Financial transaction token with onboard power source

Abstract

There is provided a card or token for use in financial transactions. The financial transaction token or card has an onboard energy storage device that enables onboard electronics to operate when the card is not in the proximity of a merchant Point-Of-Service (POS) terminal. In one implementation, the onboard energy storage device includes a capacitor such as a thin-film capacitor that stores sufficient energy to power onboard electronics without the need for an onboard battery. The card may be incorporated within various conventional apparatus such as a see-through and/or protective substrate, an item of clothing, an item of jewelry, a cell phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a credit card, an identification card, a money holder, a wallet, a personal organizer, a keychain payment tag, and like personality.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A financial token comprising:
 an assembly comprising a substrate;   a capacitor embedded within in the substrate and coupled to a charging interface;   a switch coupled to:
 a power circuit; 
 a supplemental energy storage device capable of substantially energizing the power circuit as an internal power source; 
 the capacitor capable of substantially energizing the power circuit as an internal power source; and 
 a power controller; 
   a processor proximal the assembly and coupled to the power circuit;   a data encoding area coupled to the processor and the power circuit;   a user interface proximal the assembly and coupled to the processor and the power circuit, and   memory, coupled to the power circuit and the processor, including:
 information regarding an account within a payment processing system for initiating payment for a financial transaction; and 
   code executable to accept, using the user interface, commands for initiating payment on the account for the transaction.   
     
     
         55 . The financial token as defined in  claim 54  wherein the supplemental energy storage device is coupled to the charging interface. 
     
     
         56 . The financial token as defined in  claim 55  wherein the supplemental energy storage device is a capacitor. 
     
     
         57 . The financial token as defined in  claim 55  wherein the supplemental energy storage device is a thin film capacitor. 
     
     
         58 . The financial token as defined in  claim 54  wherein the supplemental energy storage device is a battery. 
     
     
         59 . The financial token as defined in  claim 54  wherein the charging interface comprises at least one piezoelectric crystal and a movable pendulum mass. 
     
     
         60 . A financial token comprising:
 a capacitor embedded within a substrate;   a switch coupled with, at least:
 a power circuit; 
 the capacitor; 
 a supplemental energy storage device; and 
 a power circuit controller configured at least to energize the power circuit with one or more of the capacitor and the supplemental energy storage device selected in accordance with a power control policy; and 
   a memory coupled with the power circuit that stores at least account information used when the financial token participates in a financial transaction with respect to a corresponding account in a payment processing system.   
     
     
         61 . The financial token as defined in  claim 60 , further comprising a charging interface coupled with the power circuit, the charging interface including at least one piezoelectric crystal and a movable pendulum mass. 
     
     
         62 . The financial token as defined in  claim 60 , wherein energizing the power circuit in accordance with the power control policy comprises energizing the power circuit with the supplemental energy storage device based at least in part on a charge state of the capacitor. 
     
     
         63 . The financial token as defined in  claim 60 , wherein energizing the power circuit in accordance with the power control policy comprises determining a period of time during which the capacitor and the supplemental energy storage device are capable of energizing the power circuit. 
     
     
         64 . The financial token as defined in  claim 60 , wherein energizing the power circuit in accordance with the power control policy comprises energizing the power circuit in an environmentally friendly manner. 
     
     
         65 . The financial token as defined in  claim 60 , further comprising:
 a user interface coupled with the power circuit; and   a processor coupled with the power circuit and the user interface, the processor configured by executable instructions to perform steps of, at least, accepting, using the user interface, at least one command and initiating payment with the account in the payment processing system for the financial transaction using the account information stored with the memory.   
     
     
         66 . The financial token as defined in  claim 65 , wherein the power circuit controller is further configured to provide input to the processor corresponding to a low power state of the power circuit. 
     
     
         67 . A financial token comprising:
 an assembly comprising a substrate;   a power circuit;   a capacitor embedded within a substrate and coupled with the power circuit;   a supplemental energy storage device coupled with the power circuit;   a power circuit controller coupled with the power circuit and configured at least to energize the power circuit with one or more of the capacitor and the supplemental energy storage device selected in accordance with a power control policy; and   a memory coupled with the power circuit that stores at least account information used when the financial token participates in a financial transaction with respect to a corresponding account in a payment processing system.   
     
     
         68 . The financial token as defined in  claim 67 , further comprising a charging interface coupled with the power circuit, the charging interface including at least one piezoelectric crystal and a movable pendulum mass. 
     
     
         69 . The financial token as defined in  claim 67 , further comprising a switch coupled with the power circuit, the capacitor, the supplemental energy storage device, and the power circuit controller such that power circuit controller energizes the power circuit at least in part by providing a signal to the switch. 
     
     
         70 . The financial token as defined in  claim 69 , wherein the signal provided by the power circuit controller is based at least in part on a charge state of the capacitor. 
     
     
         71 . The financial token as defined in  claim 67 , wherein the signal provided by the power circuit controller is based at least in part on a period of time during which the capacitor or the supplemental energy storage device are capable of energizing the power circuit. 
     
     
         72 . The financial token as defined in  claim 67 , wherein the signal provided by the power circuit controller is based at least in part on environmental concerns. 
     
     
         73 . The financial token as defined in  claim 67 , further comprising a processor coupled with the power circuit, the processor capable of transitioning to an energy conserving operating state responsive to a signal.