NFC reader having a passive operating mode with low electrical consumption
First Claim
1. An inductive coupling reader, comprising:
- a passive interface to modulate an impedance of an antenna and to extract from the antenna a data signal and a radio-frequency clock signal;
a security module interface configured to couple the reader to at least one removable security module including a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card;
an emulator configured to open a radio-frequency transmission channel with another reader, to transfer to the removable security module interface application data received through the radio-frequency transmission channel, and to send in the radio-frequency transmission channel application data received through the security module interface;
an electrical link coupling the emulator to the passive interface by which the data signal and the radio-frequency clock signal are supplied to the emulator;
a baseband communication interface configured to couple the reader to at least one baseband device;
an emulator data bus clocked by a bus clock signal, having a frequency inferior to a frequency of the radio-frequency clock signal and coupled to the emulator; and
a common multiplexed bus coupled to the emulator data bus, to the baseband communication interface and to the security module interface, wherein the emulator and baseband device access the removeable security module through the common multiplexed bus.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive coupling reader includes a passive interface circuit for modulating the impedance of an antenna circuit and extracting from the antenna circuit a data signal and a RF clock signal, and circuitry for coupling the reader to a removable security module. The reader includes an emulation circuit for opening a RF transmission channel with another reader, a non-removable electrical link linking the emulation circuit to the passive interface circuit, by which the data signal and the RF clock signal are supplied to the emulation circuit, and a data bus clocked by a bus clock signal having a frequency inferior to the frequency of the RF clock signal, for linking the emulation circuit to the removable security module. The reader has low electrical consumption.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An inductive coupling reader, comprising:
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a passive interface to modulate an impedance of an antenna and to extract from the antenna a data signal and a radio-frequency clock signal; a security module interface configured to couple the reader to at least one removable security module including a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card; an emulator configured to open a radio-frequency transmission channel with another reader, to transfer to the removable security module interface application data received through the radio-frequency transmission channel, and to send in the radio-frequency transmission channel application data received through the security module interface; an electrical link coupling the emulator to the passive interface by which the data signal and the radio-frequency clock signal are supplied to the emulator; a baseband communication interface configured to couple the reader to at least one baseband device; an emulator data bus clocked by a bus clock signal, having a frequency inferior to a frequency of the radio-frequency clock signal and coupled to the emulator; and a common multiplexed bus coupled to the emulator data bus, to the baseband communication interface and to the security module interface, wherein the emulator and baseband device access the removeable security module through the common multiplexed bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for implementing a passive operating mode in an inductive coupling reader having a passive interface and a removable security module, the passive interface being adapted to modulate an impedance of an antenna and to extract from the antenna a data signal and a radio-frequency (RF) clock signal, the removable security module including a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card and being adapted to manage a secure application, the method comprising:
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providing an emulator distinct from the removable security module and coupling the emulator to the passive interface through an electrical link by which the data signal and the RF clock signal are supplied to the emulator; opening a RF transmission channel using the emulator, transferring to the removable security module application data received by the emulator through the RF transmission channel, and sending in the RF transmission channel application data received from the removable security module by the emulator; linking the emulator to an emulator data bus clocked by a bus clock signal having a frequency inferior to a frequency of the RF clock; and coupling the emulator data bus and a baseband communication block to the removable security module through a common multiplexed bus, wherein the emulator and the baseband communication block access the removable security module through the common multiplexed bus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An inductive coupling reader formed as an integrated circuit on a semi-conductor chip, the reader comprising:
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a first port configured to couple the integrated circuit to an antenna and a second port configured to couple the integrated circuit to a removable security module including a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card; a passive interface coupled to the first port and configured to modulate an impedance of the antenna and to extract from the antenna a data signal and a radio-frequency (RF) clock signal; an emulator coupled to the passive interface and configured to open a RF transmission channel with another reader, to transfer to the second port application data received through the RF transmission channel, and to send in the RF transmission channel application data received via the second port; a third port configured to receive control signals to control the reader; and a common multiplexed bus system coupled to the second port, to the emulator and to a fourth port of the integrated circuit, wherein the emulator and a baseband device coupled to the fourth port assess the removable security module through the common multiplexed bus system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna module; a first interface configured to couple to a baseband module; a passive interface coupled to said antenna module, and adapted to modulate an impedance of said antenna module and to extract from the antenna module a data signal and a radio-frequency (RF) clock signal; an emulator coupled to the passive interface to receive the data signal and the RF clock signal from the passive interface, the emulator being adapted to open a RF channel through which to carry application data; and a common multiplexed bus system configured to couple the emulator and the first interface to a second interface configured to couple to a removable security module including a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM), wherein the emulator and the baseband module access the removable security module through the common multiplexed bus system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification