Patent ID: 8452989

Claim:
An electronic device, comprising: a printed circuit board; a circuit board element; a microprocessor disposed between the printed circuit board and the circuit element to restrict physical access to the microprocessor, the microprocessor having (i) a bottom which faces the printed circuit board in a first direction, and (ii) a top which faces the circuit element in a second direction which is opposite the first direction; the microprocessor (i) performing electronic operations in response to power from a power source while the microprocessor is disposed between the printed circuit board and the circuit element, and (ii) being electronically prevented from further performing the electronic operations in response to tampering activity on the circuit element; wherein the microprocessor is mounted to the printed circuit board; wherein the circuit element includes a passive electronic component which covers at least a portion of the microprocessor to inhibit electronic probing of the microprocessor; wherein the tampering activity includes a breaking of electrical continuity through a portion of the passive electronic component; and wherein the passive electronic component is an electronic display which is (i) mounted to the printed circuit board over the microprocessor and (ii) constructed and arranged to visually output data to a user from the microprocessor while the microprocessor performs the electronic operations.