Controlled transformation of non-transient electronics

• US 9,024,394 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transient Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Transient Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Poirier, Christopher, Campbell, Anthony Stewart, Roberts, Carmichael S., Rogers, John A., Henderson, Winston E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NIKMANESH, SEAHVOSH J
• Application Number:
  US14/283,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 257/414
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/00 Auxiliary methods or auxiliary devices or accessories specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating not provided for in preceding groups or not specially adapted to apparatus covered by a single preceding group specially adapted for grain mills B02C11/00; separating or sorting in general B03, B04, B07
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/70 Manufacture or treatment of devices consisting of a plurality of solid state components formed in or on a common substrate or of parts thereof; Manufacture of integrated circuit devices or of parts thereof multistep manufacturing processes of assemblies consisting of a plurality of individual semiconductor or other solid state devices H01L25/00; manufacture of assemblies consisting of preformed electrical components H05K3/00, H05K13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/04 characterised by the shape of the container or parts, e.g. caps, walls
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/57 Protection from inspection, reverse engineering or tampering
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0275 Security details, e.g. tampering prevention or detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/178 Demolishing, e.g. recycling, reverse engineering, destroying for security purposes; Using biodegradable materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Systems and methods of the invention generally relate to altering the functionality of a non-transient electronic device. A container holding an agent is located proximal to a non-transient electronic device capable of performing at least one function. The agent is capable of rendering the device incapable of performing the at least one function. The container is configured to controllably release the agent to the electronic device in a variety of passive and active eventualities.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a non-transient electronic device capable of performing at least one function;

an agent capable of rendering the non-transient electronic device incapable of performing the at least one function; and

a container including the agent and configured to controllably release at least some of the agent to the non-transient electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the container releases at least some of the agent to the non-transient electronic device when the container is heated.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the container releases at least some of the agent to the non-transient electronic device when the agent is heated.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the heat is produced by applying radiofrequency (RF) energy.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the heat is produced by applying radiofrequency (RF) energy.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the container releases at least some of the agent to the non-transient electronic device when the container is subjected to mechanical disruption.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the agent comprises a chemical etchant.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the agent comprises an oxidant.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises one or more microspheres, microtubes, or microcapsules with an amount of the agent within each of the microspheres, microtubes, or microcapsules.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the container surrounds the non-transient electronic device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a layer disposed within, on, or near the non-transient electronic device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises one or more materials that release at least some of the agent after a predetermined amount of time, and wherein the system thus is passive.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the container releases at least some of the agent in response to an external trigger, and wherein the system thus is active.

14. The active system of claim 13 wherein the external trigger is vibration, light, a change in biological environment, a change in temperature, a change in pressure, exposure to electromagnetic radiation, contact with a chemical agent, application of an electric field, application of a magnetic field, exposure to a solvent, a change in pH of an external environment, a change in salt concentration of an external environment, or application of an anodic voltage.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one function that the non-transient electronic device is capable of performing comprises storing data or instructions.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one function that the non-transient electronic device is capable of performing comprises processing data or instructions.

17. A method for constructing a system comprising:

providing a non-transient electronic device capable of performing at least one function;

providing a container configured to controllably release at least some of a contained agent, said agent capable of rendering the non-transient electronic device incapable of performing the at least one function; and

positioning the non-transient electronic device and the container to allow at least some of the agent to contact the non-transient electronic device upon being released from the container.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing an energy delivery device capable of controllably providing a form of energy to another object; and

positioning the energy delivery device and the container so that, when activated, the energy delivery device provides energy to the container or the contained agent.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the form of energy is heat.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the form of energy is radiation.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the energy delivery device is an actuator and the form of energy is kinetic.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the agent comprises a chemical etchant or an oxidant.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the container comprises one or more microspheres, microtubes, or microcapsules with an amount of the agent within each of the microspheres, microtubes, or microcapsules.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the container is configured to at least partially envelope the non-transient electronic device and further comprising at least partially enveloping the non-transient electronic device with the container.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising incorporating the container into a layer of the non-transient electronic device.

26. The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting a container comprised of one or more degradable materials configured to release at least some of the agent after a predetermined amount of time wherein release of the agent to the non-transient electronic device thus is passive.

27. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a triggering mechanism configured to cause the container to release at least some of the agent in response to a signal.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a sensor capable of sensing a parameter value and enabling communication between the sensor and the triggering mechanism so that the sensor is capable of sending the signal to the triggering mechanism upon sensing a threshold parameter value.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the parameter value is vibration, light, a change in biological environment, a change in temperature, a change in pressure, exposure to electromagnetic radiation, contact with a chemical agent, application of an electric field, application of a magnetic field, exposure to a solvent, a change in pH of an external environment, a change in salt concentration of an external environment, or application of an anodic voltage.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a communication device capable of receiving a remote transmission and enabling communication between the communication device and the triggering mechanism so that the communication device is capable of sending the signal to the triggering mechanism upon receipt of the remote transmission.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the communication device is a wireless receiver or transceiver.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the communication device is configured to transmit a communication when the non-transient electronic device has been rendered incapable of performing the at least one function.