Electrical key-like device in combination with an electrical receptacle

Claim 2

An electrical circuit element encapsulated within the key; the element including a plurality of electrical leads, each of which extend into one of the grooves and lie therein to form a plurality of electrical contacts; a receptacle defining a keyway for receiving the key insert body portion and the spaced electrical contacts carried thereby, the keyway including a plurality of correspondingly spaced electrical contacts, insertion guide means in the keyway for guiding the insert body portion during insertion with the contacts thereof angularly displaced from the keyway contacts, rotation guide means in the keyway for guiding the insert body portion during rotation to a "locked" position in the receptacle and bringing the insert and keyway contacts together in contacting pairs, and wherein each keyway contact comprises a conductive lead having a resilient bend portion positioned in the keyway for contacting a correspondingly spaced insert body contact upon rotation of the insert body to the "locked" position in the receptacle.

Claim 3

A key-like device having head and insert body portions, the insert body portion being adapted for insertion into a receptacle and rotation therein to a "locked" position, and including in cross-section a major dimension with opposing upper and lower surfaces, ' a smaller minor dimension with opposing side surfaces, and a plurality of spaced transverse grooves formed on the major surfaces, and an electrical circuit element encapsulated within the key, the element including a plurality of electrical leads, each of which extend into one of the grooves and lie therein to form a plurality of electrical contacts.

Claim 4

The key according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical circuit element comprises a microelectronic solid 'state circuit.

Claim 5

The key according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the transverse grooves are of such a depth that the leads are below the major surface when seated therein.

Claim 6

The key according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the insert body is generally rectangular with the major surfaces being outwardly curved and the minor surfaces being substantially flat.

Claim 7

The key according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the insert body is elliptical.

Claim 8

The key according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the insert body portion also carries a pair of switch contacts, one on each of the major surfaces.

Claim 9

The key according to Claim 7 wherein the switch contacts are seated in transverse grooves on the insert body portion and the plurality of electrical contacts in the other spaced grooves are positioned between the switch contacts and the head portion of the key.

Claim 10

The key according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrical leads in the transverse grooves extend in the direction in which the key is adapted for rotation.

Claim 11

A receptacle defining a keyway for receiving a key-like insert body carrying spaced electrical contacts: the keyway including a plurality of correspondingly spaced electrical contacts; insertion guide means in the keyway for guiding the insert body during insertion with the contacts thereof angularly displaced from the keyway contacts; rotation guide means in the keyway for guiding the insert body during rotation to a "locked" position in the receptacle and bringing the insert and keyway contacts together in contacting pairs, and wherein each keyway comprises a conductive lead having a resilient bend portion positioned in the keyway for contacting a correspondingly spaced insert body contact upon rotation of the insert body to the "locked" position in the receptacle.

Claim 12

The receptacle according to either Claim 1 or 10 wherein the conductive lead comprises a wire. member, the bend portion thereof being formed by a right-angle bend at one end thereof.

Claim 13

The receptacle according to Claim 11 wherein the end of the wire member is held within the receptacle in a fixed position.

Claim 14

The receptacle of Claim 11 wherein the keyway contacts comprise two oppositely disposed sets, the right-angle bends of each set extending in opposite directions.

Claim 15

The receptacle according to Claim 1 wherein the keyway is circular in cross-section, the diameter thereof corresponding substantially to the major dimension of the body insert portion.

Claim 16

In combination: electronic data storage means, including electrical lead means, encapsulated in a device with the lead means exposed at the exterior thereof; electrical operating circuit means for operating in combination with the data storage means, and receptacle means operatively connected to the electrical circuit means for receiving the data storage means device and establishing contact between it and the electrical circuit means when the device is inserted therein.

Claim 17

The combination of Claim 15 wherein the data storage means comprises a microelectronic circuit.

Claim 18

-17. The combination of Claim 15 wherein the data storage means includes memory means.

Claim 19

The combination of Claim 15 wherein the operating circuit means comprises a computer having a memory and a processor.

Claim 20

The combination of Claim 15 wherein the operating circuit is designed and arranged to be powered and functioning when the electronic data storage means is introduced into the receptacle such that the operating circuit can directly access (read and/or write) the electronic data storage means as an extension of the microprocessor directly addressable memory storage means.