SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CARDS AND DEVICES OPERABLE TO COMMUNICATE VIA LIGHT PULSING

• US 20110284640A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D., Rigatti, Christopher J., Hartwick, David J., Yen, Philip W.
• Granted Patent: US 11,120,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/469
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0853 On-card keyboard means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/088 the card reader being part of the point of sale [POS] terminal or electronic cash register [ECR] itself

Abstract

A card is provided with a light sensor operable to receive information via light emitted from a display screen or another source of light. Accordingly, a mobile telephonic device or portable computer (e.g., tablet computer) may communicate information to a card via light pulses. Information communicated via light may include, for example, points balances, credit balances, debit balances, transaction history, software updates, coupons, promotions, advertisements or any other type of information.

Claims

1. A card comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a light sensor operable to receive light signals, wherein said processor may decode said light signals, said processor may store said decoded information in memory, and said received light signals may be frequency double-frequency (F2F) encoded.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein said light sensor is operable to detect multiple colors of said received light signals.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein said light sensor is operable to detect multiple colors of said received light signals and said processor may decode said detected multiple colors into said decoded information.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein said light sensor is operable to detect color transitions between said received light signals.

5. The card of claim 1, wherein said light sensor is operable to detect color transitions between said received light signals and said processor may decode said detected color transitions into said decoded information.

6. The card of claim 1, wherein said light sensor is operable to detect multiple intensities of said received light signals.

7. The card of claim 1, wherein said light sensor is operable to detect multiple intensities of said received light signals and said processor may decode said detected multiple intensities into said decoded information.

8. A system comprising:

a card including a first light sensor; and

a device operable to generate light signals, wherein said card is operable to receive information from said device via said light signals detected by said first light sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said card includes a processor operable to decode said information from a duration of said detected light signals.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said card includes a processor operable to decode said information from a duration between said detected light signals.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said card includes a processor operable to decode said information from a color of said detected light signals.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said card includes a processor operable to decode said information from an intensity of said detected light signals.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said card further comprises a second light sensor, wherein said card is operable to receive information from said device via said light signals detected by said first and second light sensors.

14. A method comprising:

generating pulses of light from a device;

detecting said pulses of light with a card; and

decoding said detected pulses of light as information communicated from said device to said card.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a light sensor of said card detects a duration of said pulses of light and a processor of said card decodes said detected duration into said information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a light sensor of said card detects a duration between said pulses of light and a processor of said card decodes said detected duration into said information.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a light sensor of said card detects a color of said pulses of light and a processor of said card decodes said detected color into said information.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a light sensor of said card detects a color transition between said pulses of light and a processor of said card decodes said detected color transition into said information.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a light sensor of said card detects an intensity of said pulses of light and a processor of said card decodes said detected intensity into said information.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein first and second light sensors of said card detects said pulses of light and a processor of said card decodes said detected pulses of light into said information.