Tamper/damage detection

Abstract

Various aspects are directed to the detection of tampering, as may be applicable to retail goods and a variety of implementations. As may be consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a loop conductor having first and second ends and contiguous conductive material extending in a loop between the ends. A detection circuit detects continuity of the loop conductor and characteristics of power that is provided to the loop conductor and is indicative of validity of the continuity detection. A communication circuit communicates a wireless signal indicative of the detected electrical characteristics, and an energy circuit powers the loop conductor, detection circuit and communication circuit via received wireless power. Other aspects are further directed to an interrogator that provides the wireless power and evaluates the wireless signal to detect tampering with the conductive loop and validity thereof.

Description

technical field [0001] The solutions of various embodiments relate to tamper detection, and tamper detection with verification. Background technique [0002] Wireless communications are used in a variety of applications and are becoming more common. In many applications, power is transmitted wirelessly to power remote circuits that harvest and use the wireless power to generate a communication response. Many of these methods are used in a variety of contexts, for example, to identify product types by tags such as radio frequency identification or RFID, or to power remote circuits that are not connected to a power source. Other methods involve wireless energy transfer to charge the battery of a remote device that may or may not involve data communication. [0003] A challenge with certain wireless communications involving wireless power is related to the amount of power transferred. For example, where the distance between the base station and the wireless transponder is va...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, where the distance between a base station and a wireless transponder is variable, the power transmitted to operate the transponder may vary

Additionally, other environmental changes (such as the presence of metallic structures) have th

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