Systems and methods for advanced detection mechanisms for magnetic cards and devices
AssigneeDynamics Inc.
InventorsBruce S. Cloutier, Jeffrey D. Mullen
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Abstract
A detection activity of a card may be sensitive to capacitance changes in adjacent and non-adjacent pads on the card. Accordingly, the detection activity may remain sensitive to faster-moving devices and/or reduced detection sampling rates. A second detection activity may follow a first detection activity, which may increase a probability of a successful communication sequence subsequent to the first detection activity. A card may, therefore, immediately transition to a low-power mode of operation after verification to reduce power consumption.
Claims20
A card device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of conductive pads disposed on said substrate;
- a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device;
- and
- a controller coupled to said plurality of conductive pads and to said dynamic magnetic stripe communications device, wherein said controller is configured to detect a presence of a magnetic stripe reader based on a capacitance change in at least two non-adjacent ones of said plurality of conductive pads and, in response to said detection, to activate said dynamic magnetic stripe communications device to electromagnetically communicate magnetic stripe data to a read head of said magnetic stripe reader.
A high-speed detection circuitry for a card, comprising:
- a plurality of capacitive sensing nodes respectively coupled to conductive pads;
- a charge circuit and a discharge circuit selectively coupled to said capacitive sensing nodes;
- a controller coupled to said charge circuit and said discharge circuit;
- and
- a memory coupled to said controller, wherein said controller is configured to control charging and discharging of said capacitive sensing nodes, determine capacitance values based on time intervals associated with said charging and discharging, compare said capacitance values to one or more thresholds across at least two nonadjacent ones of said capacitive sensing nodes, and output a detection signal adapted to initiate electromagnetic communication with a magnetic stripe reader.
A powered card comprising:
- a first set of conductive pads positioned on a first side of an electromagnetic field generator region;
- a second set of conductive pads positioned on an opposite side of said electromagnetic field generator region;
- a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device disposed within said electromagnetic field generator region;
- a power source;
- a power management module;
- and
- a controller coupled to said first set, said second set, said dynamic magnetic stripe communications device, and said power management module;
- wherein said controller is configured to verify a presence of a magnetic stripe reader using said first set, activate said dynamic magnetic stripe communications device to communicate magnetic stripe data, post verify said presence using said second set, and command said power management module to immediately transition said powered card to a low power mode upon said post verification.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.