Method and apparatus for a USB and contactless smart card device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
- an access interface including an antenna and a wired interface;
a mode detection circuit coupled to the access interface to detect a wireless communication mode and at least one wired communication mode to the smart card, the mode detection circuit including a wireless detection circuit and a wired detection circuit;
a switching block coupled to the mode detection circuit to send a set of mode operation signals based on a type of mode detected by the mode detection circuit; and
a controller coupled to the switching block and the mode detection circuit to enable operation of the smart card in a first wireless communication mode or in a first at least one wired communication mode based on the set of mode operation signals, and to subsequently enable simultaneous operation of the smart card in;
both the first wireless communication mode and in a second at least one wired communication mode, orboth the first at least one wired communication mode and in a second wireless communication mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and wireless smart card is provided. The apparatus includes a mode detection circuit, a switching block, a controller, an antenna, and a wired interface. Furthermore, an apparatus for a triple-mode smart card is also provided herein. The apparatus for the triple mode smart card includes a mode detection circuit, a switching block, a controller, an antenna, and a wired interface. The apparatus for the triple mode smart card operates in one of a wireless mode, a USB mode and an International Standards Organization 7816 mode or other wired mode. Furthermore, the apparatus for any of these smart cards could operate in both the wireless and wired mode(s) without conflict, and without switching power off and on to change configuration.
24 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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an access interface including an antenna and a wired interface; a mode detection circuit coupled to the access interface to detect a wireless communication mode and at least one wired communication mode to the smart card, the mode detection circuit including a wireless detection circuit and a wired detection circuit; a switching block coupled to the mode detection circuit to send a set of mode operation signals based on a type of mode detected by the mode detection circuit; and a controller coupled to the switching block and the mode detection circuit to enable operation of the smart card in a first wireless communication mode or in a first at least one wired communication mode based on the set of mode operation signals, and to subsequently enable simultaneous operation of the smart card in; both the first wireless communication mode and in a second at least one wired communication mode, or both the first at least one wired communication mode and in a second wireless communication mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for a smart card, the method comprising:
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initializing the smart card during a power-on process determining whether a wireless signal is detected; operating the smart card in a wireless mode if the wireless signal is detected; operating the smart card in a wired mode if the wireless signal is not detected and if a wired connection is detected; and automatically allowing operation of the smart card in the wireless mode after operating in the wired mode and while the wired connection is detected and active. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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a first detection circuit to detect presence of a wireless connection to the smart card; a second detection circuit to detect presence of a wired connection to the smart card; a switching block coupled to the first and second detection circuits to generate a first signal that corresponds to a type of connection detected by one of the detection circuits; and a controller coupled to the switching block and responsive to the first signal to allow operation of the smart card in a first mode that corresponds to the type of detected connection, and to subsequently enable the smart card to simultaneously support a second mode that corresponds to a second signal provided by the switching block and to automatically allow operation of the smart card in the second mode in response to the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal sent to the smart card; a means for determining whether the signal corresponds to a wired or wireless connection; a means for automatically switching operation of the smart card between modes in response to the determined connection; and a means for operating the smart card in a first mode and for supporting simultaneous operation of the smart card in a second mode, including a means for blocking detection of the second mode if the smart card is initializing in the first mode and for automatically transitioning between the first mode and the second mode when the signal to the smart card changes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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an access interface including an antenna and a wired interface; a mode detection circuit coupled to the access interface to detect a wireless communication mode and at least one wired communication mode to the smart card; a switching block coupled to the mode detection circuit to send a set of mode operation signals based on a type of mode detected by the mode detection circuit; and a controller coupled to the switching block and the mode detection circuit to enable operation of the smart card in a first mode based on the set of mode operation signals, and further to enable change of operation of the smart card to another mode after the first mode; wherein the at least one wired communication mode is a USB mode and the wired interface includes at least one contact pad; and wherein the mode detection circuit includes; a wireless detection circuit coupled to the antenna to generate a wireless power supply signal and a set of wireless status signals; a power-on detection circuit coupled to the wireless detection circuit and a voltage supply pad to generate a power-on signal and a control signal; a USB detection circuit coupled to the power-on detection circuit and to the at least one contact pad to generate a set of USB status signals; and a status register coupled to the wireless detection circuit and the USB detection circuit to store the set of wireless status signals and the set of USB status signals. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method for a smart card, the method comprising:
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determining whether a wireless signal is detected by a wireless detection circuit; generating a wireless power supply signal and a set of wireless status signals from the wireless detection circuit; operating the smart card in a wireless mode if the wireless signal is detected; coupling a wired detection circuit including a USB detection circuit to a power-on detection circuit and to a D+ pad and a D−
pad;determining whether a wired signal is detected by the wired detection circuit; generating wired status signals comprising a set of USB status signals including a first USB status signal and a second USB status signal from the USB detection circuit; operating the smart card in a wired mode if the wireless signal is not detected and if the wired signal is detected; and automatically allowing operation of the smart card in the wireless mode after operating in the wired mode and while the wired signal is detected.
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30. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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a first detection circuit to detect presence of a wireless connection to the smart card, wherein the first detection circuit is a wireless detection circuit coupled to an antenna to generate a wireless power supply signal and a set of wireless status signals; a power-on detection circuit coupled to the wireless detection circuit and a voltage supply pad to generate a power-on signal and a control signal; a second detection circuit to detect presence of a wired connection to the smart card, wherein the second detection circuit is a wired detection circuit including a USB detection circuit coupled to the power-on detection circuit, and to a D+ pad and a D−
pad, to generate a set of wired status signals comprising a set of USB status signals including a first USB status signal and a second USB status signal;a switching block coupled to the first and second detection circuits to generate a first signal that corresponds to a type of connection detected by one of the detection circuits; and a controller coupled to the switching block and responsive to the first signal to allow operation of the smart card in a first mode that corresponds to the type of connection detected, and to enable the smart card to support a second mode that corresponds to a second signal provided by the switching block and to automatically allow operation of the smart card in the second mode in response to the second signal.
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31. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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a wireless detection circuit coupled to an antenna; means for generating a wireless power supply signal and a set of wireless status signals from the wireless detection circuit; a power-on detection circuit coupled to the wireless detection circuit and to a voltage supply pad; means for generating a power-on signal and a control signal from the power-on detection circuit; a USB detection circuit coupled to the power-on detection circuit and to a D+ pad and a D−
pad;means for generating a set of wired status signals that include a set of USB status signals, which include a first USB status signal and a second USB status signal from the USB detection circuit; means for automatically switching operation of the smart card between modes in response to the set of wireless status signals and the set of wired status signals; and means for operating the smart card in a first mode and for subsequently enabling simultaneous operation of the smart card in a second mode, including a means for blocking detection of the second mode if the smart card is initializing in the first mode and for automatically transitioning between the first mode and the second mode when the set of wireless status signals and the set of wired status signals changes.
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32. An apparatus for a smart card, the apparatus comprising:
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an access interface including an antenna and a wired interface; a mode detection circuit coupled to the access interface to detect presence of a wireless communication mode and at least one wired communication mode to the smart card, wherein the at least one wired communication mode is a USB mode and the wired interface includes a voltage supply pad, a D−
pad, and a D+ pad,wherein the mode detection circuit includes a wireless detection circuit, a wired detection circuit, and a status register coupled to the wireless detection circuit and to the wired detection circuit to store a set of wireless status signals and a set of wired status signals; a switching block coupled to the mode detection circuit to send a set of mode operation signals based on a type of mode detected by the mode detection circuit; a controller coupled to the switching block and the mode detection circuit to enable operation of the smart card in a first mode based on the set of mode operation signals, and further to enable change of operation of the smart card in another mode after the first mode, wherein the wireless detection circuit is coupled to the antenna to generate a wireless power supply signal and the set of wireless status signals; a power-on detection circuit coupled to the wireless detection circuit and the voltage supply pad to generate a power-on signal and a control signal; the wired detection circuit including a USB detection circuit coupled to the power-on detection circuit and to the D+ and the D−
pads, to generate the wired status signals comprising a set of USB status signals including a first USB status signal and a second USB status signal; andwherein the status register is coupled to the wireless detection circuit and the USB detection circuit to store the set of wireless status signals and the set of USB status signals.
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Specification