Contactless card automatic check-in check-out device

• US 6,304,223 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Inventors: Hilton, Graham H., Manley, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG V
• Application Number:
  US09/310,792
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.124, 343/702, 343/700.MS, 325/846, 325/492
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

A device for communicating data with a contactless smart card in which a user initiates such communication by at least partially inserting the smart card through an entrance to a cavity of the device. The electromagnetic field produced by the device is largely confined to the cavity and largely oriented in a vertical direction. This structure prevents unintended communication with a smart card carried in a person'"'"'s shirt pocket and minimizes potential health risks from exposure to the field. It also discourages users from moving the card too quickly into and out of the field for a transaction to complete.

Claims

1. A device for communicating data with a contactless smart card, comprising:

a housing having a first axis in a substantially horizontal plane, the housing comprising;

a front surface having an opening for accepting the contactless smart card;

a back surface having means for mounting said housing;

a cavity extending from the opening towards the back surface in a direction parallel to the first axis, the cavity comprising;

a bottom surface adjacent the opening and sloping toward the opening at an angle with respect to the first axis; and

and a top surface at least partially overhanging the bottom surface;

an antenna parallel to the bottom surface of the cavity, the antenna producing an electromagnetic field at least partially within said cavity; and

electronics coupled to the antenna for controlling data communication with the smart card via said antenna.

2. The device for communicating data with a contactless smart card as in claim 1, wherein:

a majority of said electromagnetic field emanates from said antenna in a direction perpendicular to said first axis.

3. The device for communicating data with a contactless smart card as in claim 2, wherein the means for mounting said housing is a vertical conduit for accepting a pole in a mass-transit vehicle.

4. The device for communicating data with a contactless smart card as in claim 1, wherein said angle is greater than zero degrees and less than 45 degrees.

5. The device for communicating data with a contactless smart card as in claim 1, wherein said antenna is a printed circuit antenna.

6. The device for communicating data with a contractless smart card as in claim 5, wherein a conductor of said antenna is circular and defines a boundary for housing said electronics.

7. The device for communicating data with a contactless smart card as in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field is contained within the cavity.

8. A device for contactless smart card communication, the device having a mounting axis and a front surface, the device comprising:

a recessed area on the front surface for accepting the contactless smart card, the recessed area comprising;

a rear wall parallel to the mounting axis;

a first wall and second wall extending from the rear wall to the front surface, the first wall opposing the second wall and extending from the rear wall at an outwardly-opening angle;

an antenna mounted adjacent and parallel to the first wall for producing an electromagnetic field directed towards the second wall and contained within at least a portion of the recessed area; and

electronics coupled to said antenna controlling data communication with said smart card via said antenna.

9. The device recited in claim 8, wherein:

said device is oriented vertically with respect to said mounting axis and wherein said recessed area accepts said contactless smart card oriented horizontally; and

wherein said second wall is an upper wall and said first wall is a lower wall vertically spaced from one another.

10. The device recited in claim 8, wherein said outwardly-opening angle is greater than zero degrees and less than about 45 degrees.

11. The device recited in claim 8, wherein said antenna is a printed circuit antenna.

12. The device recited in claim 11, wherein a conductor of said antenna is circular, and said electronics are positioned within a boundary of said conductor.

13. A method for communicating data with a contactless smart card, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a substantially “

v”

-shaped cavity with a first wall opposing a second wall, said “

v”

-shaped cavity having an interior area sufficient for moving said contactless smart card through said interior area;

providing an antenna for producing an electromagnetic field inside said “

v”

-shaped cavity, said antenna adjacent and parallel to one of said first and second walls;

mounting said device with said “

v”

-shaped cavity oriented horizontally;

producing said electromagnetic field at least partially within said “

v”

-shaped cavity;

inserting said contactless smart card into said “

v”

-shaped cavity utilizing a substantially horizontal motion; and

detecting said insertion of said smart card through said “

v”

-shaped cavity;

wherein said device communicates with said contactless smart card via electronics coupled to said antenna.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the step of mounting said device comprises mounting said device with said “

v”

-shaped cavity oriented vertically, and wherein said step of inserting said contactless smart card comprises utilizing a substantially vertical motion.