Patent ID: 9262651
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: G06K

Claim Text:
1. A system for determining if direct contact or contactless communication is to be performed with a smart card, said system comprised of: a smart card including a near field communication antenna for contactless communication, electrical traces for direct contact communication and an integrated circuit memory; a smart card reader including a near field communication antenna for contactless communication and a direct contact reader having an opening to receive the smart card for direct contact communication; a touch sensor capacitance circuit for detecting changes in charge; and at least one capacitance electrode coupled to the touch sensor capacitance circuit and disposed on the smart card reader adjacent to the opening of the direct contact reader, wherein the touch sensor capacitance circuit uses the signal strength that is measured on the at least one capacitance electrode to determine if the smart card is to be read by the near field communication antenna or the direct contact reader.