GB2285703A - Computer apparatus with anti-theft deterrent provision - Google Patents

Abstract

The computer apparatus (2) comprises a central processing unit (4), a printed circuit board (6) located within an option slot (8) in the central processing unit (4), anchor means (10) adapted to be secured to a location remote from the central processing unit (4), and a cable (12) connecting the central processing unit (4) to the anchor means (10) in order to restrict movement of the central processing unit (4) to the length of the cable. The printed circuit board (6) and the anchor means (10) are such that the printed circuit board (6) causes actuation of an alarm means (not shown) consequent upon the cable (12) and/or the anchor means (10) being subject to unauthorized tampering. The printed circuit board (6) is such that it is able to be connected to an immobilizing device (14) for disarming the alarm and computer apparatus (2) when desired. The anchor means may be a plug providing power to the computer apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

COMPUTER APPARATUS WITH ANTI-THEFT DETERRENT PROVISION This invention relates to computer apparatus with anti-theft deterrent provision.

Computer apparatus such for example as personal computers is becoming more and more widely used in business. The computer apparatus usually comprises a central processing unit, a monitor and a keyboard. The computer apparatus has developed such that it is of increasing power and decreasing physical size. The decreasing physical size has made it easy for thieves to steal the computer apparatus. Even if the entire computer apparatus is not stolen, thieves often steal hard disc drives from within the central processing unit in order to steal the entire database of the computer apparatus and thus obtain manufacturer's information for use by competitors.

The known computer apparatus is often provided with key-operated locks in order to try and prevent the theft of the hard disc drives. However, in large companies with for example many personal computers, the safe keeping of the key becomes a major problem. An alternative to employing a key-operated lock is to try and protect the central processing unit of the computer apparatus by a movement sensor or by physically connecting the central processing unit to a desk. Such a solution is however generally not practical insofar as the movement sensors or the physical connection would prevent any movement of the central processing unit and small movements of a central processing unit about a desk are often required by users.Still further, the use of the physical connection may be unsightly and, if it is used in connection with key-operated locks, then there is still the problem of the safe keeping and availability of the keys.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided computer apparatus with anti-theft deterrent provision, which computer apparatus comprises a central processing unit, a printed circuit board located within an option slot in the central processing unit, anchor means adapted to be secured to a location remote from the central processing unit, and first cable means connecting the central processing unit to the anchor means in order to restrict movement of the central processing unit to the length of the first cable means, the printed circuit board and the anchor means being such that the printed circuit board causes actuation of an alarm means consequent upon the first cable means and/or the anchor means being subject to unauthorized tamping, and the printed circuit board being such that it is able to be connected to an immobilizing device for disarming the computer apparatus when desired.

The computer apparatus may be disarmed, for example, when it is desired to effect a repair to the computer apparatus or when it is desired to move the computer apparatus from one office to another.

In one embodiment of the invention, the anchor means may be solely for use as an anchor, in which case the computer apparatus may be such that the first cable means forms a coded connection between the central processing unit and the anchor means. In another embodiment of the invention, the anchor may be an electrical plug for providing power to the computer apparatus, in which case the computer apparatus may be such that the earth from the mains wiring is sensed and once that earth connection is broken then the alarm means operates.

The computer apparatus may be such that any suitable and appropriate central processing unit is provided with the printed circuit board alarm means located in the option slot.

The first cable means may comprise six wires for use in forming the coded connection between the central processing unit and the anchor means. The six wires may be connected up in a predetermined combination such that the printed circuit board alarm means is always able to look for the wired combination. For example, the six wires may be connected up with a high potential routed to two of the wires and a low potential routed to the remaining four wires. Such a combination will give a particular high/low code. If desired, any suitable number of wires may be employed. The connection validity may also be determined by the relaying of serial data as opposed to parallel data.

The alarm means may be in the form of an alarm device on the printed circuit board, the alarm means then being such that it forms part of the computer apparatus. If desired, the alarm means may be separate from the printed circuit board.

Alternatively, the alarm means may be in the form of a building alarm, the alarm means then being such that it does not form part of the computer apparatus.

The computer apparatus may be one in which the printed circuit board is associated with first, second and third sockets, the first socket being connected to the first cable means, the second socket being for connection to a building alarm, and the third socket being for connection to the immobilizing device.

The computer apparatus may include the immobilizing device.

The immobilizing device may include a plurality of wires configured in a predetermined coded combination to match a coded configuration on the printed circuit board.

The immobilizing device may be a hand held key pad immobilizing device, the key pad enabling a correct code to be entered to effect the disarming of the computer apparatus.

The immobilizing device may comprise an immobilizing unit and second cable means for connecting the immobilizing unit to the printed circuit board.

