U.S. patent application number 12/616704 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-12 for electronic component deactivation device.
Invention is credited to Joseph M. Rustick.
Application Number | 20110107934 12/616704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43973165 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110107934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rustick; Joseph M. |
May 12, 2011 |
ELECTRONIC COMPONENT DEACTIVATION DEVICE
Abstract
An electronic component deactivation device including an
electric match having a pair of electrical leads with a bridge wire
coupled therebetween and a pyrotechnic layer of material contacting
the bridge wire. A destructive charge is positioned in overlying
relationship to the pyrotechnic layer, adjacent the bridge wire
with at least a portion of the destructive charge contacting the
bridge wire. The destructive charge and electric match are mounted
in a housing with the pair of electrical leads extending externally
of the housing for connection to an external circuit. The housing
is constructed so as to mount the destructive charge and electric
match on a circuit board or the like.
Inventors: |
Rustick; Joseph M.;
(Phoenix, AZ) |
Family ID: |
43973165 |
Appl. No.: |
12/616704 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/202.7 ;
102/202.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/202.7 ;
102/202.9 |
International
Class: |
F42B 3/12 20060101
F42B003/12; F42C 11/00 20060101 F42C011/00; F42B 3/10 20060101
F42B003/10 |
Claims
1. An electronic component deactivation device comprising: an
electric match including a pair of electrical leads and a bridge
wire coupled therebetween; and a destructive charge positioned
adjacent the bridge wire with at least a portion of the destructive
charge contacting the bridge wire.
2. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
1 wherein the electric match further includes pyrotechnic material
positioned between the bridge wire and the destructive charge.
3. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
1 further including a can housing the electric match and the
destructive charge with the electric lead wires extending
externally of the can.
4. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
3 wherein the can is formed of metal and includes protective
material substantially surrounding the destructive charge within
the can and directing the destructive charge in a desired
direction.
5. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
1 further including a box housing the electric match and the
destructive charge with the electric lead wires extending
externally of the box.
6. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
5 wherein the box is formed of metal or plastic and includes
protective material substantially surrounding the destructive
charge within the box and directing the destructive charge in a
desired direction.
7. An electronic component deactivation device comprising: an
electric match including a pair of electrical leads with a bridge
wire coupled therebetween and a pyrotechnic layer of material
contacting the bridge wire; a destructive charge positioned in
overlying relationship to the pyrotechnic layer, adjacent the
bridge wire with at least a portion of the destructive charge
contacting the bridge wire; and a housing including one of a can
and a box, the destructive charge and electric match mounted in the
housing with the pair of electrical leads extending externally of
the housing for connection to an external circuit, and the housing
being constructed so as to mount the destructive charge and
electric match on a circuit board.
8. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
7 wherein the housing includes the can and the can is formed of
metal and includes protective material substantially surrounding
the destructive charge within the can and directing the destructive
charge in a desired direction.
9. An electronic component deactivation device as claimed in claim
7 wherein the housing includes the box and the box is formed of
metal or plastic and includes protective material substantially
surrounding the destructive charge within the box and directing the
destructive charge in a desired direction.
10. A method of incorporating an electronic component deactivation
device in an electronic device for eliminating unauthorized use,
the method comprising the following steps: providing an electronic
component deactivation device including an electric match having a
pair of electrical leads with a bridge wire coupled therebetween
and a destructive charge positioned adjacent the bridge wire with
at least a portion of the destructive charge contacting the bridge
wire, the bridge wire activating the destructive charge when an
activation signal is applied to the pair of electrical leads;
providing an electronic device to be protected from unauthorized
use, the electronic device including an activation circuit with a
specific actuation program and an electronic component critical to
the operation of the electronic device; positioning the electronic
component deactivation device in close proximity to the electronic
component so as to substantially destroy the electronic component
when an activation signal is applied to the pair of electrical
leads; coupling the pair of electrical leads of the electric match
to the activation circuit of the electronic device; and providing
an activation signal to the pair of electrical leads when an
attempt is made to actuate the electronic device without using the
specific actuation program.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a step of
including the electronic component deactivation device in one of a
can or box.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to devices that deactivate electronic
components constructed to be remotely operated by an electronic
circuit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] At the present time there are a great number of electronic
devices that are highly portable and, thus, easily pilfered. Some
examples of such electronic devices are laptop computers, handheld
communicators (e.g. Palm, I-Phones, Blackberry, etc.), and even
some smart credit cards. In many instances these electronic devices
contain information that is critical to the owner and which the
owner would not want available to some third party. It would be,
therefore, highly desirable to include some device or apparatus in
electronic devices of this type that would prevent use of the
electronic circuits by unauthorized personnel.
