Tamper-Proof Electronic Seal with Irreversible State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID electronic seals lack sufficient tamper-proofing mechanisms, making them vulnerable to tampering and falsification, which compromises their security and leads to potential economic losses in logistics and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-proofing electronic seal is designed with a shell, a lead seal rope, and a lead seal label that includes a chip, an antenna circuit, a power supply, a power switch, and a potential detection circuit. The lead seal rope is structured with a compression spring and a hook knife to physically mark the seal's state, preventing tampering and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an RFID reader reads the seal multiple times to identify usage, then the seal state can be tracked, but the seal becomes vulnerable to tampering and falsification
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple independent physical state marks: a power switch that transitions from off to on state, and a potential detection circuit that transitions from connected to disconnected state. Each segment provides independent verification of the seal's state, making tampering detection more reliable
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is pre-configured with irreversible physical changes that occur automatically upon activation. The power switch is preliminarily set in the off state and the potential detection circuit in the connected state, so that any attempt to use or tamper with the seal immediately triggers a permanent physical state change that cannot be reversed
2Device complexity
If the seal uses a simple RFID tag structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the tamper-proofing capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated seal device: RFID identification, power switching, potential detection, and physical state marking. The lead seal rope integrates both the power switch actuation mechanism and the potential detection circuit connection mechanism, creating a unified tamper-proofing system
Solution Approach 2:
The seal utilizes parameter changes in the physical state of its components: the power switch changes from open to closed state, the potential detection circuit changes from connected to disconnected state, and the lead seal rope changes from intact to severed state. These parameter changes provide irreversible evidence of the seal's state
3Ease of operation
If the seal allows repeated reading operations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the seal can be recycled or tampered with
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed as a single-use, non-reusable device. Once the lead seal rope is severed or the power switch is activated, the seal enters an irreversible state that prevents any further legitimate or illegitimate use. The RFID tag can be read multiple times, but the physical state marks ensure the seal cannot be reset or reused
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a tamper-proofing electronic seal. The tamper-proofing electronic seal includes a shell, a lead seal rope, and a lead seal label. The lead seal label comprises a chip, an antenna circuit, a power supply, a power switch, and a potential detection circuit which are electrically connected. The power switch is arranged on a circuit, electrically connected to the chip, of the power supply. The potential detection circuit is electrically connected to the antenna circuit and the chip. A fixing hole and a locking hole are provided at positions, corresponding the potential detection circuit and the power switch, of the interior of the shell; the fixing end of the lead seal rope is clamped in the shell through the fixing hole; the use state of the electronic seal can be accurately marked, and the electronic seal is prevented from being tampered with or recycled.