Chip card with at least two coil devices for transferring data and/or energy

• US 6,398,116 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Angewandte Digital Elektronik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Angewandte Digital GmbH
• Inventors: Kreft, Hans-Diedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/446,403
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/435, 340/10.34
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a chip card with at least two coil devices (2, 3) for transferring data and/or energy with a write/read device (terminal) without contacts and optionally, with contacts (1). One or several of the coils (2) of the first coil device (2) is/are a coil/s for the close coupled environment, and one or several of the coils (3) of the second coil device (3) is/are a coil/coils for the remote coupled environment. An electronics unit is able to differentiate between the coil devices (2, 3) according to different physical features e.g., phase and/or frequency and/or amplitude and/or energy differences. When the remote coupled environment (3) and close coupled environment coil(s) (2) are situated in an electromagnetic alternating field at the same time and enough energy is being supplied through the remote coupled environment coil(s), a stereo signal (S1) which takes on a characteristic value (A1) is generated in a first part (4) of said electronics unit (6). The differences in the electromagnetic alternating field between the remote coupled environment (3) and close coupled environment coil(s) (2) are used in the form of phase and/or frequency and/or amplitude and/or energy differences to produce a second characteristic value (A2) of the stereo signal (S1). When the differences in the electromagnetic alternating field between the remote coupled environment (3) and close coupled environment coil(s) (2) disappear, the stereo signal (S1) is either not produced or takes on a third value (A3). In both cases the chip card can still be used with its environment with restricted functions, for as long as the energy supplied from the remote coupled environment coils (3) permits. When the stereo signal (S1) with the second value (A2) is produced the chip card can be used with additional functions, using the stereo effect to fulfil different functions according to whether it is operating with the close coupled environment or the remote-coupled environment.

Claims

1. A chip card with at least two coil arrangements for contact-free transmission as well as, potentially, contact-effected transmission with contacts of data and/or energy to a write-read device, whereby one or more of the coils of the first coil arrangement are coils for the near range and one or more of the coils of the second coil arrangement are coils for the far range, with an electronics that is connected to the coil arrangements and, potentially, to the contacts and that is suitable for distinguishing between the different coil arrangements according to different physical features such as phase or frequency or amplitude or energy differences, whereby a) a stereo signal is generated in a first part of the electronics, this stereo signal assuming a first characteristic value when the far range and the near range coil or coils are simultaneously located in an electromagnetic alternating field and the energy feed via the far range coil or coils suffices in order to activate the electronics or at least the part, b) differences in the electromagnetic alternating field between the far range coil or coils and the near range coil or coils in the form of phase, frequency or amplitude and/or energy differences are utilized in order to generate a second characteristic, value of the stereo signal, c) when the differences in the electromagnetic alternating field between the far range coil or coils and the near range coil or coils disappear, the stereo signal fails to arrive as a result thereof or assumes a further, third characteristic value and, in both these instances, the chip card remains unuseable with its environment with limited function as long as the energy that is beamed in from the far range coil or coils allows it, d) by contrast whereto, given presence of the stereo signal with the second characteristic value, the chip card is useable with additional functions beyond the limited function.

2. A chip card according to claim 1, wherein, given the presence of said stereo signal with said first value and adequate energy feed via said near range coil or coils, said first part of said electronics has dominance over all further parts of said electronics, so that said first part of said electronics is capable of optionally switching the other electronics parts on or off and/or activating or deactivating specific functions in said other electronics parts.

3. A chip card according to claim 1 with contacts, wherein give the presence of said stereo signal with said first or second or third value, a communication via said contacts is interrupted is controlled dependent on said corresponding stereo signal.

4. A chip card according to claim 1, wherein a second electronic part is directly connected to said near range coil or coils, said second electronics part making said signals entering via said near range coil or coils, said second electronics part making said signals entering via said near range coil or coils available to said electronics or parts thereof in a form comparable to said signals given input via said contacts, for example rectification, so that said second electronics part implements functions of a type that can also be implemented give reception of said signals via contacts.

