Chip card having a projection mirror

A chip card for generating an image projection includes a substrate, a mirror which is held movable with reference to the substrate, an actuator for moving the mirror with reference to the substrate and a processor for processing image information for driving the actuator in order to move the mirror according to the image information, in order to generate the image projection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a chip card and in particular to a chip card having an integrated moveable mirror.

2. Description of the Related Art

Chip cards continuously gain currency with numerous applications, for example as telephone cards for public telephones or as a payment means in the form of EC cards (electronic cash cards) or payment cards. At that, it is desirable in many applications that information which is stored on the chip card, for example a balance on a payment card, may be shown to a user. The optical output of text, data or graphics by a chip card itself is today limited to indications or displays, respectively, laminated into the card, for example liquid crystal displays. These are still very small in order to guarantee a sufficient mechanical stability, whereby a reproduction of more complex texts or graphics is almost impossible. It is conceivable that in future the overall surface of the chip card will be provided with a display foil or indication foil, respectively. Also in this case the reproduction face is always reduced to the ISO format of the chip card, however.

A further important aspect in the illustration of information which is stored on the chip card is the security against a manipulation of data. If information leaves the chip card controller, it needs to be protected against manipulations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved chip card and an improved chip card read out device for a chip card with the use of which an image may be illustrated.

In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a chip card for generating a two-dimensional image projection, having a substrate, a mirror, which is held rotationally moveable around two axes with reference to the substrate, an actuator for moving the mirror with reference to the substrate around the two axes, and a processor for processing image information for driving the actuator in order to move the mirror rotationally around the two axes according to the image information in order to generate the two-dimensional image projection.

In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a chip card reading device, having a chip card holding means, and a light source holding means for holding a light source generating a light beam, wherein the chip card holding means and the light source holding means are arranged so that the light beam may fall onto a mirror of a chip card when the chip card is held within the chip card holding means, and that a light beam reflected by the mirror may fall onto a projection face, wherein the chip card holding means is further implemented so that it may hold the chip card so that the mirror is visible from the outside.

According to the present invention, a chip card for generating an image projection includes a substrate, a mirror which is moveably held which reference to the substrate, an actuator for moving the mirror with regard to the substrate and a processor for processing image information for driving the actuator in order to move the mirror according to the image information in order to generate the image projection.

Preferably, the actuator is mounted to the substrate, and further the mirror is preferably attached at or in the chip card so that it is not visible from the outside. Further, a chip card according to the present invention preferably comprises a memory and/or an input for image information.

Further, a chip card according to the present invention may comprise a controllable light shutter which is arranged in a light path along which a light beam may propagate which impinges on the mirror and is reflected from there. Alternatively or additionally the chip card may comprise an electrical contact via which the chip card is connectable to a light source, wherein the processor is further provided to apply a light source control signal to the electrical contact.

Preferably, the mirror of the chip card faces a surface of the chip card, on which the chip card comprises no electrical contacts.

According to the present invention, a chip card reading device includes a chip card holding means and a light source holding means for holding a light source which generates a light beam, wherein the chip card holding means and the light source holding means are arranged so that the light beam may fall onto a mirror of a chip card when the chip card is held within the chip card holding means and that a light beam reflected from the mirror may fall onto any projection face which may be part of the chip card reading device.

The chip card holding means of the inventive chip card reading device may be implemented so that it can hold the chip card such that the mirror of the chip card is visible from the outside. For this the chip card holding means may for example comprise a slot which takes up the chip card only so far that the mirror is visible from the outside.

In the inventive chip card reading device, the chip card holding means and the light source holding means are preferably implemented so that the chip card holding means may hold the chip card and the light source holding means may hold the light source so that an angle between the light beam and the mirror greater than 0 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees is present, wherein the angle is preferably 45 degrees.

Preferably, the light source is a laser or a laser pointer. The chip card holding means and the light source holding means are preferably implemented so that light source holding means may accept the light source so that the light beam is not interfered with by the chip card holding means when no chip card is inserted into the chip card holding means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chip card reading device further comprises a diode laser which is held by the light source holding means, and the light source holding means comprises a hinge via which the chip card holding means and the diode laser are movably connected to each other.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chip card reading device is implemented as a chip card terminal and includes a light source which is held by the light source holding means, a means for determining whether the chip card is admitted for the chip card reading device and a means for enabling or switching on the light source, respectively.

In other words, the present invention describes a chip card comprising an integrated laser projector. On the chip card controller a micromechanically moveable mirror is integrated which may deflect an incoming laser beam having a high frequency in order to project text, data or graphics onto any projection face using the deflected laser beam.

The projection face may thereby be some square meters large and may either be provided for example in the form of a projection screen in a chip card reading device in itself or it may be an arbitrary face which is mainly provided for other purposes, for example a sheet of paper or a wall of a room.

One advantage of the inventive chip card is, that the mirror may be substantially smaller than a projection of text, data or graphics generated by the same onto a projection face. In particular, the mirror may be so small so that it may easily be protected from a mechanical damage or destruction and that a manipulation is much more difficult.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the mirror may be manufactured cost-effectively as a micromechanical member or as a microactuator, respectively, as a semiconductor device and may further be integrated with the chip card controller or the processor, respectively, of the chip card. An integral implementation of the mirror with the actuator and the processor offers a further substantial improvement of safety from manipulation.

A special advantage of the present invention is that the microcontroller or processor, respectively, of the chip card implements the data/graphics projections itself, so that a corruption of the output data is extremely difficult. An especially secured terminal is not necessary. A very simple arrangement of a conventional diode laser, as it is for example used for a laser pointer, may be used together with a very cost-effective chip card reading device. It is obvious for a user that the illustrated output in the form of the projected text or the projected graphics is not generated by the terminal but directly by the chip card. The output is therefore especially trustworthy and the use of an expensive manipulation-safe terminal may be renounced.

An inventive chip card terminal may comprise a diode laser which may be modulated. The chip card terminal may mechanically hold a chip card, provide the same with electrical power and further provides a laser beam with the help of the diode laser which may be modulated, wherein the same may be digitally modulated and deflected by the chip card. For a modulation the laser beam may either be switched on or off by the input/output contact (I/O contact) of the chip card or the laser beam is faded out on the chip card by a light shutter, e.g. in the form of a liquid crystal shutter (LCD shutter; LCD=liquid crystal display) prior to the mirror system. For this, a simple modification of a conventional presentation laser pointer is sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a schematic illustration of a chip card2according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The chip card2comprises a first surface4whose top view is illustrated in the upper part ofFIG. 1, and a second surface6, whose top view is illustrated in the lower part ofFIG. 1. On the first surface4the chip card2comprises a plurality of electrically conductive contact faces8which are electrically connected to a lower processor, i.e. the processor1,0arranged between the first surface4and the second surface6of the chip card2, whose outlines are illustrated in dashed lines inFIG. 1. Further, the chip card2comprises a mirror12which is arranged laterally adjacent to the processor10between the first surface4and the second surface6of the chip card2and which is rotationally moveable around two axes. The second surface6comprises an opening14closed mechanically by a transparent window in the area of the mirror12. An actuator16is on the one hand connected mechanically to the mirror12and on the one hand to the substrate18, and is electrically connected to the processor10.

The electrically conductive contact faces8serve as an electrical interface of the processor10via which the processor may be provided with electrical power from the outside, for example from a chip card reading device or a terminal, and via which data may be exchanged between the processor and the chip card reading device or the terminal, respectively. The actuator16is electrically controllable by the processor10in order to move the mirror12with respect to the substrate18of the chip card2. Apart from the functions implemented in conventional chip cards, for example for an authentication of the chip card or a user of the chip card or a storage of data, the processor10of the chip card2according to the present invention comprises functions for processing image information and for driving the actuator16in order to move the mirror12according to the image information in order to generate an illustration of text, graphics or other types of data by a projection of a light beam onto a projection face caused by the mirror12. Details of the projection are explained in more detail with reference toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2is a schematic illustration of a chip card reading device30according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The chip card reading device30includes a chip card holding means32which is implemented so that 10 it may mechanically hold the chip card2and a laser34which is hingedly connected to a chip card holding means32via a hinge36.

The chip card holding means32is implemented so that it may mechanically hold a chip card2, as it is illustrated inFIG. 1, and may provide the same with electrical power via its contact faces8. The laser34may generate a light beam38, wherein the chip card holding means32and the laser34are aligned to each other using the hinge36so that the light beam38of the laser34falls onto the mirror12of the chip card2when the same is inserted into the chip card holding means32. The hinge36preferably comprises an arresting means for this purpose, which is not illustrated, using which the chip card holding means32and the laser34may be fixed to each other in a desired angle. In this case, the mirror12deflects the light beam38or reflects the same, respectively. The direction of the deflected or reflected light beam38′, respectively, is thereby dependent on the arrangement of the mirror12, which may in turn be changed by the processor10controlled by the actuator16of the chip card2. A user may hold the chip card reading device30in his hand and arrange the same opposing to a projection face40which may seem appropriate to him, for example a sheet of paper or a house wall, so that the deflected light beam38′ generates a visible light point42on the projection face40.

