Patent Abstract:
An apparatus for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device is provided. The apparatus may prevent and detect tampering occurring through an aperture in a casing of the electronic device where the aperture is configured for receiving a standoff that couples a communication cable to a communication port of the electronic device. Upon removal of the standoff, visual indicia of tampering may be provided. Additionally, a shield may block entry of the standoff into the aperture if the standoff is removed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tamper prevention and detection apparatus for electronic devices, and more specifically, to a tamper detection apparatus for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device through a communication port. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In many modern electronic systems such as personal computers, various communication ports are provided in communication with the electronic system for communicating with various external accessories. For example, a printer may be connected to the electronic system via a cable to communicate with a communication port. As another example, a display monitor may be connected to the electronic system via a cable to also communicate with a communication port. These ports may be input/output (“I/O”) ports, or may be one-way communication ports. 
     The communication ports and cables may be coupled together in a variety of ways, but typically the communication port is recessed within the casing of the electronic device so that the communication port does not protrude from beyond the casing and risk damage to the communication port. Accordingly, the cable will typically be inserted into and received within the recessed communication port. Various methods and products have been developed in order to secure the cable into the communication port. For example, the communication port may have a spring loaded gripper configured for engaging a corresponding recess formed on the cable such as may be found on Universal Series Bus (“USB”) ports. In another instance, the cable could have a gripper with a detent formed thereon that engages a corresponding recess formed in the communication port such as may be used on telephony or Ethernet cables. In another instance, the cable may have a cylindrical shaped portion that interferencely engages a correspondingly shaped portion such as may be used for audio devices, including head phones and speaker cables. 
     In another instance, the communication port of the electronic device may be a pin type connector for coupling and communicating with communication cables such as a parallel port for use with printers or a Video Graphics Array (“VGA”) for use with display monitors. For these types of communication ports, the cable must be secured to the communication port to prevent entry and removal of the cable into the port and to protect the communication pins in the connector. Due to the cantilevered design of the communication pins, the pins are easily damaged by bending or breaking. For this reason, additional coupling mechanisms must be employed for pin type connectors. 
     One method of securing a pin type communication cable to a communication port of an electronic device is by the use of a threaded standoff that serves the purpose of receiving a fastener coupled with the communication cable to thereby secure the communication cable to the communication port. The standoff is typically secured to a casing of the electronic device by engaging a threaded portion formed in an aperture of the casing. The fastener of the communication cable is typically a threaded shaft that is configured for threading within an internally threaded portion of the standoff. Unfortunately, this arrangement requires that the standoff be exposed on an exterior of the casing. This allows for easy removal of the standoff and subsequent tampering of the electronic system through an aperture of the casing. In some instances, this tampering could cause extensive damage to the electronic device and may also void any warranty on the device, however, such tampering is difficult to detect because the tampering party can simply replace the standoff and leave no evidence of tampering behind. 
     Tampering is particularly problematic for countries using fiscal monitoring systems to monitor the financial transactions that may occur at any given business. These fiscal monitoring systems may include a computer having a circuit board with a central processor that records relevant financial data and a printer that prints out the relevant financial data. This computer is attached to a register, credit card reader, or other machine via a communication cable. In some instances, these systems have been tampered with by removing the standoff in order to gain access into the computer or printer by any number of ways, including using an elongate metal wire to contact and short out the device&#39;s circuit board. Upon shorting out of the circuit board, the system is no longer able to monitor financial transactions occurring at that business. This could result in a loss of revenue and financial information, as well as leaving a business owner subject to certain liabilities. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for some manner in which to prevent and detect tampering of electronic devices through communication ports of this type. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus having a shield for preventing and detecting tampering of an electronic device through a bore configured for receiving a standoff for coupling with a communication cable. The shield may have a first position in which the shield prevents pass-through into the bore and a second position in which the shield allows pass-through of the standoff into the bore. The shield may be biased towards the first position by a spring. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus having a shield that defines an aperture for allowing selective pass-through of a standoff into a bore configured for receiving the standoff. The shield may be moveable between a first position in which the aperture is offset from the bore, thereby restricting pass-through of the standoff into the bore, and a second position in which the aperture is generally aligned with the bore, thereby allowing pass-through of the standoff into the bore. