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US 9,754,469 B2Granted
System for tamper identification
AssigneeSavanah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
InventorsJohn Thomas Bobbitt, III, George E. Weeks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for tamper identification. A fastener has a tamper identification surface with a unique grain structure that is altered if the fastener is removed or otherwise exposed to sufficient torque. After a period of time such as e.g., shipment and/or storage of the sealed container, a determination of whether tampering has occurred can be undertaken by examining the grain structure to determine if it has changed since the fastener was used to seal the container or secure the device.
Claims17
A method of tamper identification, comprising:
- applying torque to a fastener used to seal a compartment or secure a device, the fastener having a tamper identification surface comprising a first portion and a second portion, the fastener having a unique grain structure along the tamper identification surface;
- creating a reference image of the tamper identification surface of the fastener after the applying torque, the reference image comprising grain structure of the first portion;
- obtaining a verification image of the tamper identification surface after the step of creating, the verification image comprising grain structure of the first portion;
- and
- determining whether there are differences in grain structure between the reference image and verification image along the first portion that are indicative of tampering;
- wherein the reference image further comprises grain structure from the second portion, the second portion located on the tamper identification surface where alteration of the second portion is unlikely to occur during application of a torque to the fastener sufficient to remove the fastener.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.