For illustrating data in the form of text or graphics the processor10controls the actuator16so that the mirror12rotationally moves to and fro with a high frequency around two axes. Accordingly, the direction of the light beam38′ deflected by the mirror12and the location of the light point on the projection face40by the deflected light beam38changes. By a repeated movement of the light points42over the projection face40with a sufficient frequency, for example 20 Hz, for the human observer, for example the user of the chip card reading device30, the impression of an image results.

Here, there are several possibilities to generate the light points42so that an image results. When the laser34continuously emits a light beam38, the mirror12may be controlled by the processor10so that the deflected light beam38′ hits the projection face40only at these locations or only at the locations, for a time which is substantial for the human eye, at which a visible light point42is to appear, wherein the mirror12is moved so that the deflected light beam38′ either bypasses image faces on the projection face40which are to appear darkened or sweeps the same very fast. This way of generating an overall image which seems to be stationary or slowly moving to the human eye is similar to those in an old analog oscilloscope in which an electron beam deflected by electrical or magnetical fields quickly repeatedly describes exactly those areas of an image face of a Braun valve which are to appear light to an observer.

Alternatively, in the chip card2at the second surface6in the area of the mirror12a light shutter may be arranged which is controllable by the processor10, for example a liquid crystal shutter (LCD shutter; LCD=liquid crystal display). In this case, the deflected light beam38′ which is directed by the mirror12scans the projection face40preferably in rows, similar to the way an electron beam of a television cathode-ray tube describes the image face. Using the light shutter the processor10may face out the light beam38before the reflection at the mirror12and/or the deflected light beam38′ after the reflection at the mirror12in order to generate dark image areas on the projection face40.

A further alternative is for the processor10to control the light emission of the laser34. This is preferably performed using a light source control signal which the processor10of the chip card2generates and applies to one of the contact faces8of the chip card2, wherein the chip card holding means32taps the light source control signal of this contact face8and feeds it to the laser34in order to control its light emission, for example by switching its power supply on and off. Similar to the image generation method described above, the mirror12is controlled by the processor10also in this case so that the light beam38′ deflected from the mirror12sweeps the whole image face on the projection face40row by row, so that for a human observer the impression of a homogenously lit face results when the light emission of the laser34is not modulated. By switching off or reducing the light emission of the laser34controlled by the processor10dark image areas may be generated onto which the deflected light beam38does not impinge or only with a low intensity.

Preferably, the chip card reading device30or the chip card holding means32are implemented so, that the light beam38is not affected, i.e. deflected, scattered or attenuated, when no chip card2is inserted in the chip card holding means32. For this the chip card holding means32for example comprises a recess in the area of the propagation direction of the light beam38through which the light beam38may pass unhindered. Further, the chip card reading device30may be implemented so that the chip card holding means32may be hinged to the light output of the laser34when no chip card2is inserted into the chip card holding means, so that the chip card reading device30for example approximately takes on the form of a pin. Even in this shut state of the chip card reading device30the light beam38of the laser34may exit the chip card reading device30unhindered when a corresponding opening or a corresponding light channel, respectively, is provided in the chip card holding means32. In both described implementation variations of the chip card reading device30the same is useable as a laser pointer when no chip card2is inserted into the chip card holding means32.

A further variance of the chip card reading device30only comprises a light source holding means instead of the laser34, using which a laser pointer may temporarily be attached to the chip card holding means32while the chip card reading device30is used as such. The chip card reading device30is in this case an attachment for the laser pointer, using which the laser pointer may be used for illustrating information which is stored on a chip card. As the attachment does not need to comprise further functional elements apart from a mechanical holder and a simple power supply for the chip card2, it may be small and very cost-effective and still allow a comfortable and manipulation-secure reading out of information which is stored on the chip card. As by a chip card2inserted into the chip card holding means32text, graphics or other data, which is stored on the chip card2or was generated by the same, were illustrated by the projection onto the projection face40, the laser pointer may be taken off the light source holding means again in order to serve as a usual pointing instrument. The hinge36may for example be implemented as a light source holding means so that a laser pointer may removably be mounted to the same.