[0003] One of the major methods used at the present time to prevent
unauthorized use includes passwords and the like that must be
entered before the electronic device will operate. However, it is a
well known fact that passwords can be relatively easily discovered
or circumvented by skilled people using trial-and-error methods,
various apparatus designed to wheel through large numbers of
possible passwords in seconds, etc.
[0004] It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the
foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved electronic component deactivation device.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved electronic component deactivation device that can be
correctly placed to prevent any unauthorized use of critical
electronic devices.
[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new and improved electronic component deactivation device that can
be correctly placed to completely eliminate any possibility of an
unauthorized user retrieving critical information from a pilfered
electronic device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of
the instant invention, provided is an electronic component
deactivation device including an electric match having a pair of
electrical leads with a bridge wire coupled therebetween and a
destructive charge positioned adjacent the bridge wire with at
least a portion of the destructive charge contacting the bridge
wire.
[0009] The desired objects and advantages of the instant invention
are further achieved in a specific embodiment of an electronic
component deactivation device including an electric match having a
pair of electrical leads with a bridge wire coupled therebetween
and a pyrotechnic layer of material contacting the bridge wire. A
destructive charge is positioned in overlying relationship to the
pyrotechnic layer, adjacent the bridge wire with at least a portion
of the destructive charge contacting the bridge wire. The
destructive charge and electric match are mounted in a housing,
including one of a can and a box, with the pair of electrical leads
extending externally of the housing for connection to an external
circuit. The housing is constructed so as to mount the destructive
charge and electric match on a circuit board or the like.
[0010] The desired objects and advantages of the instant invention
are further achieved in a specific method of incorporating an
electronic component deactivation device in an electronic device
for eliminating unauthorized use. The method includes the step of
providing an electronic component deactivation device including an
electric match having a pair of electrical leads with a bridge wire
coupled therebetween and a destructive charge positioned adjacent
the bridge wire with at least a portion of the destructive charge
contacting the bridge wire. The bridge wire activates the
destructive charge when an activation signal is applied to the pair
of electrical leads. The method further includes the step of
providing an electronic device to be protected from unauthorized
use, the electronic device including an activation circuit with a
specific actuation program and an electronic component critical to
the operation of the electronic device. The electronic component
deactivation device is positioned in close proximity to the
electronic component so as to substantially destroy the electronic
component when an activation signal is applied to the pair of
electrical leads. The pair of electrical leads of the electric
match is coupled to the activation circuit of the electronic device
and an activation signal is provided to the pair of electrical
leads when an attempt is made to actuate the electronic device
without using the specific actuation program.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Specific objects and advantages of the instant invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof
taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an electric match;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional end view of the electric match of FIG.
1 including a destructive charge;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an electronic
component deactivation device in accordance with the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of an
electronic component deactivation device in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a circuit board illustrating
the mounting of the one or more electronic component deactivation
devices in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Electric matches are known in the art of explosives and
pyrotechnic devices. An electric match may, for example, be
employed by insertion into a fuse, device disruptor, or charge and
it becomes the ignition source. The electric match ignites the
detonating charge or the fuse, which then ignites the main charge
or pyrotechnic device. Ignition of the electric match is
accomplished by providing an electrical charge across two insulated
wires coupled at an end by a resistive bridge wire. The bridge wire
is heated by the electrical current which, in turn, ignites a
pyrotechnic coating. The ignition of the pyrotechnic coating then
ignites a fuse, detonating charge, or the like. An electric match
of this type is disclosed in a copending U.S. patent application
entitled "Flat Electric Match", bearing Ser. No. 12/108,831, filed
Apr. 24, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference.
