Antenna communication method for a chip card and associated device

• US 20060142063A1
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stmicroelectronics France (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Monsacre, Olivier
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method comprising the following steps consisting in: using a device which is equipped with at least one antenna and at least two contacts which are connected to the antenna; using a chip card comprising a chip which is equipped with at least two surface contacts, a processing module and a radio frequency interface which is associated with said processing module and which is connected to the surface contacts of the card, the surface contacts of the card being connected to the contacts of the device; and transmitting electric signals between the surface contacts of the card and the antenna. The invention can be used, in particular, to increase the communication range of the chip card. The invention also relates to an associated chip card and device

Claims

1. Communication process, comprising the following steps:

supply of equipment fitted with at least one antenna and at least two pins connected to the antenna;

supply of a smart card with a chip supplied with;

at least two surface pins;

a processing module;

a radio-frequency interface associated with the processing module and connected to the surface pins of the card, the surface pins of the card being coupled to the pins of the equipment;

transmission of electrical signals between the surface pins of the card and the antenna.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the supplied chip is in the format given in ISO standard 7816-2 and in that the surface pins of the card are pins C4 and C8.

3. Smart card with a chip fitted with at least two surface pins and a processing module, further comprising a radio-frequency interface associated with the processing module and connected to the two surface pins.

4. Smart card according to claim 3, wherein the chip is in the ISO standard 7816-2 format and the surface pins of the card are pins C4 and C8.

5. Smart card according to claim 3, wherein the card is in the format defined in ISO standard 7816-1.

6. Smart card according to claim 3, wherein the card is in the format of a GSM standard.

7. Equipment with an antenna and a coupling interface that could be coupled to a smart card, wherein:

the coupling interface has two pins that could be coupled to surface pins of a so-called smart card;

the pins of the equipment are connected to the antenna (11).

8. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein:

the pins on the equipment can be coupled to pins C4 and C8 of a smart card in the ISO standard 7816-2 format.

9. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein the equipment it is a cell phone.

10. Equipment according to claim 9, wherein:

the telephone has a body and a removable battery; and

the antenna is fixed to the removable battery.

11. Equipment according to claim 9, wherein:

the telephone has a body and a removable battery; and

the antenna is fixed to the body.

12. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein the equipment is an automobile vehicle.

13. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein it is a PDA.

14. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein the equipment is a smart card support.

15. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein the equipment it is a storage device.

16. Equipment according to claim 7, wherein the equipment the antenna is active.