Tamper resistant electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018116060-A1
Application number	US-201615299270-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Oct 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 26, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tamper resistant device comprises an internal component, such as an electronic device, and a latent battery that is connected to the internal component. An activator material is separated from the latent battery by a rupturable barrier that is adapted to rupture, shatter, or otherwise degrade in response to a stimulus associated with a physical tampering event. The activator material is a material that causes the latent battery to output electrical power when in contact with the latent battery. In some examples, the electrical power provided when the activator material contacts the latent battery is used to trigger a security response which can include transmission of an alarm signal and/or erasure of data stored by the internal component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tamper resistant apparatus, comprising:
an internal component; a latent battery connected to the internal component; and an activator material separated from the latent battery by a rupturable barrier, wherein the activator material causes the latent battery to output electrical power when in contact with the latent battery.

2 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rupturable barrier comprises a glass.

3 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the activator material is an aqueous salt solution.

4 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the activator material is a solid, and the latent battery includes non-electrolytic fluid in which the activator material is soluble.

5 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the non-electrolytic fluid is high purity water.

6 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the activator material is provided in a reservoir, the rupturable barrier includes a first portion on a first side of the reservoir and a second portion on a second side of the reservoir opposite the first side, and the latent battery includes a first portion on the first side of the reservoir and a second portion on the second side of the reservoir.

7 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a casing which surrounds the internal component and the latent battery.

8 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the internal component is configured to erase electronic data stored in the internal component using electrical power output by the latent battery.

9 . The tamper resistance apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the internal component is configured to initiate a security response operation when electrical power is output by the latent battery.

10 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latent battery is configured as a lead-acid type battery.

11 . The tamper resistant apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latent battery comprises one or more electrochemical cells.

12 . A secured device, comprising:
an electronic component; and a casing surrounding the electronic component and including:
a latent battery electrically connected to the electronic component;
a reservoir filled with an activator material that causes the latent battery to output electrical power when in contact with the latent battery; and
a rupturable barrier separating the activator material from the latent battery.

13 . The secured device of claim 12 , wherein the rupturable barrier comprises a glass.

14 . The secured device of claim 12 , wherein activator material is an aqueous salt solution.

15 . The secured device of claim 12 , wherein
the activator material is a solid, and the latent battery includes non-electrolytic fluid in which the activator material is soluble.

16 . The secured device of claim 12 , wherein
the rupturable barrier includes a first portion on a first side of the reservoir and a second portion on a second side of the reservoir opposite the first side, and the latent battery includes a first portion on the first side of the reservoir and a second portion on the second side of the reservoir.

17 . A method, comprising:
obtaining a secured device including:
an electronic component; and
a casing surrounding the electronic component and including:
a latent battery electrically connected to the electronic component;
a reservoir filled with an activator material that causes the latent battery to output electrical power when in contact with the latent battery; and
a rupturable barrier separating the activator material from the latent battery;

monitoring an electrical power output of the latent battery; and triggering a security response operation when the latent battery outputs electrical power.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the security response operation comprises erasure of electronic data stored by the electronic component.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the rupturable barrier is a glass.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the activator material is an aqueous salt solution and the latent battery comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells connected in series.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Campbell Eric J
• Czaplewski Sarah K
• Egan Patrick K
• Kuczynski Joseph
• Tofil Timothy J

Classifications

• H05K5/0208 Primary

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

• H01M6/34

  Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells · CPC title

• G06F21/86

  Secure or tamper-resistant housings · CPC title

• H01M10/06

  Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20) · CPC title

• H01M6/36

  containing electrolyte and made operational by physical means, e.g. thermal cells · CPC title