Integrated USB connector for personal token

• US 6,848,045 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SafeNet Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Technologies Incorporated, Rainbow Technologies, Inc. (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Anderson, Allan D., Johnson, Alfred L., Long, Calvin Wen-Kaug
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, JENISE E
• Application Number:
  US10/177,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 713/172, 713/182, 713/185, 713/194, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229, 705/55, 439/43, 439/44, 439/46, 439/53
• US Class Current: 726/20
• 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 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• 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: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors

Abstract

A personal key having an inexpensive and robust integrated USB connector is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a circuit board having a processor and a plurality of conductive traces communicatively coupling the processor to a peripheral portion of the circuit board. The plurality of conductive traces includes, for example, a power trace, a ground trace, and at least two signal traces. The apparatus also comprises a first housing, having an aperture configured to accept the periphery of the circuit board therethrough, thereby presenting the plurality of conductive traces exterior to the aperture. The apparatus also comprises a shell, surrounding the plurality of conductive traces, the shell including at least one locking member interfacing with the first housing.

Claims

1. A personal token, comprising:

a circuit board having

a processor communicatively coupled to a memory, the processor for providing conditional access to data storable in the memory; and

a plurality of conductive traces communicatively coupling the processor to a peripheral surface of the circuit board, where in the plurality of conductive traces includes a power trace, a ground trace, and at least two signal traces forming a universal serial bus (USE) compliant interface;

a first housing having an aperture, the aperture configured to accept the peripheral surface of the circuit board therethrough, thereby presenting the plurality of conductive traces exterior to the aperture; and

a shell, surrounding the plurality of conductive traces at the peripheral surface of the circuit board, the shell including at least one locking member interfacing with the first housing.

2. The personal token of claim 1, further comprising:

a plug, insertable into the first housing, the plug comprising at least one member communicable with a cooperating member of the circuit board to retain the circuit board in the first housing aperture.

3. The personal token of claim 2, wherein the member is a male member and the cooperating member of the circuit board is a female member.

4. The personal token of claim 2, further comprising:

a second housing substantially containing the circuit board, the second housing having a second housing aperture mating with the first housing.

5. The personal token of claim 2, further comprising a tamper-evident seal coupling the first housing and the second housing.

6. The personal token of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive traces comprises a first section of a first thickness and a second section of a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

7. The personal token of claim 6, wherein the conductive interface surface is selected from the group comprising:

a conductive interface surface electroplated to the second section;

a conductive interface surface bonded to the second section; and

a spring.

8. A method of producing a personal token, comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of conductive traces on a circuit board, the plurality of traces extending to peripheral surface of the circuit board, wherein the plurality of traces includes a power trace, a ground trace, and at least two signal traces;

communicatively coupling a processor to the plurality of traces;

securing the circuit board to a first housing; and

substantially surrounding the peripheral surface with a shell, wherein the shell and the plurality of conductive traces includes a power trace, a ground trace, and at least two signal traces forming a universal serial bus (USB) compliant interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of securing the circuit board to the first housing comprises the steps of:

inserting the peripheral surface of the circuit board through an aperture in a first housing, the aperture configured to accept the peripheral surface of the circuit board therethrough, thereby presenting the plurality of conductive traces exterior to the aperture; and

securing the circuit board to the first housing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step securing the circuit board to the first housing comprises the step of:

inserting a plug member into a cooperating member of the circuit board.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

mating an aperture of a second housing to the first housing, wherein the second housing comprises a cavity substantially surrounding the circuit board.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

sealing an interface at the mating of the aperture of the second housing to the first housing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of sealing includes the step of:

tamper evident sealing the interface at the mating of the aperture of the second housing to the first housing.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of sealing includes the step of:

hermetically sealing the interface at the mating of the aperture of the second housing to the first housing.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of sealing includes the step of:

welding the interface at the mating of the aperture of the second housing to the first housing.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of sealing includes the step of:

gluing the interface at the mating of the aperture of the second housing to the first housing.

17. A personal token, comprising:

a circuit board having

a processor communicatively coupled to a memory, the processor for providing conditional access to data storable in the memory; and

a plurality of conductive traces communicatively coupling the processor to a peripheral surface of the circuit board, wherein the plurality of conductive traces includes a power trace, a ground trace, and at least two signal traces forming a universal serial bus (USB) compliant interface;

a first housing first portion having an aperture, the aperture configured to accept the peripheral surface of the circuit board therethrough, thereby presenting the plurality of conductive traces exterior to the aperture; and

a first housing second portion, communicable with the first housing first portion, the first housing second portion comprising at least one feature communicable with a cooperating feature of the first housing first portion to retain the circuit board in the first housing first portion aperture.

18. The personal token of claim 17, wherein the feature is further communicable with a cooperating feature of the circuit board to retain the circuit board in the first housing first portion aperture.

19. The personal token of claim 17, further comprising:

a shell, surrounding the plurality of conductive traces at the peripheral surface of the circuit board, the shell including at least one locking member interfacing with the first housing.

20. The personal token of claim 17, further comprising:

a second housing substantially containing the circuit board, the second housing having an aperture mating with the first housing.

21. The personal token of claim 17, further comprising a tamper-evident seal coupling the first housing and the second housing.

22. The personal token of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive traces comprises a first section of a first thickness and a second section of a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

23. The personal token of claim 22, wherein the conductive interface surface is selected from the group comprising:

a conductive interface surface electroplated to the second section;

a conductive interface surface bonded to the second section; and

a spring.

24. A personal token, comprising:

a circuit board having

a processor communicatively coupled to a memory, the processor for providing conditional access to data storable in the memory; and

a plurality of conductive traces communicatively coupling the processor to a peripheral surface of the circuit board, wherein the plurality of conductive traces includes a power trace, a ground trace, and at least two signal traces forming a universal serial bus (USB) compliant interface;

a means for substantially containing the circuit board; and

a means for accepting and retaining the peripheral surface of the circuit board and for presenting the plurality of conductive traces external to the means for substantially containing the circuit board.

25. The personal token of claim 24, wherein the means for accepting and retaining the peripheral surface of the circuit board comprises an apertare configured to accept the peripheral surface of the circuit board therethrough.

26. The personal token of claim 24, wherein the means for accepting and retaining the peripheral surface of the circuit board comprises:

a first portion having the aperture; and

a second portion for communicating with the first portion to retain the circuit board in the aperture.

27. The personal token of claim 24, further comprising:

means for surrounding the plurality of conductive traces at the peripheral surface of the circuit board, including at least one means for interfacing with the means for accepting and retaining the peripheral surface of the circuit board and for presenting the plurality of conductive traces external to the means for substantially containing the circuit board.

28. The personal token of claim 24, further comprising a tamper-evident seal coupling the means for substantially containing die circuit board and the means for accepting and retaining the peripheral surface of the circuit board and for presenting the plurality of conductive traces external to the means for substantially containing the circuit board.

29. The personal token of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive traces comprises a first section of a first thickness and a second section of a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

30. The personal token of claim 29, wherein the conductive interface surface is selected from the group comprising:

a conductive interface surface electroplated to the second section;

a conductive interface surface bonded to the second section; and

a spring.