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Title: Non-contact tamper sensing by electronic means

Abstract

A tamper-sensing system for an electronic tag 10 which is to be fixed to a surface 11 of an article 12, the tamper-sensing system comprising a capacitor having two non-contacting, capacitively-coupled elements 16, 19. Fixing of the body to the article will establish a precise location of the capacitor elements 16 and 19 relative to each other. When interrogated, the tag will generate a tamper-sensing signal having a value which is a function of the amount of capacity of the capacitor elements. The precise relative location of the capacitor elements cannot be duplicated if the tag is removed and affixed to a surrogate article having a fiducial capacitor element 19 fixed thereto. A very small displacement, in the order of 2-10 microns, of the capacitor elements relative to each other if the tag body is removed and fixed to a surrogate article will result in the tamper-sensing signal having a different, and detectable, value when the tag is interrogated.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Pleasanton, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
868891
Patent Number(s):
5237307
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G08 - SIGNALLING G08B - SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
non-contact; tamper; sensing; electronic; means; tamper-sensing; tag; 10; fixed; surface; 11; article; 12; comprising; capacitor; non-contacting; capacitively-coupled; elements; 16; 19; fixing; establish; precise; location; relative; interrogated; generate; signal; value; function; amount; capacity; duplicated; removed; affixed; surrogate; fiducial; element; thereto; displacement; 2-10; microns; result; detectable; electronic means; relative location; fixed thereto; /340/324/

Citation Formats

Gritton, Dale G. Non-contact tamper sensing by electronic means. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Gritton, Dale G. Non-contact tamper sensing by electronic means. United States.
Gritton, Dale G. Fri . "Non-contact tamper sensing by electronic means". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868891.
@article{osti_868891,
title = {Non-contact tamper sensing by electronic means},
author = {Gritton, Dale G},
abstractNote = {A tamper-sensing system for an electronic tag 10 which is to be fixed to a surface 11 of an article 12, the tamper-sensing system comprising a capacitor having two non-contacting, capacitively-coupled elements 16, 19. Fixing of the body to the article will establish a precise location of the capacitor elements 16 and 19 relative to each other. When interrogated, the tag will generate a tamper-sensing signal having a value which is a function of the amount of capacity of the capacitor elements. The precise relative location of the capacitor elements cannot be duplicated if the tag is removed and affixed to a surrogate article having a fiducial capacitor element 19 fixed thereto. A very small displacement, in the order of 2-10 microns, of the capacitor elements relative to each other if the tag body is removed and fixed to a surrogate article will result in the tamper-sensing signal having a different, and detectable, value when the tag is interrogated.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1993},
month = {1}
}