Self-Powered Tamper Detection Device with Non-Volatile Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-powered detection devices for tamper events in protected zones or containers require continuous power sources, leading to limited functionality and security risks due to battery life and potential disruption by perpetrators, and are often expensive and complex to integrate into small volume devices.
Innovation Solution
A self-powered detection device utilizing a sensor that transforms physical or chemical actions into electrical energy to store information in a non-volatile memory cell, with a read and reset circuit design that minimizes power consumption and allows secure operation without external power, using energy harvesting techniques such as piezoelectric elements, photodiodes, or thermopiles to generate the necessary electrical stimulus pulses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous power sources (battery) are used to power the detection device, then the device can continuously detect and record events, but the device has limited lifetime and security risks due to battery life and potential disruption by perpetrators
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device harvests energy from the tamper event itself to power the memory writing operation. When a tamper event occurs, the sensor generates an electrical signal that directly triggers the memory cell to record the event, eliminating the need for a battery to power the detection and recording functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the battery-powered electronic detection system with a passive sensor-based system that uses physical phenomena (piezoelectric, photodiode, or thermopile effects) to generate electrical signals directly from mechanical, optical, or thermal tamper events.
2Reliability
If continuous power sources are used to power the detection device, then the device can function continuously, but the device is vulnerable to power interruption by perpetrators
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor and memory cell are designed to work autonomously without external power. The tamper event itself provides the energy needed to write the event to memory, making the system immune to power interruption attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The device operates in a passive state until triggered by an event, then performs the detection and recording action only when needed, rather than continuously consuming power.
3Reliability
If piezoelectric transducers are used for self-powered detection, then the device can detect events without continuous power, but the device is expensive and complex to integrate into small volume devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the sensor and memory cell into a single compact unit, reducing the overall device size and simplifying integration. The sensor is directly coupled to the memory cell, eliminating the need for separate power management circuits and complex interconnections.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor design is made multi-functional by allowing it to serve both as the detection element and as the power source for the memory cell. The same physical structure that detects the tamper event also generates the electrical signal needed to write the event to memory.
4Use of energy by moving object
If energy harvesting techniques are used to generate electrical stimulus pulses, then the device can operate without external power and reduce power consumption, but the device requires specialized components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides multiple implementation options for the sensor (piezoelectric, photodiode, thermopile) depending on the specific application requirements. This allows manufacturers to choose the most suitable and readily available component type for their specific use case.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed as a simple, low-cost component that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than using expensive and complex power management integrated circuits.
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 solution enables low-cost, compact, and efficient detection of tamper events with reduced power consumption, ensuring continuous functionality and enhanced security by using the energy from detected events to set and read memory states without the need for continuous power, thus overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
using energy harvesting techniques such as piezoelectric elements, photodiodes, or thermopiles to generate the necessary electrical stimulus pulses
Implementation Method 2
using energy harvesting techniques such as piezoelectric elements, photodiodes, or thermopiles to generate the necessary electrical stimulus pulses
Implementation Method 3
using energy harvesting techniques such as piezoelectric elements, photodiodes, or thermopiles to generate the necessary electrical stimulus pulses
Data Source
AI summary
The self-powered detection device comprises a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) unit formed by at least a NVM cell and a sensor activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, the NVM unit arranged for storing in the NVM cell, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to it with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal and a base terminal of the NVM unit with at least a given set voltage.