Abstract: A flexible elongate structure, such as a flexible riser (10) for connecting oil and gas wells to floating production platforms, comprising at least one layer (20) of steel wires near the surface which extend at least partly along the length of the structure, can be monitored by inducing a magnetic field in the steel wires using an electromagnetic coil, and monitoring the magnetic flux density near the surface of the structure so as to detect if any wires have broken. Measurements are made at two different frequencies, the lower frequency giving an output dependent both on stresses and on the number of adjacent wires in the layer (20), and the higher frequency giving an output primarily dependent on the number of these wires. By comparing these two measurements a corrected output parameter (P) may be obtained that is indicative only of stress. A break in a wire can be expected to change the stress in that and adjacent wires.

Abstract: A flexible elongate structure, such as a flexible riser (10) for connecting oil and gas wells to floating production platforms, comprising at least one layer (20) of steel wires near the surface which extend at least partly along the length of the structure, can be monitored by inducing a magnetic field in the steel wires using an electromagnetic coil, and monitoring the magnetic flux density near the surface of the structure so as to detect if any wires have broken. Measurements are made at two different frequencies, the lower frequency giving an output dependent both on stresses and on the number of adjacent wires in the layer (20), and the higher frequency giving an output primarily dependent on the number of these wires. By comparing these two measurements a corrected output parameter (P) may be obtained that is indicative only of stress. A break in a wire can be expected to change the stress in that and adjacent wires.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermally conductive, electrically insulating composites that can be used to help conduct heat away from a heat source such as from microelectronic structures that generate heat during use. In one aspect, the present invention relates to an electronic system comprising a microelectronic device and a thermally conductive, composite in thermal contact with the microelectronic device. The composite is derived from ingredients comprising a macrocyclic oligomer; and a thermally conductive filler.

Abstract: Stand-alone conformal coverings for electronic devices and methods of making and using such coverings.

Abstract: A flexible elongate structure, such as a flexible riser (10), comprising at least one layer (20) of steel wires near the surface which extend at least partly along the length of the structure, can be monitored by inducing a small, alternating magnetic field in the steel wires using an electromagnetic coil, and monitoring the magnetic flux density near the surface of the structure so as to asses the stress and hence detect if any wires have broken. By using an array of stress-measuring electromagnetic probes (24) around the structure some spatial resolution can be provided as to the location of any break in the wires.

Abstract: An anti-tamper system including an interface key having a first surface and a second surface, the interface key adapted to mate with a test connector at the first surface and adapted to mate with an interface port in a chassis at the second surface. One or more electronic circuit boards in the chassis are adapted to be tested via the test connector, the interface key and the interface port, and wherein the interface port includes dummy receptacles that mate with dummy pins in the interface key. The dummy receptacles are adapted to obfuscate a tampering event on protected electronic circuit boards housed in the chassis.

Abstract: An optical anti-tamper system that includes at least one array of light sources located within a chassis and at least one array of photosensitive elements located within the chassis. The array of photosensitive elements are in communication with an alarm. The alarm is operable to transmit a tamper-event warning signal if an increased light level is detected by at least one array of photosensitive elements.

Abstract: A passive optical anti-tamper system including one or more light pipes, one or more light detectors and an alarm. The light pipes each include an input end and an output end and are located within a chassis with the one or more light detectors. The one or more light detectors are optically coupled to the output ends of the one or more light pipes. The alarm is operable to transmit a tamper-event-warning signal if an increased light level is detected by at least one detector.

Abstract: Medical devices having radio-opaque and/or biocompatible coatings incorporated therewith.

Abstract: Stand-alone conformal coverings for electronic devices and methods of making and using such coverings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises debug functionality, a debug interface communicatively coupled to the debug functionality, and a hardware key interface. Communication with the debug functionality over the debug interface is not permitted if an authorized hardware key is not communicatively coupled to the hardware key interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting electronic and other sensitive devices in the event of security breaches such as physical intrusion or access, tampering, and attempts at reverse engineering. One aspect of the present invention provides security systems and methods that utilize an active security measure that can identify a security breach and respond with a protective action. Protective actions may include erasure or randomizing of data or software, activation of an alarm or signal (such as at a remote location), or destruction of any portion of a protected device or circuit or the like.

