Electronic memory key

• US 8,328,092 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sypris Electronics, LLC (Sypris Solutions Incorporated)
• Inventors: Robinson, Douglas Paul, McCanney, Robert James, Krawczyk, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/125,597
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 439/75
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/048 the record carrier being shaped as a key
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts

Abstract

An electronic memory key is described. The key includes internal memory and contact points on an exemplary flat and annular surface with a mechanical fastening mechanism to securely affix the key to a device interface. Corresponding contacts are provided on the device to electronically communicate the key to device.

Claims

1. A crypto ignition key, comprising:

a housing having substantially flat contact surface, said contact surface having a plurality of electrical contacts, said electrical contacts being in electrical communication with an electronic memory located within said housing;

said housing designed to engage a base having a substantially flat and generally annular contact surface with a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding in position to said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said housing, said plurality of electrical contacts of said base being biased to engage said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said housing;

wherein each said electrical contacts on said contact surface of said housing is in electrical communication with each said electrical contact of said base when said housing is engaged with said base.

2. The crypto ignition key of claim 1 wherein each said electrical contact on said contact surface of said base is resiliently depressible.

3. The crypto ignition key of claim 2 wherein each said electrical contact on said contact surface of said housing is recessed in an aperture and wherein each said electrical contact on said contact surface of said base is at least partially depressed and applies pressure against each said electrical contact on said contact surface of said housing when said housing is engaged with said base.

4. The crypto ignition key of claim 1 wherein each said electrical contact on said contact surface of said housing is recessed in an aperture.

5. The crypto ignition key of claim 1 wherein said housing has a mounting recess, said mounting recess having an opening formed generally in the same plane as said contact surface of said housing.

6. The crypto ignition key of claim 5 wherein each said electrical contact of said housing is formed on a radial circuit board surrounding said mounting recess and located within said housing.

7. The crypto ignition key of claim 5 wherein a mechanical snap fastener is secured to said housing and located within said mounting recess.

8. The crypto ignition key of claim 7 wherein a protrusion extends from said housing, said protrusion being receivable in said mounting recess, and wherein said mechanical snap fastener is designed to operably and removably engage said protrusion.

9. The crypto ignition key of claim 8 wherein said mounting recess is generally annular, said protrusion extends perpendicularly from the same plane as said contact surface of said base, and said mechanical snap fastener is designed to operably and removably engage said protrusion by frictionally forcing an inward facing portion of said snap member over a lip on the periphery of said protrusion.

10. The crypto ignition key of claim 7 wherein said mechanical snap fastener is connected to a neck portion and a flat base, said flat base being received in a void of said housing and securing said mechanical snap fastener to said housing.

11. The crypto ignition key of claim 1 wherein said base has a mounting recess having an opening formed in the same plane as said contact surface of said base, a protrusion extends from the same plane as said contact surface of said contact surface of said housing, and a mechanical snap fastener is located within said mounting recess, wherein said mechanical snap fastener is designed to operably and removably engage said protrusion.

12. The crypto ignition key of claim 1 wherein said housing is formed from a moldable polymer and said electronic memory is molded into said housing.

13. A crypto ignition key system, comprising:

a housing with an internally located electronic memory and substantially flat contact surface, said contact surface having a plurality of electrical contacts in electrical communication with said electronic memory;

a device base for receiving said housing with a substantially flat and generally annular contact surface having a plurality of outwardly extending electrical contacts;

wherein a mounting recess is provided in said housing, said mounting recess having a mechanical snap fastener;

wherein said housing and said base are engageable at said mechanical snap fastener such that at least a portion of a bottom surface of said housing is in contact with said contact surface of said base, and

wherein at least one of said electrical contacts on said contact surface of said housing is in electrical communication with at least one of said electrical contacts on said base when said housing is engaged with said base.

14. The crypto ignition key system of claim 13 wherein a mounting recess is provided in said housing, said mounting recess housing a mechanical snap fastener and having openings formed in the same plane as said contact surfaces of said housing.

