Integrated Circuit Device with Tamper Detection Input and having Real Time Clock Calendar Logging Thereof

摘要

If an enclosure of a metering device is opened or vandalized, application software must determine when the metering history information became unreliable, and further notification to the utility may be desirable. Likewise, a shipping container or suitcase that has been opened or mishandled during shipping transient may be attributed to a particular location and/or handling person(s) when the time and date of the mishandling occurrence are known. A transition on a special device input from a tamper or mishandling sensor captures real-time clock/calendar (RTCC) information that provides to a software application the time and date of the detected tampering or mishandling event. This transition may also cause memory storage of the RTCC information related to the event. Thus, an integrated circuit device, for example a microcontroller or any other integrated circuit device may comprise such an RTCC and external input, and, optionally, memory storage of the RTCC event occurrence.

主权项

1. An integrated circuit device, comprising:
a real time clock and calendar (RTCC) circuit configured to be coupled with an external power source; a time stamp capture register coupled with the RTCC; and an external input coupled with the time stamp capture register for receiving an event signal that initiates capture of time and date information provided by the RTCC into the time stamp capture register.