Powerless electronic storage lock

Abstract

The present invention teaches a powerless lockable UFD system and a method for securely protecting information stored and retrieved on UFDs (USB flash drives) that does not require electric power in order to enter a password to the UFD. The system also features an alarm and reset mechanism for clearing entered passwords. Passwords are concealed from the sight of a viewer for further protection. The system can be similarly incorporated into peripheral devices such as hard-disk drives (HDDs), printers, scanners, cameras, and portable memory devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

The sole FIGURE shows a simplified block diagram of a system according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A powerless lockable UFD system, the system comprising: (a) a password-entry mechanism having a plurality of distinguishable mechanical states configured to be operationally connected to a UFD;(b) a state-identifying mechanism for identifying said plurality of distinguishable mechanical states; and(c) an electrical mechanism for effecting operational connectivity between said UFD and a host system only upon: (i) external powering of said state-identifying mechanism; and(ii) verification that a current mechanical state of said password-entry mechanism is identical to a predetermined mechanical state of said password-entry mechanism by said state-identifying mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said password-entry mechanism includes at least one mechanical knob.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said password-entry mechanism includes at least one mechanical button.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said state-identifying mechanism is located on said host system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined mechanical state is configured to automatically change, after a single session of use of said UFD, according to a predetermined sequence.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined mechanical state is concealed from the view of an observer upon being entered into said password-entry mechanism.

7. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising: (d) a state-changing mechanism for changing said predetermined mechanical state.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined mechanical state is a predetermined angular position of at least one wheel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a rotation of said at least one wheel is configured to change an electrical resistance between two wires.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one wheel is configured such that rotation of said at least one wheel changes an encoding of a shaft encoder.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said state-identifying mechanism is located on said UFD.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said UFD is configured to be powered by said host system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said state-identifying mechanism is configured to start operating automatically upon powering of said UFD.

14. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising: (d) a resetting mechanism for resetting said electrical mechanism upon a relatively long disconnection of said UFD from said host system, thereby requiring re-establishment of said predetermined mechanical state in order to re-effect said operational connectivity between said UFD and said host system.

15. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising: (d) an alarm mechanism for reminding a user to change said current mechanical state of said password-entry mechanism upon said operational connectivity between said UFD and said host system being established.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said alarm mechanism is configured to periodically alert said user to modify said current mechanical state while said UFD is connected to said host system.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said alarm mechanism is configured to deny operational connectivity between said UFD and said host system until said current mechanical state is changed.

18. A powerless, lockable peripheral-device system, the system comprising: (a) a password-entry mechanism having a plurality of distinguishable mechanical states configured to be operationally connected to a peripheral device;(b) a state-identifying mechanism for identifying said plurality of distinguishable mechanical states; and(c) an electrical mechanism for effecting operational connectivity between said peripheral device and a host system only upon: (i) external powering of said state-identifying mechanism; and(ii) verification that a current mechanical state of said password entry mechanism is identical to a predetermined mechanical state of said password-entry mechanism by said state-identifying mechanism.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of: a hard-disk drive (HDD), a printer, a scanner, a camera, and a portable memory device.

20. A method of accessing data stored on a powerless lockable UFD, the method comprising the steps of: (a) configuring the UFD to compare a mechanical state of at least one password-entry mechanism to a predetermined mechanical state upon external powering of said UFD;(b) setting said mechanical state to a first state;(c) operationally connecting said UFD to a host system subsequent to said step of setting said mechanical state to said first state;(d) comparing said first state to said predetermined state upon powering of said UFD by said host system; and(e) enabling an operational connectivity between said UFD and said host system only upon a match between said first state and said predetermined state.