The Boeing Company
Tamper-sensitive resonator and sensor for detecting compartment openings

Abstract:

According to various embodiments, a system for, and method of, detecting the opening of a lid of a compartment constructed of a rigid material. The system includes a resonator disposed on a wall of the compartment, where the resonator has a resonant frequency of mechanical vibration. The system also includes a member disposed on the lid of the compartment and positioned to perturb the resonator upon opening the lid, such that opening the lid causes the resonator to mechanically vibrate at the resonant frequency. The system also includes an electronic sensor disposed on the compartment to detect vibrations at the resonant frequency. The system also includes an interface communicatively coupled to the electronic sensor and configured to provide a signal indicating lid opening data representing at least one opening of the lid.