The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 1999
Filed:
May. 15, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
361783 ; 361748 ; 361760 ; 174255 ; 174266 ; 395186 ; 711164 ; 324764 ; 257922 ;
Abstract
A secure access circuit provided on a PCB (10) by designating a via hole (26) as a security via hole, storing data relating to the address and status (intact or drilled-out) of the via hole in a connectable EPROM (26), determining the status of the security via hole, and authorizing access of the EPROM only if stored data and determined status of the hole are identical. Circuit (44) can be upgraded by use of different EPROMs; by use of different PCBs with different security via holes corresponding to each upgrade, an illegally copied EPROM providing upgraded facilities by use of a printed circuit board cannot be used on a PCB (10) intended to provide only basic facilities.