Universal iButton Adapter for 1-Wire Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication solutions for computing devices using 1-Wire technology face challenges in accommodating different sizes of iButtons, which can hinder effective user authentication due to size compatibility issues between the iButton and the reader.
Innovation Solution
A universal adapter is introduced that can be coupled to the computing device's reader, featuring electrically isolated conductive contacts and magnetic coupling, allowing it to accommodate various sizes of iButtons by establishing a 1-Wire connection between the reader and the iButton, ensuring proper alignment and contact regardless of size differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard-sized reader is used for authentication, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot accommodate different sizes of iButtons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component between the standard reader and various iButton sizes. The adapter includes conductive contacts that interface with both the reader and the iButton, allowing size variation accommodation while maintaining a fixed reader design. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the reader's fixed structure from the variable iButton dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed with universal functionality to accommodate multiple iButton sizes through a single standardized interface. By making the adapter size-adaptive while keeping the reader standardized, the system achieves multi-size compatibility without requiring multiple reader variants, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reader is designed to accommodate all iButton sizes, then compatibility is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two distinct components: a standardized reader and an adaptive adapter. This segmentation allows the reader to be manufactured with fixed, simple dimensions while the adapter handles the size adaptation functionality. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the manufacturing simplicity requirement from the size accommodation requirement into different components.
3Reliability
If different sized readers are manufactured for different iButton sizes, then authentication reliability is improved, but the loss of time for device selection and increased device complexity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter provides universal compatibility across all iButton sizes through a single standardized design. Users no longer need to select or switch between different reader types based on iButton size, as the adapter handles all size variations. This eliminates device selection time while maintaining authentication reliability through consistent interface standards.
4Reliability
If conductive contacts are made larger to accommodate smaller iButtons, then contact reliability is improved, but the area occupied increases and larger iButtons cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter employs local quality optimization by positioning multiple conductive contacts at specific locations optimized for different iButton sizes. Rather than uniformly enlarging all contacts, the adapter uses strategically placed contacts that make reliable connection with various iButton dimensions, thus achieving contact reliability without excessive area occupation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adapter enables universal authentication by allowing standard-sized readers to accommodate different-sized iButtons, ensuring reliable communication and user authentication across various iButton sizes, enhancing the compatibility and usability of the authentication system.
Implementation Method 1
featuring electrically isolated conductive contacts and magnetic coupling, allowing it to accommodate various sizes of iButtons by establishing a 1-Wire connection between the reader and the iButton
Data Source
AI summary
Examples disclosed herein provide an adapter. One example adapter includes first and second conductive contacts, and an insulative layer separating the first conductive contact from the second conductive contact. A first side of the adapter is to couple to a reader, and a second side opposite to the first side is to accommodate different sizes of data carriers that store information to be read by the reader via the first and second conductive contacts.