Dual mode controller for ISO7816 and USB enabled smart cards

• US 20030155420A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro Incorporated
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Han, Ching-Yung, Oh, Hyang-Kyun, Morrow, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00

Abstract

A dual mode smart card controller is provided. In one embodiment, a USB and ISO7816 smart card controller is provided that determines the type of card that is inserted into a slot. If the smart card is a USB smart card, the controller is adapted to pass control of the smart card to an external PC host USB hub circuit. If the smart card is an ISO7816 card, then control is handled by the dual mode controller. In another embodiment, the controller includes an embedded USB hub circuit to permit the controller to directly control both USB and ISO7816 smart cards. Exemplary control sequencing includes monitoring a C4 signal line for a preselected time period, or generating an enable signal if a USB smart card is detected.

Claims

1. A dual mode smart card controller, comprising an ISO7816 smart card control logic, card detect logic and power control logic;

and a USB card identification logic coupled to said card detect logic and adapted to mask a USB smart card from said card detect logic, and signal filter coupled to said smart card control logic and adapted to monitor a preselected smart card signal line and change the state of said signal line if a USB card is present.

2. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a host bus protocol handler coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic, card detect logic and power control logic adapted to generate PC host bus communication signals.

3. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands and data between said dual mode smart card controller and a PC host bus.

4. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an identification power sequencer adapted to provide power to a smart card for a predetermined time period, and if said smart card is a USB card to discontinue power to said USB smart card after said predetermined time period.

5. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power switch to couple power to a smart card.

6. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said USB card identification logic monitoring the signal states of preselected signal lines associated with a smart card to determine if the smart card is an ISO7816 or USB type smart card.

7. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said preselected signal lines comprise the C4 and C8 signals defined by the USB specification, represented by a DATA+ and a DATA−

signals of said USB specification.

8. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal filter monitor a C4 signal line to determine if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than 2.5 micro-seconds, and wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than 2.5 microseconds then control of a smart card is passed to a PC host USB hub circuit.

10. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 9, wherein if wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for less than 2.5 micro-seconds then control of a smart card is passed to said ISO7816 control logic.

11. A dual mode smart card controller, comprising an ISO7816 smart card control logic, card detect logic and power control logic;

a USB card identification logic coupled to said card detect logic and adapted to mask a USB smart card from said card detect logic, and a USB signal filter coupled to said smart card control logic and adapted to monitor a preselected smart card signal line and change the state of said signal line if a USB card is present; and

an embedded USB hub circuit to provide input and output commands to a USB smart cards.

12. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a host bus protocol handler coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic, card detect logic and power control logic adapted to generate PC host bus communication signals.

13. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands and data between said dual mode smart card controller and a PC host bus.

14. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an identification power sequencer adapted to provide power to a smart card for a predetermined time period, and if said smart card is a USB card to discontinue power to said USB smart card after said predetermined time period.

15. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a power switch to couple power to a smart card.

16. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein said USB card identification logic monitoring the signal states of preselected signal lines associated with a smart card to determine if the smart card is an ISO7816 or USB type smart card.

17. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 16, wherein said preselected signal lines comprise the C4 and C8 signals defined by the USB specification, represented by a DATA+ and a DATA−

signals of said USB specification.

18. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein said signal filter monitor a C4 signal line to determine if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than 2.5 micro-seconds, and wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than 2.5 micro-seconds then control of a smart card is passed to embedded USB hub circuit.

20. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 19, wherein if wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for less than 2.5 micro-seconds then control of a smart card is passed to said ISO7816 control logic.

21. A dual mode smart card controller, comprising an ISO7816 smart card control logic, card detect logic and power control logic;

a USB card identification logic coupled to said card detect logic and adapted to mask a USB smart card from said card detect logic, and further adapted to generate a USB enable signal if said USB card identification logic determines that a USB smart card is present; and

an embedded USB hub circuit to provide input and output commands to a USB smart cards if enabled by said USB enable signal.

22. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a host bus protocol handler coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic, card detect logic and power control logic adapted to generate PC host bus communication signals.

23. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands and data between said dual mode smart card controller and a PC host bus.

24. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 21, further comprising an identification power sequencer adapted to provide power to a smart card for a predetermined time period, and if said smart card is a USB card to discontinue power to said USB smart card after said predetermined time period.

25. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a power switch to couple power to a smart card.

26. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 21, wherein said USB card identification logic monitoring the signal states of preselected signal lines associated with a smart card to determine if the smart card is an ISO7816 or USB type smart card.

27. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 26, wherein said preselected signal lines comprise the C4 and C8 signals defined by the USB specification, represented by a DATA+ and a DATA−

signals of said USB specification.

28. A method of determining and ISO7816 or USB smart card comprising the steps of:

coupling power to a smart card for a predetermined time period;

polling the signal states of preselected smart card signals; and

determining if said smart card is a USB smart card or an ISO7816 smart card.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of masking the identity of a USB smart card to an ISO7816 card detection logic circuit.

30. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of monitoring the state of a C4 signal line, and if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than 2.5 microseconds then control of a smart card is passed to a PC host USB hub circuit, and if said C4 signal line is logic high for less than 2.5 micro-seconds then control of a smart card is passed to an ISO7816 control logic.

31. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of monitoring the state of a C4 signal line, and if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than 2.5 microseconds then control of a smart card is passed to an embedded PC host USB hub circuit, and if said C4 signal line is logic high for less than 2.5 micro-seconds then control of a smart card is passed to an ISO7816 control logic.