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus having a shield for detecting tampering of an electronic device through a bore configured for receiving a standoff for coupling with a communication cable. The shield includes an elongate elliptical spring and a cover on at least one end thereof. The shield may be moveable from a first position in which the cover obstructs the bore thereby restricting pass-through of the standoff therethrough, and a second position in which the cover does not obstruct the bore thereby allowing pass-through of the standoff therethrough. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus having a shield for detecting tampering of an electronic device through an aperture configured for receiving a standoff for coupling with a communication cable. The shield has a slider defining an aperture configured for engaging the standoff and is slideable from a first position in which the aperture is offset from the bore and a second position in which the aperture is generally aligned with the bore to allow pass-through of the standoff therethrough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  sets forth a perspective view of an electronic device having communication ports, with the communication ports being illustrated in an enlarged, sectional view in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  sets forth a perspective view of an exemplary tamper detection apparatus in a first position in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  sets forth a perspective view of the exemplary tamper detection apparatus of  FIG. 2A  in a second position in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  sets forth a perspective view of an exemplary tamper detection apparatus in a first position in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  sets forth a perspective view of the exemplary tamper detection apparatus of  FIG. 3A  in a second position in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  sets forth a perspective view of an exemplary tamper detection apparatus in a first position in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  sets forth a perspective view of the exemplary tamper detection apparatus of  FIG. 4A  in a second position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  sets forth a perspective view of an exemplary tamper detection apparatus in a first position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  sets forth a perspective view of the exemplary tamper detection apparatus of  FIG. 5A  in a second position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary apparatuses for shielding and preventing tampering of an electronic device through a communication port in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are described herein. Particularly, described herein are exemplary apparatuses having shields that are selectively positionable to prevent tampering of an electronic device through a communication port of an electronic device, such as, but not limited to, fiscal accounting monitoring systems or printers. Apparatus of the present invention may prevent tampering of electronic devices having fiscal accounting information stored thereon and the subsequent loss or compromise of such fiscal accounting information. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device  1 , which as illustrated may be a fiscal accounting monitoring computer, or in alternate embodiments may be any appropriate electronic device such as a personal computer, display monitor, printer, or the like. The electronic device  1  includes a casing  17  which is configured for covering the internal components of the electronic device  1 . The electronic device may include at least one communication port, and in particular, may include at least one pin-type communication port  7 . A fastener may be provided on each opposing horizontal side of the communication port  7  for securing to a cable  11  having a pin housing  12 , and in one embodiment, may be an electrical standoff  4  having an internally threaded portion  5  that is configured for receiving a threaded portion of fastener  13  of cable  11 . The cable  11  likewise has a fastener  13  configured for engaging the standoff  4  and thereby securing the cable  11  to the communication port  7 . 
     With additional reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the standoff  4  includes a threaded shank  6  carried by the internally threaded portion  5 . The threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4  is configured for being inserted into an aperture  2  defined in the casing  17  and received in a bore coaxially aligned therewith and defined in an interior of the casing  17 . This bore may be a threaded bore  3  that is optionally integrally formed with the casing  17  of communication port  7  or may be separately formed such as illustrated as separate threaded nut in  FIG. 2B . Is this manner, the standoff  4  is threadably engaged within threaded bore  3  and thereby secured to casing  17 . Standoff  4  is removed by being unthreaded from the threaded bore  3 . This leaves aperture  2  exposed such that tampering could occur therethrough. A tamper detection apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention is provided to alert a user that the communication port  7  has been tampered with and is illustrated throughout the drawings. Like elements are represented by like reference numerals throughout the detailed description. In each of the illustrations disclosed herein, there may be depicted one tamper detection apparatus for each port  7 , however, any number of tamper detection apparatuses may be provided. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a perspective view of a tamper detection apparatus  110  for detecting the tampering of the communication port  7  according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The tamper detection apparatus  110  is shown installed on a cut-out portion of casing  17 . The communication port  7  includes a base  118 . A slot  114  is defined in the base  118  and is sized so as to allow slideable movement therein of a shield  112 . The shield  112  has a first engaging surface  120  formed on a first end thereof and a second engaging surface  126  on a second end thereof. The first engaging surface  120  is configured for engaging a spring  122  that is nested within a recess  124 . The second engaging surface  126  is configured for receiving translational movement from an operator to impart sliding movement of the shield  112  within slot  114 . 
