METHOD FOR POST-MANUFACTURING DATA TRANSFER TO AND FROM A SEALED DEVICE

• US 20100065646A1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onespan North America Incorporated (OneSpan, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vasco Data Security Incorporated (OneSpan, Inc.), Vasco Data Security International GmbH (OneSpan, Inc.)
• Inventors: Couck, Guy Louis, Hoornaert, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards authentication tokens that are completely embedded in a non-conductive enclosure. The invention is based on the insight that it would be advantageous to separate the electronic data personalization of such tokens from the visual device personalization. The present application concerns an authentication token that allows communication with an external unit after the production of the nonconductive enclosure, in order to transmit or receive device identification data. As this communication need only take place during the manufacturing process, a low-power close-range transmission technique such as inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, or RFID communication suffices for this purpose. Accordingly, the present application discloses a method for manufacturing authentication tokens, and a token manufactured according to said method.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing authentication tokens embedded in a non-conductive moulding, comprising

arranging on one or more substrates

a processing unit,

a memory for storing individualized data,

a battery,

a coupler for synchronizing device identification data with an external control unit, and

a secure user output interface;

subsequent to said arranging, embedding said one or more substrates in a plastic moulding;

subsequent to said embedding, synchronizing said device identification data; and

attaching a visual device identifier to the outside of said moulding.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupler is also adapted to receive power from an external power unit, said method further comprising providing power to said coupler.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said synchronizing comprises transmitting said individualized data from said external control unit to said coupler, and wherein said individualized data comprises electronic personalization data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said synchronizing comprises receiving said individualized data from said coupler in said external control unit, and wherein said individualized data comprises device identification data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupler is inductive.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupler is capacitive.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said memory and said coupler are components of an RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said secure user output interface comprises a display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a component for definitively disabling said coupler is arranged on said one or more substrates, said method further comprising activating said component after said synchronizing.

10. An authentication token embedded in a non-conductive moulding, comprising

a processing unit,

a memory for storing individualized data,

a battery,

a coupler for synchronizing device identification data with an external control unit,

a secure user output interface, and

a visual device identifier secured outside of said moulding.

11. The token of claim 10, wherein said coupler is also adapted to receive power from an external power unit.

12. The token of claim 10, wherein said coupler is connected to said memory for conveying said individualized data from said external control unit to said memory for storage of said individualized data, and wherein said individualized data comprises electronic personalization data.

13. The token of claim 10, wherein said coupler is further adapted to transmit said individualized data from said memory to said external control unit, and wherein said individualized data comprises device identification data.

14. The token of claim 10, wherein said coupler is inductive.

15. The token of claim 10, wherein said coupler is capacitive.

16. The token of claim 13, wherein said memory and said coupler are components of an RFID tag.

17. The token of claim 10, wherein said secure user output interface comprises a display.

18. The token of claim 10, further comprising a component for definitively disabling said coupler.