WO2003069536A2

WO2003069536A2 - Id component anti-tampering system

Info

Publication number: WO2003069536A2
Application number: PCT/IL2003/000119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isaac Dayan; David Kelrich; Yossi Agiv
Original assignee: Orpak Industries (1983) Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-02-17
Filing date: 2003-02-16
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Also published as: WO2003069536A3; IL148203A0; AU2003206117A8; AU2003206117A1

Abstract

An anti-tampering system for an ID component, the system consisting of an ID component housing (16), for attaching to a surface (24), a structurally weak region (15) in the housing, an ID component circuit (14) including the ID component, at least a portion of the circuit being disposed substantially within the structurally weak region, such that a force applied to remove the housing from the surface deactivates the ID component circuit.

Description

ID COMPONENT ANTI-TAMPERING SYSTEM

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for, and method of, preventing tampering with, and theft and falsification of, information stored in the memory of an identification (ID) component, and more particularly, to a system for, and method of, deactivating the ID component, connected to a fuel tank system of a vehicle, when an attempt is made to remove or tamper with the ID component.

Systems for transferring information between a vehicle and other facilities currently exist, for billing or crediting when fueling in filling stations and in parking lots, or for permitting ingress and egress of a vehicle to sites that require authorization, such as private parking. One such system includes a controller, ID component, and antenna disposed in a vehicle. The system communicates information to the fuel pump about the identification of the vehicle, and/or about the billing or crediting after finishing to fuel at a filling station. The system consists of ID component mounted in an ID component housing connected by wires to a controller electrically electrodes 14a and 14b associated with an antenna that fits next to a vehicle fuel tank outlet. The controller is sometimes connected to several sensors in the vehicle for gaining information and/or control. The ID component contains secured information, such as billing or crediting and/or identification information, and to the fuel consumption of the vehicle. Occasionally, ID component is associated with the antenna without any controller.

Another similar ID component system includes an ID component connected to various parts of the vehicle (bumper, side window etc.) capable of communicating with a barrier or a gate of an authorization requiring site (e.g., a parking area), such that upon transferring identification and/or other requisite information, the entrance to or exit from the site is enabled.

Tampering with such identification and billing or crediting information in the ID component typically results in significant financial loss to the owner of the vehicle or the fuel company, and/or enables unauthorized entrance to private places and sites securely limited to the public. It must be emphasized that fraud of this kind is rarely detected immediately. Moreover, for trucks having extremely large fuel tanks, even a one-time fraudulent usage of the ID component represents a heavy loss for the owner of the vehicle or the fuel company. In some cases, the fraudulent usage of the ID component also presents commercial, security, or other risks. Therefore, there is a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a system for, and a method of, robustly securing a system having an ID component so as to prevent the extensive damages associated with the tampering with the ID component system and/or theft of the ID component contained therein, and preventing the falsification of identification and/or billing or crediting information stored in the memory of an ID component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided an Identification Circuit (ID) component anti-tampering system including: (a) an ID component housing, for attaching to a surface; (b) a structurally weak region in the housing; and (c) an ID component circuit, including the ID component, at least a portion of which is disposed within or near the structurally weak region, such that a force applied to the housing deactivates the ID component circuit.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an ID component anti-tampering system including: (a) an ID component housing substantially having a shape of an upper half of an ellipsoid; (b) an ID component circuit installed in the ID component housing; and (c) at least one uni-directional screw for attaching the ID component housing to a surface.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing an ID component circuit, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an ID component system including: (i) an ID component housing having a structurally weak region; and (ii) an ID component circuit operatively connected to the ID component housing; and (b) securing the ID housing to the surface, such that a force applied to remove the ID component housing from the surface deactivates the ID component circuit.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing unauthorized use of an ID component circuit, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an ID component housing having a structurally weak region; (b) disposing an ID component circuit within the ID component housing, and (c) securing the housing to a surface, such that a force applied to the ID component housing acts upon the structurally weak region to deactivate the ID component circuit.

