Data transmission method and card therefor

• US 6,840,454 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Systemes
• Inventors: Rhelimi, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/786,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 235/441, 235/492, 710/301, 710/302, 713/500, 713/501, 902/26
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts

Abstract

A portable article of the smart card type and a method of transmitting data to such an article. The article comprises an article body and an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip comprises a central processor unit (CPU) connected via a data and address bus to memories (ROM, RAM, EEPROM), and at least four contact pads (VCC, GND, RST, VPP, CLK, I/O, D+, D−) connected to four contact areas (C1, C5, C4, C8) of a set of at least six contact areas flush with the surface of the card body. Two of the contacts pads (D+, D−) are connected to an interface of the card and are suitable for providing data transmission handled by the central processor unit (CPU) such as for transmitting data using the universal serial bus (USB) protocols and formats.

Claims

1. A portable article of the smart card type, the article comprising firstly a body and secondly an integrated circuit chip (9), said integrated circuit chip (9) having a central processor unit (CPU) connected via a data and address bus to memories (ROM, RAM, EEPROM), and further including at least a first contact pad (VCC) suitable for providing the chip (9) with a power supply voltage, a second contact pad (GND) suitable for grounding the chip (9), a third contact pad (D+) and a fourth contact pad (D−

), said contact pads (VCC, GND, D+, D−

) being electrically connected respectively to a first contact area (C1), a second contact area (C5), a third contact area (C4), and a fourth contact area (C8) of a set of eight contact areas (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8) flush with a surface of the article body, the third and fourth contacts pads (D+, D−

) being connected to an interface of the chip (9) and being suitable for providing data transmission under the control of the central processor unit (CPU), the chip (9) further including a fifth contact pad (VPP), a sixth contact pad (RST) suitable for resetting the chip (9), a seventh contact pad (CLK) suitable for providing the chip with a clock signal, and an eighth contact pad (I/O) suitable for inputting and outputting data signals using an asynchronous protocol, said sixth, seventh, and eighth contact pads (RST, CLK, I/O) being connected electrically respectively to a sixth contact area (C2), a seventh contact area (C3), and an eighth contact area (C7) of the set of eight contact areas flush with the surface of the article body.

2. A portable article according to claim 1, wherein the third and fourth pads (D+, D−

) constitute a differential pair, a potentials present on the third pads being opposite a potential on the fourth pad.

3. A portable article according to claim 1, wherein the third and fourth pads (D+, D−

) are suitable for transmitting data using protocols defined in the universal serial bus (USB) standard.

4. A method of transmitting data to an integrated circuit chip (9) of a portable article of the smart card type including an article body, said integrated circuit chip (9) comprising a central processor unit (CPU) connected via a data and address bus to memories (ROM, RAM, EEPROM) and further comprising at least a first contact pad (VCC) suitable for providing the chip with a power supply voltage, a second contact pad (GND) suitable for grounding the chip (9), a third contact pad (D+) and a fourth contact pad (D−

), said contact pads (VCC, GND, D+, D−

) being electrically connected respectively to a first contact area (C1), a second contact area (C5), a third contact area (C4), and a fourth contact area (C8) of a set of eight contact areas (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8) flush with a surface of the article body, in which method a data handled by the central processor unit (CPU) is transmitted via the third and fourth contact pads (D+, D−

) connected to an interface of the chip (9), and wherein a sixth contact pad (RST) resets the chip (9), a seventh contact pad (CLK) provides the chip (9) with a clock signal, and an eighth contact pad (I/O) provides data signal input and output using an asynchronous protocol, said sixth, seventh, and eighth contact pads (RST, CLK, I/O) being electrically connected respectively to a sixth contact area (C2), a seventh contact area (C3), and an eighth contact area (C7) of the set of eight contact areas flush with the surface of the article body.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the third and fourth contact pads (D+, D−

) constitute a differential pair.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein data transmission via the third and fourth pads (D+, D−

) takes place in both directions in alternation.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein to process data transmitted via the third and fourth contact pads (D+, D−

), a clock is generated internally in the chip.

8. A method according to claim 4, wherein data is transmitted via the third and fourth contact pads (D+, D−

) using a synchronous communications protocol.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein data transmission is provided at rates going up to a value of about 12 megabits per second.

10. A method according to claim 4, wherein data transmission is provided using protocols in compliance with the universal serial bus (USB) standard.