Chip card with on/off mechanisms
AssigneeUnited Services Automobile Association (USAA)
InventorsRobert Lee Black, Matthew Ryan Santacroce, Andre Rene Buentello, Jose L. Romero, Jr., Timothy Blair Chalmers, Samip Dilip Mehra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Chip cards that are protected from unauthorized access to information and instructions stored in the chip card's chip by unauthorized persons using illicit devices that emulate chip readers to interrogate the chips in chip cards and obtain or download confidential data stored in the chips. The chip cards are disabled when not ready to be used, such that the chips cannot be accessed by illicit devices, thus protecting the chip card owner and/or issuer from potential losses.
Claims20
A chip card that may be disabled when the chip card is not in use comprising:
- a chip electrically connected to an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves from a chip reader, wherein the chip is configured to be read by a chip reader;
- and
- an electromechanical device electrically connected to the chip, the electromechanical device having multiple different positions, each position corresponding to an indicator disposed on the chip card;
- wherein the electromechanical device has a first state and a second state, wherein the electromechanical device is in the first state only when the electromechanical device is in a preselected one of the multiple different positions and wherein the electromechanical device is in the second state when the electromechanical device is in any other of the multiple different positions except the preselected one;
- wherein when the electromechanical device is in the first state, the chip is enabled to execute at least one of the following functions:
- authorize a credit card transaction, authorize a debit card transaction, and allow entry into a restricted-entry facility;
- and
- wherein when the electromechanical device is in the second state, the chip card is disabled such that it cannot authorize at least one of the following functions:
- credit card transactions, debit card transactions, and allow entry into any restricted-entry facility.
A chip card configured to be read by a chip reader, the chip card comprising:
- a substrate;
- a chip embedded in the substrate, wherein the chip is electrically connected to an antenna embedded in the substrate for receiving electromagnetic waves;
- a sensor;
- a switch interposed between the antenna and the chip that is electrically controlled by the sensor, wherein the antenna is electrically connected to a first circuit in the chip when the switch is in a first state and is not connected to the first circuit when the switch is in a second state;
- wherein when the switch is in the first state the chip is enabled;
- wherein when the switch is in the second state the chip is disabled;
- and
- wherein when the switch is in the second state the antenna is electrically connected to a second circuit.
A chip card configured to be read by a chip reader, the chip card comprising:
- a substrate;
- a chip embedded in the substrate, wherein the chip is electrically connected to an antenna embedded in the substrate for receiving electromagnetic waves;
- a flat thin battery disposed on the substrate;
- a sensor powered by the flat thin battery;
- an indicator disposed on the substrate;
- a switch interposed between the antenna and the chip that is electrically controlled by the sensor, wherein the antenna is electrically connected to a first circuit in the chip when the switch is in a first state and is not connected to the first circuit when the switch is in a second state;
- wherein when the switch is in the first state the chip is enabled;
- wherein when the switch is in the second state the chip is disabled;
- wherein when the switch is in the second state the antenna is electrically connected to a second circuit;
- and
- wherein the indicator is configured to indicate to an owner of the chip card whether the chip is enabled or disabled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.