According to one feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the structurally weak region includes an inverted V-cut, disposed in bottom of the housing, thereby dividing the bottom into a first underlying area and a second underlying area.

According to another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the housing forms two separate layers separated by the structurally weak region, and the structurally weak region includes a hollow space.

According to yet another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, at least a portion of the ID component is situated within the structurally weak region.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, glue for securing of the ID component housing to a surface is disposed on the bottom of the ID component housing. According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the system further includes an adhesive sticker having glue disposed on both sides is disposed on a bottom of the ID component housing, for securing the ID component housing to the surface.

According to still another feature of the present invention the glue applied to the bottom of the housing includes a fast drying glue, and the system further includes a slow drying glue disposed around the bottom of the housing.

According to still another feature of the invention the system further including a screw for further securing the ID component housing to the surface.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the screw is a uni-directional screw.

According to still another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the system further includes glue applied to the head of the uni-directional screw.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the head of the uni-directional screw is recessed within the housing. According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the system further includes a second V-cut disposed in a top surface of the ID component housing, the second V-cut being situated substantially above the inverted V-cut in the structurally weak region.

According to still another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the ID component circuit includes an antenna disposed within the ID component housing.

According to yet another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the antenna is disposed within the structurally weak region.

According to still another feature of the present invention the structurally weak region includes a thin layer having a thickness of less than 2.5 mm.

According to yet another feature described in the preferred embodiments the structurally weak region includes a thin layer having a thickness of less than 250 microns.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments the ID component housing consists of a thin layer having a thickness of less than 1 mm.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments the system further including an adhesive sticker having glue disposed on both sides, the sticker disposed on a bottom of the ID component housing for securing the ID component housing to the surface.

According to yet another feature of the present invention the thin layer is an adhesive sticker.

According to still another feature of the present invention the system further including perforations in the adhesive sticker. According to still another feature of the present invention the system further including a covering for protecting said ID component circuit. According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments the covering includes a layer of glue.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the securing includes adhering the ID component housing to the surface. According to yet another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the ID component housing includes a sticker for said securing of said housing.

According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the securing includes screwing a screw through said ID component housing and into the surface. According to still another feature described in the preferred embodiments, the method further includes the step of: (c) applying a slow-drying glue around the first underlying area and the second underlying area of the ID component housing, such that the slow-drying glue bonds the areas to the surface (e.g., of the vehicle).

According to still another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the structurally weak region substantially covers all of said ID component housing.

According to yet another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the ID component housing is made of a plastic material.

'I

According to still another feature of the present invention the plastic material is selected from a group including acrylic, polyester and kepton.

According to still another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the method further includes screwing a uni-directional screw through the ID component housing and into the surface.

According to still another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the method further includes applying glue to the head of the uni-directional screw.

According to still another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the method further includes applying a covering to the ID component circuit, for protection of the circuit. According to yet another feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the method further includes recessing a head of the screw within the housing.

According to still another feature of the present invention, the system further includes perforations in the ID component circuit.

According to a final feature of the present invention described in the preferred embodiments, the system further includes perforations in rhe adhesive sticker and the ID component circuit.

The present invention is simple, reliable, easy to install and inexpensive. It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, variations and combinations of the described features will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a system for, and a method of, robustly securing a system having an ID component, thereby preventing tampering with the system and/or theft of the ID component contained therein, and preventing the falsification of identification and billing or crediting information stored in the memory of an ID component.

The ID component anti-tampering system may be applied more generally to any device containing an ID component, including electrical, electro-mechanical, or other systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the drawings:

FIGURE la is a diagram of a system featuring an ID component housing of the present invention, for disposing next to the fuel outlet of a vehicle;

FIGURE lb is a top sectional view of a system in which the antenna is disposed within the housing;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an ID component housing system of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ID component housing system of FIGURE 2. FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ID component housing system of another preferred embodiment in which the structurally weak region includes a hollow space;

FIGURE 5a is a top view of a preferred embodiment in which the ID circuit is mounted on a sticker, and FIGURE 5b is a schematic, side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE

5a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is an Identification (ID) component anti-tampering system and method. Specifically, the present invention can be used to prevent tampering with, or theft and falsification of, a vehicle identification (or billing or crediting information) stored in the memory of an ID component attached to a system of a vehicle. Generally, the ID component anti-tampering system and method may apply to various electrical, electro-mechanical, and other types of systems.

