Tamper-respondent assembly with vent structure

• US 10,251,288 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fisher, Michael J., Long, David C., Peets, Michael T., Weiss, Robert, Weiss, Thomas, Tersigni, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Courtney
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morrison, Rashen E
• Application Number:
  US15/836,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20180110142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof

Abstract

Tamper-respondent assemblies, electronic packages and fabrication methods are provided which incorporate a vent structure. The tamper-respondent assembly includes an electronic enclosure to enclose, at least in part, an electronic component(s) to be protected. The electronic enclosure includes an inner surface, and an air vent. A tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure is provided which includes a tamper-respondent sensor disposed to cover, at least part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure, and define, at least in part, a secure volume about the electronic component(s). The vent structure includes at least one air passage coupling in fluid communication the secure volume and the air vent of the electronic enclosure to allow air pressure within the secure volume to equalize with air pressure external to the tamper-respondent assembly.

Claims

1. A tamper-respondent assembly comprising:

an electronic enclosure to enclose, at least in part, at least one electronic component to be protected, the electronic enclosure comprising an inner surface and an air vent through a wall of the electronic enclosure, the air vent being disposed, at least in part, at a corner of the electronic enclosure;

a tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure disposed within the electronic enclosure and comprising a tamper-respondent sensor covering, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure, including the air vent, and defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the at least one electronic component; and

a vent structure located within the electronic enclosure, and comprising at least one air passage coupling in fluid communication the secure volume and the air vent of the electronic enclosure to allow air pressure within the secure volume to equalize with air pressure external to the tamper-respondent assembly, the vent structure including opposite ends, one end of the opposite ends being located within the secure volume and another end of the opposite ends being located at the air vent in the electronic enclosure, wherein the vent structure resides between, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure and the tamper-respondent sensor.

2. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1, wherein the tamper-respondent sensor overlies on opening of the air vent at the inner surface of the electronic enclosure, and the vent structure is disposed, in part, between an overlap region the tamper-respondent sensor, with one end of the at least one air passage in fluid communication with the opening of the air vent at the inner surface of the electronic enclosure.

3. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1, wherein the air vent in the electronic enclosure is defined, at least in part, by a channel formed in the corner of the electronic enclosure, and the at least one air passage of the vent structure couples in fluid communication the secure volume and the channel of the air vent, wherein the tamper-respondent sensor overlies, at least in part, the channel of the air vent in the electronic enclosure.

4. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1, wherein the tamper-respondent sensor comprises an inner sidewall tamper-respondent sensor disposed along an inner sidewall of the electronic enclosure.

5. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 4, wherein the tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure further comprises an inner main surface tamper-respondent sensor, the inner sidewall tamper-respondent sensor and inner main surface tamper-respondent sensor being coupled to and covering, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure to facilitate defining the secure volume about the at least one electronic component to be protected, and the vent structure being disposed, in part, between an overlap region of the inner sidewall tamper-respondent sensor, along the inner sidewall of the electronic enclosure.

6. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1, further comprising a multilayer circuit board, the electronic enclosure sealing to the multilayer circuit board, and the multilayer circuit board comprising an embedded tamper-respondent sensor embedded within the multilayer circuit board as one or more layers of the multilayer circuit board, the tamper-respondent sensor and the embedded tamper-respondent sensor together defining the secure volume about the at least one electronic component.

7. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1, wherein the vent structure includes a vent plate comprising the at least one air passage.

8. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 7, wherein the vent plate comprises a multilayer vent plate formed of multiple layers.

9. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 8, wherein the multilayer vent plate is a metal structure, and adjacent layers of the multilayer vent plate are at least one of welded, soldered or brazed together.

10. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one air passage of the vent structure includes at least one directional change greater than 90°

.

11. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one air passage of the vent structure includes multiple directional changes, at least one directional change of the multiple directional changes having a false, terminating passage extending within the vent structure from the at least one directional change of the at least one air passage.

12. An electronic package comprising:

at least one electronic component;

a tamper-respondent assembly to protect the at least one electronic component, the tamper-respondent assembly comprising;

an electronic enclosure enclosing, at least in part, the at least one electronic component, the electronic enclosure comprising an inner surface and an air vent through a wall of the electronic enclosure, the air vent being disposed, at least in part, at a corner of the electronic enclosure;

a tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure disposed within the electronic enclosure and comprising a tamper-respondent sensor covering, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure, including the air vent, and defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the at least one electronic component; and

a vent structure located within the electronic enclosure, and comprising at least one air passage coupling in fluid communication the secure volume and the air vent of the electronic enclosure to allow air pressure within the secure volume to equalize with air pressure external to the tamper-respondent assembly, the vent structure including opposite ends, one end of the opposite ends being located within the secure volume and another end of the opposite ends being located at the air vent in the electronic enclosure, wherein the vent structure resides between, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure and the tamper-respondent sensor.

13. The electronic package of claim 12, wherein the tamper-respondent sensor overlies on opening of the air vent at the inner surface of the electronic enclosure, and the vent structure is disposed, in part, between an overlap region the tamper-respondent sensor, with one end of the at least one air passage in fluid communication with the opening of the air vent at the inner surface of the electronic enclosure.

14. The electronic package of claim 12, wherein the air vent in the electronic enclosure is defined, at least in part, by a channel formed in the corner of the electronic enclosure, and the at least one air passage of the vent structure couples in fluid communication the secure volume and the channel of the air vent, wherein the tamper-respondent sensor overlies, at least in part, the channel of the air vent in the electronic enclosure.

15. The electronic package of claim 12, wherein the vent structure includes a vent plate comprising the at least one air passage.

16. The amended package of claim 15, wherein the vent plate comprises a multilayer vent plate formed of multiple layers.

17. The electronic package of claim 16, wherein the multilayer vent plate is a metal structure, and adjacent layers of the multilayer vent plate are at least one of welded, soldered or brazed together.

18. The electronic package of claim 15, wherein the at least one air passage of the vent structure includes at least one directional change greater than 90°

.

19. The electronic package of claim 15, wherein the at least one air passage of the vent structure includes multiple directional changes, at least one directional change of the multiple directional changes having a false, terminating passage extending within the vent structure from the at least one directional change of the at least one air passage.

20. A fabrication method comprising:

fabricating a tamper-respondent assembly, the fabricating comprising;

providing an electronic enclosure to enclose, at least in part, at least one electronic component to be protected, the electronic enclosure comprising an inner surface and an air vent through a wall of the electronic enclosure, the air vent being disposed, at least in part, at a corner of the electronic enclosure;

providing a tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure disposed within the electronic enclosure and comprising a tamper-respondent sensor covering, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure, including the air vent, and defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the at least one electronic component; and

providing a vent structure located within the electronic enclosure, and comprising at least one air passage coupling in fluid communication the secure volume and the air vent of the electronic enclosure to allow air pressure within the secure volume to equalize with air pressure external to the tamper-respondent assembly, the vent structure including opposite ends, one end of the opposite ends being located within the secure volume and another end of the opposite ends being located at the air vent in the electronic enclosure, wherein the vent structure resides between, at least in part, the inner surface of the electronic enclosure and the tamper-respondent sensor.