Abstract:
An electronic device with data protection features in case of unauthorized disassembly includes top cover, bottom cover, a printed circuit board (PCB) fixed on the top cover, and a plate coupled to the bottom cover. The PCB includes a plurality of terminal couplers and a protruding portion. The plate includes a plurality of terminal grooves and a latching member. At least two signal terminals are correspondingly received in at least two of the plurality of terminal grooves. When the signal terminals are electrically connected to the terminal couplers, a first relation signal, which is dependent upon the electrical paths defined by the signal terminals in the terminal grooves, is generated to enable the electronic device. When the signal terminals are not connected to the original terminal couplers, a second and different relation signal is generated by the PCB to disable the electronic device.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to electronic device with a function as anti-tamper. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electronic devices store confidential data such as account information in components of the electronic device. In order to prevent an unauthorized person from accessing the components storing the confidential data, the components are located in a sealed housing. However, the housing of the electronic device must be able to be easily opened in order for a technician to repair or replace any components as necessary. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of an electronic device. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a conductive plate and a base unit. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows encircled portion III of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of one embodiment electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows encircled portion V of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of one embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the conductive plate and the base unit of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of one embodiment of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  viewed from another angle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  shows encircled portion VII of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0014]    The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
         [0015]    The disclosure is described in relation to an electronic device with data security. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an electronic device  10 , which prevents an unauthorized person from accessing data in the components in the electronic device  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the electronic device  10  can be a set-top box, a router, a computer, a portable device, or other intelligent electronic device. The electronic device  10  includes a top cover  1 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  3 , a captively conductive plate (plate  5 ), and a bottom cover  7 . In at least one embodiment, the bottom cover  7  includes a base unit  9  to support the plate  5 . 
         [0017]    The top cover  1  is detachably coupled to the bottom cover  7  defining a receiving space for receiving the PCB  3  and the plate  5 . The PCB  3  fixed on the top cover  1 , and includes a lower surface  31  facing the bottom cover  7  and a protruding portion  33  protruding from the lower surface  31 . The PCB  3  is coupled to the plate  5  through the protruding portion  33 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a first aspect of the electronic device  10 .  FIG. 5  shows encircled portion V of the electronic device  10  in  FIG. 4 . The base unit  9  is set on the bottom cover  7  by process of injection molding. In other embodiment, the base unit  9  can be fixed on the bottom cover  7  by adhesive or other means of attachment. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the base unit  9  includes a first side wall  911 , a second side wall  912 , and a third side wall  913 . The third side wall  913  is coupled to the first side wall  911 , the second side wall  912 , to a fourth side wall  914  opposite the third side wall  913 , and to a fifth side wall  915 . A first gap  9142  is formed between the second side wall  912  and the fifth side wall  915 . A length of the second side wall  912  is greater than a length of the fifth side wall  915 . A middle part of the fourth side wall  914  protrudes, making a height of the middle part of the fourth side wall  914  higher than that of the first side wall  911  and of the second side wall  912 . A height of the third side wall  913  is smaller than that of the first side wall  911  and of the second side wall  912 . 
         [0019]    The base unit  9  further includes a sixth side wall  921 , a seventh side wall  922 , an eighth side wall  923  which is coupled to the sixth side wall  921  and to the seventh side wall  922 , and a ninth side wall  924 . A first stopper portion  925  extends from the ninth side wall  924 , and a second stopper portion  926  extends from the seventh side wall  922 . The respective heights of the sixth side wall  921  and of the seventh side wall  922  are each greater than that of the eighth side wall  923 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the plate  5 . The plate  5  includes a base board  51 , a latching member  52  extending from one terminal of the base board  51 , two dampers  53 ,  54 , and two stretch arms  55 ,  56 . The damper  53  extends vertically from one side of the base board  51 , and is far away from the latching member  52 . The damper  54  extends vertically from other side of the base board  51 , and is close to the latching member  52 . The stretch arm  55  extends vertically from a terminal of the damper  53 , which is far away from the latching member  52 . The stretch arm  56  extends vertically from a terminal of the damper  54  which is close to the latching member  52 . The stretch arm  55  and the stretch arm  56  face each other across a certain distance. The stretch arm  55  includes a main portion  550  and a fasten portion  552  extending from one terminal of the main portion  550 . The stretch arm  56  includes a main portion  560  and a fasten portion  562  extending from one terminal of the main portion  560 . The damper  53  of the plate  5  is placed in the first gap  9142  of the base unit  9 , to make the damper  53  movable in the first gap  9142 . The damper  54  of the plate  5  is placed in the first gap  9242  of the base unit  9  to make the damper  54  movable in the first gap  9242 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates the plate  5  and the base unit  9 . The base board  51  includes an upper surface  510  facing the PCB  3  and a lower surface  511  facing the base unit  9 . The two stretch arms,  55  and  56 , are spaced a certain distance from the lower surface  511 . The upper surface  510  defines a plurality of terminal grooves  5101  to receive at least one signal terminal  36 . In at least one embodiment the signal terminal  36  is a round ball of conductive material. A diameter of each terminal groove  5101  is larger than a diameter of the signal terminal  36 , which allows the signal terminal  36  to move freely in the terminal groove  5101 . In other embodiments, the terminals  36  can be metal columns. In at least one embodiment, the number of terminals  530  is three. In other embodiments, the number of the terminals  36  can be more or less than two, but cannot exceed the number of the terminal grooves  5101 . 