[0018] Turning now to the drawings in which like reference
characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several
views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates a
top plan view of an electric match generally designated 10. Match
10 preferably includes a substrate 12 having a surface 14. It will
be understood that substantially any substrate can be employed for
the present invention and is intended to provide support to the
various remaining elements of match 10. The substrate is insulative
or has insulating portions to which the leads and bridge wire are
attached. In some applications it may be expedient to eliminate the
substrate and simply provide more ridged leads. A lead 15 and a
lead 16 are carried by substrate 12 on surface 14. Leads 15 and 16
include ends 18 and 19 respectively which are generally designed to
be plugged into a printed circuit board or the like. Opposing ends
20 and 22 of leads 15 and 16 are spaced apart on surface 14 of
substrate 12 and electrically coupled by a bridge wire 25 having an
end 27 coupled to end 20 and an end 28 coupled to end 22. Leads 15
and 16 and bridge wire 25 form an electrical circuit which, when
completed by an electrical power source, allows current to flow
through bridge wire 25.
[0019] Leads 15 and 16 are conductive wires that extend along
surface 14, providing support along their entire length. Bridge
wire 25 is also supported by surface 14 of substrate 12, thus
removing any potential for flexing or movement of leads 15 and 16
relative to bridge wire 25. It is noted here that while leads 15
and 16 can be insulated wires carried by substrate 12 on surface
14, the leads can also be formed on the substrate by depositing,
sputtering, painting, embedding, printing, etc., conductive
materials on surface 14. This is also the case for bridge wire 25.
It should also be noted that leads 15 and 16 need not be positioned
in parallel. It is sufficient that ends 20 and 22 are spaced apart
but in sufficient proximity to be electrically coupled by bridge
wire 25.
[0020] A pyrotechnic material 35 can then be applied to bridge wire
25 by dropping, brushing or otherwise covering, or at least
contacting, a portion of bridge wire 25 with a slurry of
pyrotechnic material 35. There are a multitude of different
pyrotechnic materials known in the art, any of which can be used in
the present invention. Due to the large number and well known
nature and fabrication of different pyrotechnic materials and
compositions, a detailed description thereof has been omitted from
the present disclosure. The amount of material 35 added is not
limited by the size or strength of bridge wire 25, as the weight
and volume of the pyrotechnic charge is fully supported by surface
14 of substrate 12.
[0021] Once the layer of pyrotechnic material has dried or
hardened, one or more additional layers 40, illustrated in FIG. 2,
can be applied if desired to form a destructive or an explosive
charge of multiple layers. It is preferred to include a destructive
charge rather than an explosive charge so that one or more specific
components of a selected device are destroyed with a minimum of
danger and display. For purposes of this disclosure, however,
whether a destructive or explosive charge is used, it will be
referred to generically as a "destructive charge". To this end a
destructive charge including any of the well known heat producing
chemicals (e.g. magnesium, fulminate of mercury, etc.) can be
included. In some specific examples and depending upon the material
of the destructive charge utilized, it may be possible to simply
use bridge wire 25 to directly ignite destructive charge 40. In
such circumstances the leads and bridge wire are still considered
to be an electric match.
[0022] In some instances an additional protective/direction layer
can be formed around the outside of the destructive charge and the
substrate can be very thin or nonexistent to direct the heat or
explosion toward the selected component. Thus, electric match 10 is
used in a manner similar to conventional electric matches to ignite
a detonating charge that in turn ignites a destructive charge.
Additional information on the electric match can be found in the
above identified copending United States patent application.
