WO1995024023A1

WO1995024023A1 - Electronic attachment or sealing device

Info

Publication number: WO1995024023A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/002985
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Jacques Wagner
Original assignee: Brand, Edith
Priority date: 1994-03-01
Filing date: 1994-09-07
Publication date: 1995-09-08

Abstract

An attachment or sealing device including an electronic circuit and a mechanical assembly for electronically monitoring and/or controlling the condition or change in condition of the attachment of an apparatus (9a) to a reference object (7a) via a joining member (8a). The attachment or sealing device is advantageous in that it can be incorporated into a computer system without affecting the technical integrity thereof.

Description

Electronic fixing or sealing device

The present invention relates to a fixing and / or sealing device which can be integrated into a computer system making it possible to manage and / or electronically control said fixings with sufficient reliability without it being necessary to resort to visual inspection for guaranteeing the operation. It applies for example to the fixing of a micro-measurement system on its reference object, to the design of a security sealing device or access control to a protected volume, for example a enclosure or room.

The invention will make it possible to fix for example a measuring and / or identification device on a reference object so that a dismantling or a distance of the device relative to the reference object can be detected, recorded in memoi¬ re, preferably as a function of time, and / or cause an action altering the operation of said device and / or of the reference object.

The need to control content by a device destroying itself is very old. The seal by wax seal or by sealing as well as fixing or closing devices comprising a mechanism which can only be opened by destruction of the latter are well known.

Fixing or sealing devices allowing an assembly to be checked electronically are known from the following documents:

EP 192284 (NEDAP) represents a solution specific to the identification of a reference object. A recording of the change of state of the identification object as a function of time is not provided by the device. WO 93/11613 (Gustavson) represents a solution that is relatively easy to handle during assembly by thwarting the quality of the adhesion and / or after opening, using conventional means, for a reconstruction of the electrical circuit. Visual inspection will be necessary. Likewise EP 0463 214 (Stobe) can easily be handled during its installation or during the time which has elapsed after an unauthorized opening. The reference object must be adapted to the sealing device. WO 94/06100 (Wagner) provides a safety circuit integrated into an electronic device. It offers several solutions making it difficult to reconstruct the control circuit by mechanical means. WO 94/06100 also proposes another system with electronic key. This device is expensive and cumbersome to manage.

The design of a computer system comprising several fixing points, the state of which must be checked by computer means without having to use a visual check, which could, depending on the application, be very costly, requires that the fixing device guarantee a security similar or superior to known sealing devices.

An electronic fixing device cannot fulfill its function if it can be handled by simple and current means either before and / or during and / or after assembly.

An electronic fixing device must also be able to be placed on existing reference objects without these having to be modified or adapted for the fitting of the fixing device.

The object of the invention is therefore to produce a non-manipulable fixing or sealing device the change of state of which can be detected electronically and preferably recorded as a function of time and / or according to other criteria specific to the application. It aims to improve the known sealing devices, so that fixing or sealing devices can be integrated into a computer system without the need to resort to frequent visual checks of said devices.

A fixing device will include an electrical circuit as described in FIG. 1 combined with a mechanical assembly as described in FIG. 2. The characteristics of the electrical circuit will be modified during and / or after the change of state of the mechanical assembly. The mechanical fixing will preferably be provided by a connecting element 8.

The advantages of the invention are to solve the objectives proposed in a simple, practical and economical manner. A more advanced variant of the connecting element 8 is produced by integrating therein a detection circuit 3 and an identification circuit 5.

Such a connecting element 8 will include the elements essential to the security of the system. The assembly operation can be identified electronically and a reconstruction of the fixing device will be made very difficult if not impossible without the use of a valid connecting element 8.

An even more advanced variant of a connecting element 8 is produced by the addition of a spring acting on a rupture zone 12.

This concept has the advantage of ensuring and / or controlling the quality of the fastening of the assembly. It allows third parties and normally not assigned to this task to set up non-manipulable safety fastening devices.

Compared to the prior art described in WO 94/06100, the invention provides a higher level of security. It will also be more difficult and more expensive to set up.

