Tamper resistant assembly for securing valuable material
Inventors
Warden, Laurence • Newman-Lehman, Tei • Gibson, Daniel G.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10017306-B2
Publication Date
2018-07-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides a tamper resistant assembly that that securely contains a valuable material. The assembly has a container for holding the valuable material, an optional carrier that contains the container, one or more cover components that enclose the valuable material in the container, and one or more labels having a plurality of devices that reveal tampering by distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices. The label(s) are positioned so that dislodging a cover component causes a detectable distortion in at least one of the plurality of devices, thereby revealing tampering with the assembly. In one embodiment the label can be affixed partially to a surface of a cover component and partially to a surface of the container or the optional carrier. Also disclosed are methods of detecting tampering and method of manufacturing a temper-resistant assembly. Because the assembly allows a remote validator to validate the assembly prior to providing essential instructions or authorization for conducting procedures on valuable material contained by the assembly, the manufacturer is assured that its procedures are being provided only to authorized persons.
Core Innovation
A tamper resistant assembly securely contains valuable material using a container for holding the valuable material, and optionally a carrier comprising the container. One or more cover components enclose the valuable material in the container, and one or more labels are positioned with respect to the cover components. The labels include a plurality of devices that reveal tampering by distortion, where at least one device is implemented with a frangible layer.
Each label device is configured with detectable features under different lighting conditions. The devices comprise a pattern detectable under visible light or a pattern detectable under infra-red light, and the devices further include a layer detectable under ultra violet light. The label devices are arranged such that dislodging the cover components causes the distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices.
The distortion caused by dislodging the cover components is detectable by a detection system, thereby revealing tampering with the assembly. The documented description further includes verification using an optical detection system and optionally a remote validator that controls authorization and instructions based on the detected distortion.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00023, each defining a tamper resistant assembly with container and cover components plus tamper-revealing label devices whose distortion is detectable by a detection system. Across the independent claims, there are three main inventive feature groups.
Secure containment with container, cover components, and optional carrier
A tamper resistant assembly that securely contains a valuable material comprising a container for holding the valuable material and, optionally, a carrier comprising the container, and one or more cover components that enclose the valuable material in the container.
Tamper-revealing label devices with frangible layer and detectable features
One or more labels, each comprising a plurality of devices comprising a frangible layer, a pattern detectable under visible light or infra-red light, and a layer detectable under ultra violet light, that reveal tampering by distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices.
Label positioned to couple cover dislodging to detectable distortion
The one or more labels positioned so that dislodging one or more of the cover components causes the distortion of at least one of the plurality of devices, the distortion detectable by a detection system and thereby revealing tampering with the assembly.
The independent claims collectively require a tamper resistant assembly in which cover dislodging produces distortion of label devices, where the label devices include frangible and light-detectable structures and the resulting distortion is detectable by a detection system.
Stated Advantages
Reveals tampering with the assembly by detecting distortion of the plurality of label devices.
Distortion is detectable by a detection system.
Optionally supports remote validator control of authorization and instructions based on detection.
Documented Applications
Validation of a DNA-fragment assembly via staged illumination using visible, UV, and IR, including barcode-based identification and detection of post-cut taggant-ink exposure before remote authorization.
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