Abstract:
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 is provided with a plurality of pads. The signal connector is fixed 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 terminal is electrically connected with the pads for the first time, a first relation signal is generated for initializing the anti-tamper device. When the terminal is electrically disconnected from the pads and the terminal is electrically connected with the pads for the second relation signal. If the second relation signal is different from the first relation signal, the anti-tamper device is prevented from being initialized.

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter relates to data protection technologies, and 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 opened in order for a service technician to repair or replace any components when maintenance of the electronic components is required. As a result, the housing can be opened by anyone to access the electronic components storing the confidential data and tamper with the confidential data. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an anti-tamper device including a printed circuit board (PCB) and a signal connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the signal connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric, partial cut-away view of the signal connector of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the PCB of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing the signal connector in a first state. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view showing the signal connector in a second state. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view showing the signal connector of  FIG. 1  is rotated from the first state to the second state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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 have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. 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. 
     The present disclosure is described in relation to anti-tamper device  100 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an anti-tamper device  100  for securing data. The anti-tamper device  100  can be a set-top box, router, a computer, or a portable device and include a top cover  10 , a bottom cover  20 , a printed circuit board  40  (PCB), an elastic element  30 , and a signal connector  50 . The top cover  10  is detachably coupled to the bottom cover  20 , defining a receiving space  11  for receiving the PCB  40  and the signal connector  50 . The PCB  40  is fixed to the top cover  10  and located between the top cover  10  and the bottom cover  20  and is detachably located on the bottom cover  20  and located between the PCB  40  and the bottom cover  20 . The elastic element  30  is located between the signal connector  50  and the bottom cover  20 . In at least one embodiment, the elastic element  30  is a spring. When the top cover  10  is coupled to the bottom cover  20 , the PCB  40  is pressed on the signal connector  50  and forces the signal connector  50  to move toward the bottom cover  20 , and the elastic element  30  is compressed to generate an elastic force. When the top cover  10  is disengaged from the bottom cover  20 , the PCB  40  is separated from the signal connector  50 , and the elastic force is released to drive the signal connector  50 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that a plurality of pads  41  are located on the PCB  40 , and a pair of first magnets  42   a ,  42   b  is located on the PCB  40 . In at least one embodiment, the first magnets  42   a ,  42   b  are in pole or pillar-like structures. The first magnets  42   a ,  42   b  protrude from the PCB  40  towards the signal connector  50 , and the first magnets  42   a ,  42   b  are spaced from each other. In other embodiments, a number of first magnets  42   a  is not limited to two, can be one, three or more than three. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate that the signal connector  50  includes a plurality of terminals  54 , a supporting board  51 , and a shaft  52 . The supporting board  51  includes a first surface  511  and a second surface  512 . The first surface  511  faces the bottom cover  20 , and the second surface  512  faces the PCB  40 . A plurality of terminal grooves  5121  corresponding to the pads  41  are defined in the second surface  512 . The terminals  54  are received in the terminal grooves  5121  correspondingly. In at least one embodiment, a number of the terminal grooves  5121  is but not limited to twelve, and a number of the terminals  54  is but not limited to two. A pair of gaps  513   a ,  513   b  is defined in an edge of the supporting board  51 , symmetrically about the center of the supporting board  51 , corresponding to the first magnets  42   a , and  42   b , respectively. A pair of second magnets  53   a , and  53   b  is received in the terminal grooves  5121  close to the first gap  513   a  and the second gap  513   b , respectively. The second magnets  53   a ,  53   b  are symmetrical about the center of the supporting board  51 . A pair of protrusions  5111  is located on the first surface  511 , symmetrically about the center of the supporting board  51 . The shaft  52  is located on the first surface  511 , a pair of bulges  521  is located on the shaft  52 , and are symmetrical about an axis of the shaft  52 . In other embodiments, a number of the bulges can be one, or more than two. 