Retractable pin array identification apparatus and method

An keying apparatus in communication with a primary device used for identification purposes prior to said primary device subsequently enabling additional functionality, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a base component affixed to a housing, and having an array of holes through which a set of retractable conductive pins slidably traverse, said pins having a top end protruding through said base component and having a base end individually contacting spring tensioning means positioned within said housing, said tensioning means having a first end for exerting an upward force onto said pin base so as to continuously push said pins through said holes in said base component, said pins in communication with said primary device;
• b) at least one identifier having a plurality of holes therethrough such that said base component's retractable pins pass through a subset of said identifier's holes aligned therewith and wherein said identifier has at least one of said holes plugged with conductive capping means which blocks that hole's respective pin from passing therethrough thereby forcing each blocked pin to retract through said base component into said housing and exerting a downward force when said identifier is fitted onto said pin array;
• c) means for ensuring proper orientation and alignment of said identifier's holes with respect to said array of pins prior to said identifier being pressed onto said pin array;
• d) means for communicating from said conductive capping means to said primary device information about each of said pins contacting each of said capping means;
• and
• e) means for determining specific identifiers by comparing communicated array location of each pin and a range of pressure values sensed by each of said pressure sensors by the retraction of each of said pins exerting force thereon with one or more pin locations of known identifiers stored in a database.