Alternatively, the immobilizing device may be such that it communicates its code to the printed circuit board by infrared radiation or by ultrasonic radiation.

The computer apparatus may be one in which the central processing unit has a removable cover, and in which the central processing unit includes a sensor for sensing an unauthorized attempt to remove the cover. By helping to prevent the unauthorized removal of the cover of the central processing unit, theft of a hard disc drive in the central processing unit is further hindered.

The sensor for sensing the unauthorized attempt to remove the cover may be an optical sensor which is such as to operate when light enters the central processing unit due to the cover being removed. Alternatively, the sensor may be a simple switch. Still further, the sensor may be a passive infrared sensor, an ultrasonic radar-type sensor, or a mechanical switch or reed switch with an associated magnet connected to its cover. The sensor means will normally cause the alarm means to operate when the cover is removed. The alarm may cease to operate when the sensor senses the cover being put back. Alternatively, the sensor may trigger a time delay whereby the alarm means may sound for a predetermined length of time, regardless of whether the condition which caused the alarm means to operate has been rectified or not.

As indicated above, the computer apparatus of the present invention may include a monitor and a key board.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows first computer apparatus with antitheft deterrent provision; Figure 2 illustrates the electronic circuit used in the computer apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows part of second computer apparatus with anti-theft deterrent provision; Figure 4 shows third computer apparatus with antitheft provision; and Figure 5 shows fourth computer apparatus with antitheft provision.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown computer apparatus 2 with an anti-theft deterrent provision. The computer apparatus 2 comprises a central processing unit 4 and a printed circuit board 6 located in an option slot 8 in the central processing unit 4.

The computer apparatus 2 also comprises anchor means 10 adapted to be secured to a location remote from the central processing unit 4. Thus, for example, the anchor means 10 can be secured to the underside of a desk on which the central processing unit 4 is located.

The anchor means 10 could also be located to a floor underneath a desk on which the central processing unit 4 is located.

The computer apparatus 2 further comprises first cable means 12 connecting the central processing unit 4 to the anchor means 10 in order to restrict movement of the central processing unit 4 to the length of the first cable means 12, and in order to form a coded connection between the central processing unit 4 and the anchor means 10.The printed circuit board 6 and the anchor means 10 are such that the printed circuit board 6 causes actuation of an alarm means (not shown) consequent upon the first cable means 12 and/or the anchor means 10 being subject to unauthorized tampering. The printed circuit board 6 is also such that it is able to be connected to an immobilizing device 14 for disarming the computer apparatus 2 when desired, for example when it is required to effect a repair to the central processing unit 4 or when it is desired to move the computer apparatus 2 from one office to another office.

Apart from the provision of the printed circuit board 6 and some appropriate connections, the central processing unit 4 can be any suitable and appropriate known central processing unit 4. Thus the computer apparatus of the present invention does not require expensive and complicated modifications to known central processing units. Thus the central processing unit may comprise a standard slot 16 for receiving a disc and the central processing unit 4 may have a housing 18 having an appropriate cover (not shown).

The first cable means 12 preferably comprises six wires for use in forming a coded connection between the central processing unit 4 and the anchor means 10.

As will be described in more detail hereinbelow, the alarm means is in the form of an alarm device on the printed circuit board 6, the alarm means then being such that it forms part of the computer apparatus 2.

The immobilizing device 14 comprises a plurality of wires configured in a predetermined coded combination to match a coded combination on the printed circuit board 6. The immobilizing device 14 comprises an immobilizing unit 20 and second cable means 22 for connecting the immobilizing unit 20 to the printed circuit board 6.

The central processing unit 4 comprises a sensor in the form of a switch 24. The switch 24 operates to cause operation of the alarm means if the cover of the housing 18 is removed in an unauthorized manner.

The anchor means 10 is in the form of an antitamper box having a housing 26 and a lid 28. A battery back up is provided inside the housing 26. Any attempt to remove the anchor means 10 from its chosen position in an unauthorized manner and/or any attempt to tamper with the anchor means 10 causes actuation of the alarm means. Similarly, any tampering of the first cable means 12, for example by attempting to cut through the first cable means 12, causes actuation of the alarm means. The alarm means may be a buzzer provided on the printed circuit board 6.

The immobilizing unit 20 is provided with a light emitting diode 30 which is arranged to become illuminated when the immobilizing device 14 provides the correct code. The immobilizing device 14 acts as an unlocking device. The immobilizing device 14 may comprise a key-operated pad (not shown) for enabling an appropriate code to be entered into the immobilizing device 14. The code required by the immobilizing device 14 to immobilize the printed ciruit board 6 may be the same code as that provided by the first cable means 4 or, more preferably, it is a different code thereby requiring potential thieves to find one of two codes in order to immobilize the entire computer apparatus 2.

