Dynamic keying assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9843152-B2
Application number	US-201414162973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A method and system for a dynamic keying system is disclosed. The method and system can include a male connector device having a first plurality of settings for one or more key features, and a female connector device having a second plurality of settings for one or more key features. The female connector device can be configured to operate in an initial mode in which it is configured to, in response to the introduction of the male connector device, correspond a first setting of the first plurality of settings to a second setting of the second plurality of settings. The female connector device can also be configured to operate in a subsequent mode, in which it can permit coupling with at least one male connector device having the first setting and consistently deny access to at least one male connector device having a third setting different than the first setting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dynamic keying system comprising:
a male connector device having a support and one or more movable male key features, wherein the support supports the male key features in plural different positions corresponding to a first plurality of settings for one or more male key features; and
a female connector device having a support and one or more moveable female key features, wherein the support supports the female key features in plural different positions corresponding to a second plurality of settings for the one or more female key features,
and wherein the male and female connector devices are configured to constrain movement of the male and female key features to operate in:
an initial mode in which the key features of the female connector device in response to the introduction of the male connector device, correspond a first setting of the first plurality of settings to a second setting of the second plurality of settings; and
a subsequent mode in which the key features of the female connector device permit coupling with at least one male connector device having the first setting and consistently deny access to at least one male connector device having a third setting different than the first setting.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the female connector device is further configured to, in the subsequent mode, maintain the second setting of the plurality of settings.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more key features include
one or more ridges protruding from the male connector device, the ridges configured to be physically adjustable in a first plane relative to the male connector device; and
a receptacle located within the female connector device, the receptacle configured to be substantially deformable in the initial mode and substantially non-deformable in the subsequent mode.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the key feature includes
one or more ridges protruding from the male connector device, the ridges configured to revolve around the perimeter of the male connector device; and
a receptacle located within the female connector device, the receptacle configured to be substantially deformable in the initial mode and substantially non-deformable in the subsequent mode.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the key feature includes:
a first circuitry within the male connector device, the first circuitry configured to communicate with a second circuitry and provide a first identification tag in response to an interrogation request from the second circuitry;
the second circuitry within the female connector device, the second circuitry configured to communicate with the first circuitry and provide an interrogation request, and, in response to receiving the first identification tag from the male connector device, verify the identification tag;
a gate located at an entrance to the female connector device, the gate configured to open in response to verification of the identification tag and allow coupling between the female connector device and the male connector device.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first identification tag is programmable, using a code created with a timestamp identifier, in one of a plurality of settings.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein verification of the identification tag further comprises determining whether a first setting of the first identification tag corresponds to a second setting of a second identification tag, the second identification tag associated with the second circuitry.

8. A dynamic keying system comprising:
a male connector device having a first plurality of settings for one or more ridges protruding from the male connector device, the ridges configured to be physically adjustable in a first plane relative to the male connector device; and
a female connector device having a second plurality of settings for a receptacle located within the female connector device, the female connector device configured to operate in:
an initial mode in which the receptacle is substantially deformable, and the female connector device is configured to, in response to the introduction of the male connector device, correspond a first setting of the first plurality of settings to a second setting of the second plurality of settings; and
a subsequent mode in which the receptacle is substantially non-deformable, and the female connector device is configured to permit coupling with at least one male connector device having the first setting and consistently deny access to at least one male connector device having a third setting different than the first setting.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the female connector device is further configured to, in the subsequent mode, maintain the second setting of the plurality of settings.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the dynamic keying system includes:
a first circuitry within the male connector device, the first circuitry configured to communicate with a second circuitry and provide a first identification tag in response to an interrogation request from the second circuitry;
the second circuitry within the female connector device, the second circuitry configured to communicate with the first circuitry and provide an interrogation request, and, in response to receiving the first identification tag from the male connector device, verify the identification tag;
a gate located at an entrance to the female connector device, the gate configured to open in response to verification of the identification tag and allow coupling between the female connector device and the male connector device.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the receptacle includes one or more materials selected from the list consisting of epoxy, clay, thermoplastic resins, thermoplastic polymers, thermoset resins and thermoset polymers.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the receptacle is configured to become deformable in response to a change in environmental conditions.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the receptacle includes a thermosetting resin which is deformable prior to introduction of a male conductor device and substantially non-deformable in response to the introduction of a male connector device.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Mann Phillip V
• Plucinski Mark D
• Shirk/Heath Sandra J
• Sinha Arvind K

Classifications

• H01R13/70

  with built-in switch · CPC title

• H01R13/64 Primary

  Means for preventing incorrect coupling · CPC title

• H01R13/447

  Shutter or cover plate · CPC title

• H01R43/26 Primary

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title