Abstract: An improved system and method are disclosed for non-destructively determining the thickness and uniformity of an anti-tamper coating on a sensitive electronic part, such as, for example, an integrated circuit, multi-chip module, or other type of electronic device, component or equipment. For example, a system for non-destructively determining the thickness and uniformity of an anti-tamper coating is disclosed, which includes an anti-tamper coating thickness measurement probe with a highly collimated beta radiation source and a Geiger-Müller tube (e.g., “Geiger Counter”) sensitive to beta radiation arranged in close proximity to the beta radiation source. The probe is placed on or in close proximity to the anti-tamper coating on the part, so that the beta radiation electrons penetrate the coating material and are reflected back (back scattered) toward the beta radiation source and the Geiger-Müller tube.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises JTAG functionality that implements at least a portion of a JTAG protocol. The JTAG functionality supports a test data in (TDI) line, a test data out (TDO) line, a test rest (TR) line, a test mode state (TMS) line, and a test clock (TCLK) line. The system further comprises a debug interface to communicatively couple the system to a debug device external to the system. The debug interface comprises a transmit (TX) line, receive (RX) line, and a clock (CLK) line. The system transmits data output by the JTAG functionality on the TDI input on the RX line of the debug interface and receives data from the debug device on the TX line of the debug interface and provides the received data to the JTAG functionality on the TDO line, TR line and the TMS line.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises application-specific functionality, anti-tamper functionality to detect an unauthorized attempt to interact with the application-specific functionality; and a hardware key interface to communicatively couple the system to a hardware key. An attempt to interact with the application-specific functionality is considered unauthorized if an authorized hardware key is not communicatively coupled to the hardware key interface when the attempt occurs.

Abstract: To form an ionomer-based catalytic layer on a porous substrate, a heat source (40) is used to dry an ionomer-containing spray (46) so that it does not substantially liquid flow on the substrate (14). The ionomer spray (46) may contain a catalyst. A spray (46) of mixed material for forming the catalytic layer is entrained by a gas stream and is heated and directed to a substrate surface (12). For hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells, catalytic material is incorporated into the proton-conducting membrane (56) to convert diffusing oxygen and hydrogen to water to reduce potential loss at the electrodes and maintain hydration of the proton-conducting membrane (56).

Abstract: In a railway line, thermally-induced stresses are a factor for both rail breaks and rail buckling. These stresses are in the longitudinal direction. A nondestructive measuring technique enables the residual stress in a rail to be determined, and hence the thermally-induced stress. An electromagnetic probe is used to measure the stresses in the rail web in the vertical direction, and in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The residual stress in the longitudinal direction can be deduced from the measured stress in the vertical direction; hence the thermally-induced stress can be determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermally conductive, electrically insulating composites that can be used to help conduct heat away from a heat source such as from microelectronic structures that generate heat during use. In one aspect, the present invention relates to an electronic system comprising a microelectronic device and a thermally conductive, composite in thermal contact with the microelectronic device. The composite is derived from ingredients comprising a macrocyclic oligomer; and a thermally conductive filler comprising diamond.

Abstract: In a railway line, thermally-induced stresses are a factor for both rail breaks and rail buckling. These stresses are in the longitudinal direction. A nondestructive measuring technique enables the residual stress in a rail to be determined, and hence the thermally-induced stress. An electromagnetic probe is used to measure the stresses in the rail web in the vertical direction, and in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The residual stress in the longitudinal direction can be deduced from the measured stress in the vertical direction; hence the thermally-induced stress can be determined.

Abstract: The onset of rolling contact fatigue in an object may be detected by measuring the residual stresses in the surface of the object, and monitoring changes in their magnitude or their direction. The values of residual stresses in the surface are those averaged over a depth that may be in the range say 0.1 mm to 8.0 mm, for example about 2.5 mm. For ferromagnetic objects such as rails, the method may utilize an electromagnetic probe. Prior to rolling contact fatigue the surface stresses are compressive, and the onset of rolling contact fatigue may be characterized by a marked decrease of the stress in the generally transverse direction.