The central processing unit 4 may also include one or more known vibration sensors (not shown) if desired.

One or more tilt sensors (not shown) may also be employed if desired. Generally, however such vibration sensors and tilt sensors will not be required and this is advantageous insofar as such vibration sensors and tilt sensors may be susceptible to causing false alarms, which is undesirable.

Referring now to Figure 2, the illustrated circuit includes the anchor means 10 and the immobilizing device 14. The alarm means is on the printed circuit board 6 and it is shown as alarm means 32. The alarm means 32 comprises a resistor 34 which operates to limit current passing to transistor 36. Current from the transistor 36 passes to a buzzer device 38 which may give off 103 decibals. The buzzer device 38 is also connected to a battery (not shown) via line 40.

A pair of NAND gates 42, 44 allow the buzzer 32 to be latched and unlatched.

A unit 46 is employed to set the alarm if the computer apparatus 2 has been moved under authority, for example to a new office location. The unit 46 comprises two resistors 48, 50 and a capacitor 52.

The unit 46 is fed via a four-input NAND gate 54 as shown. The NAND gate 54 is fed via four exclusive OR gates 56 as shown. The gates 56 are fed via four jumpers 60. The anchor means 10 is connected to the jumpers 60 via connectors 62 on the back of the housing 26, the connectors 62 allowing connection to the printed circuit board 6. Similarly, the immobilizing device 14 is connected to the illustrated gates 64 via connectors 66 at the back of the housing 18 adjacent the printed circuit board 6. The apparatus indicated by the line 68 is used to decode the code from the anchor means 10.

The apparatus indicated by the line 70 is used to decode the code from the immobilizing device 14.

The circuit shown in Figure 2 further includes cross coupled NAND gates 74, 76. These gates 74, 76 are connected as shown to the gates 42, 44 and also via a resistor 78 to a transistor 80. The transistor 80 is connected via a resistor 82 to the immobilizing device 14 via one of the connections 66 as shown.

Also shown in the circuit of Figure 2 is a device 84 comprising a diode 86 which is fed from a line 88 with a voltage from the central processing unit 4. This enables a battery 9 to be charged. Also provided in the device 84 is a diode 92 and capacitors 94, 96 as shown.

The battery 90 is preferably a nickle cadmium rechargable battery. The capacitors 94, 96 act as smoothing capacitors to smooth out any noise. The entire device 84 acts as a battery powered back up device for supplying power to the printed circuit board 6 if the mains supply should be turned off.

The computer apparatus 2 operates such that a high and low potential are passed through the anchor means 10 via the first cable means 12 and in particular via two wires which are provided with a high potential and four remaining wires which are provided with a low potential, all the wires being in the first cable means 12. In the specific configuration as shown, the high and low potential are in a predetermined configuration which is a logic 0, 1, 1, 1. This predetermined configuration is routed to one input of each of the exclusive OR gates 56.

A second input of each of the exclusive OR gates 56 is provided by a link arrangement connecting the input to either a logic 0 or 1, to inversely match the arrangement on the anchor means 10.

The outputs of all four gates 56 are routed to the NAND gate 54, which in turn provides input to the NAND gates 42, 44. This in turn provides drive for the output transistor 36 which drives the buzzer device 38.

The NAND gates 74, 76 form a latch set by the immobilizing device 14. They provide an input to the gate 98 formed by the two gates 42, 44, forcing a low on to the base of the transistor 36.

The unit 46 forms a reset network which provides a reset pulse to the latch 100 formed by the gates 74, 76.

Drive is provided to the alarm disabled indicator light emitting diode 30, enclosed within the anchor device 10, by the transistor arrangement 102.

Sections 104, 106 (see Figure 1) and 108 are duplicated at section 110, with the exception that a sensor is connected to detect removal of the lid of the housing 18.

A chassis connection 112 is a completely independent connection to the hosts's particular bus.

The device 84 accepts 12 volts from the host computer mother printed circuit board and is used to trickle charge the rechargable battery 90. An uninterrupted power source is therefore available at the output.

Figure 3 shows a central processing unit 4 of computer apparatus provided with power via a mains lead 114 and an electrical plug 116 located in a socket 118 in a wall 120. The plug 116 forms an anchor means and the computer apparatus is such that there is a coded connection between the central processing unit 4 and an earth connection in the mains lead 114. The printed circuit board in the computer apparatus is provided with means to detect the absence of the earth connection.

Thus should the earth connection be absent then the alarm is sounded.

The computer apparatus 2 illustrated in Figure 1 is such that it allows the theft of a monitor, a keyboard or a mouse. Such theft rarely occurs on its own since the important part of the computer apparatus 2, which is the invariable target for theft, is the central processing unit 4. Figure 4 shows third computer apparatus of the invention which is for preventing the theft of a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse in addition to the central processing unit 4.

