Amplifying radio frequency signals

• US 8,925,827 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DeviceFidelity, Inc. (Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: DeviceFidelity, Inc. (Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.))
• Inventors: Dao, Tuan Quoc, Jain, Deepak
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/499,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 235/451, 235/492, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/572.1, 340/572.2
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3263 characterised by activation or deactivation of payment capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3265 characterised by personalisation for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0806 Details of the card record carriers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 : Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for amplifying Radio Frequency (RF) signals. In some implementations, a system includes a first interface, a second interface, secure memory, a user-interface module, a processing module, and am amplification module. The first interface connects to a microSD slot of a mobile host device. The second interface includes an internal antenna for wirelessly communicating with retail terminals. The secure memory stores user credentials and a payment application used to execute financial transactions with the retail terminals. The processing module executes the payment application using the user credentials in response to at least a transaction request received by the RF module and transmits at least one transaction response to the retail terminal based, at least in part, on the executed payment application. The amplification module connected to a lead of the antenna and is configured to amplify at least received RF signals.

Claims

1. A microSD card, comprising:

a first interface that connects to a microSD slot of a mobile host device;

a second interface that includes an internal antenna for wirelessly communicating with retail terminals using near field communication (NFC) signals, wherein the internal antenna comprises a three-dimensional structure with multiple substantially-parallel layers, and each layer includes a metal trace in a circuit board with adjacent metal traces connected through metal vias;

secure memory that stores user credentials and a payment application used to execute financial transactions with the retail terminals, the user credentials and the payment application associated with a financial institution;

a user-interface module that presents and receives information through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the mobile host device;

a transaction processing module that executes the payment application using the user credentials in response to at least a transaction request received by the second interface and transmits at least one transaction response to the retail terminal based, at least in part, on the executed payment application; and

an amplification module configured to actively amplify at least received NFC signals using power from the mobile host device through the first interface that connects to the MicroSD slot of the mobile host device.

2. The microSD card of claim 1, further comprising the transaction processing module including a virtual ground, the amplification module connected to both the lead of the antenna and the virtual ground of the transaction processing module.

3. The microSD card of claim 1, the amplification module provides at least one of voltage amplification or signal amplification to the card based on received NFC signals and in absence of battery power.

4. The microSD card of claim 1, the amplification module is built into the transaction processing module.

5. The microSD card of claim 1, further comprising internal circuitry that powers the amplification module and the transaction processing modules during insertion in the microSD card and while the device is powered on.

6. The microSD card of claim 1, wherein the amplification module enables the microSD card to operate between a reading range of about 0.1 to about 10 cm.

7. The microSD card of claim 1, further comprising at least two pins configured to connect to an external antenna.

8. The microSD card of claim 7, the external antenna including at least one of an external antenna in a credit-card shaped element configured to receive the microSD card or an external antenna included in a mobile host device.

9. The microSD card of claim 1, further comprising:

a ninth and tenth pin configured to connect with an external antenna in a mobile host device; and

a multiplexer configured to switch between the card using the internal antenna and the external antenna.

10. The microSD card of claim 1, further comprising a housing that encloses at least a portion of the secure memory, the user-interface module the processing module, and the amplification module.

11. The microSD card of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a substantially-planar interior surface, the antenna includes a coiled antenna adjacent the substantially-planar interior surface.

12. The microSD card of claim 10, wherein the internal antenna includes a helical antenna, the housing enclosing the helical antenna.