Crypto iButton Interface

The Cryptographic iButton interfaces to the host computer using external adapters. Connections are made through a PC parallel or serial port.

PC Interface

The DS1410E Parallel Port Adapter and DS1402D-DB8 Blue Dot receptor combine to form an interface for the PC that consumes no resources. The parallel port signal lines pass through the DS1410E when iButton communication is not taking place. Peripherals (such as printers) can be reattached by first connecting the DS1410E to the PC parallel port, and then connecting the peripheral cable to the other end of the DS1410E.

Serial Port Interface

The DS9097U-09 COM Port Adapter and DS1402D-DB8 Blue Dot receptor are an alternative interface combination. The DS9097U-09 attaches to the serial port in the same manner as the DS1410E attaches to the parallel port. The DS9097U-09 does not pass through the signal lines. Therefore, a serial port must be dedicated to perform iButton communication.

DS1402 Blue Dot receptor

The DS1402 is used to make iButton contact with the host convenient. The iButton end of the cable is connected with the receptacle on either the DS1410E or DS1411. The end of the cable that contains two Blue Dots can be mounted any where in the desktop area that is convenient.

Communication between the iButton and the host is accomplished by pressing the iButton to the Blue Dot. If the iButton is pushed further into the Blue Dot, it will snap in and dwell, allowing hands-free operation.

Two Blue Dots are provided to accommodate those instances where multiple iButtons are required to complete a transaction. For example, a company's policy may be to require both an employee and a supervisor to authenticate access to sensitive information stored on a network server. One Blue Dot would accommodate the employee and the second the supervisor. There is no significance to which Blue Dot is used by whom. Operation modes can also be interchanged arbitrarily (i.e., the employee's iButton may be required to dwell and the supervisor's iButton only need to make momentary contact).