Beacon Anti-Theft Design Using Stress-Concentrating Elastomer Notches

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Beacons are vulnerable to theft and tampering due to their ease of removal from installation locations, lacking effective mechanisms to deter unauthorized detachment.

Innovation Solution

The beacon design incorporates a flexible elastomer structure with varying stiffness sections and strategically placed notches or grooves that concentrate stress upon external force application, facilitating breakage when attempted detachment occurs, thereby enhancing security against theft and tampering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the beacon is made flexible and easy to install using elastomer material, then the ease of operation and installation is improved, but the vulnerability to theft and tampering increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidsecurity against theft
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon is designed with pre-positioned notches and grooves that concentrate stress at specific locations. These features are prepared in advance during manufacturing, so that when detachment force is applied, the beacon will break at predetermined locations rather than allowing easy removal. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that theft attempts result in beacon destruction rather than successful removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon structure incorporates localized features (notches and grooves) at specific positions where stress concentration is desired. These local structural modifications create weak points that facilitate controlled breakage, while the rest of the beacon body maintains its flexible elastomer properties for ease of installation and weather resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the beacon structure is made uniform and simple, then the manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but the ability to concentrate stress for breakage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidstress concentration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon body is segmented into regions of different thickness through the incorporation of notches and grooves. These segmented features create localized thin sections that concentrate stress, while the overall manufacturing process remains relatively simple and can be integrated into existing elastomer molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively prevents unauthorized removal by ensuring the beacon breaks easily when subjected to external forces, thereby increasing security and reliability of the installation.

Implementation Method 1

beacons that are flexible and that may be installed in any locations may be provided by use of elastomer as material of the beacons. Silicone rubber that is an example of elastomer has high weather resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The beacon includes a first exterior section and a second exterior section. A thickness of the first exterior section is different from a thickness of the second exterior section... stresses are concentrated in a specified part of the beacon, so that the beacon is made prone to be broken

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStress concentration: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP3252676B1Electronic equipment and beacon
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 FUJITSU LTD
  • EP3252676B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3252676B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3252676B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Electronic equipment includes: a substrate configured to include a first component, a second component, and an interconnection part that couples the first component with the second component by electric interconnections; and an exterior part configured to cover the first component, the second component, and the interconnection parts, and include a first exterior section that covers at least a portion of the first component, and a second exterior section that covers at least a portion of the interconnection parts, a thickness of the first exterior section being different from a thickness of the second exterior section to form a level difference in a boundary part between the first exterior section and the second exterior section.