Vehicle Control Unit Tamper Protection via Shearing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control units for vehicles are vulnerable to mechanical opening and manipulation, posing a safety risk due to complex and costly protection methods that require specific shapes and additional process steps, and often occupy valuable space in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A control unit with a shearing device that damages components upon attempted opening, integrated with a closure device and position detection system, allowing for simple and cost-effective mechanical protection against tampering, ensuring safety-relevant functions cannot be manipulated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cast resin is embedded to protect against tampering, then protection against manipulation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the protection function from the housing structure itself and transfers it to a separate shearing device. This allows the housing to have a simple, standard shape without requiring complex casting processes, while the shearing device provides the tamper protection function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The shearing device uses inexpensive components (blade, anvil, resilient element) that can be easily manufactured and replaced. The protection mechanism relies on simple mechanical elements rather than complex embedded structures, reducing both manufacturing cost and device complexity.
2Reliability
If complex manipulation safeguards are implemented, then protection against tampering is improved, but space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shearing device is nested within the existing housing structure, utilizing the space between the housing wall and the circuit board. The blade and anvil are positioned in a compact arrangement that fits within the available space without requiring additional volume beyond what is already present in the control unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection function is merged with the existing closure device (screw connection). The shearing device is triggered by the same closure mechanism that secures the housing, combining two functions (securing and protecting) into a single integrated system without adding separate space-consuming components.
3Reliability
If irreversible connection methods are used, then protection against manipulation is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shearing device is designed to be replaced rather than repaired. When tampering is detected and the shearing mechanism activates, the entire shearing device (blade, anvil, resilient element) can be easily removed and replaced as a single unit, maintaining security while allowing for straightforward replacement during maintenance or after activation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a control unit for a vehicle, comprising a printed circuit board (5), electronic components (7) being mounted on the printed circuit board (5) and the control unit (1) further comprising a manipulation protection mechanism by means of which individual or several components (7) on the printed circuit board (5) can be damaged. The invention finally relates to the use of the control unit according to the invention.