Shielding of portable consumer device

• US 20080303632A1
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hammad, Ayman
• Granted Patent: US 8,604,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0007 Casings standardised racks H05K9/0062

Abstract

A portable consumer device is disclosed. An electromagnetic shield is provided in the portable consumer device that is capable of preventing communication between the portable consumer device and an interrogation device. The shield is movable between a distal position in which communication with the interrogation device is enabled and a proximate position in which the shield prevents the transmitting antenna from communicating with the interrogation device.

Claims

1. A portable consumer device comprising:

a memory for storing information;

an antenna coupled to the memory;

a base portion containing at least the antenna; and

a shield portion comprising a shield movable between a proximate position in which the shield prevents the antenna from communicating with an interrogation device and a distal position in which communication with the interrogation device is enabled, wherein the shield portion and the base portion are movably coupled together.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shield in the proximate position is configured to prevent communication between an interrogation device and the antenna when the antenna is between the interrogation device and the shield.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the shield comprises a conductive material.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the shield is configured to prevent RF signals from an interrogation device from reaching the antenna, and wherein the antenna is a near field antenna.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the proximate position is a closed position and the shield prevents the antenna from transmitting the stored information to the interrogation device in the closed position.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the portable consumer device is capable of being interrogated by an interrogation signal generated by the interrogation device when the shield is in the distal position.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the antenna generates power from the received interrogation signal.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the interrogation signal comprises data to be stored in the memory.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable consumer device comprises one of a payment card, a key fob, and a cellular phone.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable consumer device is batteryless.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is coupled to a power source disposed within the portable consumer device.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the antenna is disposed on a base portion of the device and the shield is disposed on a shield portion of the device, the base and shield portions being movable with respect to each other to move the shield into the proximate and distal positions.

13. A system comprising:

the interrogation device; and

the portable consumer device of claim 1 in communication with the interrogation device.

14. A method of using the portable consumer device of claim 1, the method comprising:

obtaining the portable consumer device;

moving the shield into the distal position to provide access to the antenna; and

placing the portable consumer device near the interrogation device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the portable consumer device is placed within about 10 inches or less of the interrogation device.

16. A method for forming a portable consumer device comprising:

attaching a memory for storing information to a substrate;

forming an antenna on the substrate, wherein the antenna is coupled to the memory in the portable consumer device; and

movably coupling a shield to the device configured to prevent the antenna from transmitting the stored information to an interrogation device, wherein the shield is movable between a distal position and a proximal position.

17. A portable consumer device comprising:

a memory for storing information;

an antenna coupled to the memory and associated with a base portion of the portable consumer device;

a shield portion comprising a shield coupled to the base portion, the shield comprising conductive material; and

a movable element coupling the base portion and the shield portion and capable of moving the shield portion between a proximate position and a distal position, wherein the portable consumer device is batteryless.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the shield in the proximate position is configured to prevent communication between the interrogation device and the antenna when the antenna is between the interrogation device and the shield.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the portable consumer device is capable of being interrogated by an interrogation signal generated by the interrogation device when the shield is in the distal position.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the antenna generates power from the received interrogation signal.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the interrogation signal comprises data to be stored in the memory.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the portable consumer device comprises one of a payment card, a key fob, and a cellular phone.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the antenna is a near field antenna.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the antenna is coupled to a power source disposed within the portable consumer device.

25. A system comprising:

an interrogation device; and

the portable consumer device of claim 17 in communication with the interrogation device.

26. A method of using the portable consumer device of claim 17, the method comprising:

moving the shield into the distal position; and

placing the portable consumer device near the interrogation device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the portable consumer device is placed within about 10 inches or less of the interrogation device.

28. A method for forming a batteryless portable consumer device comprising:

securing a memory unit for storing information to a substrate;

forming an antenna on the substrate, wherein the antenna is coupled to the memory in the portable consumer device, and wherein the substrate is disposed on a base portion of the portable consumer device; and

movably coupling a shield comprising a conductive material to the base portion, the shield is configured to prevent the antenna from transmitting the stored information to an interrogation device and is movable relative to the base portion between a distal position and a proximal position.