Anti-theft computer security system

• US 6,300,874 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vanguard Products Group, Inc., DBA Vanguard Protex Global
• Original Assignee: Protex International Corporation (Vanguard Protex Global)
• Inventors: Rand, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/710,595
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.2, 340/571, 340/568.4, 439/607, 439/610
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply

Abstract

A computer anti-theft security system comprising a USB connector having a housing section and a contact connected to the housing section is disclosed. A cable is connected to the contact and extends through the housing section. The contact inserts into a USB port of a computer or peripheral and the cable is then connected to a central alarm monitoring unit. A sensor is disposed within the housing and connected to the cable as well. If the USB connector is disconnected from the computer or peripheral, or if the cable is cut, an alarm sounds from the central alarm monitoring unit.

Claims

1. An anti-theft computer security system, comprising:

a USB connector comprising;

(a) a housing;

(b) a contact extending from the housing and having two ground terminals for connecting to a USB port on an electronic device;

(c) a sensor disposed within the housing and comprising a diode;

a cable comprising a plurality of wires connected to the sensor and contact at one end and having a free end; and

a central alarm monitoring unit connected to the free end of the cable,

wherein the sensor is connected to two wires in the cable and to two ground terminals such that a circuit is completed when the connector is connected to an electronic device through a USB port, and wherein the circuit is broken when the connector is disconnected or the wire is cut, and wherein said central alarm monitoring unit detects the presence of the sensor and sends an alarm signal when the connector is disconnected from the electronic device or the cable is cut.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cable has four wires and wherein sensor further comprises a bi-color LED connected to the two wires not connected to the diode, said LED glowing one color when the connector is connected to an electronic device and to the central alarm monitoring unit, and glowing another color when the connector is disconnected from the electronic device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of the ground terminals is a shell.