Security key system

• US 9,418,327 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeProspo, Bartlet H., Rizzolo, Michael, Briggs, Benjamin D., Clevenger, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Application Number:
  US15/009,953
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• Field of Search: 235/491, 235/381, 235/380, 235/375, 235/382, 235/486, 235/487
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/22 characterised by the process of coating
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/048 the record carrier being shaped as a key
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06178 the marking having a feature size being smaller than can be seen by the unaided human eye
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00714 with passive electrical components, e.g. resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00722 with magnetic components, e.g. magnets, magnetic strips, metallic inserts mechanical locks operated by permanent magnets E05B47/0038
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

An aspect of the disclosure includes a security system and method having a key with nanoscale features. The key includes a body. At least one pattern member disposed on the body, the pattern member formed using a directed self-assembly polymer to define a pattern of random feature structures thereon, the feature structures having a width of less than 100 nanometers.

Claims

1. A key of claim for a security system comprising:

a body, the body includes a first side and a second side;

at least one pattern member disposed on the body, the at least one pattern member formed using a directed self-assembly polymer formed from a first polymer and a second polymer, the first polymer and second polymer each having a different length and arranged in an alternating arrangement, the first polymer and second polymer configured to define a pattern of random feature structures thereon, the feature structures having a width of less than 100 nanometers;

wherein the at least one pattern member includes a plurality of pattern members, each of the pattern members being formed using the directed self-assembly polymer to define the pattern of random feature structures thereon, each of the random feature structures being different from other random feature structures;

wherein a first plurality of pattern members of the plurality of pattern members is arranged on the first side and a second plurality of pattern members of the plurality of pattern members is arranged on the second side;

wherein the body includes a third side and a fourth side; and

wherein the plurality of pattern members further includes a third plurality of pattern members arranged on the third side and a fourth plurality of pattern member arranged on the fourth side.

2. The key of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pattern members has a feature pitch of 200 in a first direction and a second direction.

3. The key of claim 1 wherein the directed self-assembly polymer is a poly(styrene-block-methymethacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) polymer.

4. A security system comprising:

a key having a body with a pattern member disposed on the body, the pattern member formed using a directed self-assembly polymer formed from a first polymer and a second polymer, the first polymer and second polymer each having a different length and arranged in an alternating arrangement, to define a pattern of random feature structures thereon, the feature structures having a width of less than 100 nanometers; and

a receptacle having an opening sized to receive the body and at least a pair of probes operably coupled to the receptacle, the at least the pair of probes being positioned to operably communicate with the at least one pattern member to measure a parameter;

wherein the at least one pattern member includes a plurality of pattern members, each of the pattern members being formed using the directed self-assembly polymer to define the pattern of random feature structures thereon, each of the random feature structures being different from other random feature structures; and

wherein the at least the pair of probes includes a plurality of probes, each of the plurality of probes being positioned to operably communicate with one of the plurality of pattern members when the body is received within the opening;

wherein the body includes a first side and a second side and the plurality of pattern members includes at least one first pattern member arranged on the first side and at least one second pattern member arranged on the second side; and

wherein the opening includes a third side and a fourth side, the at least the pair of probes including a first probes positioned to operably communicate with the at least one first pattern member and a second probe positioned to operably communicate with the at least one second pattern member.

5. The security system of claim 4, wherein:

the key further includes an radio frequency identification circuit coupled to the body; and

the receptacle further includes a radio frequency identification reader circuit operably disposed relative to the opening to receive a signal from the radio frequency identification circuit when the body is received within the opening.

6. The security system of claim 4 wherein the directed self-assembly polymer is a poly(styrene-block-methymethacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) polymer.