MULTI-POINT CAPACITIVE INFORMATION TRANSFER

• US 20130135246A1
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Aubert, Denis, Picon, Joaquin, Pucci, Bernard Y., Tassy, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 9,111,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0813 Specific details related to card security
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0853 On-card keyboard means

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide devices and systems for the transfer of information using multi-point contact on a capacitive surface. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising: a first surface having a plurality of contact points arranged in a pattern and a second surface having a contact area electrically connected to the plurality of contact points, whereby the plurality of contact points on the first surface is activated by a user contacting the contact area on the second surface.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first surface having a plurality of contact points arranged in a pattern; and

a second surface having a contact area electrically connected to the plurality of contact points,

whereby the plurality of contact points on the first surface is activated by a user contacting the contact area on the second surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact points include contact points capable of activating a capacitive surface.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the pattern includes a pre-determined pattern and, when activated, the plurality of contact points is capable of transferring the pattern to a capacitive screen in contact with the first surface.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of contact points includes at least one positioning contact point.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the information includes an account number.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the information includes at least one of the following:

an account expiration date, a device expiration date, a credit card security number, or a name of an account holder.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first surface is opposite the second surface and the plurality of contact points is opposite the contact area.

8. The device of claim 1, whereby the plurality of contact points on the first surface is activated by a user applying a pressure to the contact area on the second surface.

9. A system for transferring information, the system comprising:

a device having;

a first surface having a plurality of contact points arranged in a pattern; and

a second surface having a contact area electrically connected to the plurality of contact points; and

a capacitive screen with which the first surface of the device may be placed in contact,

whereby the pattern is transferred to the capacitive screen when the plurality of contact points on the first surface of the device is activated by a user contacting the contact area on the second surface of the device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the pattern includes a pre-determined pattern.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a computer program product capable of translating the pre-determined pattern.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of contact points includes at least one positioning contact point.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of contact points on the first surface is activated by a user applying a pressure to the contact area on the second surface.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the information includes at least one of the following:

an account number, an account expiration date, a device expiration date, a credit card security number, or a name of an account holder.