The principles and operation of an ID component anti-tampering method and system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "structurally weak region", in relation to a component housing, refers to any of various designs and configurations of the ID component housing that provide a structurally weak region, relative to the rest of the housing. Preferably, the structurally weak region includes a cut in an ID component housing designed to create a narrower region. More preferably, the cut is V-shaped, U-shaped and the like. In another preferred embodiment, the structurally weak region includes a thin ID component housing. The housing, or platform, may simply consist of a sticker, to which the ID component circuit is attached.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "break", "deactivation", and the like with reference to or in conjunction with

"ID component" and the like refers to the disjunction of any portion of the ID component circuit, or to any other way of rendering the ID component circuit inoperative.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "screw" refers to a screw, bolt, pin, metal plug, rivet, security fasteners or similar connection elements familiar to those skilled in the art. As used herein in the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "hollow" in connection to the weak area, refers to an empty space between two layers of the ID component housing, or to a space, filled with soft or breakable materials, installed between two layers of the housing.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE la shows a ID component system including an antenna 10, designed to fit next to a fuel tank outlet of a vehicle (not shown), electrically connected by wires 12 to an ID component circuit 14. ID component circuit 14 is installed in an ID component housing 16, which protects

ID component circuit 14 from moisture and mechanical damage. ID component housing 16 is mounted onto vehicle surface 24. FIGURE lb shows a top sectional view of a ID component system for mounting in various parts of a vehicle. The system communicates with barrier or gate systems and the like, and enables the opening thereof after the appropriate identification information is transferred. The system consists of a small coil antenna 5, or another small antenna, operatively connected to ID component circuit 14, both of which are disposed within ID component housing 16. ID component circuit 14 contains an ID component 17 (and/or optionally, other electric or electronic components, not shown in the drawings) which is designed and configured to contain identification information, and according to the specific system, billing or crediting information, fuel consumption etc., and to communicate with other systems. FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an ID component housing of the present invention, and FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ID component housing system of FIGURE 2. ID component housing 16 is mounted onto vehicle surface 24. The shape of ID component housing 16 resembles an upper half of an ellipsoid, the bottom 25 of which is mounted onto vehicle surface 24. The bottom 25 of ID component housing 16 has an inverted V-cut opening 18a passing through side S of the housing, with the wide end of V-cut opening 18a touching the vehicle surface 24. V-cut opening 18a is preferably disposed towards the middle of the long side L of ID component housing 16.

Preferably, at least a portion of ID component circuit 14 (not shown) is positioned within ID component housing 16 in a structurally weak region 15. More preferably, and as shown in FIGURE 3, the long dimensions of ID component 17 are positioned in a substantially perpendicular fashion to the height H of V-cut opening 18a. ID component 17 is disposed above inverted V-cut opening 18a. Optionally and preferably, ID component housing 16 has a second V-cut opening 18b passing through a short side S of the housing, and disposed substantially above V-cut opening 18a and above ID component 14, such that second V-cut opening 18b forms an integral part of the top surface of ID component housing 16.

V-cut opening 18a effectively separates the bottom 25 of ID component housing 16 into two separate underlying areas, 20a and 20b. A glue 21 is applied between underlying areas 20a and 20b of the ID component housing 16 and vehicle surface 24, and/or around the housing 16, to secure ID component housing 16 to the vehicle surface 24. Preferably, glue 21 is a fast-drying glue and more preferably, an instant glue, such as a cyanoacrylate adhesive. A different way to secure the housing 16 to the surface is to use a sticker having glue on both sides.

Subsequently, a slow drying glue 22 is applied around underlying areas 20a and 20b of the ID component housing 16, i.e., around bottom 25, such that ID component housing 16 is securely and permanently bonded to vehicle surface 24.