For the explanation of the invention use is made of the following plans: FIG. 1 Element of the electronic circuit fig. 2 Element of the mechanical assembly fig. 3 Arrangements of a connecting element in the form of an attachment fig. 4 Electronic circuit for access to the identification circuit. fig. 5 Example of an integrated connecting element

The computer system consists of a data processing installation which is connected offline and / or online, continuously or sporadically, with the various fixing devices and which will have the function of managing the fixing devices and for example managing the data acquired by a device attached by the fixing device to a reference object 9. Fig 1 shows the constituent elements of the electrical circuit forming part of the device, ie a control circuit

I connected to one or more control loops 2, comprising one or more break points 4, a detection circuit 3 and an identification circuit 5. The control circuit 1 is connected to one or more communication units 6 allowing by optical, electrical, inductive or other means of transferring computer data with an external system and / or transmitting the energy necessary for the proper functioning of the device.

The elements of the electrical circuit are preferably distributed over two elements of the mechanical assembly 33 and 34. 34 preferably presents the device 9, while 33 can represent the reference object 7 and / or the connecting element 8. The two parts 33 and 34 can also represent a housing or two of these elements.

The control circuit 1 has the task of controlling and / or recording in memory, preferably as a function of time, the state and / or the change of state of one or more control loops. It will preferably maintain one or more control loops 2 continuously energized.

The control circuit 1 also has the task of communicating and managing the transfer of data to the outside world and to the control loops, and if necessary sorting or modulating digital data combined with an energy supply.

The control circuit 1 comprises at least one digital circuit for processing the data, a preferably non-volatile memory and a time base.

It will in certain cases be advantageous to place or even to integrate the function of the control circuit 1 into the control circuit of the apparatus 9 which may if necessary act on the control loop 2.

The task of the control loop 2 is to notify the change of state of the attachment device to the control circuit 1 and / or detection 3. It allows the control circuit 1 to communicate with the detection circuit 3 and, where appropriate, the identification circuit 5. It can pass through a rupture zone 12. The control loop 2 can be placed by galvanic manufacturing process on the connecting element, so that it is only difficult to reconstruct. It can be made of an optical or electrical conductor. It can represent an antenna of a wireless transmission system.

The task of the detection circuit 3 is, during or a time elapsed after the opening or a loss of voltage of the control loop, for example following the dismantling or destruction of the assembly and / or following the setting out of service of the apparatus 9 or of the reference object 7, to modify the characteristics of the control loop 2 for a certain time or in an irreversible manner. The new characteristics of the control loop will preferably be noted during the next closing and / or energizing of the latter.

The detection circuit 3 will act, for example, as a breaking element and / or as a control element ordering a change of the identification code of the identification circuit 5. It can come into action after a time that has elapsed since the last closure or activation voltage of the control loop 2. Its action will be designed so that the original characteristics of the control loop can only be difficult to reconstruct by current means.

The detection circuit 3 may comprise at least one controlled breaking element which will notify the validity of the control loop or in certain cases of the connecting element 8. This breaking element will be formed for example of a fuse, a relay and / or an electronic element of the Eproms type. It can include at least one timer element.

The rupture element 4 has the task of detecting a distance of the device from the reference object or a modification of a rupture zone 12. The rupture element 14 will preferably be placed on the side and on the other side of a rupture zone 12. It can consist of a conductive wire, with if possible a mechanical rupture zone, of a pair of electrical contacts or of a capacitive sensor element or other reacting to a spacing and / or deformation of the rupture zone 12. Identical components on an optical basis or elements on a chemical basis or thermal, the characteristics of which change as a function of the behavior of one or more rupture zones 12, may be taken into consideration in the design of the rupture element 4.

The breaking element (s) 4 may be pre-assembled or will only enter into function when the fixing device or the connecting element is put in place.

The identification circuit 5 will include at least one identification code in a memory, preferably of the ROM type, which will be accessible by data exchange through one or more control loops. It can also include a network or a matrix of conductors interconnected in different ways with one another.

Fig. 2a to 2c represent the mechanical assembly of the electronic fixing device comprising an identification element or apparatus or element of an access protection device 9, preferably one or more connecting elements 8 and a reference object 7. The elements of the electronic circuit described in fig.l will be distributed and / or integrated according to economic and functional objectives on at least one preferably two of the three elements of the assembly.

