Dual mode controller for ISO7816 and USB enabled smart cards

• US 7,150,397 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Limited
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morrow, Neil, Oh (Brian Oh), Hyang-Kyun, Han, Ching-Yung
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US11/175,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00

Abstract

A dual mode smart card controller is provided. In one embodiment, a USB and ISO7816 smart card controller is provided that determines the type of card that is inserted into a slot. If the smart card is a USB smart card, the controller is adapted to pass control of the smart card to an external PC host USB hub circuit. If the smart card is an ISO7816 card, then control is handled by the dual mode controller. In another embodiment, the controller includes an embedded USB hub circuit to permit the controller to directly control both USB and ISO7816 smart cards. Exemplary control sequencing includes monitoring a C4 signal line for a preselected time period, or generating an enable signal if a USB smart card is detected.

Claims

1. A dual mode smart card controller, comprising

USB card identify logic capable of polling C4 and C8 signals, defined by the USB specification, to determine if an ISO7816 smart card or a USB smart card is inserted into a socket, said USB card identify logic is further capable of masking the presence of a USB smart card from ISO7816 card detect logic;

a USB hub circuit comprising a USB host controller USB hub circuit or a downstream USB hub having an upstream USB port, said USB hub circuit is capable of providing input and output commands to said USB smart card; and

signal filter circuitry capable of monitoring said C4 signal line to determine if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than a time period, and wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for more than said time period, then control of a smart card is passed to a USB hub circuit.

2. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands and data between said USB card identify logic and a PC host bus.

3. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising identify power sequencer circuitry adapted to provide power to a smart card for a predetermined time period, and if said smart card is a USB smart card to discontinue power to said USB smart card after said predetermined time period.

4. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising power switch circuitry capable of coupling power to said ISO7816 or said USB smart card.

5. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a host bus protocol handler coupled to an ISO7816 smart card control logic, an ISO7816 card detect logic and an ISO7816 power control logic, said host protocol handler is capable of generating PC host bus communication signals.

6. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for less than time period then control of said smart card is passed to an ISO7816 control logic.

7. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said time period is approximately 2.5 micro-seconds.

8. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said USB hub circuit is embedded within said dual mode smart card controller or is external to said dual mode smart card controller.

9. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said smart card support both ISO7816 and USB protocols, said card identify logic is further capable of driving said C4 and C8 signals to a logic low level to permit said smart card to operate as an ISO7816 smart card.

10. A dual mode smart card controller, comprising

USB card identify logic capable of polling C4 and C8 signals, defined by the USB specification, to determine if an ISO7816 smart card or a USB smart card is inserted into a socket, said USB card identify logic is further capable of masking the presence of a USB smart card from ISO7816 card detect logic;

said USB card identify logic is further capable of generating a port enable/disable signal, based on the presence of a USB smart card, for controlling the operation of a USB hub circuit.

11. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a PC host bus I/O controller coupled to said host bus protocol handler for exchanging commands and data between said USB card identify logic and a PC host bus.

12. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, further comprising identify power sequencer circuitry adapted to provide power to a smart card for a predetermined time period, and if said smart card is a USB smart card to discontinue power to said USB smart card after said predetermined time period.

13. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, further comprising power switch circuitry capable of coupling power to said ISO7816 or said USB smart card.

14. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a host bus protocol handler coupled to an ISO7816 smart card control logic, an ISO7816 card detect logic and an ISO7816 power control logic, said host protocol handler is capable of generating PC host bus communication signals.

15. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, wherein if said C4 signal line is logic high for less than time period then control of said smart card is passed to an ISO7816 control logic.

16. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein said time period is approximately 2.5 micro-seconds.

17. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, wherein said USB hub circuit comprises a USB host controller USB hub circuit or a downstream USB hub having an upstream USB port.

18. A dual mode smart card controller as claimed in claim 10, wherein if said smart card support both ISO7816 and USB protocols, said card identify logic is further capable of driving said C4 and C8 signals to a logic low level to permit said smart card to operate as an ISO7816 smart card.