Security module with status signaling

• US 6,771,179 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH (Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH (Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG)
• Inventors: Wagner, Andreas, Schlaaff, Torsten, Rosenau, Dirk, Post, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/524,118
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 340/653, 340/693.5, 340/635, 340/658, 340/571, 340/691.1, 340/636, 380/2, 380/52
• US Class Current: 340/653
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00233 Housing, e.g. lock or hardened casing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00241 Modular design
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

A security module with status signaling, has a battery, and function units that are interconnected with one another and are covered by a casting compound. The battery is replaceably arranged on the security module, with the casting compound surrounding a first part of the printed circuit board, and a second part of the printed circuit board for the replaceably arranged battery being free of casting compound. For signaling the module status, an optical or acoustic signal element is connected to the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A security module comprising:

a plurality of functional units mechanically and electrically mounted on a printed circuit board;

a casting compound surrounding at least a part of said printed circuit board with said functional units thereon, leaving a portion of said printed circuit board free of said casting compound;

battery contact terminals on said portion of said printed circuit board free of said casting compound;

battery releasably connected to said battery contact terminals;

a first contact group on said printed circuit board for communication with an external device and a second contact group on said printed circuit board for supplying said functional units with a system voltage;

a signal element, selected from the group consisting of optical signaling elements and acoustical signaling elements, connected to one of said functional units for signaling a security module status with a signal that is perceptible outside of said casting compound; and

said functional units including a unit for identifying when a voltage of said battery falls below a predetermined threshold and thereupon activating said signal element, only when said printed circuit board is supplied with said system voltage.

2. A security module as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second contact groups is surrounded at least one side by said casting compound.

3. A security module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printed circuit board has a connector carrying said first and second contact groups disposed at one side of said printed circuit board.

4. A security module as claimed in claim 3 wherein said side of said printed circuit board at which said connector is disposed is free of said casting compound.