Security system and enclosure to protect data contained therein

• US 6,396,400 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chia-Sheng Lu, Edwin A. Epstein III, Souk Souvannavong
• Original Assignee: Chia-Sheng Lu, Edwin A. Epstein III, Souk Souvannavong
• Inventors: Souvannavong, Souk, Lu, Chia-Sheng, Epstein, Edwin A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US09/360,787
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/550,545.2,565,541,540 365/52 713/194
• US Class Current: 340/550
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/16 Actuation by interference with mechanical vibrations in air or other fluid

Abstract

A security system includes a data storage device in which data or other information to be protected is stored. The data storage device, control logic, and other components are contained in a sealed first inner housing. The data storage device stores the data to be protected. The first inner housing is contained within a sealed second inner housing by a plurality of support structures which create an interstitial volume surrounding the first inner enclosure. Both inner housings are contained within an outer housing. A vacuum is created in the interstitial volume between the two inner housings. Both inner housings are sealed thereby precluding air from entering the interstitial volume and defeating the vacuum. One or more pressure sensors monitor the vacuum pressure. If an attempt is made to access the first inner housing, by drilling through the second inner housing or otherwise defeating the second inner housing'"'"'s seal, the pressure of the interstitial volume will change. Logic coupled to the pressure sensor detects the change in pressure, determines that a security breach has occurred or is occurring and initiates a response to secure the data from theft or tampering. The security response includes erasing the protected data or destroying the data storage device itself prevent access to the data.

Claims

1. A security system that protects information contained therein, comprising:

a first inner housing containing information to be protected;

a second inner housing, said first inner housing disposed within said second inner housing so as to create an interstitial volume between said first and second inner housings, a vacuum formed in said interstitial volume;

security logic contained within said first inner housing; and

at least one pressure transducer coupled to said security logic to detect the pressure of the interstitial volume;

said security logic responds to a pressure signal from said at least one pressure transducer by altering the information to be protected.

2. The security system of claim 1 wherein said at least one pressure transducer includes a plurality of pressure transducers.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein said at least one pressure transducer is mounted to a surface of said first inner housing exposed to said interstitial volume.

4. The security system of claim 1 wherein said information to be protected is stored on a memory device.

5. The security system of claim 1 wherein security logic secures said information by erasing said memory device.

6. The security system of claim 5 further including an energy storage device selectably coupled to said memory device.

7. The security system of claim 6 wherein security logic secures said information by causing said energy storage device to deliver enough electrical energy to said memory device to damage said memory device preventing the information contained therein from being accessed.

8. The security system of claim 6 further including a switch disposed between said energy storage device and said memory device.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein said security logic secures said information by asserting a signal to said switch causing said switch to close and said energy storage device to deliver enough electrical energy through said switch to said memory device to damage said memory device preventing the information contained therein from being accessed.

10. The security system of claim 1 further including at least one particle detector coupled to said security logic to detect the particle density of the interstitial volume.

11. The security system of claim 1 further including a plurality of particle detectors coupled to said security logic to detect the particle density of the interstitial volume.

12. The security system of claim 10 wherein said at least one particle detector is mounted to a surface of said first inner housing exposed to said interstitial volume.

13. The security system of claim 10 wherein said at least one particle detector provides a particle detector signal indicative of the density of particles in said interstitial volume to said security logic which interprets the particle detector signal to determine the occurrence of a change in particle density of the interstitial volume.

14. The security system of claim 13 further including an energy storage device selectably coupled to said memory device.

15. The security system of claim 14 wherein security logic interprets the pressure signal and the particle detector signal to determine the occurrence of a change in pressure or a change particle density and if either change has occurred secures said information by causing said energy storage device to deliver enough electrical energy to said memory device to damage said memory device preventing the information contained therein from being accessed.

16. The security system of claim 15 further including a switch disposed between said energy storage device and said memory device through which electrical energy stored in said energy storage device can flow to said memory device.

17. The security system of claim 16 wherein said security logic secures said information by asserting a signal to said switch causing said switch to close and said energy storage device to deliver enough electrical energy through said switch to said memory device to damage said memory device preventing the information contained therein from being accessed.