In Figure 4 similar parts as in previous Figures have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 4 it will be seen that the central processing unit 4 is connected to a mouse 122 by a cable 124, a keyboard 126 by a cable 128, and a monitor 130 by a cable 132. The mouse 122, the keyboard 126 and the monitor 130 are connected directly to the printed circuit board 6 within the central processing unit 4, instead of to their normal terminations on the computer apparatus. Additional cable means is then provided to complete the cable routing to the proper termination points on the computer apparatus 2 for the mouse 122, the keyboard 126 and the monitor 130.The printed circuit within the central processing unit 4 thus has the ability to detect a change in the state of the cables 124, 128, 132 in the event that these cables should be disconnected with a view to stealing the ancillary devices in the form of the mouse 122, the keyboard 126 or the monitor 130. If a change in the state of the cables 124, 128, 132 is detected, then an alarm means such as the buzzer 32 is sounded.

Although not shown in Figure 4, the computer apparatus 2 of Figure 4 is also able to be provided with the immobilizing device 20 shown in Figure 1. Thus the immobilizing device 20 may be used to permit the authorised removal of the mouse 122, the keyboard 126 or the monitor 130.

In the computer apparatus 2 shown in Figure 4, there is provided fourth cable means 134 which is connected to a fourth connector 136 provided on the printed circuit board 6. The connection is such that a clamp, which is connected around the fourth cable means 134, detects the above mentioned change in the state of the cables 124, 128, 132 in the event of an attempted removal for theft purposes of the mouse 122, the keyboard 126 or the monitor 130.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown fourth computer apparatus 2 with anti-theft provision. The fourth computer apparatus 2 shown in Figure 5 is similar to the third computer apparatus 2 shown in Figure 4, and similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 5, the printed circuit board 6 is provided with provision in the same manner as Figure 2 for detecting unauthorised removal of the mouse 122, the keyboard 126 or the monitor 130.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, more or less than six wires in the first cable means 12 may be employed.

Claims (16)

1. Computer apparatus with anti-theft deterrent provision, which computer apparatus comprises a central processing unit, a printed circuit board located within an option slot in the central processing unit, anchor means adapted to be secured to a location remote from the central processing unit, and first cable means connecting the central processing unit to the anchor means in order to restrict movement of the central processing unit to the length of the first cable means, the printed circuit board and the anchor means being such that the printed circuit board causes actuation of an alarm means consequent upon the first cable means and/or the anchor means being subject to unauthorized tampering, and the printed circuit board being such that it is able to be connected to an immobilizing device for disarming the computer apparatus when desired.

2. Computer apparatus according to claim 1 in which the anchor means is used solely for use as an anchor, and in which the computer apparatus is such that the first cable means forms a coded connection between the central processing unit and the anchor means.

3. Computer apparatus according to claim 1 in which the anchor means is an electrical plug for providing power to the computer apparatus, and in which the computer apparatus is such that the earth from the mains wiring is sensed and once that earth connection is broken then the alarm means operates.

4. Computer apparatus according to claim 2 in which the first cable means comprises six wires for use in forming the coded connection between the central processing unit and the anchor means.

5. Computer apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including the alarm means, the alarm means being in the form of an alarm device on the printed circuit board.

6. Computer apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4 and including the alarm means, the alarm means being separate from the printed circuit board.

7. Computer apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4 in which the printed circuit board is associated with first, second and third sockets, the first socket being connected to the first cable means, the second socket being for connection to a building alarm, and the third socket being for connection to the immobilizing device.

8. Computer apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including the immobilizing device.

9. Computer apparatus according to claim 8 in which the immobilizing device includes a plurality of wires configured in a predetermined coded combination to match a coded configuration on the printed circuit board.

10. Computer apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the immobilizing device is a hand held key pad immobilizing device, the key pad enabling a correct code to be entered to effect the disarming of the computer apparatus.

11. Computer apparatus according to claim 8 in which the immobilizing device comprises an immobilizing unit and second cable means for connecting the immobilizing unit to the printed circuit board.

12. Computer apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the central processing unit has a removable cover, and in which the central processing unit includes a sensor for sensing an unauthorized attempt to remore the cover.

13. Computer apparatus according to claim 12 in which the sensor for sensing the unauthorized attempt to remove the cover is an optical sensor which is such as to operate when light enters the central processing unit due to the cover being removed.

14. Computer apparatus according to claim 12 in which the sensor is a passive infrared sensor, an ultrasonic radar-type sensor, a mechanical switch, or a read switch with an associated magnet connected to its cover.

15. Computer apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a monitor and a keyboard.

16. Computer apparatus with anti-theft deterrent provision, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.