Dual mode controller for ISO7816 and USB enabled smart cards

• US 20050242197A1
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Limited
• Original Assignee: Ching-Yung Han, Hyang-Kyun Oh, Neil Morrow
• Inventors: Han, Ching-Yung, Oh (Brian Oh), Hyang-Kyun, Morrow, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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 identification power sequencer configured to provide power to a smart card for a time period and to discontinue power to said smart card after said time period if said smart card is a non-USB smart card.

2. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 1, further comprising:

ISO7816 smart card control logic;

card detect logic;

power control logic;

USB card identification logic coupled to said card detect logic and configured to mask notification of a presence of a USB smart card from said card detect logic; and

a signal filter coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic and configured to monitor a C4 smart card signal from a C4 pin position and change a state of said C4 signal if said non-USB smart card is present.

3. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 2, further comprising a host bus protocol handler coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic, said card detect logic, and said power control logic, and configured to generate PC host bus communication signals.

4. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 3, further comprising a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands between said dual mode smart card controller and a PC host bus.

5. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 2, wherein said USB card identification logic monitors said C4 smart card signal and a C8 smart card signal from a C8 pin position to determine if said smart card is said USB smart card or an ISO7816 smart card, said C4 smart card signal representative of a DATA+ signal and said C8 smart card signal representative of a DATA−

signal if said smart card is said USB smart card.

6. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 2, wherein said time period is 2.5 microseconds, and wherein said signal filter monitors said C4 smart card signal to determine if said C4 smart card signal is a logic high, and if said C4 smart card signal is said logic high for more than 2.5 microseconds then control of said smart card is passed to a PC host USB hub circuit.

7. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 6, wherein if said C4 smart card signal is said logic high for less than 2.5 microsecond then control of said smart card is passed to said ISO7816 control logic.

8. A smart card reader comprising:

an opening configured to accept a smart card; and

a dual smart card controller, said dual smart card controller comprising an identification power sequencer configured to provide power to said smart card for a time period when said smart card is inserted in said opening and to discontinue power to said smart card after said time period if said smart card is a non-USB smart card.

9. The smart card reader of claim 8, wherein said dual mode smart card controller further comprises:

ISO7816 smart card control logic;

card detect logic;

power control logic;

USB card identification logic coupled to said card detect logic and configured to mask notification of a presence of a USB smart card from said card detect logic; and

a signal filter coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic and configured to monitor a C4 smart card signal from a C4 pin position and change a state of said C4 signal if said non-USB smart card is present in said opening.

10. The smart card reader of claim 9, wherein said dual mode smart card controller further comprises a host bus protocol handler coupled to said ISO7816 smart card control logic, said card detect logic, and said power control logic, and configured to generate PC host bus communication signals.

11. The smart card reader of claim 10, wherein said dual mode smart card controller further comprises a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands between said dual mode smart card controller and a PC host bus.

12. The dual mode smart card controller of claim 9, wherein said USB card identification logic monitors said C4 smart card signal and a C8 smart card signal from a C8 pin position to determine if said smart card is said USB smart card or an ISO7816 smart card, said C4 smart card signal representative of a DATA+ signal and said C8 smart card signal representative of a DATA−

signal if said smart card is said USB smart card.

13. The smart card reader of claim 9, wherein said time period is 2.5 microseconds, and wherein said signal filter monitors said C4 smart card signal to determine if said C4 smart card signal is a logic high, and if said C4 smart card signal is said logic high for more than 2.5 microseconds then control of said smart card is passed to a PC host USB hub circuit.

14. The smart card reader of claim 13, wherein if said C4 smart card signal is said logic high for less than 2.5 microsecond then control of said smart card is passed to said ISO7816 control logic.