Mechanical intrusion indication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12054969-B2
Application number	US-202117445627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2021
Priority date	Aug 23, 2021
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

In some examples, an electronic device for mounting in a chassis includes a housing to be received in the chassis, and a mechanical intrusion indication segment to move from a retracted position to an extended position responsive to mounting of the housing in the electronic device. The mechanical intrusion indication segment when in the extended position is to break upon removal of the housing from the chassis. A controller is to detect an intrusion of the electronic device in response to breaking of the mechanical intrusion indication segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device for mounting in a chassis, comprising:
a housing to be received in the chassis;
a mechanical intrusion indication segment to move from a retracted position to an extended position responsive to mounting of the housing in the electronic device,
wherein the mechanical intrusion indication segment when in the extended position is to break upon removal of the housing from the chassis; and
a controller to detect an intrusion of the electronic device in response to breaking of the mechanical intrusion indication segment.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to detect the intrusion based on determining that the controller is unable to read data stored in a cartridge that includes the mechanical intrusion indication segment.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to detect the intrusion based on a state of a signal that depends on whether the mechanical intrusion indication segment is intact or broken.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical intrusion indication segment when in the extended position is to extend into an opening of the chassis.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical intrusion indication segment is to break due to interaction of the mechanical intrusion indication segment with a wall of the chassis when the housing is being removed from the chassis.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stop to prevent retraction of the mechanical intrusion indication segment from the extended position to the retracted position.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge including:
the mechanical intrusion indication segment, and
an actuation mechanism to actuate the mechanical intrusion indication segment from the retracted position to the extended position.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the controller when powered is to activate an activation signal to the actuation mechanism.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , comprising:
a cartridge including a memory and the mechanical intrusion indication segment.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein information stored in the memory is accessible by the controller responsive to the mechanical intrusion indication segment being intact.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the information stored in the memory is inaccessible by the controller responsive to the mechanical intrusion indication segment being broken.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the controller is to communicate with the memory using a communication path between the controller and the memory, wherein a portion of the communication path extends through the mechanical intrusion indication segment, and the communication path is broken if the mechanical intrusion indication segment is broken.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to:
in response to detecting the intrusion, perform a remediation action.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the remediation action of the controller includes sending an alert or disabling the electronic device or powering up the electronic device in a restricted mode.

15. A cartridge for inclusion in an electronic device, comprising:
a mechanical intrusion indication segment electrically activatable to move between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the mechanical intrusion indication segment is breakable by engagement of the mechanical intrusion indication segment with a feature of a chassis when the electronic device is removed from the chassis; and
an intrusion indication circuit, the intrusion indication circuit to provide an indication of intrusion with the electronic device if the mechanical intrusion indication segment is broken.

16. The cartridge of claim 15 , comprising:
a memory,
wherein the intrusion indication circuit comprises a communication path between the memory and a controller of the electronic device, wherein a portion of the communication path extends through the mechanical intrusion indication segment, and the indication of intrusion is based on the communication path being broken due to breaking of the mechanical intrusion indication segment.

17. The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the intrusion indication circuit is to:
set an intrusion indication signal to a first state in response to the mechanical intrusion indication segment being intact, and
set the intrusion indication signal to a second state different from the first state in response to the mechanical intrusion indication segment being broken, wherein the intrusion indication signal being set to the second state is the indication of intrusion.

18. The cartridge of claim 15 , comprising:
an actuation mechanism to cause actuation of the mechanical intrusion indication segment from the retracted position to the extended position; and
a mechanical stop to prevent retraction of the mechanical intrusion indication segment from the extended position to the retracted position.

19. A method comprising:
inserting, into a chassis, an electronic device comprising a mechanical intrusion indication segment in a retracted position;
after the insertion of the electronic device into the chassis, actuating the mechanical intrusion indication segment to move from the retracted position to an extended position, wherein the mechanical intrusion indication segment when in the extended position is to break upon removal of the electronic device from the chassis; and
detecting, by a controller, an indication of intrusion based on breaking of the mechanical intrusion indication segment.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the mechanical intrusion indication segment is part of a cartridge that further includes a memory, wherein the memory is inaccessible responsive to the mechanical intrusion indication segment being broken, and wherein the detecting of the indication of intrusion is based on an inability by a requester in reading the memory.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Mohrmann Vaden Albert
• Gillon Teresa Angela

Classifications

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B13/02

  Mechanical actuation · CPC title

• H05K5/0208

  Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof · CPC title

• H05K7/1498

  Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location (thermal management H05K7/20836) · CPC title

• G06F21/608

  Secure printing · CPC title