5. A chip card according to claim 1, wherein a third electronics part is present that, given said presence of one of said different values or given an absence of said stereo signal, outputs an optical or acoustic signal perceptible to a human, wherewith a user of said chip card is capable of distinguishing between different functionings.

6. A chip card according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of said far range coil or coils and of said near range coil or coils are fashioned as capacitors that likewise serve for said transmission of data or energy.

7. A chip card according to claim 6, with contacts, wherein only near range coil or coils or capacitors are present, and said stereo signal assumes different values that respectively serve for the control of said functions of said electronics of said chip card.

8. A chip card according to claim 1, with contacts, wherein energy and data via said far range coil or coils or said near range coil or coils or data and energy via said contacts are exchanged in alternation, whereby said data arriving from said contacts are output via said coils and said data input via coils are output via said contacts.

9. A chip card according to claim 1, wherein, given employment of different frequencies as physical distinguishing feature, a different frequency is coupled into said near range coil or coils than into said far range coil or coils, in that said localized coil of said terminal neighboring said near range coil or coils oscillates with a different frequency from that coil of said terminal that is coupled to said far range coil or coils of said chip card.

10. A chip card comprising:

at least two coil arrangements comprising a first and a second coil arrangement for transmission of at least one of data and energy to a write-read device,

at least one coil of said first coil arrangement comprising a coil for a near range transmission,

an electronics connected to said coil arrangements which is adapted to distinguish between said different coil arrangements according to different physical features thereof, whereby

a) a stereo signal is generated in a first part of the electronics, said stereo signal assuming a first characteristic value when said far range and said near range coils are simultaneously located in an electromagnetic alternating field and an energy feed via said far range coil suffices in order to activate at least said first part of said electronics,

b) differences in said electromagnetic alternating field between said far range coil and said near range coil are utilized to generate a second characteristic value of said stereo signal,

c) when said differences in said electromagnetic alternating field between said far range coil and said near range coil disappear, said stereo signal fails to arrive as a result thereof or assumes a further, third characteristic value and, in both these instances, said chip card remains useable with its environment with limited function as long as said energy that is beamed in from said far range coil allows it,

d) by contrast whereto, given presence of said stereo signal with said second characteristic value, said chip card is useable with additional functions beyond said limited function.

11. A chip card according to claim 10, wherein said electronics includes other parts in addition to said first party, and, given the presence of said stereo signal with said first value and adequate energy feed via said near range coil, said first part of said electronics has dominance over all other parts of said electronics, so that said first part is capable of at least one of switching said other electronics parts on or off and activating or deactivating specific functions in said other electronics parts.

12. A chip card according to claim 10, wherein said chip card further includes contacts for effecting transmission of at least one of data and energy to said write-read device, wherein given the presence of said stereo signal with said first or second or third value, a communication via said contacts at least one of is interrupted and controlled, dependent on said corresponding stereo signal.

13. A chip card according to claim 12, wherein a second electronic part is directly connected to said near range coil or coils, said second electronics part making said signals entering via said near range coil or coils available to said electronics thereof in a form comparable to said signals given input via said contacts, so that said second electronics part implements functions of a type that can also be implemented given reception of said signals via said contacts.

14. A chip card according to claim 10, wherein a third electronics part is present that, given said presence of one of said different values or given an absence of said stereo signal, outputs an optical or acoustic signal perceptible to a human, wherewith a user of said chip card is capable of distinguishing between different functionings.

15. A chip card according to claim 10, wherein at least a part of said far range coil and of said near range coil or coils are fashioned as capacitors that likewise serve for said transmission of at least one of data and energy.

16. A chip card according to claim 15, wherein said chip card further includes contacts for effecting transmission of at least one of data and energy to said write-read device, wherein only a near range coil is present, and said stereo signal assumes different values that respectively serve for the control of said functions of said electronics of said chip card.