     The shield  112  includes an aperture  116  which selectively restricts pass-through of the standoff  4  when the shield  112  is in the first position and allows pass-through of the standoff  4  when the shield  112  is in a second position. The shield  112  is placed in the second position by depressing the second engaging surface  126  such that the aperture  116  of the shield is generally aligned with the aperture  2  of the casing  17  so that the threaded shaft  6  of the standoff  4  can pass therethrough. Upon removal of the standoff  4 , the spring  122  biases the shield  112  to return to the first position in which the shield does not allow pass-through of the standoff  4  because the aperture  116  of the shield is not generally aligned with the aperture  2  of the casing  17 . A detent  130  may be provided on both the port facing side and cable facing side of the shield  112  and may have a bright marking or appearance so as to provide a visible indication of tampering with the communication port  7 . 
     In order to install the standoff  4 , the port  7  is positioned proximal the casing  17  such that standoff  4  is generally aligned with the aperture  2  and threaded bore  3 . The shield  112  is then slid towards the spring  122  and, once the aperture  116  and aperture  2  are generally aligned, the standoff  4  is inserted therethrough and threadably engaged with the threaded bore  3 . If the standoff  4  is removed such that the threaded shank  6  is no longer within the aperture  116  of the shield  112 , the spring  122  biases the shield  112  upwards into the first position such that the shield blocks entry beyond aperture  2  from outside of the casing  17 . Once the shield  112  is in the first position, the operator must then remove casing  17  in order to re-install standoff  6 . Casing  17  may include a seal that is broken upon removal from the electronic device  1  so as to provide evidence of tampering if the standoff  4  is re-installed. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate other embodiments of a tamper detection apparatus  210 . The tamper detection apparatus  210  includes a shield  212  that is slideably positioned within a recess  219  defined between the at least one bracket  218  and the base  118  of port  7 . The shield  212  includes an aperture  216  that has an internally threaded portion  217  for receiving the threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4 . The shield  212  also defines a T-shaped spring engaging member  220  that engages a coil spring  222  that is nested within a recess  224  defined in the casing  17 . The shield  212  is configured such that aperture  216  is offset from aperture  2  of the casing  17  so that the shield  212  restricts pass-through of the standoff  4  beyond the aperture  2  when the shield  212  is in a first position as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . The shield  212  is placed in a second position in which the shield is depressed towards the spring  222  until aperture  216  is generally aligned with aperture  2  of the casing  17  so that the threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4  can pass through aperture  2  and into engagement with aperture  216  as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . Upon removal of the standoff  4 , the spring  222  biases the shield  212  to return to the first position in which the shield  212  does not allow pass-through of the threaded shank  6  standoff  4 . A detent  230  may be provided on both the port facing side and cable facing side of the shield  212  and may have a bright marking or appearance so as to provide a visible indication of tampering with the communication port  7 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate other embodiments of a tamper detection apparatus  310 . The apparatus  310  includes an elliptical spring  314  that has a cover  316  on at least one end thereof, and in other embodiments, may have a cover  316  on each end of the elliptical spring  314  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The apparatus  310  may further include a support spring  320  that spans from each cover  316 . 
     The apparatus  310  has a first position as illustrated in  FIG. 4A  in which each cover  316  blocks entry of the threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4  into a threaded portion  304  defined in a recess  303  and a second position in which each cover  316  is translated downward so as to not block entry of the threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4  into the threaded portion  303 . The apparatus  310  is configured such that it has a dimension that is approximately equal to a dimension between opposing bases  322  of opposing ports  7  such that the apparatus  310  can be inserted between the opposing bases  322 . The casing  17  is then installed so that the apparatus  310  is positioned between the port  7  and the casing  17 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a tamper detection apparatus  410 . The apparatus includes a shield  412  having first and second slider blocks  424 . The slider blocks  424  are positioned within a slot  420  defined in a base  422  of the communication port  7 . The slider blocks  424  are interconnected by a coil spring  426  that biases each of the slider blocks  424  to a closely-spaced, first position as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . The slider blocks  424  define an internally threaded bore  430  that is configured for receiving the threaded shank  6  of a standoff  4 . When the apparatus  410  is in the first position as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the bores  430  of the slider blocks  424  are not in alignment with the aperture  2  of the casing  17  such that the threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4  cannot be engageably received in the bore  430 . The apparatus  410  is placed in a second position in which the slider blocks  424  are spaced-apart until the bores  430  are in general alignment with the aperture  2  of the casing  17  as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . In this manner, the threaded shank  6  of the standoff  4  can then be engageably received within bore  430  and the connector  6  can then be installed on the casing  17 . 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7