Abstract:
A communication device comprising a portable casing having space adapted to receive at least one digital and communication integrated circuit (IC) or smart card therein; the casing also containing a contact smart card connector that is adapted to electrically couple to the smart card. A contact smart card reader electronic module is provided within the casing and connecting the smart card connector to an external port, the external port adapted for electrically coupling to an external host for data exchange between the smart card and the external host. This device also contains an antenna assembly adapted to electrically couple to the IC or smart card for wireless data transmission between this device and an external contactless smart card reader.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Hong Kong Application No. 04104126.5 filed Jun. 9, 2004, now Hong Kong Short Term Patent No. 1063994A.  
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to an electronic communication devices, and in particular smart-card related devices with dual-mode contact/contactless functions.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     A smart card consists of an IC chip typically embedded in a flat enclosure. It comes with two popular form factors. One of them is the size of a credit card which is widely used in banking and national ID card projects. The other form factor is the smaller subscriber identification module (SIM card) used in mobile phone. The IC chip itself can simply be a memory chip or a microprocessor chip. Typically, a smart card has eight electric pins which are generally referred to as C 1  to C 8  to communicate to the external world. Their roles and functions are defined in ISO7816 international standard. A smart card reader is a device that will make electrical contact with each of these pins, so that an external host device can communicate with the smart card through the reader. Out of these 8 pins, ISO7816 standard defines 6 of them for the use of carrying electric power, the clock and reset signals as well as data input and data output signals between the reader and the card. Pins C 4  and C 8  are not defined and some manufacturers are using these 2 pins to carry out special functions, which will be described later. This type of smart card is said to operate in a contact mode, as it needs to make physical contact with the card reader in order for it to get the electrical power and to communicate with the external world.  
         [0004]     There is another kind of smart card that can operate in a contactless mode. It is based on the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. In this case, the contactless smart card reader, also known as the interrogator, sends out the Radio Frequency (RF) signal. The contactless smart card contains a contactless chip which is electrically coupled to an antenna and its RF circuitry is tuned to receive the RF signal at this frequency. When the contactless card is in the vicinity of the interrogator, it picks up the RF signal, and uses it to power the RF and digital circuitry within the contactless IC. The interrogator and the contactless smart card also communicate with each other through the same RF channel.  
         [0005]     Smart cards operating in contact mode have been widely used in many applications where security and privacy are the prime concerns. These include banking transaction, credit card processing, on-line electronic commerce, logical access to computer systems, as well as national identification card projects, health care and social security card projects. Another mass adoption of smart card technology is the subscriber identification card (SIM card) used in the GSM mobile phone handsets. On the other hands, contactless smart card technology is more convenient to use, as users do not need to physically insert the smart card into the card reader. Hence, it is widely used in physical access control, micro-payment of mass transit systems and many other applications. However, the latter technology may not offer the same level of security protection as the contact mode of operation, because the wireless data transmission could be eavesdropped by a rogue contactless reader located in close proximity of the genuine one.  
         [0006]     As a result, vendors have developed a dual-mode smart card that contains a digital logic and communication integrated circuit (IC) that can operate in both contact mode and contactless mode. An example of such a card is the combi-card, which normally has a form factor that is the same size as a normal credit card. But the SIM card format is also available. It has 8 pin connections as per normal contact smart card which can couple to a smart card reader in contact mode of operation. For the normal credit card size combi-card, it also has an embedded antenna inside the card so that it can function as a contactless card by itself. For the SIM card format combi-card, an external antenna is needed and pins C 4  and C 8  are used by some vendors to connect to the external antenna.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     In the light of the foregoing background, embodiments of the present invention provide an alternate electronic device that can function as a contact smart card reader in one way, and also a contactless card in another way.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, certain embodiments are exemplified by a communication device comprising a portable casing having space adapted to receive at least one digital and communication integrated circuit (IC) or smart card therein; the casing also containing a contact smart card connector that is adapted to electrically couple to the smart card. A contact smart card reader electronic module is provided within the casing and connecting the smart card connector to an external port, the external port adapted for electrically coupling to an external host for data exchange between the smart card and the external host. This device also contains an antenna assembly adapted to electrically couple to the IC or smart card for wireless data transmission between this device and an external contactless smart card reader.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment, the communication device is adapted to accept a dual-mode smart card (such as in a SIM format) card therein with the contact smart card connector contained within the casing adapted to electrically couple to the dual-mode smart card. A contact smart card reader electronic module couples the contact smart card connector to an external port, which in turn is adapted for electrically coupling to an external host for data exchange between the dual-mode smart card and the external host. The antenna assembly is adapted to electrically couple to the contact smart card connector pins C 4  and C 8  for wireless data transmission between the contactless module of the dual-mode smart card and an external contactless smart card reader.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, at least one contact smart card and a separate contactless IC chip are provided within the portable communication device. The contact smart card connector contained within the casing is adapted to electrically couple to the smart card; the contact smart card reader electronic module can couple the smart card connector to an external port, with the external port adapted for electrically coupling to an external host for data exchange between the contact smart card and the external host. The antenna assembly provided within the casing is adapted to electrically couple to the contactless chip for wireless data transmission between this portable device and an external contactless smart card reader.  
