An anti-tamper device for preventing data from being tampered with by an unauthorized person includes a top cover, a bottom cover, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a signal connector. The bottom cover is assembled to the top cover. The PCB has a plurality of terminal couplers. The signal connector is fastened to the top cover, and the signal connector defines a plurality of terminal grooves. At least one of the terminal grooves receives a terminal. When the terminals are electrically connected to the terminal couplers, a first relation signal is generated to enable the anti-tamper device. When the terminals are not connected to the corresponding terminal couplers, a second relation signal different from the first relation signal is generated by the PCB to make the anti-tamper device unable to work.

FIELD

The subject matter relates to data protection technologies, and more particularly to an anti-tamper device.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices usually store confidential data such as account information in components of the electronic devices. 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 service repairman or technician to repair or replace any components when maintenance is required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is described in relation to an anti-tamper device100.

FIG. 1illustrates a cross-sectional view of an anti-tamper device100for securing data. The anti-tamper device100can be a set-top box, router, a computer, or a portable device. The anti-tamper device100includes a top cover10, a bottom cover70, a printed circuit board (PCB)30, and a signal connector50. The top cover10is detachably coupled to the bottom cover70defining a receiving space for receiving the PCB30and the signal connector50. The signal connector50is coupled to the top cover10and located between the top cover10and the PCB30. When the top cover10is coupled to the bottom cover70, the signal connector50makes contact with the PCB30. When the top cover10is disengaged from the bottom cover70, the signal connector50is separated from the PCB30synchronously.

FIGS. 2,3and4illustrate that a bulge130and a pair of first clamps110both protrude from a surface of the top cover10facing the PCB30towards the bottom cover70. The signal connector50includes a supporting base510, a plurality of terminals530received in the supporting base510, and a plurality of elastic pieces550. The supporting base510is a rectangular board. The supporting base510includes a first surface5110and a second surface5120opposite to the first surface5110, the first surface5110faces the PCB30, and the second surface5120faces the top cover10. A pair of second clamps5160protrudes from the supporting base510and is located at opposite ends of the supporting base510. The supporting base510further defines a plurality of terminal grooves5130and a receiving groove5150. The terminal grooves5130are defined in the first surface5110. In at least one embodiment, the terminal grooves5130number six. Each of the elastic pieces550is located in a corresponding one of the terminal grooves530. In at least one embodiment, each of the terminal grooves5130runs through the first surface5110and the second surface5120. A locating protrusion5140protrudes from the first surface5110towards the PCB30. The receiving groove5150is defined in the second surface5120. In at least one embodiment, the receiving groove5150is communicating with the terminal grooves5130. In other embodiments, the receiving groove5150is not communicating with the terminal grooves5130. A magnet570is detachably received in the receiving groove5150. The terminals530are received in the terminal grooves5130correspondingly. The terminals530received in the terminal grooves5130are attracted by the magnet570preventing the terminals530from falling out of the corresponding terminal groove5130. In at least one embodiment, the terminals530are metal balls; a diameter of each terminal groove5130is larger than a diameter of the terminal530, which allows the terminal530to move freely in the terminal groove5130. In other embodiments, the terminals530can be metal columns. In at least one embodiment, the terminals530number four. In other embodiments, the number of the terminals530can be more or less than four, but cannot exceed the number of the terminal grooves5130.

FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate that a plurality of terminal couplers310are located on the PCB30corresponding respectively to the plurality of terminal grooves5130. A locating hole330is defined in the PCB30corresponding to the locating protrusion5140. In at least one embodiment, each of the terminal couplers310includes two metal pads310a,310b, and the two metal pads310a,310bare spaced from each other.

In assembly, first, the four terminals530are placed in the four of the six terminal grooves5130; the four terminals530are attached to and held in the receiving groove5150by the magnet570. Second, the locating protrusion5140is inserted into the locating hole330coupling with and preventing the signal connector50from moving relative to the PCB30. The terminals530are pressed by the corresponding elastic pieces550to electrically couple to the corresponding terminal couplers310. Third, the magnet570is detached from the receiving groove5150. Fourth, the top cover10is coupled to the bottom cover70, the first clamps110are engaged with the second clamps5160to fix the signal connector50to the top cover10, and the bulge130blocks the second surface5120to limit a movement of the signal connector50, at this time, the anti-tamper device100has been assembled. When the anti-tamper device is powered on for the first time after assembly, a first relative signal is generated by the PCB30to enable the anti-tamper device100. The first relative signal indicates which terminal couplers310are electrically connected to the terminals, an original location relationship of the terminals530and the terminal grooves5130. A memory device (not shown) on the PCB30is utilized to store the first relative signal.

When the top cover10is disengaged from the bottom cover70by an unauthorized person, the signal connector50is separated from the PCB30by the engagement of the first clamps110and the second clamps5160, which cause the four terminals530to drop from the corresponding terminal grooves5130and disconnect from the terminal couplers310. Because the terminals530drop from the terminal grooves5130, the unauthorized person cannot put the terminals530back in the corresponding terminal grooves5130. As a result, when the anti-tamper device100is assembled again as described above, a current location relationship between the terminals530and the terminal grooves5130will be different from the original location relationship described above. Furthermore, when the anti-tamper device100is powered on again after the reassembly, a second relation signal is generated for indicating the current location relationship between the terminals530and the terminal grooves5130. The PCB30is utilized to compare the first relation signal to the second relation signal, when the second relation signal is different from the first relation signal; the PCB30disables the anti-tamper device100.

With the anti-tamper device100described above, when an unauthorized person tries to manipulate data in the system by detaching the top cover10from the bottom cover70, the terminals530drop from the corresponding terminal grooves5130which makes the unauthorized person unable to decide which terminal coupler310is electrically connected by the terminal530. When the signal connector50is assembled to the PCB30and the terminals530are electrically connected to the terminal coupler310again, a second relation signal failing to conform to the first relation signal is generated to prevent the unauthorized person from operating the anti-tamper device100.