Portable handheld strong authentication token having parallel-serial battery switching and voltage regulating circuit

摘要

An electronic power supply circuit for battery-powered hardware devices is disclosed which can be electronically switched to supply any of at least two predetermined voltages wherein the batteries are switched in parallel or in series depending on the desired voltage. Also disclosed is an electronic apparatus comprising the electronic power supply circuit, which in some modes of operation uses the highest of the two predetermined voltages and which in other modes of operation can function with the lower of two predetermined voltages, and includes control logic that switches the electronic power supply circuit to supply said higher voltage when the apparatus in a mode in which it uses this higher voltage and that switches said electronic power supply circuit to supply said lower voltage at least during some of the modes in which the apparatus can function with the lower voltage.

主权项

1. A portable handheld strong authentication token having multiple modes of operation, the token comprising:
an electronic power supplying circuit capable of supplying at least a first voltage level and a second voltage level that is less than said first voltage level, the first and second voltage levels not equal to zero, the electronic power supplying circuit comprising:
a positive terminal;a negative terminal;an ordered plurality of electrical power sources including a first power source and a last power source, each source having a negative pole and a positive pole, the negative pole of the first power source coupled to the negative terminal and the positive pole of the last power source coupled to the positive terminal;a first set of at least one one-way conductors, each conductor having an anode and a cathode, the cathode connected to the positive terminal;a second set of at least one one-way conductors, each conductor having an anode and a cathode, the anode connected to the negative terminal; anda set of at least one electronic switches, each switch having a first terminal and a second terminal;wherein:
the positive pole of each of the plurality of electrical power sources, except the last power source, is connected to the anode of a corresponding one-way conductor of the first set of at least one one-way conductors;the negative pole of each of the plurality of electrical power sources, except the first power source, is connected to the cathode of a corresponding one-way conductor of the second set of at least one one-way conductors; andthe positive pole of each of the plurality electrical power sources, except the last power source, is connected to the first terminal of a corresponding one of said plurality of electronic switches and the second terminal of the corresponding one of said plurality of electronic switches is connected to the negative pole of a next electrical power source of the ordered plurality of electrical power sources, wherein each of said electronic switches permits current flow between the first and second terminals of the switch when closed and prohibits current flow between the first and second terminals of the switch when open; said token further comprising:
a first set of components requiring at least in some modes of operation of said token said first voltage level to function,a second set of components capable of functioning with both said first and said second voltage levels, anda control sub-circuit adapted to control the voltage level supplied by said electronic power supplying circuit; said control sub-circuit further adapted
to determine whether said token is in a mode of operation in which at least one of said components of said first set of components requires said first voltage level electrical power supply, andto control said electronic power supplying circuit to supply said first voltage level when said token is in the determined mode of operation in which at least one of said components of said first set of components requires said first voltage level of electrical power supply, andto control said electronic power supplying circuit to supply said second voltage level of electrical power supply at least when said token is in one of some other modes of operation in which no components of said first set of components require said first voltage level.