18. A security system that protects information contained therein, comprising:

a first inner housing containing said information to be protected;

a second inner housing, said first inner housing disposed within said second inner housing so as to create an interstitial volume between said first and second inner housings, a vacuum formed in said interstitial volume;

security logic contained within said first inner housing;

at least one pressure transducer coupled to said security logic to detect the pressure of the interstitial volume;

wherein said security logic responds to a pressure signal from said at least one pressure transducer by altering the information to be protected; and

a heat conductor to conduct heat generated inside said first inner housing through said interstitial volume to the area surrounding said second inner housing.

19. A security system that protects information contained therein, comprising:

a first inner housing containing said information to be protected;

a second inner housing, said first inner housing disposed within said second inner housing so as to create an interstitial volume between said first and second inner housings, a vacuum formed in said interstitial volume;

an outer housing, said first and second inner housings disposed within said outer housing;

security logic contained within said first inner housing; and

at least one pressure transducer coupled to said security logic to detect the pressure of the interstitial volume;

wherein said security logic responds to a pressure signal from said at least one pressure transducer by altering the information to be protected.

20. The security system of claim 19 further including a heat removal system to remove heat generated inside said first inner housing to the area surrounding said second inner housing.

21. The security system of claim 20 wherein said heat removal system includes a thermoelectric material at least part of which is located in the interstitial volume and couples electrically to said security logic.

22. The security system of claim 21 further including a fan disposed in the area between the outer housing and the second inner housing, the outer housing including vents through which air blown by the fan can exit the security system.

23. A security system that protects information contained therein, comprising:

a first inner housing containing said information to be protected;

a second inner housing, said first inner housing disposed within said second inner housing so as to create an interstitial volume between said first and second inner housings, a vacuum formed in said interstitial volume;

wherein said first and second inner housings are connected mechanically by a plurality of support structures, each support structure having a surface exposed to said interstitial volume;

security logic contained within said first inner housing; and

at east one pressure transducer coupled to said security logic to detect the pressure of the interstitial volume;

wherein said security logic responds to a pressure signal from said at least one pressure transducer by altering the information to be protected.

24. The security system of claim 23 wherein said support structures have a hollow interior region.

25. The security system of claim 24 wherein said support structures have at least one bore in a surface exposed to said interstitial volume so that a vacuum is formed in said hollow interior region.

26. A method of protecting information, comprising:

(a) storing said information in a first inner housing disposed within a second inner housing;

(b) forming a vacuum in the volume between said first and said second inner housing;

(c) monitoring the pressure of said volume; and

(d) altering the information if a change in pressure is detected in step (c).

27. The method of claim 26 wherein step (a) includes storing the information on a memory device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein step (d) includes erasing the information from the memory device.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein step (d) includes providing a power surge to the memory device thereby rendering the memory incapable of functioning to provide the information.

30. The method of claim 27 further including monitoring the particle density of said volume.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein step (d) includes erasing the information from the memory device if a change in pressure is detected or a change in particle density is detected.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein step (d) includes, if a change in pressure is detected or a change in particle density is detected, providing a power surge to the memory device thereby rendering the memory incapable of being accessed to read the information.

33. A data protection device, comprising:

a first inner housing containing information to be protected;

a second inner housing, said first inner housing disposed within said second inner housing so as to create an interstitial volume between said first and second inner housings;

security logic contained within said first inner housing; and

at least one particle detector coupled to said security logic to detect the particle density of the interstitial volume;

said security logic responds to a particle density signal from said at least one particle detector by securing the information to be protected.

34. The data protection device of claim 33 further including a memory device coupled to said security logic in which the information to be protected is stored and said security logic erases said memory device if the particle density of the interstitial volume exceeds a threshold.

35. The data protection device of claim 34 further including at least one pressure sensor disposed in said interstitial volume and coupled to said security logic to detect the pressure of said interstitial volume.

36. The data protection device of claim 35 wherein said security logic erases said memory device if the particle density of the interstitial volume exceeds a threshold or the pressure of the interstitial volume exceeds a threshold.

37. The data protection device of claim 33 further including:

at least one pressure sensor disposed in said interstitial volume to detect the pressure of said interstitial volume;

a memory device coupled to said security logic, said memory device containing the information to be protected;

an energy storage device in which energy can be stored;

a switch disposed between said energy storage device and said memory device and receiving a control signal from said security logic, said switch normally open disconnecting the energy storage device from said memory device, and said switch can be closed via the control signal from said security logic;

said security logic monitors the pressure and particle density of the interstitial volume and asserts the control signal causing the switch to close and the energy stored in said energy storage device to be delivered to said memory device thereby rendering said memory device unable to be accessed to retrieve the data stored therein.