Tamper detection for intrinsically-safe or explosion-proof enclosures
Devices and methods for detecting and reporting a battery tamper event with regard to an intrinsically-safe or explosion-proof device while the device is located in a hazardous environment. The device may include a location sensor for determining that the device is in a hazardous location. While in the hazardous location, the device may detect an open enclosure event using a sensor and, if so, it may monitor for detection of a battery tampering event. The battery tampering event may include battery replacement or battery charging. The battery tamper event may be reported to a remote server over a wireless channel when it occurs.
1. An electronic wireless device deployed for use in potentially hazardous locations, comprising:
an enclosure;
a battery;
a sensor generating a first signal indicative of an open enclosure event indicating the enclosure has been opened;
a wireless communication module;
a location sensor;
a controller configured to receive the first signal and to receive a second signal indicating a battery tamper event, to determine that the electronic wireless device is located in a hazardous environment and, responsive to that determination and based on detection of both the open enclosure event and the battery tamper event, to generate and transmit a tamper report to a remote server over a wireless communication channel using the wireless communication module; and
a location sensor to output geolocation data to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to compare the geolocation data from the location sensor with data defining hazardous locations to determine that the electronic wireless device is located in the hazardous environment.
2. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an ambient light sensor and the first signal is generated based on the ambient light exceeding a threshold level.
3. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes an enclosure base and a cover secured to the enclosure base by metal screws inserted in bore holes within the enclosure base, and wherein the enclosure base includes conductive traces connecting the metal screws in series, and wherein the sensor includes an open circuit sensor configured to detect removal of one or more of the metal screws.
4. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a magnetic sensor, an inductive sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, or a mechanical switch.
5. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is received by the controller from the battery, wherein the second signal includes a serial number, wherein the controller is configured to compare the serial number to a previous serial number stored in memory, and wherein the controller is configured to detect the battery tamper event based on a mismatch between the serial number and the previous serial number.
6. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is a battery power signal, wherein the controller is configured to compare a voltage level of the battery power signal to a previous voltage level stored in memory, and wherein the controller is configured to detect the battery tamper event based on the voltage level exceeding the previous voltage level by more than a threshold amount.
7. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , further including non-volatile memory, wherein the controller is configured, following a power cycle event, to determine that the electronic wireless device is located in the hazardous environment and that the open enclosure event has occurred while in the hazardous environment by reading the non-volatile memory and, in response to those determinations, to determine from the second signal that the battery tamper event has occurred.
8. The electronic wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic wireless device is an intrinsically-safe device or an explosion-proof device.
9. A method of recording and reporting a tamper event for an electronic wireless device, the method comprising:
determining that the electronic wireless device is located in a hazardous environment and, responsive to that determination,
detecting a first signal from a sensor in the electronic wireless device indicating an open enclosure event, wherein the electronic wireless device has an enclosure and the open enclosure event indicates the enclosure has been opened;
detecting a second signal indicating a battery tamper event; and
based on detection of both the open enclosure event and the battery tamper event, generating and transmitting a tamper report to a remote server over a wireless communication channel,
wherein determining that the electronic wireless device is located in the hazardous environment includes obtaining geolocation data using a location sensor and comparing the geolocation data to data defining hazardous locations to determine that the electronic wireless device is located in the hazardous environment.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein comparing includes transmitting the geolocation data to the remote server, comparing the geolocation data to the data defining hazardous locations at the remote server, and receiving at the electronic wireless device from the remote server a message indicating that the geolocation data corresponds to a hazardous location.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor includes an ambient light sensor and wherein detecting the first signal includes detecting the first signal generated by the ambient light sensor based on the ambient light exceeding a threshold level.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the enclosure includes an enclosure base and a cover secured to the enclosure base by metal screws inserted in bore holes within the enclosure base, and wherein the enclosure base includes conductive traces connecting the metal screws in series, and wherein the sensor includes an open circuit sensor, and wherein detecting the first signal includes detecting an open circuit signal from the open circuit sensor based on removal of one or more of the metal screws.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the first signal includes detecting a signal indicating removal of a cover from the enclosure using a magnetic sensor, an inductive sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, or a mechanical switch.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the second signal includes receiving the second signal from the battery, wherein the second signal includes a serial number, comparing the serial number to a previous serial number stored in memory, and detecting the battery tamper event based on a mismatch between the serial number and the previous serial number.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the second signal includes measuring a voltage level of a battery power signal, comparing the voltage level to a previous voltage level stored in memory, and detecting the battery tamper event based on the voltage level exceeding the previous voltage level by more than a threshold amount.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting a power cycle event and, following the power cycle event, determining that the electronic wireless device is located in the hazardous environment and determining that the open enclosure event has occurred based on reading a non-volatile memory and, in response to those determinations, determining from the second signal that the battery tamper event has occurred.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electronic wireless device is an intrinsically-safe device or an explosion-proof device.
18. An electronic wireless device deployed for use in potentially hazardous locations, comprising:
an enclosure;
a battery;
a sensor generating a first signal indicative of an open enclosure event indicating the enclosure has been opened;
a wireless communication module;
a location sensor;
a controller configured to receive the first signal and to receive a second signal indicating a battery tamper event, to determine that the electronic wireless device is located in a hazardous environment and, responsive to that determination and based on detection of both the open enclosure event and the battery tamper event, to generate and transmit a tamper report to a remote server over a wireless communication channel using the wireless communication module; and
a location sensor to output geolocation data to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to determine that the electronic wireless device is located in the hazardous environment by relaying the geolocation data to the remote server and receiving, from the remote server, a message indicating that the geolocation data corresponds to a hazardous location.