Magnet Arrangement for Reliable Housing Opening Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices fail to reliably detect the opening process of housings with large internal volumes relative to their external dimensions, which poses a security risk for protecting sensitive electrical devices.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a magnet arrangement with permanent magnets and a magnetic field sensor arrangement, where the magnet arrangement extends along a relevant housing dimension to create a detectable magnetic field change when the covering device is opened, and a magnetic field guide arrangement to ensure secure detection and minimize external manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a magnet arrangement is used to detect opening processes, then detection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for magnetic field sensor arrangements and magnet configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet arrangement is divided into multiple permanent magnets distributed along the housing dimension, allowing the magnetic field to be segmented into multiple detection zones. This segmentation improves detection reliability across large internal volumes while keeping each individual magnet simple and manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic field sensor arrangement serves multiple functions: detecting the presence of the covering device, determining opening/closed states, and potentially detecting manipulation attempts. This multi-functionality improves detection reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Area of stationary object

If the magnet arrangement extends along the housing dimension to cover large internal volumes, then detection coverage is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet arrangement extends along the housing dimension by using multiple permanent magnets positioned at different locations. This segmentation approach covers large internal volumes effectively while maintaining manageable complexity for each individual magnet and its positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The magnet arrangement utilizes the housing dimension (length, width, or height) to extend detection coverage. By distributing magnets along this dimension, the system achieves comprehensive coverage of large internal volumes without requiring overly complex three-dimensional sensor arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If the housing has a large internal volume relative to external dimensions, then the capacity to accommodate electrical devices is improved, but the detection of opening processes becomes less reliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternal volumeVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The internal volume is divided into multiple detection zones by distributing permanent magnets throughout the housing. Each magnet creates a localized magnetic field that can be detected by corresponding sensors, ensuring reliable detection even across large internal volumes where a single magnet would be insufficient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The magnet arrangement exploits the housing dimension to extend detection coverage throughout the large internal volume. By positioning magnets and sensors along the relevant dimension, the system achieves reliable detection despite the large volume-to-surface-area ratio

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables reliable detection of access attempts even in housings with large volumes, ensuring secure operation by triggering a magnetic field change that can initiate protective measures such as documentation or device destruction.

Implementation Method 1

The magnet arrangement extends along a relevant housing dimension X in such a way that an opening process results in a change in the magnetic field in the detection area of the magnetic field sensor arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3226018B1Detection of an opening process of a covering device
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3226018B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for detecting the opening process of a cover device (10), wherein the cover device (10) is configured to cover an opening (15) of a housing (20) and wherein the housing (20) is configured to receive the device and an electrical device (25). The invention further relates to an electrical device (25) configured to be received in the housing (20).In order to provide a device of the type mentioned above which enables reliable detection of an opening process even of housings (20) with a large internal volume in relation to their external dimensions, it is proposed that the device has at least one magnet arrangement (110) and at least one magnetic field sensor arrangement (120), wherein the magnet arrangement (110) has at least one permanent magnet (112), wherein the magnetic field sensor arrangement (120) has at least one magnetic field sensor (122), and wherein the magnet arrangement (110) extends along a relevant housing dimension (X) such that an opening process results in a change in the magnetic field within the detection range of the magnetic field sensor arrangement (120).