15. The crypto ignition key system of claim 14 wherein each said electrical contact of said housing is formed on a radial circuit board surrounding said mounting recess and located within said housing.

16. The crypto ignition key system of claim 14 wherein said mounting recess is constructed to receive an annular protrusion extending from said base and wherein said mechanical snap fastener is designed to operably and removably engage said annular protrusion.

17. The crypto ignition key system of claim 16 wherein said mechanical snap fastener is of the male variety and engages a recess of the female variety in said annular protrusion.

18. The crypto ignition key of claim 16 wherein said mechanical snap fastener is of the female variety and frictionally receives said annular protrusion.

19. The crypto ignition key of claim 14 wherein said mounting recess is centrally located in said substantially flat surface of said housing.

20. The crypto ignition key of claim 19 wherein said electrical contacts are annularly placed along said contact surfaces of said housing and said base.

21. The crypto ignition key of claim 13 wherein said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said base extend perpendicularly from said contact surface and wherein said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said housing are receptacles in said contact surface.

22. The crypto ignition key of claim 21 wherein said electrical contacts of said base are resiliently depressible and engage said receptacles when said housing and said base are engaged.

23. A crypto ignition key system, comprising:

a housing with an internally located electronic memory and substantially flat contact surfaces, said contact surfaces having a plurality of electrical contacts in electrical communication with said electronic memory;

a device base with a substantially flat and generally annular contact surface having a plurality of outwardly extending electrical contacts, said plurality of outwardly extending electrical contacts being biased and linearly movable between a first position and a second position;

wherein said housing and said base are mateable such that a bottom surface of said housing is in contact with said contact surface of said base;

wherein each of said electrical contacts on said contact surface of said housing is in electrical communication with each of said electrical contacts on said base when said housing is engaged with said base, so that said electrical contacts of said base move from one of said first position and said second position to the other of said first position and said second position; and

wherein said housing and said base are mateable through engagement of a mechanical snap fastener housed in a mounting recess and a protrusion.

24. The crypto ignition key system of claim 23, wherein said mounting recess is provided in said housing, said mounting recess having an opening formed in the same plane as said contact surface of said housing, and wherein said protrusion extends from said base from the same plane as said contact surface of said base.

25. The crypto ignition key system of claim 24 wherein said mechanical snap fastener is of the female variety and frictionally receives said annular protrusion.

26. The crypto ignition key of claim 25 wherein said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said base are resiliently depressible and extend perpendicularly from said contact surface and wherein said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said housing are receptacles in said contact surface.

27. The crypto ignition key of claim 26 wherein said mounting recess is centrally located in said substantially flat surface of said housing.

28. The crypto ignition key of claim 25 wherein said electrical contacts are annularly placed along said contact surfaces of said housing and said base.

29. The crypto ignition key of claim 28 wherein said electrical contacts are equally spaced along said contact surfaces of said housing and said base.

30. The crypto ignition key of claim 24 wherein said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said base extend perpendicularly from said contact surface and wherein said electrical contacts of said contact surface of said housing are receptacles in said contact surface.

31. The crypto ignition key of claim 30 wherein said electrical contacts of said base are resiliently depressible and engage said receptacles when said housing and said base are engaged.

32. An electronic memory key for use in combination with an electronic device, comprising:

an electronic key having housing and a bottom wall with exposed contacts, said exposed contacts in electrical communication with a memory storage device and storing unique coded encryption data;

said housing having a mechanical connector, said mechanical connector mechanically interfacing with a structure on an electronic device, said mechanical connector of said bottom wall of said housing and said electronic device allowing said electronic key to be firmly removably retained on said device;

outwardly extending contacts on said electronic device aligned to engage with said exposed contacts on said electronic key;

said housing having a keyed orientation structure to align said key housing with respect to said device to allow electrical contact between said exposed contacts on said key with said outwardly extending contacts on said device.