USB-compliant personal key

• US 6,671,808 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SafeNet Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Technologies, Inc. (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Afghani, Bahram, Anderson, Allan D., Punt, Maarten G., Sotoodeh, Mehdi, Abbott, Shawn D., Godding, Patrick N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, JENISE E
• Application Number:
  US09/281,017
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/229, 705/57, 705/67, 705/55, 705/58
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for a USB-compliant personal key has been described. The personal key includes an integrated connector design that is simple and easy to manufacture, and allows broken or defective connecting pins to be easily replaced. In the several embodiments disclosed, the personal key also comprises a biometric sensor for authenticating the identity of the user, and visual and aural sensors for providing information to the user.

Claims

1. A compact electronic key, releasably coupleable to a host processing device, comprising:

at least one circuit board, having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

at least one circuit connection surface providing electrical communication with the processor;

at least one conductive pin for providing electrical communication between the circuit connecting surface and the host processing device, wherein the conductive pin comprises a pin securing portion and is releasably coupleable to the circuit connection surface; and

a housing for substantially enclosing at least some of the circuit board, the housing comprising a pin interfacing portion mateable with the pin securing portion for securing the pin member along a longitudinal axis of the conductive pin.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive pin is slidingly coupleable to the circuit connection surfaces.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive pin member further comprises a clip portion for coupling with the circuit connection surfaces.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuit connection surface is substantially planar and disposed proximate to the periphery of the circuit board.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the pin interfacing portion comprises at least one pin restraining member having a pin restraining member notched portion;

the pin securing portion comprises a conductive pin tab portion; and

wherein the pin restraining member notched portion is mateable with a conductive pin tab portion to restrain the conductive pin from motion along the longitudinal axis.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the pin restraining member notched portion permits conductive pin member motion along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the housing comprises a first housing member and a second housing member securable to the first housing member, wherein:

the pin securing portion further comprises a conductive pin notch portion;

the pin interfacing portion comprises a first pin interfacing portion disposed on the first housing member, the first pin interfacing portion including the pin restraining member, and

a second pin interfacing portion disposed on the second housing member, the second pin interfacing portion mateable with the conductive pin notch portion to restrain the conductive pin member from motion along the longitudinal axis of the conductive pin member.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is comprised of PBT plastic material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to a light emitting device for emitting light according to at least one signal passing from the host processing device and the key.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the light emitting device is physically coupled to the circuit board.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing is comprised at least in part of a material of sufficient transparency to permit the emitted light to be visible external to the key.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a biometric sensor, communicatively coupled to the processor for providing biometric data to the processor.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the biometric sensor is disposed so as to permit collection of biometric data from a user when the user holds the key.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein processor implements instructions for processing the biometric data to confirm the identity of the user.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a data transmitter communicatively coupled to the processor for transmitting data by emission of electromagnetic waves.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the data transmit comprises an infrared device.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a data receiver communicatively coupled to the processor for receiving data transmitted via electromagnetic waves.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the data receiver comprise an infrared device.

19. A compact electronic key, releasably coupleable to a host processing device, comprising:

at least one circuit board, having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

at least one circuit connection surface providing electrical communication with the processor;

at least one conductive pin member for providing electrical communication between the circuit connecting surface and the host processing device, wherein the conductive pin member comprises a pin securing portion and is releasably coupleable to the circuit connection surface; and

a housing for substantially enclosing at least some of the circuit board, the housing comprising a fist housing member and a second housing member, and a pin interfacing portion mateable with the pin securing portion to secure the conductive pin member in all axes when the first housing member is mated to the second housing member, but permitting the conductive pin member motion in an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conductive pin member when the first housing member is not mated to the second housing member.

20. A method of assembling a compact electronic key, comprising the steps of:

installing at least one connecting pin in a first housing member having at least one pin restraining member, the connecting pin having a clip portion and tab portion mating with a pin restraining member notch in the pin restraining member;

inserting a circuit connection surface disposed on a circuit board having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor in the clip portion; and

mating a second housing member with the first housing member.

21. A compact electronic key, assembled by performing the steps of:

installing at least one connecting pin in a first housing member having at least one pin restraining member, the connecting pin having a clip portion and tab portion mating with a pin restraining member notch in the pin restraining member;

inserting a circuit connection surface disposed on a circuit board having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor in the clip portion; and

mating a second housing member with the first housing member.