Checking the presence, location, orientation or value, e.g. resistance, of components or conductors (orientation of the DUT with respect to the test fixture G01R1/06705)} - G01R 31/2818: {using test structures on, or modifications of, the card under test, made for the purpose of testing, e.g. additional components or connectors (G01R31/2805 takes precedence; printed circuits having, e.g. symbols, test patterns or visualisation means H05K1/0266)} - H05K 1/0268: {for electrical inspection or testing} - H05K 1/113: {Via provided in pad; Pad over filled via} - H05K 3/3447: Lead-in-hole components - H05K 2201/10022: Non-printed resistor - H05K 2201/10151: Sensor - H05K 2201/10651: Component having two leads, e.g. resistor, capacitor - H05K 2201/10939: Lead of component used as a connector - Y10T 29/49156: with selective destruction of conductive paths - Y10T 29/49167: with deforming of conductive path - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a circuit board may include a connector configured to electrically couple a device to the circuit board. The connector may include a conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to a first voltage and a detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to a second voltage via a resistor, such that when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit board, comprising a connector configured to electrically couple a device to the circuit board, the connector comprising: a conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to a first voltage; and a detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to a second voltage via a resistor, such that: when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin; and when the detection pad is not electrically coupled to the conductive element, a voltage of the detection is approximately equal to the second voltage wherein approximately zero current flows through the resistor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit board of claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a pad. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit board of claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a via. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit board of claim 1, wherein a voltage of the detection pad is indicative of whether the device pin is electrically coupled to the conductive element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The circuit board of claim 4, wherein the detection pad is configured to communicate the voltage of the detection pad to an information handling resource communicatively coupled to the detection pad. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The circuit board of claim 5, wherein the information handling resource is configured to, based on the voltage of the detection pad, record information indicative of whether the device pin is electrically coupled to the conductive element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuit board of claim 1, the connector further comprising a second detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to the second voltage via the resistor or a second resistor, such that when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the second detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The circuit board of claim 1, the connector further comprising: a second conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to the first voltage; and a second detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to the second voltage via the resistor or a second resistor, such that when a second device pin of the device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the second detection pad is electrically coupled to the second conductive element via the second device pin. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: forming a conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to a first voltage; and forming a detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to a second voltage via a resistor, such that: when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin; and when the detection pad is not electrically coupled to the conductive element, a voltage of the detection is approximately equal to the second voltage wherein approximately zero current flows through the detection pad. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive element comprises a pad. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive element comprises a via. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein a voltage of the detection pad is indicative of whether the device pin is electrically coupled to the conductive element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the detection pad is configured to communicate the voltage of the detection pad to an information handling resource communicatively coupled to the detection pad. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the information handling resource is configured to, based on the voltage of the detection pad, record information indicative of whether the device pin is electrically coupled to the conductive element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising forming a second detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to the second voltage via the resistor or a second resistor, such that when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the second detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: forming a second conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to the first voltage; and forming a second detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to the second voltage via the resistor or a second resistor, such that: when a second device pin of the device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the second detection pad is electrically coupled to the second conductive element via the second device pin. ### Claim 17 An information handling system comprising: a processor; one or more information handling resources; and a circuit board configured to communicatively couple the one or more information handling resources to the processor, the circuit board comprising a connector, wherein the connector comprises: a conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to a first voltage; and a detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to a second voltage via a resistor, such that: when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin; and when the detection pad is not electrically coupled to the conductive element, a voltage of the detection is approximately equal to the second voltage wherein approximately zero current flows through the detection pad. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the conductive element comprises a pad. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the conductive element comprises a via. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The information handling system of claim 17, wherein a voltage of the detection pad is indicative of whether the device pin is electrically coupled to the conductive element. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The information handling system of claim 20, wherein the detection pad is configured to communicate the voltage of the detection pad to an information handling resource communicatively coupled to the detection pad. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The information handling system of claim 21, wherein the information handling resource is configured to, based on the voltage of the detection pad, record information indicative of whether the device pin is electrically coupled to the conductive element. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The information handling system of claim 17, the connector further comprising a second detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to the second voltage via the resistor or a second resistor, such that when a device pin of a device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the second detection pad is electrically coupled to the conductive element via the device pin. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The information handling system of claim 17, the connector further comprising: a second conductive element configured to be electrically coupled to the first voltage; and a second detection pad configured to be electrically coupled to the second voltage via the resistor or a second resistor, such that when a second device pin of the device is electrically coupled to the conductive element, the second detection pad is electrically coupled to the second conductive element via the second device pin.