Anti-tamper system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9261128-B2
Application number	US-201314045259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2013
Priority date	Jun 1, 2012
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

An anti-tamper system including: a fixing device and an anti-tamper detection device; the fixing device comprising a body and a head whereby the head having a larger cross section then the body for enabling a tool to engage and drive the body into a first material layer thereby makes a firm connection with the anti-tamper detection device between the head and the first material layer; the fixing device further comprising a lock wherein the head is locked to the body by the lock where there is no external magnetic field and wherein the head becomes disengaged from the body when the lock is unlocked by an external magnetic field; and whereby the anti-tamper detection device detects and records a change the connection when the head becomes disengaged.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fixing device, comprising:
a body and a head, the head having a larger cross section than the body; and
a lock for locking the head to the body and for disengaging the head from the body in response to an external magnetic field,
wherein the lock is biased by a plurality of springs in an unstable equilibrium position, and wherein, when a magnetic counterforce greater than the force of the springs is applied by the external magnetic field, the lock moves to a more stable equilibrium position unlocking the head from the body.

2. The fixing device according claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises at least one movable part, sensitive to an external magnetic field, for disengaging the head from the body when the external magnetic field is applied.

3. The fixing device according to claim 2 , wherein each movable part is magnetic or metallic.

4. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the springs provides tension and another of the springs provides compression.

5. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the springs are coil springs.

6. The fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the springs comprise an elastic material.

7. A fixing device, comprising:
a body and a head, the head having a larger cross section than the body; and
a lock for locking the head to the body and for disengaging the head from the body in response to an external magnetic field,
wherein the lock is biased by equilibrium forces of a plurality of permanent magnets in an unstable equilibrium position, and wherein, when an external magnetic counterforce greater than the equilibrium forces is applied by the external magnetic field, the lock moves to a more stable equilibrium position unlocking the head from the body.

8. An anti-tamper system comprising:
a fixing device;
an anti-tamper detection device;
the fixing device comprising a body and a head, the head having a larger cross section than the body;
the fixing device further comprising a lock for locking the head to the body when there is no external magnetic field and for disengaging the head from the body when the lock is unlocked by an external magnetic field; and
wherein the anti-tamper detection device detects and records a change in the connection when the head becomes disengaged from the body.

9. The anti-tamper system according to claim 8 , further comprising: a spring, positioned between the fixing device and a first material layer, for creating a bias to remove the head from the body when the lock is unlocked.

10. The anti-tamper system according to claim 8 , wherein the lock is biased by a threshold force in an unstable equilibrium position, and wherein, when an external magnetic force greater than the threshold force is applied by the external magnetic field, the lock moves to a more stable equilibrium position thereby unlocking the head from the body.

11. The anti-tamper system according to claim 8 , wherein the lock is biased by two or more springs in an unstable equilibrium position, and wherein, when a magnetic counterforce greater than the force of the springs is applied by the external magnetic field, the lock moves to a more stable equilibrium position thereby unlocking the head from the body.

12. The anti-tamper system according to claim 11 , wherein one of the springs provides tension and another of the springs provides compression.

13. The anti-tamper system according to claim 11 , wherein the springs are coil springs.

14. The anti-tamper system according to claim 8 , wherein the fixing device comprises one of: a screw, a bolt, a nail, or a rivet.

15. The anti-tamper system according to claim 8 , wherein the lock is biased by equilibrium forces of two or more permanent magnets in an unstable equilibrium position, and wherein, when an external magnetic counterforce greater than the equilibrium forces is applied by the external magnetic field, then the lock moves to a more stable equilibrium position whereby the corresponding movement unlocks the head from the body.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Bauchot Frederic J
• Clement Jean-Yves
• Klatovsky Ricardo
• Samin Jean-Christophe

Classifications

• F16B39/02 Primary

  in which the locking takes place after screwing down (F16B39/01 takes precedence; split-pins, circlips, or the like for preventing relative axial movement only F16B21/10; fastening nuts by welding or riveting F16B37/06) · CPC title

• E05B65/0089

  for utility meters or the like · CPC title

• E05B13/001

  Covers preventing access to handles or keys · CPC title

• E05B39/00

  Locks giving indication of {authorised} or unauthorised unlocking {(with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00)} · CPC title

• F16B19/04

  Rivets; Spigots or the like fastened by riveting (lead seals G09F3/00) · CPC title