         [0011]     In one implementation of the aforesaid embodiments, either or both the smart card connector and the antenna assembly are fabricated on a printed circuit board.  
         [0012]     In another implementation, the printed circuit board is a multi-layer printed circuit board with at least two layers of the printed circuit board containing at least a portion of the antenna assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna of the antenna assembly is embedded as part of the casing.  
         [0013]     According to another embodiment using a dual-mode contact and contactless communication device similar to the ones described above, a method of forming the antenna assembly is provided. The first act of this method is laying metal conductors in a printed circuit board to couple electronic components of an export port, a contact smart card reader electronic module, and a contact smart card connector theretogether. At least one metal wire is then embedded in a position proximate the perimeter of the printed circuit board to electrically couple the metal wire to a contactless IC (e.g., a combi-card or a contactless chip) such that the metal wire functions as an antenna for the antenna assembly for wireless transmission.  
         [0014]     In a variation of the above method, a further act of embedding at least one second metal wire to at least a second layer of the printed circuit board is provided. In addition, there is an act of connecting the first metal wire with the second wire electrically.  
         [0015]     In a further embodiment, a method of dual-mode contact and contactless electronic communication is provided comprising the acts of connecting a portable dual-mode contact and contactless communication device to an external host via a smart card reader electronic module provided within the communication device and transferring data to and from the communication device in a contact mode of operation; and communicating the communication device with a contactless smart card reader in a contactless mode of operation.  
         [0016]     In a preferred embodiment, the export port is a serial and USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. Smart cards having the SIM form factor are also preferred.  
         [0017]     There are many advantages to embodiments of the present invention as it enables many new applications. For example, users can store secret keys and password information inside the dual-mode SIM sized smart card. When the user wants to log on to a computer system, he can couple the device to a USB port. A software program can be automatically initiated to authenticate the user and allow him access to the computer. When the user wants to access certain restricted premises, it can function in contactless mode as a physical access device for the user. In another application scenario, the dual-mode smart card can be configured as a store-value card. The user can use the contact-mode of operation to top up the stored value, and use the contactless-mode of operation to pay service fee. The contact-mode ensures high security while the contactless-mode offers user convenience. In fact, the device can be made small enough as a personal electronic key that is always carried by the user in his key-chain. The fact that the antenna may be fabricated as part of the casing allows the smallest possible footprint for the device.  
         [0018]     Another advantage is that in the embodiment where the contactless IC is separated from the contact SIM card, the contact SIM card may be exchanged or replaced independently of the contactless IC. This reduces both cost and efficiency of usage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a dual-mode smart card reader module and antenna assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a dual-mode smart card whose dimensions conform to the SIM form factor.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is top view of the dual-mode smart card reader device according to the same embodiment with the top cover removed.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is the top view of the dual-mode smart card reader device according to the same embodiment with the dual-mode smart card inserted into the smart card connector slot of the device.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5A, 5B ,  5 C and  5 D are the first, second, third and fourth layers of the printed circuit board layouts of the device according the same embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cover of the device with an antenna embedded inside the cover.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows the printed circuit board installed on the cover of the device of the same embodiment with an antenna embedded inside the cover.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a smart card reader module and antenna assembly for contact smart card and contactless chip according to a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  shows the top view of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the cover of the device removed to show electronic card reader module, the card reader connector and the contactless IC chip.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  shows one possible antenna assembly of the second embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     As used herein and in the claims, “couple” or “connect” refers to electrical coupling or connection either directly or indirectly via one or more electrical means unless otherwise stated.  
