Abstract:
An anti-tamper mechanism to disable an electronic device during unauthorized physical access includes: a turnover assembly, spring, turnover member, conducting members, and a latch. The turnover body defines a plurality of receiving grooves. Several conducting members are received in the plurality of receiving spaces in a certain and predefined order to enable electrical coupling with the circuit board. The latch includes a supporting bracket, a guiding rod slidably positioned on the supporting bracket, and a latching member positioned on the guiding rod. The latching member engages with the turnover body to hold the turnover member in check, but when the latching member disengages from the turnover body in disassembly, the turnover member displaces the conducting members thereby destroying the certain and predefined order and electrical decouples the circuit board to disable the electronic device.

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to physical security of electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An electronic device should have protection against physical interference without an authorization, as well as data hacking. The principle is that when an opening operation is detected by a circuit board, a stop operation can be started. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure are better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic device with an anti-tamper protection mechanism. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1  from another view. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged, isometric view of a second housing having an anti-tamper mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial isometric view of the second housing of  FIG. 4  from another view. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line VI-VI. 
     
    
    
     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 “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. 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. 
     Generally, the present disclosure is described in relation to an anti-tamper mechanism, assembly, and housing configured to physically protect an electronic device comprising a circuit board, and to protect the electronic device from unauthorized access. 
     The anti-tamper mechanism comprises a turnover assembly. The turnover assembly comprises a support, and a turnover member rotatably coupled to the support. The turnover member comprises a turnover body. The turnover body defines a plurality of receiving spaces. The turnover assembly comprises a torsion member positioned between the support and the turnover member; and a plurality of conducting members. Each conducting member is received in one of the plurality of receiving spaces in a certain and predefined order, and further configured to thereby electrically couple with the circuit board to cause the circuit board to turn on. The anti-tamper mechanism comprises a latching assembly. The latching assembly comprises a supporting bracket, a guiding rod slidably positioned on the supporting bracket, and a latching member positioned on the guiding rod. When the latching member engages with the turnover body, the turnover member prevents the plurality of conducting members from being displaced. When the latching member disengages from the turnover body, the turnover member is driven by the torsion member to displace the plurality of conducting members thereby destroying the predefined order needed to electrically coupling the circuit board and preventing the circuit board from turning on. 
     The present disclosure is also described in relation to an electronic device having the anti-tamper device. The electronic device comprises a housing, and a circuit board positioned in the housing. The circuit board comprises a plurality of conductive rubber cushions, an abutting member, and the anti-tamper mechanism previously described is positioned in the housing. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic device  200  having an enclosure with an anti-tamper mechanism which will now be described. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the electronic device  200  can include a housing  210 . The housing  210  can include a first housing  230  and a second housing  240  opposite to the first housing  230  and for being connected with the first housing  230 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the electronic device  200  can further include a circuit board  220  mounted in the housing  210 . The circuit board  220  can be located between the first housing  230  and the second housing  240 , and positioned on an inner surface of the first housing  230 . The circuit board  220  can support a number of conductive rubber cushions  250  and an abutting member  260 . The conductive rubber cushions  250  can be arranged in arrays. The abutting member  260  can be perpendicular to a plane of the circuit board  220 . The abutting member  260  can include an abutting portion  270  positioned on one end thereof spaced from the circuit board  220 . The abutting portion  270  can be, but is not limited to be, cone-shaped. In at least one embodiment, the electronic device  200  can further include other functional components which are not described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the electronic device  200  can include an anti-tamper mechanism  100 . The anti-tamper