IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,327,329
Granted Patent B2
US 10,327,329 · App. 15/430,842 · Granted Jun 18, 2019

Tamper-respondent assembly with flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) overlying in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor

Inventors: William L. Brodsky (Binghamton, NY); James A. Busby (New Paltz, NY); John R. Dangler (Rochester, MN); Silvio Dragone (Winterthur, CH); Michael J. Fisher (Poughkeepsie, NY); David C. Long (Wappingers Falls, NY)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
H05K1/0275G08B13/06H05K1/185G08B13/149H05K2201/10151
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,327,329
App. No.
15/430,842
Granted
Jun 18, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Tamper-respondent assemblies and methods of fabrication are provided which include an enclosure, an in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, and one or more flexible tamper-detect sensors. The enclosure encloses, at least in part, one or more electronic components to be protected, and the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor is formed in place over an inner surface of the enclosure. The flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) is disposed over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, such that the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor is between the inner surface of the enclosure and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s). Together the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) facilitate defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the one or more electronic components.

Claims (32)

1. A tamper-respondent assembly comprising:

an enclosure to enclose, at least in part, one or more electronic components to be protected;

an in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor over an inner surface of the enclosure; and

one or more flexible tamper-detect sensors disposed over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, with the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor being between the inner surface of the enclosure and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s), and wherein together the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) facilitate defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the electronic component(s).

2. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) lines the inner surface of the enclosure over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and comprises at least one flexible layer with sensor lines disposed thereon, and wherein the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor comprises metal sensor lines, and the sensor lines of the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) comprise non-metal sensor lines.

3. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a monitor to monitor the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) for a tamper event, and at least one flexible connect cable electrically coupled to at least one of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor or the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) to facilitate electrically connecting the monitor to sensor lines of the at least one of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor or the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s).

4. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a sensor connection adapter disposed over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor within the secure volume, the sensor connection adapter facilitating electrically connecting the monitor to sensor lines of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor.

5. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 4 , wherein the sensor connection adapter is disposed between the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s).

6. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 4 , wherein the sensor connection adapter electrically connects to the sensor lines of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor via at least one connector, the at least one connector comprising a connector type selected from the group consisting of a wire-bond connector, a solder-ball connector, a spring connector, and a zebra strip connector.

7. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flexible connect cable electrically couples to the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor(s) within the secure volume.

8. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 7 , wherein the monitor electrically couples to the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor through the at least one flexible connect cable and a flexible interposer disposed, at least in part, over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor.

9. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 8 , wherein the flexible interposer includes multiple electrical contacts to sensor line contacts of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, the sensor line contacts being dispersed across the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor over the inner surface of the enclosure.

10. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 9 , wherein the multiple electrical contacts, and conductive traces of the flexible interposer, are formed of a conductive material invisible to X-ray imaging.

11. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 9 , where the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) comprises the flexible interposer.

12. A tamper-respondent assembly comprising:

a circuit board;

an enclosure to secure to the circuit board and enclose, at least in part, one or more electronic components to be protected;

an in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor over an inner surface of the enclosure; and

one or more flexible tamper-detect sensors disposed over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, with the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor being between the inner surface of the enclosure and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s), and wherein together the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) facilitate defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the electronic component(s).

13. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) lines the inner surface of the enclosure over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and comprises at least one flexible layer with sensor lines disposed thereon, and wherein the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor comprises metal sensor lines, and the sensor lines of the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) comprise non-metal sensor lines.

14. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 12 , wherein the circuit board comprises a multilayer circuit board, and the tamper-respondent assembly further includes:

an embedded tamper-detect sensor embedded within the multilayer circuit board, wherein the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s), and the embedded tamper-detect sensor together facilitate defining the secure volume about the electronic component(s).

15. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a monitor to monitor the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) for a tamper event, and at least one flexible connect cable electrically coupled to at least one of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor or the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) to facilitate electrically connecting the monitor to sensor lines of the at least one of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor or the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s).

16. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 15 , wherein the flexible connect cable electrically couples to the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor(s) within the secure volume.

17. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 16 , wherein the monitor electrically couples to the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor through the at least one flexible connect cable and a flexible interposer disposed, at least in part, over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor.

18. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 17 , wherein the flexible interposer includes multiple electrical contacts to the sensor line contacts of the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, the sensor line contacts being dispersed across the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor over the inner surface of the enclosure.

19. The tamper-respondent assembly of claim 18 , wherein the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) comprises the flexible interposer.

20. A method of fabricating a tamper-respondent assembly comprising:

providing an enclosure to enclose, at least in part, one or more electronic components to be protected;

fabricating an in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor over an inner surface of the enclosure;

forming one or more flexible tamper-detect sensors; and

securing the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) over the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor, with the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor being between the inner surface of the enclosure and flexible tamper-detect sensor(s), and wherein together the in-situ-formed tamper-detect sensor and the flexible tamper-detect sensor(s) facilitate defining, at least in part, a secure volume about the electronic component(s).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2017
From: BRODSKY, WILLIAM L.; BUSBY, JAMES A.; DANGLER, JOHN R.; DRAGONE, SILVIO; FISHER, MICHAEL J.; LONG, DAVID C.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041238/0852 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180235081A1 · Aug 16, 2018
Cited By (2)
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