System and method of tamper detection

• US 7,382,262 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Picon, Joaquin, Secondo, Pierre, Mestres, Jean-Christophe, Commagnac, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/406,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/568.2, 340/652
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means relating to aerosol containers B65D83/224
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method of tamper detection. A tamper detection system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a passive electronic sensor including a circuit having first, second, and third nodes; a load connected between the first and second nodes of the circuit; a friable electrical connection element connected between the second and third nodes of the circuit; and a storage unit, connected to the second node of the circuit, for storing an identification code of the sensor; wherein in use a voltage is applied across the first and third nodes of the circuit, and when the friable electrical connection element is intact, the second node of the circuit is at a first voltage, and when the friable electrical connection element is broken, the second node of the circuit is at a second voltage.

Claims

1. Method of detecting tampering with an item comprising a first member and a second member being movable relative to the first member, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a passive electronic sensor to the first member, the passive electronic sensor comprising a load and a storage unit for storing a sensor identification code of the sensor;

attaching a first end of a friable electrical connection element to the second member;

forming a series connection between the second end of the friable electrical connection element and the load; and

connecting the storage unit to the series connection at a position between the second end of the friable electrical connection element and the load, so that movement of the second member relative to the first member causes the friable electrical connection element to break and thereby alter the sensor identification code stored in the storage unit.

2. Method of detecting tampering with a container comprising the steps of:

attaching a passive electronic sensor to a first member of the container, the passive electronic sensor including a circuit having first, second, and third nodes, wherein a load is connected between the first and second nodes of the circuit, and wherein a storage unit for storing an identification code of the sensor is connected to the second node of the circuit;

attaching a first end of a friable electrical connection element to a closing member of the container, wherein the closing member is movable relative to the first member;

connecting the friable electrical connection element between the second and third nodes of the circuit;

applying a voltage across the first and third nodes of the circuit so that when the friable electrical connection element is intact, the second node of the circuit is at a first voltage, and wherein movement of the closing member relative to the first member of the container causes the friable electrical connection element to break setting the second node of the circuit to a second voltage.

3. Method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first end of a friable electrical connection element is adhesively attached to the closing member of the container.

4. Method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first end of the friable electrical connection element is attached to the closing member of the container by:

forming a hole in the closing member;

inserting the first end of the friable electrical connection element into the hole; and

fixing the first end of the friable electrical connection element in the hole.