mechanism  100  can be positioned on an inner surface of the second housing  240 . The anti-tamper mechanism  100  can include a turnover assembly  10  spaced nearer to a periphery  2401  of the second housing  240  than the middle of the second housing  240  and a latching assembly  20 , similarly close to the periphery  2401  of the second housing  240  and facing the turnover assembly  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the turnover assembly  10  can include a support  11 , a pivot  12 , a turnover member  13 , a torsion member  14 , and a number of conducting members  15 . The support  11  can be positioned on the inner surface of the second housing  240 . The support  11  can include two lugs  111  protruding from the inner surface of the second housing  240 . The turnover member  13  can be rotatably coupled to the support  11  by the pivot  12 . The turnover member  13  can include a turnover body  131  and a hook  132  positioned on one free end of the turnover body  131 . The turnover member  13  can define pivot holes  133  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) on the other end of the turnover body  131  and a number of receiving spaces  134  adjacent to the hinged end of the turnover body  131 , close to the second housing  240 . The pivot  12  can pass through the pivot holes  133  and further be rotatably coupled to the support  11 , such that the turnover member  13  can be rotatably coupled to the support  11 . The turnover member  13  can rotate about the pivot  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the turnover body  131  can include a first surface  1311  and a second surface  1312  opposite to the first surface  1311 . The hook  132  can be L-shaped. The hook  132  can have an first inclined surface  1321  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) located on the turnover body  131  opposite from the pivot  12  and further coupled to the second surface  1312 . The first inclined surface  1321  and the second surface  1312  need not be parallel, thus the inclined surface  1321  may slope upwards or downwards along the edge of the hook  132  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Similarly, the angle of the hook  132  can be greater than or less than 90 degrees for receiving the turnover member  13 . The receiving spaces  134  can be defined in the first surface  1311 . The receiving spaces  134  can be arranged in an array. Each receiving space  134  can correspond to one of the conductive rubber cushions  250 . 
     The torsion member  14  can be positioned on the pivot  12 . The torsion member  14  can include a torsion body  141  and two abutment parts  142  positioned on opposite sides of the torsion body  141 . The torsion body  141  can cover the pivot  12 . One abutment part  142  can abut the support  11 , and the other abutment part  142  can abut the turnover body  131 . The torsion member  14  can provide torsion force for the turnover member  13 . The conducting members  15  can be arranged in the receiving spaces  134  in a predefined and certain order. The predefined order for arranging the conducting members  15  to turn on the electronic device  200  can be pre-stored in the electronic device  200 . The conducting members  15  can be less than the receiving spaces  134 . 
     When the conducting members  15  are arranged on the circuit board  220  in the predefined order, each conducting member  15  can abut one of the conductive rubber cushions  250  to cause the circuit board  220  to turn on. When the conducting members  15  are not arranged on the circuit board  220  in the predefined order, each conducting member  15  can abut one of the conductive rubber cushions  250  but the circuit board  220  cannot turn on. 
     In at least one embodiment, the torsion member  14  can be but is not limited to be a torsional spring. 
     In at least one embodiment, the conducting members  15  can be, but are not limited to be, ball-shaped. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the latching assembly  20  can include a supporting bracket  21 , a guiding rod  22  positioned on the supporting bracket  21 , an elastic member  23  covers the guiding rod  22 , and a latching member  24  ( FIG. 6 ) positioned on the guiding rod  22 . 
     The supporting bracket  21  can be substantially U-shaped. The supporting bracket  21  can include a first bracket portion  211  and a second bracket portion  212  extending out in parallel from the two ends of the first bracket portion  211 . The supporting bracket  21  can define a mount hole  213  centrally located in the first bracket portion  211 . The two second bracket portions  212  can cooperatively form a guide space (not labeled). 
     The guiding rod  22  can be received in the guide space, located between the two second bracket portions  212 , and can slidably pass through the mount hole  213 . On one end, the guiding rod  22  can include a blocking member  221  and a connecting member  222  located on the other end thereof. The blocking member  221  and the connecting member  222  can be configured to prevent the guiding rod  22  from sliding out of the mount hole  213 . 
     The elastic member  23  can abut the connecting member  222  and the first bracket portion  211  such that the guiding rod  22  can be driven to move relative to the mount hole  213  by elastic force of the elastic member  23 . 
