# US 2021/0241060 A1 · Smart card with sensors for detecting environmental conditions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241060 A1 - Document ID: US20210241060A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/173,575 - Filed: 2021-02-11 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-03 - Assignees: Capital One Services, LLC - Applicants: Capital One Services, LLC - Inventors: James Zarakas; Molly Johnson; Adam Vukich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241060A1 ## CPC - G06K 19/0717: {the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure} - G06K 19/0702: {the arrangement including a battery} - G06Q 20/3226: {Use of secure elements separate from M-devices} - G06Q 20/341: {Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip} - G07F 7/0813: {Specific details related to card security} - G08B 17/10: Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} - G08B 21/14: Toxic gas alarms (G08B21/16 takes precedence) - G08B 25/009: {Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract In some embodiments, a smart card may include a substrate with a first side and a second side. A first protective layer covers the first side and a second protective layer covers the second side of the substrate. Circuitry held in the substrate includes electronic interconnects for interconnecting circuitry elements. The circuitry elements include a processor, power circuitry for powering the circuitry elements, and an environmental detection sensor for respectively detecting a predetermined environmental parameter. The processor is configured to receive an output from the environmental detection sensor, to determine from the output that the environmental detection sensor detected an environmental alert trigger condition, and to generate an alert that is representative of the environmental alert trigger condition. The protective layers include pores in a region proximate to the environmental detection sensor for exposing the environmental detection sensor to an environment around the smart card. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A smart card, comprising: a substrate; at least one environmental detection sensor for respectively detecting at least one predetermined environmental parameter; and a processor configured to: receive an output from the at least one environmental detection sensor; determine from the output that the at least one environmental detection sensor detected the at least one predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one environmental alert trigger condition; and generate an alert that is representative of the at least one environmental alert trigger condition; wherein the processor and the at least one environmental detection sensor are held in the substrate; wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of pores in at least one region proximate to the at least one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate; and wherein the plurality of pores exposes the at least one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an external environment around the smart card. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor is configured to detect smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereof in the external environment around the smart card. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate the alert when the at least one environmental detection sensor detects a predefined level of smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereof in the external environment around the smart card. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical sensor (MEMS). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm indicator lamp and a driver amplifier, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the alert by using a drive output from the driver amplifier to light the alarm indicator lamp. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising communication circuitry for the smart card to communicate with a computing device over a communication network, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the alert by sending the alert to the computing device over the communication network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic interconnect coupled to a first side of the substrate, a second side of the substrate, or both for connecting circuitry in the smart card to an external terminal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising a Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) chip for performing transactions with an external terminal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising a battery, and wherein the battery is charged when the smart card is connected to an external terminal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The smart card according to claim 10, further comprising an ultracapacitor for providing fast powering of smart card circuitry, fast charging of the battery coupled to the smart card circuitry, or both, when connected to the external terminal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising near field communication (NFC) circuitry for powering circuitry in the smart card, charging of a battery coupled to the circuitry, or both when the smart card is within placed with an external electromagnetic field. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein a first protective layer on a first side of the substrate, a second protective layer on a second side of the substrate, or both comprises a porous membrane with the plurality of pores in the at least one region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The smart card according to claim 13, wherein the first protective layer and the second protective layer are formed from materials selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PET-G), polyester film, a Mylar sheet, and polycarbonate (PC). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to couple at least one output from the at least one environmental detection sensor to the processor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor uses infrared gas sensing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrical component held in the substrate is encapsulated using injection molding. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at least one region is located at least one outer edge of the smart card. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: at least one smart card; and a base station comprising communication circuitry for communicating with the at least one smart card over a communication network; wherein the at least one smart card comprises: a substrate; at least one environmental detection sensor for respectively detecting at least one predetermined environmental parameter; and a processor configured to: receive an output from the at least one environmental detection sensor; determine from the output that the at least one environmental detection sensor detected the at least one predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one environmental alert trigger condition; generate an alert that is representative of the at least one environmental alert trigger condition; and send over the communication network, the alert to the base station; wherein the processor and the at least one environmental detection sensor are held in the substrate; wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of pores in at least one region proximate to the at least one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate; and wherein the plurality of pores exposes the at least one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an external environment around the at least one smart card; and wherein the base station, in response to receiving the alert, is configured to: (i) send an alert indication over the communication network to a computing device associated with a user, (ii) actuate an alarm, or both. ### Claim 20 A method, comprising: receiving, by a processor in circuitry of a smart card, an output from at least one environmental detection sensor; wherein the smart card comprises a display; wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor is held in a substrate; wherein the smart card is configured to expose the at least one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an external environment around the smart card for respectively detecting at least one predetermined environmental parameter through a plurality of pores proximate to the at least one environmental detection sensor and formed in the substrate; determining, by the processor, from the output that the at least one environmental detection sensor detected the at least one predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one environmental alert trigger condition; and displaying, by the processor, a hazard alert on the display to a user that is representative of the at least one environmental alert trigger condition.