17. A chip card according to claim 10, wherein said chip card further includes contacts for effecting transmission of at least one of data and energy to said write-read device, wherein energy and data via said far range, coil said near range coil and data and energy via said contacts are exchanged in alternation, whereby said data arriving from said contacts are output via said coils and said data input via coils are output via said contacts.

18. A chip card according to claim 10, wherein, given employment of different frequencies as said physical distinguishing feature, a different frequency is coupled into said near range coil than into said far range coil, in that said localized coil of said terminal neighboring said near range coil oscillates with a different frequency from that coil of said terminal that is coupled to said far range coil of said chip card.

19. A method of operating a chip card having at least two coil arrangements for transmission of at least one of data and energy to a write-read device, at least one coil of said first coil arrangement comprising a coil for a near range transmission, at least one coil of said second coil arrangement comprising a coil for a far range transmission, and an electronics connected to said coil arrangements which is adapted to distinguish between said different coil arrangements according to different physical features thereof, comprising the steps:

generating a stereo signal, in a first part of said electronics, of a first characteristic value when said far range and said near range coils are simultaneously located in an electromagnetic alternating field and an energy feed via said far range coil suffices in order to activate at least said first part of said electronics, enabling said chip card to perform limited functions with its environment as long as said energy that is beamed in from said far range coil allows it,

generating a second characteristic value of said stereo signal based upon differences in said electromagnetic alternating field between said far range coil and said near range coil, enabling said chip card to perform a full range of functions with its environment in addition to said limited functions,

disabling said chip card from performing said fall range of functions once said differences in said electromagnetic alternating field between said for range coil and said near range coil disappear, and enabling said chip card to perform only said limited functions with its environment as long as said energy that is beamed in from said far range coil allows it.

20. A method according to claim 19, including the step of generating a third characteristic value of said stereo signal when said differences in said electromagnetic alternating field between said far range coil and said near range coil disappear, and based upon said third characteristic value, enabling said chip card to perform only said limited functions with its environment as long as said energy that is beamed in from said far range coil allows it.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein said electronics includes other parts in addition to said first part, and given the presence of said stereo signal with said first value and adequate energy feed via said near range coil, said first part of said electronics dominates over all further parts of said electronics, so that said first part is capable of at last one of switching said other electronics parts on or off and activating or deactivating specific functions in said other electronics parts.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein said chip card further includes contacts for effecting transmission of at least one of data and energy to said write-read device, wherein given the presence of said stereo signal with said first or second or third value, at least one of interrupting and controlling a communication via said contacts dependent on said corresponding stereo signal.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein a second electronic part is directly connected to said near range coil including the step of, said second electronics part making said signals entering via said near range coil or coils available to said electronics in a form comparable to said signals given input via said contacts, for example rectification, so that said second electronics part implements functions of a type that can also be implemented given reception of said signals via said contacts.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein a third electronics part is present that, given said presence of one of said different values or given an absence of said stereo signal, including the step of outputting an optical or acoustic signal perceptible to a human, wherewith a user of said chip card is capable of distinguishing between different functionings.

25. A method according to claim 19, wherein at least a part of said far range coil and of said near range coil are fashioned as capacitors that likewise serve for said transmission of data and energy.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said chip card further includes contacts for effecting transmission of at least one of data and energy to said write-read device, wherein only near range coil and capacitors are present, and including a step wherein said stereo signal assumes different values that respectively serve for the control of said functions of said electronics of said chip card.

27. A method according to claim 19, wherein said chip card further includes contacts for effecting transmission of at least one of data and energy to said write-read device, including the step wherein energy and data via said far range coil and said near range coil and via said contacts are output via said coils and said data input via coils are output via said contacts.

28. A method according to claim 19, wherein, given employment of different frequencies as said physical distinguishing feature, including the step wherein a different frequency is coupled into said near range coil than into said far range coil, in that said localized coil of said terminal neighboring said near range coil oscillates with a different frequency from that coil of said terminal that is coupled to said far range coil of said chip card.