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US 6,604,685 B1Granted
Optical smart card system, apparatus and method
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorStephen P. Norton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are an optical smart card and an optical smart card reader, each including an optical interface for communicating information therebetween by way of an optical communication link.
Claims19
A smart card, comprising:
- an optical transceiver for transmitting a first optical signal and receiving a second optical signal;
- an electronic processor in communication with the optical transceiver, wherein the electronic processor is for processing the first and second optical signals;
- an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic signal;
- and
- a power converter coupled to the electronic processor, the optical transceiver, and the antenna, wherein the power converter is for converting the electromagnetic signal to a voltage for powering the electronic processor and the optical transceiver, and
- wherein the optical transceiver initiates an optical transmission upon the antenna receiving the electromagnetic signal.
3 more elements
A smart card reader, comprising:
- a computer screen;
- an optical transceiver forming an integral portion of the computer screen, wherein the optical transceiver is for receiving a first signal from an optical smart card and transmitting a second signal to the optical smart card;
- an electronic logic circuit for processing the first and second signals in communication with the optical transceiver;
- and
- an antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic signal to the optical smart card, wherein the optical smart card upon receiving the electromagnetic signal initiates optical transmission between the optical smart card and the card reader.
2 more elements
An optical smart card system, comprising:
- an optical smart card including a first optical transceiver in communication with an electronic processor and a first antenna for receiving an electromagnetic signal;
- and
- an optical smart card reader comprising:
- a computer screen;
- a second optical transceiver forming an integral portion of the computer screen, wherein the second optical transceiver is for receiving a first signal from the first optical transceiver and transmitting a second signal to the first optical transceiver;
- an electronic logic circuit for processing the first and second signals in communication with the second optical transceiver;
- and
- a second antenna for transmitting the electromagnetic signal to the first antenna of the optical smart card, wherein the optical smart card upon receiving the electromagnetic signal initiates optical transmission between the first optical transceiver and the second optical transceiver.
5 more elements
A smart card system, comprising:
- an optical smart card including:
- an first optical transceiver for transmitting a first optical signal and receiving a second optical signal;
- an electronic processor in communication with the first optical transceiver, wherein the electronic processor is for processing the first and second optical signals;
- an antenna coupled to a power converter, wherein the antenna is for receiving an electromagnetic power signal;
- and
- a power converter coupled to the electronic processor and the first optical transceiver, wherein the power converter is for converting the electromagnetic signal to a voltage for powering the electronic processor and the first optical transceiver;
- and
- a portable power supply remotely disposed from the smart card, wherein the portable power supply is for wirelessly communicating the electromagnetic power signal to the optical smart card;
- wherein the electromagnetic power signal is radiated from the portable power supply to the smart card;
- and
- wherein the first optical transceiver initiates an optical transmission upon receiving the electromagnetic power signal from the portable power supply.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.