Preferably, the chip card reading device30, similar to the way it is illustrated inFIG. 2, is implemented so that the light path from the laser34via the mirror12of the chip card2is visible to a user. A user of the chip card reading device30may therefore convince himself anytime by examination that the image projected onto a projection face40is only generated by the chip card2and not manipulated by the chip card reading device30.

FIG. 3shows a schematic illustration of a further preferred embodiment of a chip card reading device50which is implemented as a chip card terminal. The chip card reading device50comprises a chip card holding means32and a laser34held by a light source holding means52, which are arranged so that a light beam38emitted by the laser34impinges on the mirror12of a chip card2when the same is inserted into the chip card holding means32or held by the chip card holding means32, respectively. The chip card reading device50further comprises a projection face40which is arranged opposite the second surface6of the chip card2so that a light beam381deflected by the mirror12of the chip card2generates a light point42on the projection face40. Further, the chip card reading device50comprises a keyboard54via which a user may input data in the form of characters or numbers, which may serve for controlling the chip card reading device50or may be transmitted to the processor10of the chip card2via the contact face8of the chip card2in order to for example authenticate the user using a pin number to be input by the same into the chip card2or to select a function of the chip card2. A chip card2held by the chip card holding means32, like in the above illustrated embodiment with reference toFIG. 2, may generate an image on the projection face40which transmits information to the user in the form of text and/or graphics.

Also the chip card reading device50is preferably implemented so that the light path from the laser34via the mirror12of the chip card2to the projection face40and in particular the mirror12of the chip card are visible for the user so that the user may convince himself any time that the image projected onto the projection face40was generated by the chip card2and is not manipulated by the chip card reading device50.

The projection face40may, as it was described above, be part of the chip card reading device50, or similar to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2be any face selected by the user of the chip card reading device50, for example a surface of a table, a wall or a sheet of paper.

While the chip card reading device30ofFIG. 2is preferably only provided for reading or illustrating, respectively, data stored on the chip card2and therefore does not comprise an additional user interface in the form of a keyboard or a display and also no interface to a computer or a computer network, the chip card reading device50ofFIG. 3is implemented with the keyboard54via which the user may input commands or data in order to control the chip card reading device50and/or the chip card2or store data in the same. Further, the chip card reading device50, as well as the chip card reading device30ofFIG. 2, comprises an interface to a computer or a computer network. The chip card reading device50may be implemented as a terminal with all those functions that a conventional terminal comprises or provides to a user. Apart from that, it has the advantage, however, that a user may convince himself anytime that text or graphics illustrated on the projection face40are generated by the chip card2, i.e. that the chip card reading device50does not simulate wrong facts.

Further, the chip card reading device50ofFIG. 3may comprise a means for determining, whether a chip card2inserted into the chip card holding means32is admitted for the chip card reading device50, and a means for enabling the laser. When a user inserts a chip card2into the chip card reading device50or the chip card holding means32, respectively, whose data he wants to see or whose functions, e.g. whose money card functions, he wants to use, the means for determining whether the chip card2is admitted for the chip card reading device first determines whether the chip card2is admitted for the chip card reading device50. The means for enabling the laser34only enables the same when the chip card2is admitted for the chip card reading device50. Means for enabling the laser34may enable the laser by switching on the power supply of the laser34, opening an aperture in the optical path of the laser or directing the laser beam of the laser34to the mirror12of the chip card2using a controllable coupling mirror or by facilitating a control of the power supply, the aperture or the coupling mirror by the chip card. Thereby for example a misuse of the chip card reading device50may be prevented.

Deviating from the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, a chip card reading device may also be implemented so, however, that the light path from the laser34via the mirror12of the chip card2to the projection face40is only partially or not visible at all for the user. Further, in the light path optical elements, like lenses or plane or curved mirrors may be arranged in order to redirect, focus, expand, etc. the light beam38or the deflected light beam38′ in order to enlarge the projection, direct the same into another direction or improve its quality. Further, instead of the laser34another light source may be used, for example an arc or a coiled filament. A laser, however, has the advantage that it emits light with a very high intensity and a very low divergence. The light point42generated by the light beam38deflected by the mirror12of the chip card2on the projection face40is therefore also light and approximately point-shaped also with a great distance between the mirror12of the chip card2and the projection face40, so that on the projection face40a light and well visible image for the user results without focusing optics in the form of lenses and/or concave mirrors being required. An angle between the light beam38and the mirror12of the chip card2is preferably greater than 0 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees, so that the light beam38neither grazingly falls onto the mirror12nor is reflected by the same in the laser34. An especially preferred size of the angle is 45 degrees, as it is also illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3.

