Method for broadcasting a magnetic stripe data packet from an electronic smart card

• US 8,226,001 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FiTeq, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FiTeq, Inc.
• Inventors: Foo, Eric, Weng, Wong Chee, Chang, Liu, Honnegowda, Lakshmisha
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/822,031
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 235/449, 235/451, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07318 by hindering electromagnetic reading or writing jamming of communication, counter-measures H04K3/00; secret communication H04K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0806 Details of the card record carriers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0846 On-card display means

Abstract

Method for broadcasting a magnetic stripe data packet from an electronic card by measuring a swipe speed of the electronic card past a magnetic reader head during a swipe of the electronic card past the magnetic reader head and then adjusting a broadcast signal containing the magnetic stripe data packet according to the measured swipe speed so that the magnetic stripe data packet in the broadcast signal is read by the magnetic reader head during said swipe. The swipe speed is measured by a speed sensor such as a capacitive sensor having an outer detection point and an inner detection point. The electronic card can contain a false swipe detection means so that the capacitive sensor changes from a sleep mode to an active mode after a wake up sensor (such as a trip switch preferably having two or more conducting pads raised up from a printed circuit board by at least one spacer) is activated during the swipe and the swipe speed is measured by the capacitive sensor while it is in the active mode before the broadcast signal is broadcast during the swipe.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

broadcasting a magnetic stripe data packet from an electronic card by measuring a swipe speed of the electronic card past a magnetic reader head during a swipe of the electronic card past the magnetic reader head and then adjusting a broadcast signal containing the magnetic stripe data packet according to the measured swipe speed so that the magnetic stripe data packet in the broadcast signal is read by the magnetic reader head during said swipe;

wherein the speed sensor is a capacitive sensor with an outer detection point and an inner detection point;

wherein the capacitive sensor changes from a sleep mode to an active mode after a wake up sensor is activated during the swipe and the swipe speed is measured by the capacitive sensor while it is in the active mode before the broadcast signal is broadcast during the swipe;

wherein the magnetic stripe data packet is comprised of a track 2 data packet and a track 1 data packet; and

wherein cross talk in the magnetic reader head responsible for reading track 1 data is prevented by use of a piece of magnetic tape located on the electronic card so as to prevent cross talk.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast signal is adjusted by varying bit rate used to broadcast said broadcast signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the wake up sensor is a trip switch.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the trip switch is comprised of two or more conducting pads that are raised up from a printed circuit board of the electronic card by at least one spacer.

5. A method, comprising:

activating an electronic card from an off state to a sleep mode;

changing the electronic card from the sleep mode to an active mode after a wake up sensor is activated during a swipe of the electronic card past a magnetic reader head;

measuring a swipe speed of the electronic card past the magnetic reader head during the swipe;

using the swipe speed to adjust a broadcast signal containing a magnetic stripe data packet; and

broadcasting the broadcast signal during the swipe so that the magnetic reader head reads the magnetic stripe data packet;

wherein the swipe speed is measured by a capacitive sensor having an outer detection point and an inner detection point;

wherein a false swipe detection is prevented by measuring movement past the outer detection point and the inner detection point;

wherein a broadcaster in the electronic card is activated during the active mode

wherein the broadcast signal is adjusted by varying a bit rate used by the broadcaster to broadcast said broadcast signal;

wherein the broadcaster is comprised of a track 2 broadcaster that broadcasts a track 2 data packet and a track 1 broadcaster that broadcasts a track 1 data packet; and

wherein a cross talk blocker is used to prevent the magnetic reader head from reading a particular track data packet in a reading area of the magnetic reader head that is not meant to read the particular track data packet.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the cross talk blocker is comprised of a piece of magnetic tape located on the electronic card so as to prevent cross talk.

7. A method comprising broadcasting a magnetic stripe data packet from an electronic card by measuring a swipe speed of the electronic card past a magnetic reader head during a swipe of the electronic card past the magnetic reader head and then adjusting a broadcast signal containing the magnetic stripe data packet according to the measured swipe speed so that the magnetic stripe data packet in the broadcast signal is read by the magnetic reader head during said swipe, wherein the swipe speed is measured by a passive speed sensor which is comprised of a capacitive sensor having an outer detection point and an inner detection point.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the electronic card contains a false swipe detection means.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the capacitive sensor changes from a sleep mode to an active mode after a wake up sensor is activated during the swipe and the swipe speed is measured by the capacitive sensor while it is in the active mode before the broadcast signal is broadcast during the swipe.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wake up sensor is a trip switch.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the trip switch is comprised of two or more conducting pads that are raised up from a printed circuit board of the electronic card by at least one spacer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the broadcast signal is adjusted by varying bit rate used to broadcast said broadcast signal.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the passive speed sensor is comprised of an outer passive sensor placed across a track 1 location and a track 2 location of the electronic card and an inner passive sensor placed along the track 1 location of the electronic card.

14. A method, comprising:

activating an electronic card from an off state to a sleep mode;

changing the electronic card from the sleep mode to an active mode after a wake up sensor is activated during a swipe of the electronic card past a magnetic reader head;

measuring a swipe speed of the electronic card past the magnetic reader head during the swipe;

using the swipe speed to adjust a broadcast signal containing a magnetic stripe data packet; and

broadcasting the broadcast signal during the swipe so that the magnetic reader head reads the magnetic stripe data packet;

wherein the swipe speed is measured by a capacitive sensor having an outer detection point and an inner detection point.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a false swipe detection is prevented by measuring movement past the outer detection point and the inner detection point.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein a broadcaster in the electronic card is activated during the active mode.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the broadcast signal is adjusted by varying a bit rate used by the broadcaster to broadcast said broadcast signal.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the broadcaster is comprised of a track 2 broadcaster that broadcasts a track 2 data packet and a track 1 broadcaster that broadcasts a track 1 data packet.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein cross talk in the magnetic read head is prevented by use of a cross talk blocker.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the cross talk blocker is a piece of magnetic tape or cancellation coil located on the electronic card so as to prevent cross talk.