[0023] Turning now to FIG. 3, a sectional view is illustrated of an
embodiment of an electronic component deactivation device 50 in
accordance with the present invention. Electronic component
deactivation device 50 includes an electric match 10, similar to
the match described above, with a destructive charge 52 positioned
thereon. In this embodiment electric match 10 and destructive
charge 52 are mounted within a can 54, which is preferably thick
enough to direct most of the destructive force (heat, etc.)
downwardly toward a selected component to be destroyed. In a
preferred embodiment the can is formed of metal and may be similar
to metal cans used to house electronic components, such as diodes
and the like. Also the leads of electric match 10, designated 56 in
this example, extend outwardly from the bottom of can 54 so as to
be available for plugging into, or otherwise connecting to, a
circuit board or the like.
[0024] While electronic component deactivation device 50 is
illustrated as including an electric match 10 similar to that
described in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be understood that
many other formations could be devised. For example, destructive
charge 52 could substantially fill can 54 and the electric match
could simply be embedded in destructive charge 52 with out
including a substrate or the like. Also, can 54 can be relatively
thick and/or protective material can be included around the outer
surface of destructive charge 52 within can 54 to aid in directing
the destructive force downwardly toward the selected component.
[0025] Turning now to FIG. 4, a top perspective view is illustrated
of another embodiment of an electronic component deactivation
device 60 in accordance with the present invention. Electronic
component deactivation device 60 includes an electric match 10,
similar to the match described above, with a destructive charge 62
positioned thereon. In this embodiment electric match 10 and
destructive charge 62 are mounted within a typical component
container 64, such as a plastic or metal box used in the
semiconductor industry to house electronic components. Component
container 64 is preferably thick enough to direct most of the
destructive force (heat, etc.) downwardly toward a selected
component to be destroyed. Also the leads of electric match 10,
designated 66 in this example, extend outwardly from the bottom of
component container 64 so as to be available for plugging into, or
otherwise connecting to, a circuit board or the like. For purposes
of this disclosure can 54, component container 64, and any other
confining structures are referred to generically as a
"housing".
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, an example of one use or utility of the
disclosed electronic component deactivation device is illustrated.
In this specific exemplary structure, a circuit board 100 is
illustrated, which may be a mother board or the like in any desired
electronic device. Circuit board 100 is illustrated with various
connectors or contact pads 102 along an edge for connection to
cooperating circuits or structures and the application of power in
any well known manner. Circuit board 100 also has a number of
components mounted thereon which may include, for example, a
central processing unit 104 and a memory 106. In this specific
example, an electronic component deactivation device 50 is mounted
in close proximity to memory 106 so that activation of device
disruptor 50 will effectively destroy memory 106 and prevent
retrieval of information from memory 106. In addition to or instead
of electronic component deactivation device 50, an electronic
component deactivation device 60 is mounted on top of central
processing unit 104 so that activation of electronic component
deactivation device 60 effectively destroys central processing unit
104 and any programs or memory stored therein.
[0027] It will of course be understood that the above examples are
merely for illustrative purposes and many other configurations and
utilizations can be devised. Also, in many instances the electronic
component deactivation devices are included in circuitry designed
to activate the electronic component deactivation device upon the
occurrence of a specific act. For example, if an unauthorized
person attempts to turn on or utilize the electronic device being
protected and the person enters a specific number of improper
passwords the circuit associated with the electronic component
deactivation device is powered and sufficient power is applied to
the electronic component deactivation device to activate it.
[0028] Thus, an electronic component deactivation device has been
disclosed that can easily and secretly be included in electronic
devices to effectively prevent the unauthorized use of those
devices. The electronic component deactivation device can be
secretly included so that no hint of its presence is detectable and
it is safe as long as the activating feature does not occur. Once
activated, the electronic component deactivation device will
effectively prevent the use of the electronic device by
unauthorized people without causing undue harm or destruction of
property, other than the targeted electronic device.
[0029] Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein
chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those
skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and
variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are
intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed
only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.
* * * * *