The reference object 7 represents the object which will, for example, be attached to a data acquisition system. This object can be a vehicle or a measuring device.

The apparatus 9 represents an identification device, a measurement and / or data acquisition device and / or an access protection device such as a cover, access door or the like. A one-piece identification device for identifying an object visually or electrically. The connecting element 8 represents an intermediate piece placed between the device 9 and the reference object 7, which allows in combination with one or more rupture elements 4 placed on or on either side of a zone of break 12 to detect a change in state of the fixing device. In most cases it will be inconceivable to use the reference object 7 for the placement of at least one of the elements of the electric circuit, the reference objects having been generally designed before the design of the computer system and therefore not provided for this purpose.

The connecting element 8 preferably has two adhesive surfaces and can be made of various single or composite, flexible or brittle materials such that a rupture zone 4 forms part of the connecting element. A judicious combination of materials will make it difficult to reconstitute the connecting element 8 after mechanical disassembly.

The connecting element 8 can comprise at least one detection circuit 3 and / or an identification circuit 5, which allows the identification of the positioning of the fixing device and / or the reference object by a unique identification code. The identity link between the identification code, the reference object 7 and / or the device 9 will preferably be done by means of the computer system, which will include a database.

The connecting element 8 may in itself or in combination with a part 9 cover and make inaccessible a legible identification device.

The rupture zone 12 will preferably be formed by the connecting element 8 or by a part of the apparatus 9. This rupture zone will have a lower resistance to opening than the mechanical resistance of the reference object 7, so that during disassembly or destruction of the assembly, the rupture zone deforms, causing a modification of the characteristics of the control loop 2.

The rupture zone 12 can be characterized by a section open opposing little or no resistance to opening, a section of brittle, ductile or elastic material. It can also be represented by a simple support face. It can be influenced by a spring element 30.

A rupture zone 12 can be of a chemical or thermal nature such that when a voltage is applied, an encapsulated chemical solution is released in the region of the rupture zone and generates a chemical reaction which weakens it. ci or by identical method depending on the temperature. Such a method makes it possible to produce a rupture zone comprising a certain reaction time to rupture.

A rupture zone 12 forming an integral part of the apparatus 9 will reduce the connecting element 8 to a single layer of adhesive having no rupture zone.

The elements 7, 8 and 9 can consist of several constituent parts, one of which is considered as an element of the mechanical assembly. In the case of a car, the reference object 7 can represent for example the engine, the windshield or the odometer.

In fig. 2a the connecting element 8a is both a fixing element which by adhesion ensures the maintenance of the device 9a on the reference object 7a. 12a represents approximately the location of the rupture zone.

In fig. 2b the device 9b is fixed independently by mechanical fixing elements 10. The connecting element 8b is held by adhesion on at least the common face with the reference object 7b. 12b represents approximately the location of the rupture zone.

In fig. 2c a spring 11 causes the connecting element 8c to press on the reference object 7c. The ruptu¬ re zone 12c is located between the connecting element 8c and the device 9c.

Fig. 3 shows an applied connecting element 8d fixed on a reference object 7d. This connecting element can for example pie maintain a 9d device on the reference object. It can also be used as an identification device.

The possibilities of manipulation or reconstitution of the fixing device are made difficult or even impossible by the design of the mechanical assembly and of the electrical circuit. The task of the identification circuit 5 is to hinder a simple short-circuiting of a control loop, for example before mounting, the presence of the identification circuit 5 being periodically controlled by the control circuit 1, the detection circuit to hinder the reconstitution of a control loop 2 or of the connecting element 8 after disassembly, the spring 30 to hinder the manipulation of the adhesion force of the connecting element 8 before the mounting.

For greater security of the fixing device against reconstitution of the electrical circuit, it will be advantageous to place the detection circuit 3 and the identification circuit 5 on the same chip and preferably on the connecting element 8 which will become the part. mistress ensuring the security of the computer system. After opening the fixing device, it will suffice for example to change the connecting element 8 and to proceed to a new positioning of the fixing device. In another case, the use of the same connecting element 8 with a new identification code will allow the control circuit 1 to record the change in the identification code.

FIG. 4 represents an electronic circuit allowing the exchange of information through an inductive loop 20 making it possible to process the transmission of data and the supply of energy to the system. Such circuits are known and used in the field of inductive electronic cards.

