Security system and signal carrying member thereof

• US 4,859,989 A
• Filed: 12/01/1987
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: McPherson, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/126,670
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 340/510, 340/550, 340/590, 340/564, 340/596, 340/598, 340/647-651, 174/102 SC, 174/105 SC, 174/106 SC, 174/120 SC
• US Class Current: 340/510
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/128 the housing being an electronic circuit unit, e.g. memory or CPU chip protecting computer components in secure or tamper resistant housings G06F21/86; protecting computer input devices, e.g. keyboards G06F21/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/328 comprising violation sensing means

Abstract

A security system comprising a signal-carrying member and a detector for detecting a change in the resistance of the conductive path surrounding a core of the signal-carrying member. The conductive path comprises inner and outer layers of semi-conductive tape separated by an insulating layer but interconnected at one end. The semi-conductive tape of at least the outer layer is made of fibrous material such as carbon-leaded PTFE such that when a sharp object pierces the outer layer and the insulating layer, semi-conductive fibers are dragged from the outer layer into contact with the inner layer and form a conductive bridge between the layers.

Claims

1. A signal-carrying member for a security system comprising a core surrounded by means capable of transmitting an electrical signal, an electrically-insulating layer surrounding the core and said means capable of transmitting a signal, and a semi-conductive layer surrounding the insulating layer, the semi-conductive layer incorporating throughout semi-conductive fibres which protrude from the layer when the layer is pierced, the thickness of the insulating layer being substantially less than the length of such protruding fibres whereby piercing of the semi-conductive layer and the insulating layer by an object entering from outside and moving towards the core will cause semi-conductive fibres from the semi-conductive layer to form an electrical conductive path between the semi-conductive layer and said means capable of transmitting a signal.

2. A signal-carrier member according to claim 1 wherein said means capable of transmitting an electrical signal is an inner semi-conductive layer surrounding the core and separated from the first mentioned outer semi-conductive layer by said insulating layer.

3. A signal-carrier member according to claim 1 wherein said insulating layer comprises a helical winding of insulating tape caring a semi-conductive tape over less than half the width of the insulating tape, the semi-conductive tape forming said semi-conductive layer.

4. A signal-carrier member according to claim 2 having thereon at least two helical windings of insulating tape carrying semi-conductive tape over less than half the width of the insulating tape, the two windings of the semi-conductive tape forming said inner and outer semi-conductive layers.

5. A signal-carrier member according to claim 2 or claim 4 to which a resistance-bridge-type detector is connected, each semi-conductive layer forming at least part of one arm of the resistance bridge.

6. A signal-carrier member according to claim 5 wherein an insulated wire extends within at least one of the windings and is connected to the outer ends of the semi-conductive layers and to a terminal of the detector.

7. A signal-carrier member according to claim 5 wherein a fixed resistor is connected in series with one semi-conductive layer and a variable resistor is connected in series with the other semi-conductive layer.

8. A signal-carrier member according to claim 5 having one or more further wrappings of semi-conductive tape, the various semi-conductive tapes being interconnected to form more than two arms of equal resistance and connected to the detector.

9. A signal-carrier member according to claim 8 wherein the semi-conductive tapes which are interconnected to form one of said arms are selected from different wrapping layers.

10. A signal-carrier member according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the or each insulating tape winding is wound from an insulating tape carrying thereon two or more parallel spaced semi-conductive tapes.

11. A signal-carrier member according to claim 5 having a switching device electrically connected between the semi-conductive layers and the detector and operable at will to vary the electrical connections between the said layers and the detector.