ELECTRONIC CREDENTIAL SIGNAL ACTIVATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150048928A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Card Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: X-Card Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Cox, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,865,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Various electronic credentials comprising signal activation are disclosed. An electronic credential core comprises a controller configured to maintain an off-state until activated by a received signal during a personalization process. The electronic credential core further comprises an antenna configured to receive a first signal. The energy in the first signal is harvested by a signal interface. The signal interface generates a second signal using the harvested energy of the first signal. The second signal is provided to the controller. The controller transitions to an active state and continuously performs one or more functions until an onboard battery is depleted. By maintaining an off-state until personalization, the electronic credential can be stored without draining power from the battery, extending the shelf life of the electronic credential.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a first signal;

a signal interface coupled to the antenna, the signal interface configured to generate a second signal in response to the first signal;

a controller coupled to the signal interface, the controller configured to maintain an off-state, wherein the controller transitions to an active state in response to the second signal.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a battery coupled to the controller, wherein in the off-state the controller does not draw power from the battery, and wherein in the active state the controller draws power from the battery.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the first signal comprises a radiofrequency signal.

4. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the signal interface is configured to harvest energy from the first signal to generate the second signal.

5. The circuit of claim 4, wherein the second signal comprises a voltage corresponding to the harvested energy of the first signal.

6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein the controller transitions to the active state when the voltage of the second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

7. The circuit of claim 6, comprising a button, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the button when in the active state.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the circuit is contained within a pre-laminate core for use in manufacturing a smart card.

9. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the first signal comprises personalization information, and wherein the signal interface is configured to provide the personalization information to the controller to program the controller.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first signal comprises personalization information, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the signal interface, the personalization information; and

programming the controller using the received personalization information.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein transitioning to the active mode comprises drawing power from a battery to perform one or more predetermined functions.

10. A method for activating an electronic credential, the method comprising:

receiving, by an antenna, a first signal;

generating, by a signal interface, a second signal in response to the first signal;

transmitting the second signal from the signal interface to a controller; and

transitioning, by the controller, from an off-state to an active state in response to the second signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the second signal further comprises harvesting, by the signal interface, energy in the first signal, wherein the second signal is generated using the harvested energy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second signal comprises a voltage corresponding to the harvested energy.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the controller transitions to the active state when the voltage of the second signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16. A system for electronic card manufacture, comprising:

a card programming device configured to generate a first signal comprising personalization information; and

an electronic card core comprising;

an antenna configured to receive the first signal;

a signal interface coupled to the antenna, the signal interface configured to generate a second signal in response to the first signal;

a controller coupled to the signal interface, the controller configured to maintain an off-state, wherein the controller transitions to an active state in response to the second signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the signal interface is configured to program the controller with the personalization information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the personalization information comprises at least one of a credential number, a one-time-passcode seed value, user information, or any combination thereof.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first signal comprises a radiofrequency signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the signal interface is configured to harvest energy from the first signal to generate the second signal, and wherein the second signal comprises a voltage corresponding to the harvested energy of the first signal.