The control loop 19 (2 fig. 1) comprises the breaking element 13 (4 fig. 1) and the detection circuit 14 (3 fig. 1) which manage the control loop 19 according to the state of the rupture zone.

A rectifier element 22 makes it possible to remove the energy from the signal. A signal decoder 15 will transmit the values of tact or clock 16 and data 17 to a control circuit 21 which will have access to a memory area 18 which will preferably include a digital identification code and / or a non-volatile memory. The control circuit 21 will act via the connection 23 on the inductive coil 20 to transmit data, for example by grounding the line.

FIG. 5 represents the mechanical design of an integrated connecting element, which can be used as a connecting element 8, composed of two flexible parts 32 and 30 assembled together, having on their external parts two adhesive fixing faces 27 and 28 covered with protective paper 25 and 26. The two components form a rupture zone 35, for example of the open type, comprising one or more rupture elements 31 (2 fig.l), one or more pre spring elements ¬ constraints 30, a coil 29 for the transmission of energy and data and one or more chips 24 or other supports comprising the or part of the elements of the electronic circuit.

The transmission of energy and / or data can also be carried out by optical, mechanical or other means, which will be necessary in place of the coil 28, of other elements such as a diode, contact or the like.

The spring element 30 may be a metal spring or an elastic deformation element made of any material, preferably having good resistance to compaction over time and under temperature container.

The outer faces 27 and 28 of the connecting element can be locally curved or deformed so that when the connecting element 8 is assembled on the device 9 and the reference object 7 the spring 30 is tablet bringing the rupture element 31 into contact and closing the control loop 2 which will remain closed if the force opposing the opening of the spring is weaker than the adhesion force of the connecting element 8 on the sides 26 and 28.

By extensive integration of the electrical circuit on chip 24 it will be possible to make the connecting element 8 autonomous, for example having its own validation and / or recording system for the history of the element.

The assembly of a device 9 on its reference object becomes simple to execute for mass production and very difficult to handle.

Variant embodiments make it possible to imagine that the external dimensional deformation is well delimited at a certain location on the face of the binding. An eccentric positioning relative to the center of gravity of this surface provides a leverage effect which makes it possible to better balance the force of the spring element with respect to the adhesion force. The spring can also be external to the connecting element.

The energy can be supplied by battery which could be integrated into the element itself. The input of data could also be done by optical means or simply by contact.

Claims

claims

1. A method of fixing, identifying and / or checking the validity of the assembly of an identification element, of an access protection device towards a reference object or towards an element of identification or towards a protected volume, or of an apparatus (9) on a reference object (7) characterized in that following the closing of at least one control loop (2) and, preferably after a period of time elapsed since closing, during or a time after opening or a loss of voltage of the control loop (s) (2), the characteristics of at least one control loop are modified.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the identification code of the identification circuit 3 is periodically controlled to check the state and / or the change of state of the control loop 2.

3. A method according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the change of state of the control loop 2 is recorded as a function of time in a preferably non-volatile memory.

4. A fixing or sealing device capable of checking the validity of the assembly of an identification element, of an access protection device towards a reference object or towards an identification element or towards a volume protected, or of an apparatus (9) on a reference object (7) and capable of detecting by electronic method and preferably recording with indication of time in a preferably non-volatile memory a change of state of the assembly characterized in that it comprises at least one control loop (2), comprising a detection circuit (3) and preferably an identification circuit (5), and a mechanical assembly, comprising preferably a rupture zone (12) and preferably a connecting element (8).

5. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the control loop (2) crosses at a point, preferably by means of a breaking element (4), a breaking zone (12) preferably determined by l 'connecting element (8).

6. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one detection circuit 3 and at least one identification circuit 5 are integrated on the same chip and / or the same support making it difficult to reconstruct at least one of the loops. control (2).

7. A device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting element comprises at least one detection circuit (3) and / or an identification circuit (5), preferably a rupture zone (12), and at least part of a rupture element (4).

8. A device according to the preceding claims caractéri¬ se in that a connecting element comprises a current supply element.

9. A device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that they comprise a spring element acting by pre-stress at the opening of the rupture zone (12,35), which will preferably be integrated into a connecting element .