         [0030]     “Digital logic and communication integrated circuit (IC)” generally refers to electronic processors or memory devices, either embedded within an enclosure or in a chip form without enclosure. For ICs that are embedded in a flat enclosure in the form of a card, they are also known as “smart cards”. Some smart cards contain IC for both contact and contactless modes of operation. Some smart cards contain IC for either the contact or the contactless mode of operation only. There are also ICs that contain circuitry for contactless mode of operation only but not embedded in a smart card.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of the present invention is related to a dual-mode smart card reader module  10 , which has two major components: a smart card reader electronic module  11  and an antenna assembly  12 . The former establishes a communication path between an external host  21  and a smart card  20  so that the external host  21  can read and write information to the smart card  20  under the contact mode of operation. Likewise, the antenna assembly  12  provides the necessary antenna circuitry to smart card  20  so that the latter can communicate with a contactless smart card reader  22  in contactless mode of operation. In this first embodiment, the smart card  20  has a form factor like the SIM card as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the external host  21  is a computer. The smart card reader electronic module  11  provides a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port  31  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) for connection to the external host  21 . However, it should be obvious to one skilled in the art that other interfacing protocols such as a RS232, a RS442 and a RS485 serial interface, as well as a parallel port interface can also be used. The antenna assembly  12  further comprises an antenna  14  and an antenna tuning circuitry  13 . For certain dual-mode smart card, there is no need for antenna tuning and in this situation the antenna assembly  12  contains only the antenna  14 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates the entire device of this embodiment with one part of the casing removed. The entire circuitry of the dual-mode contact smart card reader module  10  is implemented in a printed circuit board  33 . In this preferred embodiment, the smart card reader module  10  makes use of the USB port  31  to couple to the external host  21 . This module is housed in casing  32 . The printed circuit board  33  contains a smart card connector  34  that has 8 pin connectors for making electrical contact with the dual-mode smart card  20 .  FIG. 4  shows the setting when the smart card  20  is inserted to the smart card connector  34 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows an entire layout of printed circuit board  33 . In this preferred embodiment, the printed circuit board  33  has four layers.  FIG. 5   a  and  FIG. 5   d  are the top and bottom layers respectively for the mounting of discrete electronic components. The antenna  14  in  FIG. 1  is realized in layer  2  and  3  of the printed circuit board  33 . As shown in  FIGS. 5   b  and  5   c , each of these two layers comprises five turns of thin electric wires that constitute a portion of the antenna. These wirings run around the perimeters of the printed circuit board so that the antenna  14  thus formed can capture the maximum amount of magnetic flux radiated from the contactless card reader  22 . Thin wire  14   a  makes contact with layer  1  through electrically conducting pin-hole  15 , and also with layer  3  through pin-hole  17 . Likewise, thin wire  14   b  makes contact with layer  2  through pin-hole  17  and with layer  1  through pin-hole  16 . As such, wiring  14   a  and  14   b  are connected together to form a single antenna  14 . Antenna  14  couples to the antenna assembly  12  in printed circuit board  33 , which in turn couples to pins C 4  and C 8  of the smart card connector  34 .  
         [0034]     Since the electric power that can be coupled to the smart card  20  from the contactless smart card reader  22  depends on the number of turns that the loop antenna  14  has, and also the area it encloses, the wiring  14   a  and  14   b  preferably occupy the perimeter of the printed circuit board  33 . To increase the number of turns, the loop antenna  14  occupies two layers of the printed circuit board in this specific embodiment. Moreover, as surface mount technology is adopted to put electronic components to the printed circuit board  33 , the top and bottom layers are dedicated for interconnecting electronic components together to realize the circuitry of the dual-mode smart card reader module  10 . Hence in this embodiment, the loop antenna  14  occupies the inner two layers. If there is no size constrain, the antenna can be co-located with the rest of the electronic circuitry and hence the number of layers in the printed circuit board  33  can be reduced. Although this preferred embodiment has been described specifically, it is clear that many variations and combinations are possible in the light of the teaching provided herein. Specifically, the number of turns of the antenna wiring, its placement on the circuit board, and the number of layers of the printed circuit board used are variations that those skilled in the technical art can adapt to their specific applications.  
         [0035]     In another implementation of this embodiment, the antenna  14  is embedded in the casing  32  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The antenna can be constructed using thin metal wires wound in loops or other forms, or it can be printed onto the cover using conductive inks. The main purpose is that the antenna thus formed can receive the electromagnetic wave radiated from the contactless card reader. At the printed circuit board  33  shown in  FIG. 7 , spring connectors can be placed directly underneath antenna leads  41  and  42 , so that when the cover  32  encloses the printed circuit board  33 , these spring connectors make electrical connections to antenna leads  41  and  42 . In implementation of this embodiment, a flexible circuit board can be used to form the antenna  14 , and the former can be glued to the back of the cover  32  by adhesive means. The antenna  14  can be coupled to the printed circuit board  33  through ordinary electrical wires and connectors. It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that there can be a plurality of methods to embed the antenna  14  to the cover  32  and couple the antenna to the printed circuit board  33 ; and the antenna can be made using a variety of electrically conducting materials.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the present invention in which the contact and contactless functions are implemented on two different IC chips. For simplicity of description, the features that are the same as the first embodiment are given the same numbers as they serve the same function, and their descriptions are not repeated here. In this embodiment, a SIM card  20   a  having a contact mode of operation replaces SIM card  20  of the first embodiment in the same casing. It interacts with smart card connector  34  in the contact mode in the same way as previously described. Additionally, a contactless IC  50  is provided in this second embodiment and a pair of electrical connections  51  and  52  is added to connect IC  50  to the antenna assembly  12 , which allows contactless IC chip  50  to interact with an external contactless smart card reader.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show how the pair of electrical connections  51  and  52  links the contactless IC  50  to antenna  14  (not shown in  FIG. 9 ). As in the previous embodiment, the antenna tuning circuitry is an optional feature of the antenna assembly.  
         [0038]     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are thus fully described. Although the description referred to particular embodiments, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with variation of these specific details. Hence this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.  
         [0039]     For example, it should be noted that the metal conductors that realize the circuit diagram of the smart card reader electronic module should not form closed loops. Moreover, for a multi-layer printed circuit board, the metal wire for the antenna may occupy more than one layer. In such case, electrically conducting pin-holes will be used to couple wires from multiple layers together so that it constitutes a single antenna.