Method and device for sensing and responding to an unauthorized opening of a biometric trait capture device
A biometric trait capture device includes a biometric trait capture sensor contained in a housing and configured to capture biometric data, such as a handwritten signature or other biometric trait(s) of a signor, in digitized form. A memory is provided in the housing and is not electronically accessible from outside of the housing. A value, such as an encryption key, is stored in the memory. A memory-erasure device erases or overwrites the value in response to an opening of the housing, thereby providing information indicating that the biometric trait capture device has possibly been tampered with by an unauthorized person.
1. A biometric trait capture device comprising:
a housing,
a biometric trait capture sensor contained in the housing and configured to capture biometric data in digitized form,
a memory that is not electronically accessible from outside of the housing, the memory being configured to store a value, the memory comprising a volatile memory requiring a current to maintain the stored value,
a memory-erasure device configured to cause the value stored in the volatile memory to be erased in response to an opening of the housing, and
an autonomous power supply contained in the housing and configured to supply the current to the volatile memory even if externally supplied power to the biometric trait capture device is interrupted,
wherein the memory-erasure device comprises a mechanical switch switchable between an open state and a closed state, the switch being held in the closed state by a portion of the housing and changing to the open state in response to the opening of the housing, wherein the mechanical switch interrupts the current from the autonomous power supply to the volatile memory in the open state, and
the volatile memory is configured such that the value stored in the volatile memory is automatically erased when the current to the volatile memory is interrupted.
2. The biometric trait capture device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical switch has an actuator that is shiftable from a first position to a second position, the switch being open when the actuator is in the first position and closed when the actuator is in the second position, the housing being configured to hold the actuator in the second position when the housing is closed and to move the actuator to the first position or to allow the actuator to move to the first position when the housing is opened.
3. The biometric trait capture device according to 1 , further comprising:
a security apparatus configured to check whether the value is still stored in the memory and to execute at least one security measure if the value is no longer stored in the memory.
4. The biometric trait capture device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one security measure includes provision of a notification that the value is no longer being stored in the memory to operating software or a processor of the biometric trait capture device, the receipt of which notification causes a security routine to be started.