Mechanisms for detecting tampering of an electronic device

• US 8,736,286 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy M. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vasquez, Arleen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, SON T
• Application Number:
  US13/602,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 324/691, 324/538, 340/539.31, 340/541, 3405681-5684
• US Class Current: 324/691
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/10 Arrangements of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• 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: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0215 Grounding of printed circuits by connection to external grounding means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0268 for electrical inspection or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0275 Security details, e.g. tampering prevention or detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0293 Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10409 Screws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1417 having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards H05K7/1461 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic device has a chassis, and a printed wiring board (PWB) having a hole. A fastener is installed in the hole thereby securing the PWB to the chassis. A pair of conductive traces is formed in the PWB. A cap, being an amount of conductive glue, covers a part of the fastener and fills an electrically insulating gap between the two traces, to thereby form a conductive path that connects the two traces. A sensing circuit is coupled to the traces, to detect a change in impedance of the path and signal a tamper event alert. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a chassis;

a printed wiring board (PWB) secured to the chassis by a fastener, the PWB having a pair of conductive traces, and a conductive cap filling electrically insulating gaps between the pair of conductive traces and the fastener to thereby form a conductive path that connects the two traces; and

a sensing circuit coupled to the pair of conductive traces and configured to;

detect a change in impedance of the path, and, in response, signal an alert to a data processor that evaluates and logs tamper events in the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, as installed, a tool end of the fastener is below a surface of the PWB.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the conductive cap is in contact with said end of the fastener.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the pair of conductive traces is formed in the same plane of the PWB and above said end of the fastener.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, as installed, a tool end of the fastener is above a surface of the PWB in which the pair of conductive traces is formed, and the conductive cap is in contact with said end of the fastener.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

another fastener that secures the PWB to the chassis, the PWB having a further pair of conductive traces, and a further conductive cap filling electrically insulating gaps between the another fastener and each of the respective further traces to thereby form a further conductive path that connects the further pair of conductive traces,

the sensing coupled to the further pair of conductive traces and configured to detect changes in impedance of the further path, wherein said path and said further path are connected to each other in series.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a chassis;

a printed wiring board (PWB) secured to the chassis by a plurality of fasteners,

wherein, for each fastener, hole the PWB has a respective pair of conductive traces and a respective conductive cap filling electrically insulating gaps between each fastener and each of the respective pair of conductive traces to thereby form a respective conductive path that connects with the respective pair of conductive traces, said respective conductive paths being coupled to each other in series; and

a sensing circuit coupled to said respective conductive paths and configured to;

detect a change in impedance therein and in response signal an alert to a data processor that evaluates and logs tamper events in the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the sensing circuit is coupled to the respective conductive paths at only two nodes.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein, as installed, a tool end of each fastener is below a surface of the PWB.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the conductive cap is in contact with said tool end of each fastener.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein each pair of conductive traces is formed in the same plane of the PWB and above said tool end of each fastener.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein as installed, a tool end of each fastener is above a surface of the PWB in which each pair of conductive traces is formed, and the conductive cap is in contact with said tool end of each fastener.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a chassis;

a printed wiring board (PWB) secured to the chassis by a plurality of fasteners,

wherein, for each fastener, the PWB has a respective pair of conductive traces and a respective conductive cap filling electrically insulating gaps between each fastener and each of the respective pair of conductive traces to thereby form a respective conductive path with the respective pair of conductive traces, said respective conductive paths being connected as a randomly accessible sensor array; and

a selection and sensing circuit coupled to said randomly accessible sensor array, to pass a current through any one of the respective conductive paths at a time and then detect a change in impedance therein, the selection and sensing circuit configured to, in response to detecting the change in impedance, signal an alert to a data processor that evaluates and logs tamper events in the electronic device, wherein the alert identifies said one of the respective conductive paths in which the impedance change was detected.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein, as installed, a tool end of each fastener is below a surface of the PWB.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the conductive cap is in contact with said tool end of each fastener.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein each pair of conductive traces is formed in the same plane of the PWB and above said tool end of each fastener.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein as installed, a tool end of each fastener is above a surface of the PWB in which each pair of conductive traces is formed, and the conductive cap is in contact with said tool end of each fastener.