# US 9,038,914 B2 · Method and system for simulating a proximity-based transaction device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,914 B2 - Document ID: US9038914B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/668,184 - Filed: 2008-07-07 - Published: 2011-02-24 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-05 - Assignees: Mastercard International Incorporated - Applicants: Patrik Smets; Eddy Lodewijk Hortensia Van De Velde; Duncan Garrett; David Anthony Roberts - Inventors: Patrik Smets; Eddy Lodewijk Hortensia Van De Velde; Duncan Garrett; David Anthony Roberts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038914B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer} - G06K 7/0095: {Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly (testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28)} - G06K 7/10465: {the interrogation device being capable of self-diagnosis, e.g. in addition to or as part of the actual interrogation process (testing of electrical circuits in general G01R31/28)} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract Reference equipment including a reference card and a reference reader is provided for testing electronic payment devices such as cards and card readers. The reference equipment includes reference cards and reference readers that respectively can be used to verify compliance of product cards and product readers with product specifications The product specifications may, for example, be the ISO 14443 Standard specifications which are commonly accepted in the electronic payment industry The reference equipment is designed to enhance interoperability of product payment devices whose functional behaviors may vary because of vendor customization of device specifications or due to manufacturing tolerances In some embodiments, the reference equipment includes a reference card for testing card readers The exemplary reference card can comprise a current mirror to permit an electronically adjustable variable load using an external controller The reference card electronic circuit can exhibit variable load conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reference card for testing card readers that are used to read a set of several different types of contactless payment cards that are deployed in an electronic payment system, the set of different types of payment cards exhibiting a corresponding set of diverse behaviors, the reference card comprising: a reference card electronic circuit comprising: a current mirror having electrically programmable parameters; and a control input node coupled to said current mirror, said input node capable of being connected to an external controller programmed to alter said electrically programmable parameters; wherein said reference card electronic circuit is configured to exhibit load conditions that simulate behavior of more than one types of contactless payment cards in the electronic payment system to the card reader under test. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1 wherein the reference card electronic circuit comprises an antenna having a resonant frequency tuned to any one of 13.56 MHz, 16.1 MHz, and 18 MHz. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The reference card of claim 2, wherein the variable load represents a maximum card power consumption in a worst case scenario to the card reader under test. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1, further comprising: a manually selectable load switching device; a set of load simulating elements coupled to said load switching device, said load simulating elements including at least one variable resistive load and one non-linear load; whereby one or more of said load simulating elements are activated by the manipulation of said manually selectable load switching device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The reference card of claim 4, wherein said manually selectable load simulating device is a jumper connected to a plurality of diodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1, further comprising an external load input port capable of being connected to en external load. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1, wherein the reference card electronic circuit is configured to transmit information to the card reader under test using different-levels and shapes of load modulation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1, wherein said reference card is configured to induce noise in the transmitted information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1, wherein said current mirror presents a varying load based on a control signal delivered to said current mirror via said control input node. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The reference card of claim 1, wherein said current mirror presents an electronically adjustable variable load. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reference card of claim 10, wherein said electronically adjustable variable load is based on a control signal provided by said external controller to said control input node. ### Claim 12 A method for testing a card reader comprising: generating a signal by a reference card, the reference card comprising: a reference card electronic circuit comprising: a current mirror having electrically programmable parameters; and a control input node coupled to said current mirror, said input node capable of being connected to an external controller programmed to alter said electrically programmable parameters; and adjusting the signal by varying the load presented on the reference card using the current mirror. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein varying the load presented on the reference card comprises varying a control signal delivered to the current mirror via the control input node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising measuring the reader power parameters in response to the signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising measuring the reader transmitter parameters in response to the signal.