Removable Access Point for Secure Vehicle Control Board
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printed circuit boards have weak software security due to accessible signal lines that are difficult to remove after production, making them vulnerable to unauthorized changes and hacking.
Innovation Solution
A control board with a separable or removable access point, featuring a port portion that protrudes from the circuit board with grooves for easy cutting, allowing the access point to be disconnected after final software changes, enhancing security by preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If signal lines and access points are left accessible on the circuit board for easy software change, then software adaptability is improved, but software security deteriorates due to vulnerability to unauthorized changes and hacking
Solution Approach 1:
The access point is segmented from the main circuit board through a separable connector structure. This allows the access point to be physically divided into a board-mounted portion and a connector portion, enabling controlled access during production while preventing unauthorized access after production. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability when needed and security when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point is designed with pre-established separable features (grooves, cutting lines, connector interfaces) that enable easy removal after production. This preliminary preparation allows the system to transition from an accessible state during manufacturing to a secured state after manufacturing, resolving the contradiction between needing access for software changes and preventing unauthorized access.
2Ease of operation
If the access point is made permanently accessible for software changes, then ease of software modification is improved, but security against hacking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access point transitions from a static permanently accessible design to a dynamic structure that can change state from accessible to inaccessible. The separable connector and removable port portion enable the access point to be accessible during production for software modifications, then become inaccessible after production to prevent hacking, thus resolving the contradiction through dynamic adaptability.
3Reliability
If the access point structure is made complex with separable components, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful or unnecessary permanent accessibility is extracted from the access point structure. By removing the permanent connection and extracting only the essential connector functions, the design achieves security through removal of the access point after production while maintaining simplicity during the production phase. This extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating the security vulnerability without requiring complex protective mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus includes an electronic controller configured to execute software for controlling a vehicle, and a control board configured to provide a mounting space for the electronic controller and connect the electronic controller and an external device with a signal line, wherein the control board includes a circuit board having the signal line disposed on at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface; and an access point through which an external device is connected, disposed at a set location on the circuit board, and wherein the access point is separable or removable by an external force after signal transmission for a final testing or final software changes of the electronic controller is completed.