As a result of the above-described design and configuration, the removal of ID component housing 16 requires the application of extensive force. A force of this magnitude will break ID component housing 16 in structurally weak region 15, in which ID component circuit 14 is disposed. As described above, ID component circuit 14 is further positioned such that a break occurring in structurally weak region 15 of ID component housing 16 invariably results in the breaking and/or deactivation of ID component 17, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the ID component system. The above-described system serves as a powerful deterrent to those wishing to remove ID component circuit 14 for various illicit purposes.

In a preferred embodiment, shown in FIGURE 3, a screw 26 is inserted through a screw hole 28 in ID component housing 16 and bored through vehicle surface 24 to further secure ID component housing 16 to surface 24. Screw 26 is preferably a uni-directional screw, which, unlike screws having regular heads, is not removable with a screwdriver or other conventional means. Uni-directional screws of various types are commercially available and are known to those skilled in the art.

Preferably, glue 30 is placed on the head 42 of screw 26, in order to further secure screw 26 in place, such that tampering and removal of ID component housing 16 are further discouraged.

The smooth upper surface of ID component housing 16 is designed to prevent ID component housing 16 (containing ID component circuit 14) from being removed from vehicle surface 24 by a pliers or other gripping devices. More preferably, ID component housing 16 has a smooth rounded upper surface, and most preferably, a smooth upper surface substantially having the shape of the upper half of an ellipsoid.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment in which structurally weak region 15 is bounded by a housing cover 16a and a housing platform 16b. Within weak region 15, which is preferably hollow, is disposed ID component circuit 14, or at least a portion thereof. In FIGURE 4, ID component circuit 14, which includes ID component 17, is installed between and bonded to housing cover 16a and housing platform 16b, such that ID component circuit 14 is the weak link. Thus, in breaking off housing 16, from surface 24, ID component circuit 14 is broken and deactivated. FIGURE 5 a is a top view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. ID component circuit 14 includes ID component 17 and wires 32a and 32b, which connect ID component 17 to connector 30. Connector 30, in turn, connects ID component anti-tampering system 100 to antenna 10 by means of wire 12, as shown in FIGURE la. ID component circuit 14 is connected to an adhesive sticker 34, such as an acrylic sticker, for adhering to surface 24. ID component circuit 14 is covered by a thin housing cover 16c (shown in FIGURE 5b), which protects ID component circuit 14 from the elements, e.g., moisture, dust, and mechanical damage.

Sticker 34 is preferably covered on the bottom by a liner, which is peeled off before adhering to vehicle surface 24. The thickness of ID component 17 is between 100 microns and 5 mm, typically 2.5 mm. The thickness of adhesive sticker 34 is between 25 and 500 microns, typically 250 microns. The entire system is structurally weak, such that any attempt to separate sticker 34 from vehicle surface 24 will deactivate ID component circuit 14. In yet another preferred embodiment, adhesive sticker 34 and ID component circuit 14 are further weakened by perforations or notches 40.

FIGURE 5b is a schematic, side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5a. ID component 17 is mounted directly onto adhesive sticker 34. In this side view, ID component 17 and wire 32b are covered by cover 16c, which includes or consists of a layer of a coating material that protects the components of ID component circuit 14 from moisture, dust, mechanical damage, short-circuiting, etc. Housing cover 16c and sticker 34 are preferably made of a plastic material, such as acrylic or epoxy.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, variations and combinations of the described features will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, variations and combinations of the described features that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An anti-tampering system for an identification (ID) component, the system comprising: (a) an ID component housing, for attaching to a surface;

(b) a structurally weak region in said housing, and

(c) an ID component circuit including the ID component, at least a portion of said circuit being disposed substantially within said structurally weak region, such that a force applied to remove said housing from said surface deactivates said ID component circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said structurally weak region includes an inverted V-cut, disposed in a bottom of said housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said ID component is situated within said structurally weak region.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) glue for securing said ID component housing to a surface, said glue disposed on a bottom of said ID component housing.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) an adhesive sticker having glue disposed on both sides, said sticker disposed on a bottom of said ID component housing, for securing said ID component housing to said surface.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said glue applied to said bottom of said housing includes a fast drying glue, and wherein the system further comprises:

(e) a slow drying glue disposed around said bottom of said ID component housing.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

(e) a screw for further securing said ID component housing to said surface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said screw is a uni-directional screw.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

(f) glue applied to a head of said uni-directional screw.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said ID component housing substantially has a shape of an upper half of an ellipsoid.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said ID component circuit includes an antenna, and wherein said antenna is disposed within said ID component housing.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said antenna is disposed within said structurally weak region.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing forms two separate layers separated by said structurally weak region, and wherein said structurally weak region includes a hollow space.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said structurally weak region includes a thin layer having a thickness of less than 2.5 mm.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said structurally weak region includes a thin layer having a thickness of less than 250 microns.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said ID component housing consists of a thin layer having a thickness of less than 1 mm.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

(d) an adhesive sticker having glue disposed on both sides, said sticker disposed on a bottom of said ID component housing for securing said ID component housing to said surface.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said thin layer is an adhesive sticker.

19. The system of claim 18, further including perforations in said adhesive sticker.

20. The system of claim 14, further including a covering for protecting said ID component circuit.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said covering includes a layer of a coating material.

22. An anti-tampering system for an identification (ID) component, the system comprising:

(a) an ID component housing, said housing substantially having a shape of an upper half of an ellipsoid;

(b) an ID component circuit installed in said ID component housing; and

(c) at least one uni-directional screw for attaching said ID component housing to a surface.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a head of said uni-directional screw is recessed within said housing.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

(d) a structurally weak region in said ID component housing, and wherein at least a portion of said ID component circuit is disposed within said structurally weak region.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said structurally weak region includes an inverted V-cut, disposed in a bottom of said housing, thereby dividing said bottom into a first underlying area and a second underlying area.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

(d) glue for further securing said ID component housing to said surface, said glue applied to said first underlying area and said second underlying area.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

(d) a second V-cut disposed in a top surface of said ID component housing, said second V-cut being situated substantially above said inverted V-cut in said structurally weak region.

28. An anti-tampering method of securing an identification (ID) component circuit to a surface, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an ID component system including:

(i) an ID component housing having a structurally weak region; and

(ii) an ID component circuit operatively connected to said ID component housing, and

(b) securing said ID component housing to the surface, such that a force applied to remove said ID component housing from the surface deactivates said ID component circuit.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said securing includes adhering said ID component housing to the surface.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said ID component housing includes a sticker for said securing of said housing.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said securing includes screwing a screw through said ID component housing and into the surface.

32. A method of preventing unauthorized use of an identification (ID) component, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an ID component housing having a structurally weak region;

(b) disposing an ID component circuit within said ID component housing, and (c) securing said housing to a surface, such that a force applied to remove said ID component housing from said surface deactivates said ID component circuit.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said securing is performed by applying glue to a bottom of said ID component housing to secure said housing to the surface.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said securing is performed by screwing a uni-directional screw through said ID component housing and into the surface.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said ID component housing is substantially a thin layer.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said structurally weak region substantially covers all of said ID component housing.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said ID component housing is made of a plastic material.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said plastic material is selected from a group including acrylic, polyester and kepton.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein said securing is performed by an adhesive sticker having glue disposed on both sides, said sticker disposed on a bottom of said ID component housing for securing said ID component housing to a surface.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein said thin layer has a thickness of less than 3 mm.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein said thin layer has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein said structurally weak region includes perforations disposed in said layer so as to further weaken said structurally weak region.

43. The method of claim 32, the method further comprising the step of:

(d) applying a covering to said ID component circuit, for protection of said circuit.

44. The system of claim 18, further including perforations in said ID component circuit.

45. The system of claim 18, further including perforations in said adhesive sticker and said ID component circuit.