To address customers’ security concerns, a leading computer manufacturer needed to develop a security feature for their product that would help guard against corporate espionage and theft of expensive hardware. Also important was the need to find a cost effective solution that would not dramatically affect the manufacturer’s bottom line.
After considering several options, it was determined that a two-position latching solenoid offered the best solution for the application. Their customer required a locking feature that would secure the hardware in place and would only allow removal by an authorized administrator. The two-position latching solenoid was located in an inaccessible location and could only be actuated electrically by an administrator with the proper access codes. The control electronics applied a short pulse of power that locked or unlocked the hardware as required.
Whether protecting valuable equipment or dispensing medication, designing secure and tamper proof features for products and equipment is one of the leading challenges for manufacturers today. Bi-directional latching solenoids provide a low cost solution for business equipment or consumer product applications requiring a lock, a latch or a tamper proof security device. Its compact design and low power consumption make it well suited for battery operated systems when needed. Strokes, force, voltage and package size are flexible depending on application requirements.