Electronic credential signal activation systems and methods

• US 10,255,734 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Card Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: X-Card Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Cox, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US15/864,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20180130272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 340 565, 340 101- 106, 713185, 235492, 235380, 235449, 235493
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An circuit includes a first inductive coil and a second inductive coil each including a plurality of metal traces. The first and second inductive coils are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages. Each of the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field. A first circuit element is configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response at a first power level of the first output voltage. A second circuit element is configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more functions when the second output voltage exceeds a second power level. The first and second power levels are related to movement of the first and second inductive coils through the electromagnetic field.

Claims

1. A circuit, comprising:

a first antenna comprising a first plurality of metal traces disposed in a first coil;

a second antenna comprising a second plurality of metal traces disposed in a second coil, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages, and wherein each of the first plurality of metal traces and the second plurality of metal traces are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field, wherein a level of the first output voltage and a level of the second output voltage are related to movement of the first and second antennas through the electromagnetic field;

a first circuit element configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response when the level of the first output voltage is at a first value; and

a second circuit element configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more predetermined functions when the level of the second output voltage exceeds a second value.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a radiofrequency signal.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the first output voltage and the second output voltage are generated from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

4. The circuit of claim 3, comprising a signal interface coupled to each of the first antenna and the second antenna and configured to generate the first output voltage and the second output voltage from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, the first circuit, and the second circuit are contained within a core for use in manufacturing a smart card.

6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein the first coil comprises a first plurality of loops.

7. The circuit of claim 5, wherein the second antenna comprises a second coil.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is positioned at a first location and the second antenna is positioned at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

20. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first circuit element is a light-emitting diode.

9. A circuit, comprising:

a first inductive coil comprising a first plurality of metal traces;

a second inductive coil comprising a second plurality of metal traces, wherein the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages, and wherein each of the first plurality of metal traces and the second plurality of metal traces are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field, wherein a level of the first output voltage and a level of the second output voltage are related to movement of the first and second antennas through the electromagnetic field;

a first circuit element configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response when the level of the first output voltage is at a first value; and

a second circuit element configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more predetermined functions when the level of the second output voltage exceeds a second value.

10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a radiofrequency signal.

11. The circuit of claim 9, wherein each of the first output voltage and the second output voltage are generated from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

12. The circuit of claim 11, comprising a signal interface coupled to each of the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil and configured to generate the first output voltage and the second output voltage from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

13. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the first inductive coil, the second inductive coil, the first circuit, and the second circuit are contained within a core for use in manufacturing a smart card.

14. The circuit of claim 13, wherein the first inductive coil comprises a first plurality of loops.

15. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the first inductive coil is positioned at a first location and the second inductive coil is positioned at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

16. A method, comprising:

moving a first inductive coil comprising a first plurality of metal traces through an electromagnetic field;

generating a first output voltage for a first circuit element, wherein the first output voltage is generated by movement of the first inductive coil through the electromagnetic field;

generating a first circuit response by the first circuit element when the first output voltage exceeds a first power level;

moving a second inductive coil comprising a second plurality of metal traces through the electromagnetic field simultaneously with the first inductive coil;

generating a second output voltage for a second circuit element, wherein the second output voltage is related to movement of the second inductive coil through the electromagnetic field; and

transitioning the second circuit element to an active state to perform one or more predetermined functions when the second output voltage exceeds a second power level.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first power level and the second power level are related to movement of the first and second inductive coils through the electromagnetic field.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein generating the first output voltage comprises harvesting energy from the electromagnetic signal and generating the first output voltage using the harvested energy.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises a radiofrequency signal.