Information System Including a Card and a Card Reader Connected Optically

• US 20140016945A1
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pan, Yang
• Original Assignee: Pan, Yang
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10207 parameter settings related to power consumption of the interrogator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1097 Optical sensing of electronic memory record carriers, such as interrogation of RFIDs with an additional optical interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal

Abstract

An information system comprises a card and a card reader. The card and the card reader can be coupled by an optical communication module and an optical power transfer module. Operations of the card can be powered by the power transferred from the card reader through the optical power transfer module. In one embodiment, the card and the card reader comprise multiple cells of transmitter/receiver that transmit and receive data in a parallel manner

Claims

1. An information system comprising:

a. a card;

b. a card reader;

c. an optical communication module for transferring data between the card and the card reader; and

d. an optical power transfer module for transferring power from the card reader to the card for powering operations of the card when the card and the card reader are coupled.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said optical communication module further comprises:

a. a transmitter and a receiver in the card reader; and

b. a transmitter and a receiver in the card.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said transmitters further comprise light emitting diodes.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said receivers further comprise photodiodes.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said optical power transfer module further comprises:

a. a light source in the card reader; and

b. an optical power receiver in the card.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said light source further comprises a laser.

7. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said light source further comprises a light emitting diode.

8. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said optical power receiver further comprises photodiodes.

9. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein said light source and said optical power receiver are employed to transfer data from the card reader to the card.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said card further comprises a processor and a file storage unit.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said card is a financial transaction card.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said card reader is a part of mobile computing and communication device.

13. An information system comprising:

a. a card including at least a photodiode;

b. a card reader including at least a light source;

c. a light beam emitted from the light source and received by the photodiode, wherein said light beam carries energy for powering operations of card and carries data to be stored in a file storage unit of the card.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said system further comprises a light emitting diode in the card and a photodiode in the card reader for transmitting data from the card to the card reader.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said card further comprises a processor.

16. An information system comprising:

a. a card;

b. a card reader;

c. an optical communication module for transferring data between the card and the card reader, wherein said optical communication module further comprises a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers in the card and in the card reader; and

d. an optical power transfer module for transferring power from the card reader to the card for powering operations of the card when the card and the card reader are coupled.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said plurality of transmitters transmit and said plurality of receivers receive data in a predetermined parallel manner.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, said card further comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each of the cells further comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said card reader further comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each of the cells further comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

20. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said card reader further comprises an open slot for receiving said card.