US6671808B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
USB-compliant personal key
Assignee: Thales DIS CPL USA Inc
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Filing: 1999-03-30
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Granted: 2003-12-30
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Expires: 2019-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for a USB-compliant personal key has been described. The personal key includes an integrated connector design that is simple and easy to manufacture, and allows broken or defective connecting pins to be easily replaced. In the several embodiments disclosed, the personal key also comprises a biometric sensor for authenticating the identity of the user, and visual and aural sensors for providing information to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Shawn D. Abbott
- 👤 Bahram Afghani
- 👤 Allan D. Anderson
- 👤 Patrick N. Godding
- 👤 Maarten G. Punt
- 👤 Mehdi Sotoodeh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/32; G06F21/33; G06F21/34; G06F21/41; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6218; G06F21/6245; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/82; G06F21/83; G06F21/84; G06F21/85; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/0772; G06K19/07732; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/36; G06Q20/367; G06Q20/3674; H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H05K1/117
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A compact electronic key, releasably coupleable to a host processing device, comprising: at least one circuit board, having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; at least one circuit connection surface providing electrical communication with the processor; at least one conductive pin for providing electrical communication between the circuit connecting surface and the host processing device, wherein the conductive pin comprises a pin securing portion and is releasably coupleable to the circuit connection surface; and a housing for substantially enclosing at least some of the circuit board, the housing comprising a pin interfacing portion mateable with the pin securing portion for securing the pin member along a longitudinal axis of the conductive pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A compact electronic key, releasably coupleable to a host processing device, comprising: at least one circuit board, having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; at least one circuit connection surface providing electrical communication with the processor; at least one conductive pin for providing electrical communication between the circuit connecting surface and the host processing device, wherein the conductive pin comprises a pin securing portion and is releasably coupleable to the circuit connection surface; and a housing for substantially enclosing at least some of the circuit board, the housing comprising a pin interfacing portion mateable with the pin securing portion for securing the pin member along a longitudinal axis of the conductive pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive pin is slidingly coupleable to the circuit connection surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive pin member further comprises a clip portion for coupling with the circuit connection surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit connection surface is substantially planar and disposed proximate to the periphery of the circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein: the pin interfacing portion comprises at least one pin restraining member having a pin restraining member notched portion; the pin securing portion comprises a conductive pin tab portion; and wherein the pin restraining member notched portion is mateable with a conductive pin tab portion to restrain the conductive pin from motion along the longitudinal axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 5 , wherein the pin restraining member notched portion permits conductive pin member motion along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
The device of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing member and a second housing member securable to the first housing member, wherein: the pin securing portion further comprises a conductive pin notch portion; the pin interfacing portion comprises a first pin interfacing portion disposed on the first housing member, the first pin interfacing portion including the pin restraining member, and a second pin interfacing portion disposed on the second housing member, the second pin interfacing portion mateable with the conductive pin notch portion to restrain the conductive pin member from motion along the longitudinal axis of the conductive pin member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is comprised of PBT plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to a light emitting device for emitting light according to at least one signal passing from the host processing device and the key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 9 , wherein the light emitting device is physically coupled to the circuit board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 9 , wherein the housing is comprised at least in part of a material of sufficient transparency to permit the emitted light to be visible external to the key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising a biometric sensor, communicatively coupled to the processor for providing biometric data to the processor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 12 , wherein the biometric sensor is disposed so as to permit collection of biometric data from a user when the user holds the key.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein processor implements instructions for processing the biometric data to confirm the identity of the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising a data transmitter communicatively coupled to the processor for transmitting data by emission of electromagnetic waves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 15 , wherein the data transmit comprises an infrared device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15 , further comprising a data receiver communicatively coupled to the processor for receiving data transmitted via electromagnetic waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 17 , wherein the data receiver comprise an infrared device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
170 words
A compact electronic key, releasably coupleable to a host processing device, comprising: at least one circuit board, having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; at least one circuit connection surface providing electrical communication with the processor; at least one conductive pin member for providing electrical communication between the circuit connecting surface and the host processing device, wherein the conductive pin member comprises a pin securing portion and is releasably coupleable to the circuit connection surface; and a housing for substantially enclosing at least some of the circuit board, the housing comprising a fist housing member and a second housing member, and a pin interfacing portion mateable with the pin securing portion to secure the conductive pin member in all axes when the first housing member is mated to the second housing member, but permitting the conductive pin member motion in an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conductive pin member when the first housing member is not mated to the second housing member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
170 words
A compact electronic key, releasably coupleable to a host processing device, comprising: at least one circuit board, having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; at least one circuit connection surface providing electrical communication with the processor; at least one conductive pin member for providing electrical communication between the circuit connecting surface and the host processing device, wherein the conductive pin member comprises a pin securing portion and is releasably coupleable to the circuit connection surface; and a housing for substantially enclosing at least some of the circuit board, the housing comprising a fist housing member and a second housing member, and a pin interfacing portion mateable with the pin securing portion to secure the conductive pin member in all axes when the first housing member is mated to the second housing member, but permitting the conductive pin member motion in an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conductive pin member when the first housing member is not mated to the second housing member.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of assembling a compact electronic key, comprising the steps of: installing at least one connecting pin in a first housing member having at least one pin restraining member, the connecting pin having a clip portion and tab portion mating with a pin restraining member notch in the pin restraining member; inserting a circuit connection surface disposed on a circuit board having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor in the clip portion; and mating a second housing member with the first housing member.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of assembling a compact electronic key, comprising the steps of: installing at least one connecting pin in a first housing member having at least one pin restraining member, the connecting pin having a clip portion and tab portion mating with a pin restraining member notch in the pin restraining member; inserting a circuit connection surface disposed on a circuit board having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor in the clip portion; and mating a second housing member with the first housing member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
A compact electronic key, assembled by performing the steps of: installing at least one connecting pin in a first housing member having at least one pin restraining member, the connecting pin having a clip portion and tab portion mating with a pin restraining member notch in the pin restraining member; inserting a circuit connection surface disposed on a circuit board having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor in the clip portion; and mating a second housing member with the first housing member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
A compact electronic key, assembled by performing the steps of: installing at least one connecting pin in a first housing member having at least one pin restraining member, the connecting pin having a clip portion and tab portion mating with a pin restraining member notch in the pin restraining member; inserting a circuit connection surface disposed on a circuit board having a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor in the clip portion; and mating a second housing member with the first housing member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-29 | 2007-06-30 | 2007-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | 2011-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-29 | 2015-06-30 | 2015-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |