CHIP CARD WITH COMPLEMENTARY ELECTRONIC MEANS

• US 20090298543A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: WILLEMIN, Michel
• Application Number:
  US12/466,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/122 by metal resistance strain gauges, e.g. wire resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• 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 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• 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: G07C 2009/0096 Electronic keys comprising a non-biometric sensor

Abstract

The chip card includes at least one integrated circuit (11) provided with a memory unit, which stores personal data and some configuration parameters. The integrated circuit is enclosed in an insulating material that forms said card. The chip card may also include connecting means, such as a zone of accessible electric contacts (V_CC, GND) on at least one surface of the card, for contact with complementary contact terminals of an electronic instrument. These electric contacts are electrically connected to corresponding contact pads of the integrated circuit. The chip card may be a memory card or a SIM card. The chip card also includes a measuring circuit with a sensor (C) for measuring a physical parameter so as to provide at least one output signal relating to the physical parameter measurement (S_D) by one of the electric contacts (I/O).

Claims

1. A chip card which includes at least one integrated circuit provided with a memory unit, in which personal data and/or at least one chip card identification code and/or configuration parameters can be stored, said integrated circuit being enclosed in an insulating material that forms said card, the card also including connecting means for communicating with an electronic instrument, said connecting means being electrically connected to corresponding contact pads of the integrated circuit, the chip card further including a measuring circuit with a sensor for measuring a physical parameter so as to be able to supply at least one output signal relating to the measurement of the physical parameter, wherein the measuring circuit with a sensor includes a movement sensor for detecting a shock or for measuring an acceleration, and a sensor interface connected to the sensor, for providing a measurement signal for the physical parameter to measurement signal pre-processing means such that the pre-processing means supply an output signal relating to the parameter measurement that can be exploited directly in an active manner for commanding an action or function of an electronic instrument.

2. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means include a wireless connection device and/or an accessible electric contact zone on at least one surface of the card that comes into contact with complementary contact terminals of an electronic instrument in which said chip card can be placed, said electric contacts being electrically connected to corresponding contact pads of the integrated circuit, and wherein the measuring circuit with the sensor for measuring a physical parameter can supply at least one output signal relating to the measurement of the physical parameter via the wireless connection device and/or by one of the electric contacts of the contact zone.

3. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit with a sensor is a triaxial accelerometer.

4. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the chip card is a SIM card that can be placed in the electronic instrument, which is a mobile telephone, and wherein the measuring circuit interface is provided on the basis of one single or several successive accelerations or shocks to said chip card, to supply a signal for commanding the execution of a pre-programmed action or function in the electronic instrument.

5. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein at least one dedicated register in the integrated circuit memory unit is provided for storing the output signal relating to measurement of the measuring circuit parameter.

6. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein measuring circuit configuration parameters, peculiar to a chip card user, and/or different successive output signals from the measuring circuit, are stored in a memory unit of the integrated circuit.

7. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit includes a movement sensor and a pressure and/or temperature sensor, which can be switched on alternately.

8. The chip card according to claim 4, wherein, in addition to the memory unit, the SIM card includes a microprocessor unit for processing data or commands received or transmitted by the means for connection to an electronic instrument, such as a mobile telephone, in which said chip card can be placed.

9. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit without the sensor is made in an integrated circuit of the chip card, and in that the sensor is a micro-electro-mechanical element, which is electrically connected to a sensor interface of the measuring circuit.

10. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit with the sensor is made in the same semiconductor substrate as the chip card integrated circuit.

11. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit without the sensor is made in a second integrated circuit and electrically connected to the first integrated circuit of the chip card, the first and second integrated circuits being placed side by side in the insulating material of the chip card, and wherein the sensor is a micro-electro-mechanical element, which is electrically connected to a sensor interface of the measuring circuit.

12. The chip card according to claim 9, wherein the sensor is mounted on the integrated circuit that includes the measuring circuit.

13. The chip card according to claim 1, wherein it includes means for electrically powering the chip card components, such as a solar cell or an electric energy accumulator.

14. The electronic instrument including a chip card according to claim 1, wherein the measuring circuit of the chip card is provided for supplying a control output signal on the basis of one single or several successive accelerations or shocks to the movement sensor of said chip card, the control signal commanding a pre-programmed action or function to be executed directly in an active manner in the electronic instrument.

15. The electronic instrument according to claim 14, wherein it is a mobile telephone, and in that the chip card is a SIM card, whose measuring circuit with a sensor is used for executing an action or function that is not a telephonic function.