GB2313707A - Improvements relating to security devices - Google Patents

Improvements relating to security devices Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2313707A
GB2313707A GB9710963A GB9710963A GB2313707A GB 2313707 A GB2313707 A GB 2313707A GB 9710963 A GB9710963 A GB 9710963A GB 9710963 A GB9710963 A GB 9710963A GB 2313707 A GB2313707 A GB 2313707A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
memory
board
cover
chips
memory board
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9710963A
Other versions
GB9710963D0 (en
Inventor
Richard Burnett
Stevens Paul
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MEMORY PLUS Ltd
Original Assignee
MEMORY PLUS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9611466.5A external-priority patent/GB9611466D0/en
Application filed by MEMORY PLUS Ltd filed Critical MEMORY PLUS Ltd
Priority to GB9710963A priority Critical patent/GB2313707A/en
Publication of GB9710963D0 publication Critical patent/GB9710963D0/en
Publication of GB2313707A publication Critical patent/GB2313707A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11C—STATIC STORES
    • G11C5/00—Details of stores covered by group G11C11/00
    • G11C5/06—Arrangements for interconnecting storage elements electrically, e.g. by wiring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/70—Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer
    • G06F21/78—Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure storage of data
    • G06F21/79—Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure storage of data in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
    • G06F21/70—Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer
    • G06F21/86—Secure or tamper-resistant housings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11C—STATIC STORES
    • G11C5/00—Details of stores covered by group G11C11/00
    • G11C5/02—Disposition of storage elements, e.g. in the form of a matrix array
    • G11C5/04—Supports for storage elements, e.g. memory modules; Mounting or fixing of storage elements on such supports
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L25/00—Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices
    • H01L25/03—Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices all the devices being of a type provided for in a single subclass of subclasses H10B, H10F, H10H, H10K or H10N, e.g. assemblies of rectifier diodes
    • H01L25/04—Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices all the devices being of a type provided for in a single subclass of subclasses H10B, H10F, H10H, H10K or H10N, e.g. assemblies of rectifier diodes the devices not having separate containers
    • H01L25/065—Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices all the devices being of a type provided for in a single subclass of subclasses H10B, H10F, H10H, H10K or H10N, e.g. assemblies of rectifier diodes the devices not having separate containers the devices being of a type provided for in group H10D89/00
    • H01L25/0655—Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices all the devices being of a type provided for in a single subclass of subclasses H10B, H10F, H10H, H10K or H10N, e.g. assemblies of rectifier diodes the devices not having separate containers the devices being of a type provided for in group H10D89/00 the devices being arranged next to each other
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2924/00—Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2924/0001—Technical content checked by a classifier
    • H01L2924/0002—Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Storage Device Security (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A passive transponder tracking device 4 is glued in place on to a computer memory board 2. Memory chips 3 and the tracking device 4 are then protected by a cover 5 which is glued down on to the top surface of the chips 3. If an attempt is made to remove the cover 5 the chips 3 will be ripped off the board 2 because the chips are fixed to the cover 5 by the layer of glue 7 and the chip leads 8 will be damaged. If the memory board is stolen and subsequently recovered a scanner can be used to read the individual code set into the tracking device 4 and, by means of a register, the ownership of the memory board can be traced.

