Radio-frequency communication device comprising a power supply of assisted radio-frequency origin

• US 9,537,984 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Thill, Michel, Arnoux, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US14/114,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455571-574, 4553431-3435, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment

Abstract

A radio-frequency communication device includes connection means electrically connecting an integrated circuit component, or intended for this purpose; and selection means for selecting an electromagnetic current power supply for the component. The device includes an alternative power supply source for powering the component during the reception of an electromagnetic field as soon as the electromagnetic power supply current received by the component is insufficient.

Claims

1. Radio-frequency communication device comprising:

connection means connecting or intended to connect electrically an integrated circuit component with a first source of energy,

a first supply managing circuit responsive to detection of an electromagnetic field for;

(i) disconnecting the first source of energy from the integrated circuit component while the electromagnetic field is present, and

(ii) supplying said component with current of electromagnetic origin that is derived from the detected electromagnetic field,

an alternative supply source for supplying said component, and

a second additional supply managing circuit for managing the use of said alternative supply source for supplying said component, wherein said second additional supply managing circuit is separate from said first supply managing circuit and is configured to operate when energy supplied to the first supply managing circuit is insufficient.

2. Radio-frequency communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mode for communication in contactless card emulation or equivalent configuration, said mode having a configuration of supply of the component by a source of electromagnetic origin in substitution for the first source of energy comprising a main battery, and

means for maintaining a level of supply of current to the component by said alternative source, directly with it, in the case of a requirement for supply current in the course of a radio-frequency communication in said emulation mode.

3. Device according to claim 2, further comprising an NFC controller, and connection pins for connecting firstly a main supply battery of a host device and secondly a subscriber identification module.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein said alternative source comprises a secondary battery and/or at least one capacitor.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the battery is of the flexible or supple type.

6. Device according to claim 4, wherein the battery or at least the capacitor is fixed to a portion of a flexible NFC device comprising the antenna.

7. Device according to claim 4, wherein the battery and/or at least the capacitor and/or said alternative supply management means are fixed to or integrated in an electronic component comprising an NFC controller and/or a subscriber identification module.

8. Radio-frequency communication device according to claim 7, wherein the NFC controller is configured to deliver or use field presence information and/or information relating to a main battery energy level absent or present so as to put the alternative source in service or not for supplying the component.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein said second additional supply managing circuit manages the alternative source to act in the case of detection of a functioning mode in which the supply of current is of electromagnetic origin.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein said component comprises an identification module for a subscriber to a telecommunication network or an integrated circuit chip or a card of the UICC type.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises an NFC controller and a connection connecting or intended to connect the NFC controller to the component in order provide the component, with a supply of electromagnetic origin.

12. Device according to claim 1, wherein said second additional supply managing circuit operates said alternative supply source for supplying said component when the electromagnetic field is present and the supply current of electromagnetic origin received by the component is insufficient.

13. Radio-frequency communication device comprising:

connection means connecting or intended to connect electrically an integrated circuit component,

means for supplying said component with current of electromagnetic origin,

an alternative supply source for supplying said component when an electromagnetic field is received as soon as the supply current of electromagnetic origin received by the component is insufficient,

a means for managing an alternative supply for managing an alternative direct supply for the component,

a circuit for charging the alternative source connected to a main battery, and

an electromagnetic field detection circuit acting with said management means for inhibiting a discharging of the alternative source to the component in the absence of detection of electromagnetic field and for enabling discharging in the contrary case.

14. Radio-frequency communication method using at least one integrated circuit component electrically connected with a first source of energy and a first supply managing circuit responsive to detection of an electromagnetic field for supplying current of electromagnetic origin that is derived from the detected electromagnetic field for supplying said component,

comprising a step of disconnecting the first source of energy from the integrated circuit component while the electromagnetic field is present, and

comprising a step of providing a supply to the component by means of an alternative source, wherein

said alternative source is managed by a second additional supply managing circuit for managing the use of said alternative source for supplying said component, said second additional supply managing circuit being separate from said first supply managing circuit and configured to operate when energy supplied to said first supply managing circuit is insufficient.

15. Radio-frequency communication method according to claim 14, the communication taking place in a contactless card emulation mode or equivalent configuration, said mode having a configuration of supply of the component by a source of electromagnetic origin in substitution for the first source of energy comprising a battery, comprising:

a step according to which the component is provided with an alternative supply source, such as a battery or at least one capacitor, and

a step of maintaining a level of supply of current to the component by said alternative source, directly with it, in the case of a requirement for supply current during a radio-frequency communication in this emulation mode.

16. Radio-frequency communication method according to claim 14, wherein the step of providing supply to the component by means of the alternative source occurs at least at an initial or start-up phase of a radio-frequency contactless transaction with an external reader.

17. Radio-frequency communication method according to claim 14, wherein said second additional supply managing circuit operates said alternative source for supplying said component when the electromagnetic field is present and the supply current of electromagnetic origin received by the component is insufficient.