ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING DISASSEMBLE MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20190188727A1
• Filed: 01/31/2018
• Published: 06/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LIU, CHENG-XIANG
• Granted Patent: US 10,453,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A disassemble monitoring device of an electronic device includes a detecting unit, a one time programmable register, a storage, and a processor. The detecting unit is configured to detect whether the electronic device has been disassembled, and upon detecting that the electronic device has been disassembled, generate a detection signal. The one time programmable register is electrically coupled to the detecting unit and is configured to change a storage value of the one time programmable register in response to the detection signal. The storage value can only be changed once. The processor retrieves the storage value from the one time programmable register in response to a user operation and determines whether the storage value has been changed. Upon determining that the storage value has been changed, the processor confirms a result of determination that the electronic device has been disassembled and outputs the result of determination.

Claims

1. A disassemble monitoring device comprising:

a detecting unit configured to detect whether an electronic device has been disassembled, and upon detecting that the electronic device has been disassembled, generate a detection signal, wherein the detecting unit comprises a first detecting end and a second detecting end;

the first detecting end is arranged on a first locking mechanism of a back cover of the electronic device, and the second detecting end is arranged on a second locking mechanism of the back cover of the electronic device;

when the first detecting end and the second detecting end are coupled by an electrically conductive screw passing through the first locking mechanism, a snap protruding from a display of the electronic device, and the second locking mechanism, the detecting unit outputs a first signal;

when the screw is removed and the first detecting end and the second detecting end are not coupled together, the detecting unit outputs a second signal;

the second signal is the detection signal which is sent to a one-time programmable register;

the one-time programmable register is electrically coupled to the detecting unit and configured to change a storage value of the one-time programmable register in response to the detection signal, the storage value being changeable only once;

a storage; and

a processor configured to execute a plurality of instructions that cause the processor to;

retrieve the storage value from the one-time programmable register in response to a user operation;

determine whether the storage value has been changed, and upon determining that the storage value has been changed, confirm that the electronic device has been disassembled; and

output the result of determination.

3. The disassemble monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first detecting end and the second detecting end are electrically conductive;

the first detecting end is grounded;

the second detecting end is at a high voltage level and electrically coupled to a pull-up resistor;

when the screw couples the first detecting end and the second detecting end;

the second detecting end outputs a low-level voltage;

when the screw is removed, the second detecting end outputs a high-level voltage.

4. The disassemble monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device and only functions in the uniquely paired state.

5. The disassemble monitoring device of claim 4, wherein before the processor obtains the storage value from the one-time programmable register, the processor first determines whether the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device;

the processor obtains the storage value when the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device;

when the one-time programmable register is not uniquely paired to the electronic device, the processor outputs a notification to a user that the one-time programmable register is not uniquely paired to the electronic device.

6. The disassemble monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit configured to provide power for the one-time programmable register.

7. The disassemble monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the one-time programmable register comprises two data ports;

a first data port is in communication with the processor to provide the storage value from the one-time programmable register to the processor;

a second data port is configured to provide the storage value to an external device.

2. (canceled)

8. An electronic device comprising:

a display comprising a snap protruding from the display;

a back cover comprising a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism spaced apart;

at least one screw which is made of an electrically conductive material; and

a disassemble monitoring device;

wherein the snap is snapped between the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism, the at least one screw is passed through the first locking mechanism, the snap, and the second locking mechanism in sequence;

wherein the disassemble monitoring device comprises a detecting unit and a one-time programmable register coupled to the detecting unit and configured to change a storage value of the one-time programmable register in response to a detection signal, the detecting unit comprises a first detecting end and a second detecting end, the first detecting end is arranged on the first locking mechanism, and the second detecting end is arranged on the second locking mechanism, the screw passes through the first detecting end and the second detecting end to electrically couple the first detecting end to the second detecting end;

when the first detecting end and the second detecting end are coupled by the screw, the detecting unit outputs a first signal;

when the screw is removed and the first detecting end and the second detecting end are not coupled together, the detecting unit outputs a second signal;

the second signal is the detection signal and is sent to the one-time programmable register.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the disassemble monitoring device further comprises a processor configured to execute a plurality of instructions that cause the processor to:

retrieve the storage value from the one-time programmable register in response to a user operation;

determine whether the storage value has been changed, and upon determining that the storage value has been changed, confirming a result of determination that the electronic device has been disassembled; and

output the result of determination.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first detecting end and the second detecting end are electrically conductive;

the first detecting end is grounded;

the second detecting end is at a high voltage level and electrically coupled to a pull-up resistor;

when the screw couples the first detecting end and the second detecting end;

the second detecting end outputs a low-level voltage;

when the screw is removed, the second detecting end outputs a high-level voltage.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device and only functions in the uniquely paired state.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein before the processor obtains the storage value from the one-time programmable register, the processor first determines whether the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device;

the processor obtains the storage value when the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device;

when the one-time programmable register is not uniquely paired to the electronic device, the processor outputs a notification to a user that the one-time programmable register is not uniquely paired to the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the disassemble monitoring device further comprise a power supply unit configured to provide power for the one-time programmable register.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one-time programmable register comprises two data ports;

a first data port is in communication with the processor to provide the storage value from the one-time programmable register to the processor;

a second data port is configured to provide the storage value to an external device.

15. A method for determining whether an electronic device has been disassembled, the electronic device comprising a disassemble monitoring device comprising a detecting unit and a one-time programmable register, the method comprising:

detecting, through the detecting unit, whether the electronic device has been disassembled, wherein the electronic device comprises a display, a back cover, and an electrically conductive screw;

the display comprises a snap protruding from the display;

the back cover comprises a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism spaced apart and corresponding to each other;

the snap is snapped between the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism;

the screw is passed through the first locking mechanism, the snap, and the second locking mechanism in sequence;

the detecting unit comprises a first detecting end and a second detecting end;

the first detecting end is arranged on the first locking mechanism, and the second detecting end is arranged on the second locking mechanism;

the screw passes through the first detecting end and the second detecting end to electrically couple the first detecting end to the second detecting end;

when the first detecting end and the second detecting end are coupled by the screw, the detecting unit outputs a first signal;

when the screw is removed and the first detecting end and the second detecting end are not coupled together, the detecting unit outputs a second signal;

the second signal being the detection signal which is sent to the one-time programmable register;

upon detecting that the electronic device has been disassembled, generating a detection signal and sending the detection signal to a one-time programmable register;

changing a storage value of the one-time programmable register in response to the detection signal;

retrieving the storage value from the one-time programmable register in response to a user operation;

determining whether the storage value has been changed, and upon determining that the storage value has been changed, confirming that the electronic device has been disassembled; and

outputting the result of determination.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first detecting end and the second detecting end are electrically conductive;

the first detecting end is grounded;

the second detecting end is at a high voltage level and electrically coupled to a pull-up resistor;

when the screw couples the first detecting end and the second detecting end;

the second detecting end outputs a low-level voltage;

when the screw is removed, the second detecting end outputs a high-level voltage.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device and only functions in the uniquely paired state.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein before the processor obtains the storage value from the one-time programmable register, the processor first determines whether the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device;

the processor obtains the storage value when the one-time programmable register is uniquely paired to the electronic device;

when the one-time programmable register is not uniquely paired to the electronic device, the processor outputs a notification to a user that the one-time programmable register is not uniquely paired to the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the disassemble monitoring device further comprises a power supply unit configured to provide power for the one-time programmable register.

16. (canceled)