Method and apparatus for mitigating current drain in a low-power hand-held device
US7921311B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M11/02
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An authentication device or other type of low-power hand-held device comprises a processor, an external button alternately configurable in an unpressed state and a pressed state, and current drain mitigation circuitry coupled to the external button and a corresponding input of the processor. The current drain mitigation circuitry is configured to connect the input of the processor to a first potential when the external button is in the unpressed state and to connect the input of the processor to a second potential different than the first potential when the external button is in the pressed state, thereby limiting current drain arising from the external button being stuck in the pressed state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.