System and Method for Low-Power Close-Proximity Communications and Energy Transfer Using a Miniature Multi-Purpose Antenna

Abstract

A system for providing information to a magnetic card reader. The system comprises an antenna (in one embodiment comprising a multi-purpose antenna or an antenna module) and a microprocessor for applying a differential signal to the antenna. The differential signal represents data stored in a memory segment of the microprocessor or in a memory connected to the microprocessor. The antenna transmits an alternating magnetic field representing the information the alternating magnetic field is responsive to the differential signal and received by the magnetic card reader.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for conducting a financial transaction using a transaction device, the system comprising:
 a microprocessor;   a radio interface further comprising one or more of a Bluetooth radio interface, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio interface, a WiFi radio interface, a Near Field Communications (NFC) radio interface or another radio interface;   responsive to a trigger signal, the microprocessor supplying a first transaction signal to the radio interface and the radio interface for supplying a second transaction signal to the transaction device for executing the financial transaction; and   the microprocessor and the radio interface disposed in one of a system-on-a-chip (SOC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a secure element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the microprocessor supplies the first transaction signal directly to the radio interface with no intervening driver or active components. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising an EMV (Europay, MasterCard Visa) interface responsive to the first transaction signal, the EMV interface for supplying an EMV transaction signal to the transaction device for executing the financial transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the trigger signal is provided by user operation of a mechanical or electrical switch or the trigger signal is provided by one or more sensors responsive to a triggering event. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the system further comprises an antenna responsive to the radio interface, the antenna for transmitting alternating magnetic fields representing the first transaction signal, wherein the alternating magnetic fields are received by a magnetic card reader for executing the financial transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the transaction signal represents data stored in a memory segment of the microprocessor or memory connected to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the microprocessor comprises one or more general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins, digital output pins, analog output pins, and radio frequency output pins, the one or more pins connected to an antenna for generating the second transaction signal comprising one or more of a radio frequency signal, a near field communications signal, a Bluetooth signal, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal, and alternating magnetic fields, the second transaction signal representing data stored in a memory segment of the microprocessor or memory connected to the microprocessor, wherein the second transaction signal is received by reader or a magnetic card reader for conducting the financial transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  a plurality of parameters defining the first transaction signal, the microprocessor controlling values for each one of the plurality of parameters, the parameters comprising timing, delays, power, pulse width, bit rate, bit order, bit direction, data, operational frequency, and location and orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  disposed within an item, the item further comprising a portable item, a mobile item, a wearable item, or a card. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  the portable item or the mobile item comprising a phone. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  the microprocessor operable to authenticate a user and permit the user to operate the system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  the trigger signal further comprising a user gesture. 
     
     
         13 . A system for providing information to a reader, the system comprising:
 a first antenna;   a microprocessor for supplying a pulse signal to the first antenna, the pulse signal representing data stored in a memory segment of the microprocessor or in a memory connected to the microprocessor; and   wherein the pulse signal is propagated from the first antenna as a magnetic signal for reading by a magnetic read head of the reader, or is propagated as a near field communications signal, a WiFi signal, or a Bluetooth signal for receiving by a second antenna operative with the reader.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a sensor for detecting a user gesture and responsive thereto causing the microprocessor to supply the pulse signal to the first antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  a plurality of parameters defining the pulse signal, the microprocessor controlling values for each one of the plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising timing, delays, power, pulse width, bit rate, bit order, bit direction, operational frequency, and location and orientation. 
     
     
         16 . A system for providing information to a magnetic card reader, the system comprising:
 an antenna having a first terminal connected to ground; and   a microprocessor for supplying a signal to a second terminal of the antenna, the signal representing information stored in a memory segment of the microprocessor or in a memory connected to the microprocessor; and   the antenna transmitting an alternating magnetic field responsive to the signal and received by the magnetic card reader.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  the signal comprising data bits, wherein the alternating magnetic field is transmitted from the antenna responsive to a first ordering of the data bits, or is transmitted from the antenna responsive to a second ordering of the data bits, the second ordering different from the first ordering, or is transmitted during multiple transmissions in the first ordering followed by the second ordering or the second ordering followed by the first ordering. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein alternating magnetic fields are spaced-apart in time and wherein a bit rate of data bits embodied in the alternating magnetic fields varies between successive transmissions of the alternating magnetic fields. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the microprocessor maintains current flow to the antenna during a duration of a first polarity of the data bits and terminates current flow at a beginning of a second polarity of the data bits. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the microprocessor comprises a first output pin connected to the first terminal of the antenna for connecting the first terminal to ground, and comprises a second output pin connected to the second terminal of the antenna for supplying the signal to the second terminal of the antenna. 
     
     
         21 . A system on a card for providing information to a reader, the system comprising:
 an inductor; and   a microprocessor for supplying current representing information to the inductor, the information stored in a memory segment of the microprocessor or in a memory connected to the microprocessor; and   the current generating a propagating magnetic field in the inductor, the magnetic field representing the information and sensed by the reader.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the microprocessor supplies the current to the inductor as a differential current with no intervening driver or active components. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  the inductor comprising a plurality of coils and a continuous core extending through each one of the plurality of coils, or comprising a plurality of cores with one of the plurality of inductors disposed on one of the plurality of cores. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21  the card further comprising an electrically conductive region on each of opposing surfaces of the card, the electrically conductive regions positioned such that when a user grasps the card contact is made to each electrically conductive region and responsive thereto the microprocessor is activated. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21  the card further comprising electrically conductive regions for sensing one or more taps by a user for controlling operation of the microprocessor. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the propagating magnetic field embodies microprocessor-selected field parameters comprising any one more of timing, delays, power, pulse width, bit rate, bit order, bit direction, data, operational frequency, and location or orientation of a source of the alternating magnetic field relative to the magnetic card reader.