Description

ImDrovements relating to Security Devices An important part of the central processing unit in a computer i8 the memory. The memory can come in all shapes and forms and is usually attached to a printed circuit board (PCB). The design is often unique to the Integrated Circuit chip being used and the machine that the "memory module" is intended for. A particular example of such a memory board is called a SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module). Such a board is a relatively expensive part of the whole machine.
Consequently thieves often steal the memory boards themselves rather than the whole computer. At present there is no way of detecting whether a memory dule when recovered i8 stolen and who the original owner was.
According to the present invention there is provided a computer memory board security device comprising a memory board carrying one or more integrated circuit memory chips and a tracking device incorporating a preset code which can be read by a scanning device, and integrated into or onto the memory board.
With the tracking device integrated into the memory board, if the memory board is subsequently recovered the preset code can be read by a scanner. The code number can then be checked against a register to determine the rightful owner of the memory board. The fact that the memory board can be traced will act as a deterrent against theft as it will be difficult for thieves to sell them on.
Of course it would be possible for thieves to remove the individual memory chips. This is still attractive although the individual memory chips will have a significantly lower value. It is therefore preferred that a cover should be attached to the memory board so as to enclose the tracking device and the memory chips, but leaving the connector pins of the board exposed, the cover being glued securely to one or more of the memory chips. The cover acts as a visual deterrent but more importantly it can only be removed from the memory board by destroying the interconnection of the parts of the board. For example the legs of a memory chip would tend to be broken off making the chip unusable, because the chips are glued to the cover.
Ideally the glue used is electrically non-conductive glue.
If the glue then touches the leads on a chip no electrical damage will occur. The cover may be formed from a plastics material, preferably electrically non-conductive. So long as the cover does not touch any of the electrical connections of the memory board the cover could nevertheless be formed from metal. Preferably the cover will incorporate ventilation slots.
The tracking device is ideally a passive transponder.
The tracking device may be glued on to the memory board.
The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of a proposed form of protected computer memory board of this invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section through the board shown in Figure 1.
The memory board comprises a base plate 1 on which is mounted a connection board 2 having connector pins 2A and carrying a series of integrated circuit memory chips 3.
Integrated circuitry on the board itself will interconnect the memory chips. At a central position a passive transponder tracking device 4 is glued in place on to the board 2. The chips 3 and the tracking device 4 are then protected by a cover 5 which is glued down on to the top surface of the chips 3. Ventilation slots are provided along at least one edge 6 of the cover 5, although with suitable formation of the cover these could be omitted. If an attempt is made to remove the cover 5 the chips 3 will be ripped off the board 2 because the chips are fixed to the cover 5 by the layer of glue 7. The chip leads 8 will then be damaged to such an extent that the chips are no longer usable.
If the memory board is stolen and subsequently recovered a scanner can be used to read the individual code set into the tracking device 4 and, by means of a register, the ownership of the memory board can be traced.
Consequently such protected memory boards are less likely to be stolen because the police can check on the ownership of the memory boards and thus prove that they are illegally held by the thief. Furthermore the memory boards will prove difficult to sell on because a potential purchaser would not knowingly want to own such a memory board if there was no proof that it was lawfully available for sale.

Claims (8)

1. A computer memory board security device comprising a memory board carrying one or more integrated circuit memory chips and a tracking device incorporating a preset code which can be read by a scanning device, and integrated into or onto the memory board.
2. A security device according to Claim 1, wherein a cover is attached to the memory board so as to enclose the tracking device and the memory chips, but leaving the connector pins of the board exposed, the cover being glued securely to one or more of the memory chips.
3. A security device according to Claim 2, wherein the glue used is electrically non-conductive glue.
4. A security device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the cover incorporates ventilation slots.
5. A security device according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the cover is formed from a plastics material, preferably electrically non-conductive.
6. A security device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the tracking device is a passive transponder.
7. A security device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the tracking device is glued on to the memory board.
8. A security device on a computer memory board substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9710963A 1996-06-01 1997-05-29 Improvements relating to security devices Withdrawn GB2313707A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9710963A GB2313707A (en) 1996-06-01 1997-05-29 Improvements relating to security devices

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9611466.5A GB9611466D0 (en) 1996-06-01 1996-06-01 Improvements relating to security devices
GB9710963A GB2313707A (en) 1996-06-01 1997-05-29 Improvements relating to security devices

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9710963D0 GB9710963D0 (en) 1997-07-23
GB2313707A true GB2313707A (en) 1997-12-03

Family

ID=26309424

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9710963A Withdrawn GB2313707A (en) 1996-06-01 1997-05-29 Improvements relating to security devices

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2313707A (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5272664A (en) * 1993-04-21 1993-12-21 Silicon Graphics, Inc. High memory capacity DRAM SIMM

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5272664A (en) * 1993-04-21 1993-12-21 Silicon Graphics, Inc. High memory capacity DRAM SIMM

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9710963D0 (en) 1997-07-23

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)