METHDS AND SYSTEMS FOR ACTIVATING A PROXIMITY INFORMATION DEVICE

• US 20100176948A1
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Garrett, Duncan, Roberts, David Anthony, Tanner, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 8,314,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems

Abstract

A proximity information device includes a body, a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by the body, and a threshold detector coupled to the RFID IC. The RFID IC is operative to transmit a response message in response to an interrogation signal if the threshold detector indicates that a detected magnetic and electric field and the relative strength of magnetic field compared to the electric field satisfy a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A proximity information device comprising:

a body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by the body; and

a threshold detector coupled to the RFID IC;

wherein the RFID IC is operative to transmit a response message in response to an interrogation signal only if the threshold detector indicates that a detected magnetic and electric field satisfy a predetermined threshold.

2. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein the threshold detector is coupled to a magnetic field detector and receives a signal representing the magnitude of a magnetic field detected by said magnetic field detector.

3. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein the threshold detector is coupled to an electric field detector and receives a signal representing the magnitude of an electric field detected by said electric field detector.

4. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined threshold is a ratio of said detected electric field to said detected magnetic field.

5. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined threshold includes a first predetermined threshold of said detected magnetic field and a second predetermined threshold of said detected electric field.

6. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined threshold comprises:

a first predetermined threshold identifying a satisfactory ratio of said detected electric field to said detected magnetic field; and

a second predetermined threshold identifying a satisfactory value of said detected magnetic field and a satisfactory value of said detected electric field.

7. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein the proximity information device is a payment device, and the response message includes a payment card account number.

8. The proximity information device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna embedded in the body and coupled to the RFID IC;

and wherein the RFID IC receives the interrogation signal via the antenna.

9. The proximity information device of claim 8, wherein the interrogation signal provides power for operation of the RFID IC.

10. The proximity information device of claim 8, wherein the antenna is further coupled to a magnetic field detector, the magnetic field detector generating a signal representative of a magnitude of a magnetic component of said interrogation signal.

11. The proximity information device of claim 1, wherein the body is card-shaped.

12. A method comprising:

receiving an interrogation signal at a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC);

detecting the magnitude of a magnetic field component of said interrogation signal;

detecting the magnitude of an electric field component of said interrogation signal;

determining the a ratio of said electric field component to said magnetic field component; and

transmitting an identification code from the RFID IC if said determining indicates that said ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting an identification code from the RFID IC if said determining indicates that said ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold and if both said magnitude of said electric field component and said magnitude of said magnetic field component exceed expected values.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said detecting the magnitude of a magnetic field component and said detecting the magnitude of an electric field component are performed using a threshold detector coupled to an antenna of said RFID IC.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined threshold is stored in a lookup table of a memory of said RFID IC.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said expected values are stored in a lookup table of a memory of said RFID IC.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said threshold detector is coupled to an electric field detector and receives a signal representing a magnitude of a magnetic field measured at an antenna coupled to said RFID IC.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said RFID IC is mounted on a body of a device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said device is at least one of a payment device, an identification device, a medical device, and a training device.