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates the bottom cover  20  has a bracket  21 . In at least one embodiment, the bracket  21  is a pole or a pillar-like structure. The bracket  21  includes a top surface  213  corresponding to the signal connector  50 . A connecting hole  211  is defined in the top surface  213  and extends along an axis of the bracket  21 . The connecting hole  211  is surrounded by an inner surface  2111  of the bracket  21 , and the connecting hole  211  is inserted in the shaft  52 . A pair of connecting grooves  212  is defined in the inner surface  2111  for receiving the bulges  521 , respectively, and the connecting grooves  212  are symmetrical about the axis of the bracket  21 . In other embodiments, a number of the connecting grooves  212  is but not limited to two, the number of the connecting grooves  212  is equal to the number of the bulges  521 . Each of the connecting grooves  212  includes a first groove  2121  and a second groove  2122 . The first groove  2121  extends along the axis of the bracket  21 , an end of the first groove  2121  is located in the top surface  213 , the other end of the first groove  2121  communicates with one end of the second groove  2122 , and the second groove  2122  extends along a direction perpendicular with the first groove  2121 . 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate when in assembly, first, the bracket  21  passes through the elastic element  30 , the shaft  52  is inserted into the connecting hole  211  with the bulges  521  sliding along the first grooves  2121 . Second, the shaft  52  is rotated to slide the bulges  521  into the second grooves  2122  locking the signal connector  50  to the bracket  21 . In this state, the elastic element  30  is compressed between the first surface  511  and the bottom cover  20 , and the protrusions  5111  contact the top surface  213 . Third, the top cover  10  is coupled to the bottom cover  20 , the PCB  40  is pressed on the second surface  512  of the signal connector  50 , and the terminals  54  are electrically connected to the pads  41 . In this state, the first magnets  42   a , and  42   b  are inserted among the gaps  513   a , and  513   b  correspondingly; the first magnets  42   a , and  42   b  attract the second magnets  53   a , and  53   b  to drive the shaft  52  to rotate to slide the bulges  521  from the second grooves  2122  to the first grooves  2121  unlocking the signal connector  50  from the bracket  21 . Thus, the anti-tamper device  100  has been assembled. 
     When the anti-tamper device  100  is powered on for the first time after assembly, a first relation signal is generated by the PCB  40  to enable the anti-tamper device  100 . The first relation signal indicates which terminal pads are electrically connected to the terminals  54 , an original location relationship of the terminals  54  and the terminal grooves  5121 . A memory device (not shown) on the PCB  40  is utilized to store the first relation signal. 
     When the top cover  10  is disengaged from the bottom cover  20  by an unauthorized person, the PCB  40  is separated from the signal connector  50 , the terminals  54  are disconnected from the pads  41 , the signal connector  50  is released from the bracket  21 , which makes the terminals  54  drop from the terminal grooves  5121 . Because the terminals  54  have drop from the terminal grooves  5121 , the unauthorized person cannot correctly replace the terminals  54  in the corresponding terminal grooves  5121 . As a result, when the anti-tamper device  100  is assembled again as described above, a current location relationship between the terminals  54  and the terminal grooves  5121  will be different from the original location relationship described above. Furthermore, when the anti-tamper device  100  is powered on after being assembled again, a second relation signal is generated for indicating the current location relationship between the terminals  54  and the terminal grooves  5121 . The PCB  40  is utilized to compare the first relation signal to the second relation signal, when the second relation signal is different from the first relation signal, and the PCB  40  disables the anti-tamper device  100 . 
     With the anti-tamper device  100  described above, when an unauthorized person tries to hack data from the system by detaching the top cover  10  from the bottom cover  20 , the terminals  54  drop from the corresponding terminal grooves  5121  confusing the unauthorized person making it impossible to decide which pads  41  are electrically connected by the terminal. When the signal connector  50  is assembled to the PCB  40  and the terminals  54  are electrically connected to the pads  41  again, a second relation signal which is different from the first relation signal is generated to prevent the unauthorized person from enabling the anti-tamper device  100 . 
     Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of an anti-tamper. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.