     The latching member  24  can be positioned on the connecting member  222  and further coupled to one end of the guiding rod  22 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the latching member  24  can include a latching body  241 . The latching body  241  can define a though hole  242 . The latching body  241  can include an abutting surface  243  adjacent to the through hole  242 , and an second inclined surface  244  adjacent to the through hole  242  and spaced apart from the abutting surface  243 . The through hole  242  can be centrally located in the latching body  241 . In this embodiment, the abutting surface  243  can extend from a surface of the latching body  241  to the through hole  242 . The abutting surface  243  can abut the abutting portion  270  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). The second inclined surface  244  can be located on one end of the latching body  241  spaced from the guiding rod  22 . The second inclined surface  244  can engage with the first inclined surface  1321  of the hook  132 . In at least one embodiment, the elastic member  23  can be but is not limited to be a spring. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , the support  11  can be positioned on the second housing  240 . The pivot  12  can pass through the pivot holes  133 , pass through the torsion member  14 , and be further rotatably coupled to the support  11 . The two abutment parts  142  can abut the second housing  240  and the turnover member  13 . The supporting bracket  21  can be positioned on the inner surface of the second housing  240 . The connecting member  222  can be positioned in the supporting bracket  21 . The elastic member  23  abuts the supporting bracket  21  and the connecting member  222 . The elastic member  23  can cover the guiding rod  22 . One end of the guiding rod  22  can pass through the mount hole  213 , and be coupled with the blocking member  221 . The other end of the guiding rod  22  can pass through the connecting member  222  and be further coupled with the one end of the latching member  24 . The turnover member  13  can be driven to rotate about the pivot  12  to cause the torsion member  14  to be compressed by the turnover member  13 , such that the second inclined surface  244  can engage with the first inclined surface  1321 . The guiding rod  22  is spaced from the turnover member  13  and causes the elastic member  23  to become compressed when driven to move. When the second inclined surface  244  engages with the first inclined surface  1321 , an elastic restoring force of the elastic member  23  can drive the guiding rod  22  to move close to the turnover member  13 , such that the latching member  24  can engage with the hook  132 , preventing the turnover member  13  from turning over. 
     When the first and second housings  230  and  240  are uncoupled, each conducting member  15  can be received in one of the receiving spaces  134 . The circuit board  220  couples to the conducting members  15  once the first housing  230  covers the second housing  240 , such that each conducting member  15  can correspond to one of the conductive rubber cushions  250 . The abutting member  260  can engage in the through hole  242 , and further engage with the abutting surface  243 , such that the latching member  24  can be driven to move spaced from the turnover member  13  and disengage from the hook  132  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). The turnover member  13  is spaced from the support  11  and can be driven to rotate by the torsion member  14 . The turnover member  13  further abuts the circuit board  220 , and each conducting member  15  can abut one of the conductive rubber cushions  250  thereby enabling the circuit board  220  to be turned on. 
     When the first housing  230  is removed from the second housing  240 , the turnover member  13  can be driven to rotate about the pivot  12  and move away from the support  11 , such that the conducting members  15  can be displaced by the turnover member  13 , and the circuit board  220  can be thus turned off. A person who does not know the predefined order cannot assembly the conducting members  15  in the predefined order, and the circuit board  220  cannot be turned on again, and an anti-tamper function can be thus achieved. 
     In at least one embodiment, the pivot  12  can be omitted, the turnover member  13  can be pivoted to the support  11  directly. 
     In at least one embodiment, the hook  132  and the pivot holes  133  can be omitted. the turnover member  13  can be pivoted to the support  11  directly, and the turnover body  131  can engage with the latching member  24  directly. 
     In at least one embodiment, the elastic member  23  can be omitted. 
     In at least one embodiment, the through hole  242  and the second inclined surface  244  can be omitted, the abutting surface  243  can be positioned on the latching body  241  directly. 
     In at least one embodiment, the connecting member  222  can be omitted, the latching member  24  can be coupled to the guiding rod  22  directly, and the elastic member  23  can abut the latching member  24  directly. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the features of anti-tamper mechanism and electronic device using the same. 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.