Multi-mode smart card, system and associated methods

A multi-mode smart card for operating in an ISO mode in accordance with International Standards Organization 7816 (ISO 7816) protocol, and a non-ISO mode in accordance with a non-ISO protocol, the multi-mode smart card comprising:

• a card body;
• and
• a multi-mode integrated circuit (IC) carried by the card body and comprising
• an external interface including
• a voltage supply pad,
• a ground pad,
• a first set of pads in accordance with the ISO 7816 protocol, and
• a second set of pads in accordance with the non-ISO protocol, and
• a mode configuration circuit for configuring the multi-mode IC in one of the ISO mode and the non-ISO mode and comprising
• a mode detector connected to one pad of the first set of pads, and
• a latching circuit connected to the mode detector.

A multi-mode smart card system for operating in an ISO mode in accordance with International Standards Organization 7816 (ISO 7816) protocol, and a non-ISO mode in accordance with a non-ISO protocol, the multi-mode smart card system comprising:

• a multi-mode smart card comprising
• an external interface including
• a voltage supply pad,
• a ground pad,
• a first set of pads in accordance with the ISO 7816 protocol, and
• a second set of pads in accordance with the non-ISO protocol, and
• a mode configuration circuit for configuring the multi-mode smart card inone of the ISO mode and the non-ISO mode and comprising
• a mode detector connected to one pad of the first set of pads, and
• a latching circuit connected to the mode detector;
• and
• a non-ISO-compliant smart card reader for reading the multi-mode smart card including
• a smart card interface having a plurality of contacts for respectively mating with the voltage supply pad, the ground pad, and the second set of pads in accordance with the non-ISO protocol, and
• a mode indication circuit for connection to the one pad of the first set of pads for providing a non-ISO mode indication signal to the mode detector of the mode configuration circuit.

A method of operating a multi-mode integrated circuit (IC) in an ISO mode in accordance with International Standards organization 7816 (ISO 7816) protocol, and a non-ISO mode in accordance with a non-190 protocol, the multi-mode IC including an external interface having a voltage supply pad, a ground pad, a first set of pads in accordance with the ISO protocol, and a second set of pads in accordance with the non-ISO protocol, the method comprising:

• detecting whether one of an ISO-mode condition and a non-ISO-mode condition exists on one pad of the first set of pads;
• configuring the multi-mode IC in the ISO mode and disabling the second set of pads when the ISO-mode condition is detected;
• and
• configuring the multi-mode IC in the non-ISO mode and disabling the first set of pads when the non-ISO-mode condition is detected.