Electronic Apparatus With Light-Shielded Encryption Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic apparatus designs allow packages to be visually observed through openings, making it difficult to protect the production number or model number of components like controllers from view.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates spacers between printed circuit boards that create a region on the board assembly where encryption devices, such as controller packages, are not irradiated by light from ventilation holes, using spacers made of thermally conductive and insulating materials to maintain security and facilitate heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If packages are mounted on boards with openings in the housing, then visual observation of packages is enabled, but security protection of production number or model number is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Z-direction dimension by placing spacers between printed circuit boards to create a light-shielded region. This vertical spacing prevents light from ventilation holes in the housing top surface from reaching the encryption device, thereby blocking visual observation through openings while maintaining security
2Reliability
If spacers are introduced between printed circuit boards, then security is improved by blocking light, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides light shielding to protect encryption devices from visual observation, maintains proper spacing between printed circuit boards for assembly and cooling, and facilitates heat dissipation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
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
Prevents visual observation of encryption modules and enhances security by ensuring encryption devices are not visible through ventilation openings while effectively dissipating heat.
Implementation Method 1
a first region on the printed circuit board that is not irradiated with light emitted from a light source placed at the ventilation hole
Implementation Method 2
using spacers made of thermally conductive and insulating materials to maintain security and facilitate heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a printed circuit board including a plurality of devices that include a nonvolatile memory package and a controller package configured to control the nonvolatile memory package, and a housing accommodating the printed circuit board. The housing includes an opening on a surface constituting the housing. An encryption device among the plurality of devices is present in a first region. The first region is a region on the printed circuit board that is not irradiated with light emitted from a light source placed at the opening. The encryption device is a device used for an encryption process of data to be stored into the nonvolatile memory package.