Systems and methods for cards and devices operable to communicate to touch sensitive displays

• US 10,504,105 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D., Hartwick, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Toan
• Application Number:
  US13/110,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20110284632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,128 Days
• Field of Search: 235380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0853 On-card keyboard means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/088 the card reader being part of the point of sale [POS] terminal or electronic cash register [ECR] itself

Abstract

A card is provided with a touch transmitter operable to electrically communicate touch signals to a touch-sensitive screen such as a capacitive touch sensitive screen. In doing so, for example, a card may directly communicate with a mobile telephonic device or portable computer (e.g., a tablet computer).

Claims

1. A card comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a touch transmitter including a conductive plate, said processor operable to electrically communicate information stored in said memory to a touch sensitive screen via control signals received from said processor,

wherein said processor is operable to change a capacitance of said conductive plate relative to a threshold, said change being at least one selected from the group consisting of below a capacitance threshold and above a capacitance threshold.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein said information is payment information.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein said touch transmitter includes a transistor coupled to said conductive plate, wherein said processor deactivates said transistor to decrease said capacitance of said conductive plate below said capacitance threshold.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein said touch transmitter includes a transistor coupled to said conductive plate, wherein said processor activates said transistor to increase said capacitance of said conductive plate above said capacitance threshold.

5. A card comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a touch transmitter, said processor operable to electrically communicate information stored in said memory to a touch sensitive screen via control signals received from said processor,

wherein said touch transmitter includes a transistor having an isolation circuit coupled between a control terminal of said transistor and said processor.

6. A system comprising:

a card including a touch transmitter with a conductive plate; and

a device including a touch-sensitive screen,

wherein said touch transmitter is operable to communicate information from said card to said device via said touch sensitive screen, and

said card is operable to change a capacitance of said conductive plate relative to a threshold, said change being at least one selected from the group consisting of below a capacitance threshold and above a capacitance threshold.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said information is payment information.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said information is payment information used by said device to complete a purchase transaction.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said information is authentication information.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said information is authentication information used by said device to authorize a function performed by said device.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said touch-sensitive screen includes a predetermined location operable to receive said communicated information.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein any portion of said touch-sensitive screen is operable to receive said communicated information.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein said touch-sensitive screen includes a status indicator operable to indicate a status of said communicated information.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein said touch-sensitive screen includes a status indicator operable to indicate a status of said communicated information, wherein said status indicator indicates whether said communicated information is received.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein said touch-sensitive screen includes a status indicator operable to indicate a status of said communicated information, wherein said status indicator indicates whether said communicated information is valid.

16. A method comprising:

activating a button to initiate communication;

placing a card against a device;

simulating a touch by said card;

detecting said simulated touch by said device; and

storing said detection within said device as data communicated by said card to said device,

wherein simulating a touch includes increasing a capacitance of a conductive plate of said card above a capacitance threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said communicated data is payment information used by said device to complete a purchase transaction.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said communicated data is authentication information used by said device to authorize a function performed by said device.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing feedback from said device indicative of a status of said detection.