The chip card holding means32both of the chip card reading device30ofFIG. 2and of the chip card reading device50ofFIG. 3may be implemented in a series of ways in order to hold the chip card2. For example, the chip card holding means32may comprise a slot in which the chip card2may be inserted partially or completely and which is implemented so that the light beam38of the laser34may fall onto the mirror12and the light beam38′ deflected by the mirror12may exit the chip card holding means32in order to fall onto the projection face40. For this, the chip card holding means32may comprise an opening or a window covered by a material permeable to light emitted by the laser34in the area in which the mirror12of the chip card2is arranged when the chip card2is inserted into the chip card holding means32. Other embodiments of the chip card holding means32may comprise mechanical clamps, a suction means or a magnet for holding the chip card2using underpressure or a magnetic field, respectively, while these may for example be implemented so that the second surface6of the chip card2is completely open and uncovered when the chip card2is held by the chip card holding means32. Preferably, the chip card holding means32is implemented using one or several mechanical guides or stops, respectively, for the chip card2so that a chip card2takes the same defined position with every insertion into the chip card holding means32, so that the mirror12always comes to lie at the same location and the light beam38may hit the mirror12.

In the chip card reading device30the chip card holding means32and the laser34may be connected to each other by a rigid member instead of the hinge36.

The chip card2, as it is illustrated inFIG. 1, may comprise the contact faces8at a first surface4and the mirror12below a second surface6between the first surface4and second surface6, so that the mirror is facing the second surface6and a light beam which falls through a opening in the second surface6onto the mirror12is deflected by the same so that it leaves the chip card again through the same opening or through a further opening in the second surface6. Instead, however, also the contact faces8may be arranged at the same surface which the mirror12in the chip card is facing. Further, a completely different light path within the chip card2is possible, wherein for example the light beam38falls through the opening14in the second surface6onto the mirror12and is deflected by the same so that the deflected light beam38′ exits through a first surface4. Further, the chip card2may comprise further optical members, for example a further mirror, a lens or an optical waveguide using which the light beam38is redirected, focused, expanded or directed to another location within the chip card2prior to or after its deflection by the mirror12. Here, the mirror12is preferably arranged between the first surface4and the second surface6of the chip card2, as it may thereby be easily protected from mechanical damages by exterior influences. The mirror12may, however, also be arranged basically in a coplanar way with a surface of the chip card2or outside the chip card2.

The mirror12and the processor10may arbitrarily be arranged within the chip card2, wherein an electrical connection between the processor10and the actuator16and a mechanical connection between the actuator16and the mirror12is present, so that the processor10may move the mirror12. As all kinds of electrical lines offer a possibility for manipulation, the processor10, the actuator16and the mirror12are preferably arranged in close proximity to each other or in particular preferably on a single semiconductor chip. The processor10, the actuator16and the mirror12, as it is illustrated inFIG. 1, may be laterally adjacent to each other or may be arranged in the form of a sandwich or a stack between the first surface4and the second surface6of the chip card2.

The actuator16may for example be an electrostatical or a piezoelectrical actuator, wherein the mirror12is preferably rotatable or pivotable around two axes, in order to facilitate a variable diffraction of the light beam38in two directions perpendicular to each other and so enable the creation of a two-dimensional image.

Instead of the contact faces8illustrated inFIG. 1the chip card2may comprise a contactless interface using which the chip card2or the processor10, respectively, are provided with power and data to and from the chip card2or its processor10, respectively, may be transmitted. In the case of the galvanic interface illustrated inFIG. 1using the contact faces8the same are preferably arranged at the first surface4which faces away from the second surface6comprising the opening14that the mirror12is facing.

The chip card2may comprise a memory and/or an input for image information which may be part of the processor10, so that an image projected by the processor10using the actuator16and the mirror12may comprise image information which are stored only or partially on the chip card2or within the processor10, respectively, or are for example transmitted from a terminal to the chip card2or are formed or calculated by the processor10of the chip card2both from data transmitted to the chip card2from the outside and from data stored within the chip card2itself.

Further, the chip card2may have its own power supply, for example using a solar cell or a battery, so that an external power supply is not required by the chip card reading device30or50. A chip card reading device for such a chip card2must correspondingly provide no power supply for the chip card2.

Further, the chip card2may be implemented without an interface for transmitting data, wherein it is provided only for illustrating information which is stored within the chip card.