         [0022]    The main portion  550  of the stretch arm  55  contacts the third side wall  913  of the base unit  9 . The fasten portion  552  of the stretch arm  55  is fixed to the first stopper portion  925 . The main portion  560  of the stretch arm  56  contacts the eighth side wall  923  of the base unit  9 . The fasten portion  562  of the stretch arm  56  is fixed to the second stopper portion  926 . The latching member  52  includes a V-shaped groove  520 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows one embodiment of the electronic device  10  viewed from a second aspect.  FIG. 9  shows encircled portion VII of  FIG. 4 . A plurality of terminal couplers  35  is defined on the lower surface  31  of the PCB  3 , opposite to the terminal groove  5101  of the plate  5 . In at least one embodiment, each of the terminal couplers  35  includes a pair of electrodes. Each pair of electrodes corresponds to one terminal groove  5101  of the plate  5 . The protruding portion  33  has a shape of a circular truncated cone. The protruding portion  33  is coupled to the latching member  52  of the plate  5 , to fix a position of the groove  520  of the latching member  52  on the base unit  9 . When the top cover  1  is coupled to the bottom cover  7 , the protruding portion  33  of the PCB  3  is engaged with the groove  520  of the latching member  52 , making the terminals  36  contact the terminal couplers  35 , for generating a first relation signal to set a protection program for the electronic device  100 . The terminals  36  can be located in the terminal grooves  5101  randomly. 
         [0024]    When the top cover  1  is disengaged from the bottom cover  7 , the protruding portion  33  of the PCB  3  is separated from the groove  520  of the latching member  52 . The base board  51  of the plate  5  slides to the fourth side wall  914  along the first side wall  911 , the second side wall  912 , the sixth side wall  921 , and the seventh side wall  922  of the base unit  9 , then striking the fourth side wall  914 . The terminals  36  drop from the terminal grooves  5101  in such a way as to give no information to an unauthorized person as to the terminal grooves  5101  into which the terminals  36  should be replaced. 
         [0025]    Following an unauthorized dissassembly, when the top cover  1  and the bottom cover  7  are assembled again, a locational relationship between the terminals  36  and the terminal grooves  5101  will be different from the original respective locations. Furthermore, when the electronic device  100  is powered on again after the reassembly, positions of the signal terminals are changed from initial positions on the terminal grooves, and a second relation signal is generated, indicating the current locational relationship between the signal terminals  36  and the terminal grooves  5101 . The PCB  30  is utilized to compare the first relation signal to the second relation signal, and if the second relation signal is different from the first relation signal; the PCB  30  can disable the electronic device  100 . 
         [0026]    With the electronic device  100  described above, when an unauthorized person tries to extract or manipulate data in the system by detaching the top cover  1  from the bottom cover  7 , the terminals  36  drop from the terminal grooves  5101  with no indication as to their respective original positions. When the protruding portion  33  of the PCB  3  is coupled to the groove  520  of the latching member  52 , a second relation signal which is not the same as the first relation signal is generated, to prevent an unauthorized person from operating the electronic device  100 . 
         [0027]    While the disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of the embodiment, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the range of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.