Dynamic keying assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9954338-B2
Application number	US-201414277961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2014
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

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 method for assembling a dynamic keying system, the method comprising:
providing a male connector device having a support and one or more key features each having a plurality of movable elements attached to the support of the male connector device,
providing a female connector device having a support and one or more deformable key features attached to the support of the female connector device,
structuring the one or more key features of the male connector device while attached to the support of the male connector device by moving the movable elements to have a first setting of a plurality of possible settings thereof; and
deforming the one or more key features of the female connector device while attached to the support of the female connector device to have a second setting of a plurality of possible settings thereof via the steps of:
in an initial mode, deforming the one or more key features of the female connector device in response to the introduction of the male connector device, to the second setting corresponding to the first setting of the male connector device; and
in a subsequent mode, permitting coupling of the one or more key features of the female connector with at least one male connector device having the first setting and consistently denying access to at least one male connector device having a third setting different than the first setting.

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

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein
at least one male connector key feature includes 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
the female connector device includes a receptacle, the receptacle configured to be substantially deformable in the initial mode and substantially non-deformable in the subsequent mode.

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

• H01R13/665

  with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence) · 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

• H01R13/64 Primary

  Means for preventing incorrect coupling · CPC title

• H01R13/447

  Shutter or cover plate · CPC title