Card enabled latch for a portable computer

• US 6,564,998 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Co. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Muranami, Masahiko, Oross, Glen A
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US09/491,178
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379,380,382,439,462.01 902/25 705/64,72,35,39,41-44 463/36,37,25,29
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/147 electrically-operated
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/007 the key being a card, e.g. perforated, or the like E05B47/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/008 for simple tool-like keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/023 the bolt moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/30 in the form of a hook hook-like fastenings E05C19/10; locks for sliding wings with pivoting bolts E05B65/0811, E05B65/0835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A portable computer has a base housing attached to a top housing. A latch secures the top housing to the base housing. The portable computer has a card reader coupled to an electro-mechanical actuator which is further coupled to the latch. The card reader is capable of disengaging the latch to allow access to the portable computer.

Claims

1. A method of providing secure access to a portable computer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a barrier to prevent full insertion of a card into a card reader;

partially inserting the card into the card reader;

reading an access code from the card;

verifying that the access code matches an access code entry from a database;

if verified, removing the barrier;

fully inserting the card into the card reader; and

disengaging a latch that prevents a top housing and a base housing of the portable computer from opening.

2. A portable computer, comprising:

a base housing;

a top housing, attached to said base housing;

a latch for securing said top housing to said base housing;

a card reader;

an electro-mechanical actuator coupling said card reader and said latch wherein said card reader is capable of disengaging said latch thereby allowing access to said portable computer;

a barrier that prevents full insertion of a card into said card reader before said card reader verifies that said card is authorized to disengage said latch, and

wherein said barrier is removed when said card reader verifies that said card is authorized.

3. The portable computer of claim 2, further comprising:

computer readable memory in said base housing;

a password subroutine operating in said computer readable memory; and

a communication channel between said card reader and said password subroutine wherein said card reader transfers an access code from a card inserted in said card reader to said password subroutine.

4. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said barrier is formed using a solenoid.

5. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said electro-mechanical actuator includes a database containing a list of authorized cards capable of disengaging said latch.

6. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said electro-mechanical actuator is activated by a card being inserted into said card reader.

7. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said electro-mechanical actuator includes a mechanical linkage between said card reader and said latch wherein the full insertion of a card caused said mechanical linkage to disengage said latch.

8. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said electro-mechanical actuator includes a latch solenoid between said card reader and said latch wherein said card reader activates said latch solenoid to disengage said latch.

9. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said card reader is capable of reading a barcode imprinted on said card.

10. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said card reader is capable of detecting light pulses from said card.

11. The portable computer of claim 2 wherein said card reader is capable of detecting audio pulses from said card.

12. A method of providing secure access to a portable computer, the method comprising the steps of:

partially inserting a card into a card reader;

reading an access code from the card;

fully inserting the card into the card reader;

disengaging a latch that prevents a top housing and a base housing of the portable computer from opening by mechanically moving said latch using a force exerted on the card when the card is fully inserted into said card reader; and

verifying that the access code matches an access code entry from a database before allowing the step of disengaging said latch.

13. The method of claim 12 herein the step of disengaging the latch further comprises the step of mechanically moving said latch with a latch solenoid controlled by said card reader.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing a barrier to prevent the full insertion of the card in said card reader; and

if the access code matches an access code entry, removing said barrier.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps of providing and removing said barrier further comprises the steps of activating and deactivating a solenoid.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of verifying the access code of the card includes the step of:

reading a bar code label on the card.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of verifying the access code of the card includes the step of:

detecting a sequence of light energy pulses from the card.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of verifying the access code of the card includes the step of:

detecting a sequence of sound energy pulses from the card.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

communicating said access code to a password subroutine in said portable computer.