Patent ID: 8573500

Claim:
An electronic token system for interfacing to a host device comprising: a token receptacle operable to couple with the host device, said token receptacle comprising: a receptacle body with a volume and an outer surface, said outer surface having a first, generally planar array of electrical contacts mounted thereon, said contacts arranged in a dense-packed configuration that minimizes the surface area occupied by the planar array, consistent with sufficient electrical separation between adjacent contacts; and a first alignment feature and a first retention feature within the volume of the receptacle body; and a portable token comprising: an enclosure for enclosing at least a portion of the receptacle body, said enclosure having a second alignment feature operable to mate in engagement with the first alignment feature and a second retention feature operable to hold the portable token in removable connection with the first retention feature of the token receptacle; a second, generally planar array of electrical contacts mounted in the portable token operable to electronically communicate with the corresponding electrical contacts of the first planar array mounted in the token receptacle when the first and second alignment features and the first and second arrays are in respective mating engagement; and an electrical component activated by the engagement of the token with the token receptacle, with conductors operable to electrically connect the electrical component to the second, generally planar array of electrical contacts mounted in the portable token, the electrical component being mounted within the enclosure and displaced either laterally or vertically or both from the second planar array.