MCCB Security Tag with Digital Signature Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Molded-case circuit breakers (MCCBs) from unauthorized sources, including counterfeits and gray market items, are difficult to authenticate, posing safety and liability risks due to tampering and lack of warranty, as conventional authentication methods require technical knowledge and are prone to manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A security tag and electronic system that generates paired public and private keys, creates a digital signature code, and builds an identification code into security tags attached to MCCBs, allowing for verification and certification through a verification step and revocation list check to ensure authenticity and detect tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional authentication methods (date code, QPC code, labeling) are used to authenticate MCCBs, then users can identify genuine products, but these methods require technical knowledge and are prone to manipulation by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection of date codes, QPC codes, and labels with an automated electronic authentication system. A mobile device captures an image of the MCCB, extracts authentication features using image processing and machine learning algorithms, and verifies authenticity electronically, eliminating the need for users to have technical knowledge about code interpretation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication system that acts as a mediator between the MCCB and the user. The system includes a server that stores authentication data and a mobile application that performs verification, serving as an intermediary layer that handles the complex authentication process while presenting a simple interface to users
2Ease of operation
If manual inspection of date codes, QPC codes, and labeling is performed, then authentication can be performed without additional equipment, but the process is time-consuming and requires technical expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with automated image capture and processing. The mobile device camera captures the MCCB image, and machine learning algorithms automatically extract and verify authentication features, dramatically reducing authentication time and eliminating the need for technical expertise
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system performs self-service by automatically capturing images, extracting features, comparing against stored data, and providing verification results without requiring user intervention in the complex processing steps. The system serves itself by using the MCCB's own visual features for authentication
3Reliability
If traditional authentication markers (date codes, labels) are placed on MCCBs, then genuine products can be identified, but these markers can be removed or forged by tampered MCCBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical authentication markers with electronic authentication based on image processing. Multiple features from the MCCB image (visual characteristics, text, patterns) are extracted and verified against stored reference data, making it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate all features simultaneously while maintaining a relatively simple implementation
4Adaptability or versatility
If gray market MCCBs are purchased from unauthorized resellers, then products may be available outside authorized channels, but warranty and safety guarantees are voided
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system provides immediate feedback to users about the authenticity and authorization status of MCCBs. The mobile application communicates with the server to verify whether the scanned MCCB is from an authorized source, providing real-time feedback that informs users about warranty validity and safety guarantees
Data Source
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AI summary
A security tag (4, 104) and electronic system (54) detect unauthorized tampering of Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) (12) and authenticate MCCBs against counterfeiting or gray market items. The system can involve digital generation of a public key and a corresponding private key, both keys comprise large positive integers, applying the private key to an MCCB-specific message string and creating a digital signature code, generating an identification code (2) from the MCCB-specific message string and the digital signature code, building the identification code into one or more security tags, and installing the security tags on MCCBs, and authenticating MCCBs through a verification step and a certification step. The verification step reads the security tags, and verifies the identification code. The certification step checks the identification code against a revocation list (76) that contains previously compromised identification codes.