US4783801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for protecting secret information
Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fuer Automation und Organisation mbH
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Filing: 1984-12-05
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Granted: 1988-11-08
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Expires: 2004-12-05
Abstract
Abstract In order to protect secret information in the electronic storage medium, the storage medium is provided in a housing protected against access. This housing contains one or more detector elements, via which erasure of the memory contents is initiated when unauthorized access is detected. The detector elements are connected with a clock unit which sets these elements into operation for short periods of time at certain time intervals. This clocked operation allows for the energy consumption of the overall arrangement to be reduced many times over without any essential restriction of security.
Inventors
- 👤 Wittich Kaule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:35
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3275; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/86; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G07F7/0806; G07F7/0813; G07F7/082; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2143; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for protecting information from unauthorized access, comprising a housing in which a storage medium containing the information is provided, detector means for detecting unauthorized access to the interior of the housing, means for initiating erasure of the secret information when the detector means reacts, a battery inside said housing for supplying energy at least to the detector means, clock means connected to said detector means which is arranged to enable operation of the detector means only over interrupted predetermined time intervals and wherein randomizer means are provided for varying the predetermined time intervals in accordance with randomized statistical distribution principles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for protecting information from unauthorized access, comprising a housing in which a storage medium containing the information is provided, detector means for detecting unauthorized access to the interior of the housing, means for initiating erasure of the secret information when the detector means reacts, a battery inside said housing for supplying energy at least to the detector means, clock means connected to said detector means which is arranged to enable operation of the detector means only over interrupted predetermined time intervals and wherein randomizer means are provided for varying the predetermined time intervals in accordance with randomized statistical distribution principles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said detector means comprises several detector elements, only one of which at a time is enabled at predetermined time intervals by the clock means, and including a switch means for enabling the normally non-enabled detector elements when irregular marginal conditions are present indicating an unauthorized attempt to gain access.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, including means for analyzing the signals evoking response of the detector means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said detector means includes several detector elements and, including a switching element for combining the signals of several detector elements with each other, and means responsive to said signals for determining whether erasure of the memory is necessary.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said means responsive to the signals is arranged to initiate erasure only according to the condition of a majority of detector elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the switching element is arranged to assess the detector elements according to a different weighting and to determine the erasure decision based on such weighting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said secret information is maintained in said storage medium by the energy supplied by said battery.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for protecting information from unauthorized access comprising a housing in which a storage medium containing the information is provided, detector means for detecting unauthorized access to the interior of the housing, means for initiating erasure of the secret information when the detector means reacts, and a battery inside said housing for supplying energy at least to the detector means, clock means connected to said detector means which is arranged to enable operation of the detector means only over interrupted predetermined time intervals, wherein said detector means comprises several detector elements, a distributor means, the latter including means for enabling said detector elements at said predetermined time intervals alternatingly, a randomizer means, and wherein said distributor means is arranged to cooperate with the randomizer means to enable selection of the detector element to be enabled.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for protecting information from unauthorized access comprising a housing in which a storage medium containing the information is provided, detector means for detecting unauthorized access to the interior of the housing, means for initiating erasure of the secret information when the detector means reacts, and a battery inside said housing for supplying energy at least to the detector means, clock means connected to said detector means which is arranged to enable operation of the detector means only over interrupted predetermined time intervals, wherein said detector means comprises several detector elements, a distributor means, the latter including means for enabling said detector elements at said predetermined time intervals alternatingly, a randomizer means, and wherein said distributor means is arranged to cooperate with the randomizer means to enable selection of the detector element to be enabled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as in claim 8, including switch means arranged to enable further detector elements when the detector element in operation at the moment reacts to unauthorized access to the interior of the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as in claim 8, including means for analyzing the signals evoking response of the detector means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said detector means includes a switching element for combining the signals of several detector elements with each other, and means responsive to said signals for determining whether erasure of the memory is necessary.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said means responsive to the signals is arranged to initiate erasure only according to the condition of a majority of detector elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the switching element is arranged to assess the detector elements according to a different weighting and to determine the erasure decision based on such weighting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said information is maintained in said storage medium by the energy supplied by said battery.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-08 | 1992-05-09 | 1992-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-08 | 1996-05-09 | 1996-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-08 | 2000-05-09 | 2000-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |