Dual mode proximity and in-range smart card data transaction system

• US 6,202,927 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: On Track Innovations Limited (Nayax Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: On Track Innovations Limited (Nayax Ltd.)
• Inventors: Itay, Nehemya, Bashan, Oded, Gilboa, Ronnie, Aduk, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/093,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/492, 235/375, 235/385, 340/825.34, 340/825.54, 340/10.1, 340/10.34
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0705 the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A data transaction system for process monitoring, with smart cards of the ISO geometric dimensions, featuring contact and bi-directional inductive coupling communication, for collecting and storing data. The system comprises fixed triggering stations for short range data transfer with the smart cards in response to emissions from sensors. The sensors report data related to variables such as location, device status, operation sequencing and time. A send-and-receive station allows for downloading of the stored data and for loading instruction sets in contact or contactless mode. The smart cards comprise a signal amplifier, transceivers, a processor, memories, timer, an on-board battery, cognizable non-compliance warning, optional feedback and energy saving procedures.

Claims

1. A dual range proximity and in-range smart card data transaction system, comprising:

a triggering station comprising a triggering transceiver for effecting data transfer with a smart card by inductive coupling communication when in a predetermined range thereof;

a send and receive station for effecting bi-directional communication with the smart card by inductive coupling when in proximity therewith;

the smart card comprising;

a semiconductor device coupled to a coil antenna for effecting data communication with a remote coil antenna so as to receive a signal therefrom, and

an amplifier coupled to the coil antenna for amplifying said signal so as thereby to extend an operating range of the smart card and allow an in range communication with the triggering station,

a battery for supplying energy to the amplifier and to components of the smart card during in-range mode,

a card triggering receiver for effecting inductive coupling and defined area of communication with the triggering station so as to receive data therefrom upon passage within a predetermined area of the triggering station,

a memory for storing a predetermined instruction set for process monitoring,

a processor coupled to the card triggering receiver and to the memory and responsive to the predetermined instruction set for operating functions of the smart card, and

a card transceiver coupled to the processor for effecting non-contact inductive coupling communication with the send and receive station and being at least partially powered by energy received therefrom for allowing data transfer when within close proximity of the send and receive station;

whereby the send and receive station may load predetermined instruction sets into and retrieve data from the smart card for processing by the processor and for data transfer of processed data to the send and receive station via the card transceiver and for receiving data via the send and receive station.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the card triggering receiver receives a triggering signal upon passage within a predetermined range of the triggering station, and

the triggering transceiver triggers the smart card from a dormant state to an active state or vice versa in accordance with said data and with the predetermined instruction set.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the active state comprises a partially active state and a fully active state,

the triggering transceiver is responsive to the received data for triggering the smart card from the dormant state to the partially active state, and

the processor is responsive to the instruction set for setting the smart card to a desired state.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the triggering station comprises;

a triggering station coil antenna coupled to the triggering station transceiver for emitting signals and modulated data generated by the triggering station transceiver; and

the smart card triggering receiver comprises;

a card triggering coil antenna for receiving said signals and modulated data so as to provide for short range inductive coupling data transfer between the triggering station and the smart card.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the card triggering receiver includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency tuned to a frequency of the triggering station transceiver.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the card triggering receiver includes a matched antenna circuit for maximizing the efficiency thereof.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering station operates at a frequency between 100 KHz and 150 KHz.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering station operates at a frequency of 125 KHz.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering station and the card triggering receiver effect inductive coupling communication over a range of up to 15 m.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the smart card further comprises:

a power switch connected between the battery and the processor and being responsively coupled to the card triggering receiver for connecting the battery to or disconnecting the battery from the processor;

whereby the processor and associated components of the smart card are de-energized while the power switch is open.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the smart card further comprises:

a sensor coupled to the card triggering coil antenna for generating a sensor signal upon receipt of said triggering signal, and

a power switch connected between the battery and the processor and being responsively coupled to the sensor signal for connecting the battery to or disconnecting the battery from the processor;

whereby the processor and associated components of the smart card are de-energized while the power switch is open.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the smart card further comprises:

a power switch connected between the battery and the processor and being responsively coupled to the card triggering receiver for connecting the battery to or disconnecting the battery from the processor;

the smart card being in the dormant state or the active state, according to whether the power switch is open or closed, respectively.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the triggering station comprises;

a triggering station coil antenna coupled to the triggering station transceiver for emitting signals and modulated data generated by the triggering station transceiver; and

the smart card further comprises;

a sensor coupled to the card triggering coil antenna for generating a sensor signal upon receipt of said triggering signal, and

a power switch connected between the battery and the processor and being responsively coupled to the sensor signal for connecting the battery to or disconnecting the battery from the processor;

the card triggering coil antenna being coupled to the card triggering receiver for receiving said signals and modulated data so as to provide for short range inductive coupling data transfer between the triggering station and the smart card, and

the smart card being in the dormant state or the active state, according to whether the power switch is open or closed, respectively.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the power switch is responsively coupled to the processor for operating in accordance with said predetermined instruction set and data.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the smart card further comprises:

a timer coupled between the battery and the power switch and being responsively coupled to the processor for providing time reference signals thereto for storage in said memory.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the timer includes a counter for counting a predetermined number of accumulated counts indicative of an elapsed time period equal to a specified time unit and being programmed to forward to the memory, via the processor, one pulse upon each predetermined number of accumulated counts.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein:

the processor is responsively coupled to the timer for resetting the counter to zero after each time unit, and

the power switch is responsive to the processor for opening when the counter is reset to zero;

whereby the processor may be de-energized during accumulation by the timer of successive time units, while being periodically energized for keeping track of successive time units.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the timer is a real time clock programmed to forward real time to the memory, via the processor.

19. The data transaction system according to claim 13, wherein the smart card further comprises:

a warning indicator coupled to the power switch and the processor and being responsive to said predetermined instruction set for providing a warning signal upon occurrence of a specified event.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein:

an alarm is coupled to the warning indicator and responsive to the warning signal for emitting an alarm signal or a combination of alarm signals cognizable to one or more human senses.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the alarm is a buzzer.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the alarm is a LED.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the alarm is a vibrator.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the card triggering receiver is responsively coupled to the processor for receiving triggering signals,

thereby allowing the processor to store in the memory data relating triggering signals to elapsed time.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the triggering station emits modulated inductive emissions comprising time signals, and

the processor stores in memory the emissions received by the card triggering receiver.

26. The data transaction system according to claim 1 wherein:

the card triggering receiver receives a triggering signal upon passage within a predetermined range of the triggering station,

the triggering transceiver triggers the smart card from a dormant state to an active state or vice versa in accordance with said data and with the predetermined instruction set,

the card triggering receiver is responsive to received data for initiating a triggering signal and obtaining time information, and

the triggering transceiver stores the time information in memory.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein

data representative of said event is stored in memory in association with elapsed time and received data and signals.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the card transceiver is coupled to the processor and the smart card is energized by mutual inductive coupling with the send and receive station.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the smart card further comprises contacts coupled to the card transceiver for effecting contact communication with the send and receive station, and

the send and receive station further comprises contacts coupled to the processor for coupling with the contact field of the smart card;

thereby allowing bi-directional contact data transfer between the smart card and the send and receive station.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the contacts allow energy transfer from the send and receive station for powering of the smart card.

31. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station emits at a frequency between 1 MHz and 60 MHz.

32. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station emits at a frequency of 13.56 MHz in accordance with ISO 14443.

33. The system according to claim 1, wherein the send and receive station transceiver and the card transceiver provide for a proximity communication range of up to 20 cm.

34. A data transaction system according to claim 1, comprising a smart card and at least two triggering stations;

wherein;

the card triggering transceiver effects bi-directional inductive coupling communication with each triggering station so that upon passage within predetermined range of the respective triggering station the smart card emits signals and modulated data generated by the card triggering transceiver, and

each triggering station comprises a respective triggering transceiver for receiving the signals and modulated data emitted by the smart card.