Method and system for obtaining direct feedback from interactive passive RFID card

Method and systems for obtaining direct feedback from a payment card by using energy received from a radio frequency identification (RFID) card reader is provided. The method is implemented by a processor that is embedded in the payment card. The method includes: receiving, from the RFID card reader, a radio frequency (RF) signal that relates to a proposed transaction; transmitting, to the RFID card reader, account information that relates to the proposed transaction; and causing an actuator that is embedded in the payment card to actuate a feedback action based on the RF signal. The actuator may include a haptic device that generates a vibration that is detectable by a touch of a user of the payment card.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

This technology relates to methods and systems for obtaining direct feedback from a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader.

2. Background Information

Conventional payment cards, such as charge cards, credit cards, and debit cards, are capable of wirelessly interacting with card readers by using various techniques such as swiping the card through a slot in the card reader or inserting the card into the reader in a manner that enables information to be communicated between the card and the card reader. In this aspect, it is typical that the card reader may be able to provide feedback, such as by displaying a message that relates to a transaction being executed by using the card and the card reader.

Generally, it is not possible to obtain feedback directly from the card itself, unless the card is equipped with an independent power source, such as a battery, that is large enough to generate sufficient power to provide such feedback. This is typically not feasible for logistical reasons, such as the size and shape of the card and/or a design preference that the card should be easy for a user to carry and manipulate by storing it in a wallet or other convenient conveyance.

However, such a card, such as an RFID card, typically does include a mechanism for receiving sufficient energy to enable the card to communicate with the card reader. As a result, although this amount of energy is relatively small, it would be advantageous to enable a passive card to make use of such energy to provide direct feedback without embedding a battery into the card.

Accordingly, there is a need for obtaining direct feedback from a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure, through one or more of its various aspects, embodiments, and/or specific features or sub-components, provides, inter alia, various systems, servers, devices, methods, media, programs, and platforms for obtaining direct feedback from a passive RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a payment card is provided. The payment card includes: a processor; a communication interface coupled to the processor and configured to facilitate wireless communication with a radio frequency identification (RFID) card reader; and an actuator configured to generate feedback. The processor is configured to: receive, from the RFID card reader via the communication interface, a radio frequency (RF) signal that relates to a proposed transaction; and cause the actuator to actuate a first feedback action based on the first RF signal.

The processor may be further configured to transmit, to the RFID card reader via the communication interface, account information that relates to the proposed transaction.

The processor may be embedded in a power circuit board that includes a capacitor configured to store the energy associated with the RF signal that is received from the RFID card reader.

The actuator may include a haptic device. The first feedback action may include a vibration that is detectable by a touch of a user of the payment card.

Alternatively, the actuator may include a light-emitting diode (LED) device, and the first feedback action may include an emission of light that is visible to a user of the payment card.

As another alternative, the actuator may include a speaker device, and the first feedback action may include an emission of sound that is audible to a user of the payment card.

As yet another alternative, the actuator may include a heater, and the first feedback action may include a change of a color of a portion of the payment card that is visible to a user of the payment card.

The actuator may include an electromechanical actuator that requires a direct current (DC) source.

The payment card may further include: a voltage multiplier configured to amplify the RF signal by a predetermined factor; and a voltage regulator configured to transfer the amplified signal from the voltage multiplier to the electromechanical actuator.

Alternatively, the actuator may include a linear resonance actuator that requires an alternating current (AC) source.

The payment card may further include: a voltage multiplier configured to amplify the RF signal by a predetermined factor; a voltage regulator configured to receive the amplified signal from the voltage multiplier and to regulate a voltage of the amplified signal; and a pulse-width modulator configured to modulate the amplified and voltage-regulated signal and to transfer the modulated signal to the linear resonance actuator.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for obtaining direct feedback from a payment card is provided. The method is implemented by a processor that is embedded in the payment card. The method includes: receiving, from an RFID card reader via the communication interface, a RF signal that includes first information that relates to a proposed transaction; and causing an actuator that is embedded in the payment card to actuate a first feedback action based on the RF signal.

The method may further include transmitting, to the RFID card reader, account information that relates to the proposed transaction.

The processor may be embedded in a power circuit board that is embedded in the payment card and that includes a capacitor configured to store the energy associated with the RF signal that is received from the RFID card reader.

The actuator may include a haptic device. The first feedback action may include a vibration that is detectable by a touch of a user of the payment card.

Alternatively, the actuator may include a light-emitting diode (LED) device, and the first feedback action may include an emission of light that is visible to a user of the payment card.

As another alternative, the actuator may include a speaker device, and the first feedback action may include an emission of sound that is audible to a user of the payment card.

As yet another alternative, the actuator may include a heater, and the first feedback action may include a change of a color of a portion of the payment card that is visible to a user of the payment card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a component diagram 100 that illustrates a first approach for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from an RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader, according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a passive RFID card reader 105 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with a passive RFID card 110 in a manner that effects a wireless power transfer between the two devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the RFID card 110 includes a communication interface 112; a power control board 115 within which a processor 118, such as a microprocessor chip, may be embedded; and the RFID card 110 also includes an actuator 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the power control board 115 may also include a capacitor that is configured to store energy associated with the wireless power transfer that is received from the RFID card reader 105.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication interface 112 may be any type of interface device that is configured to facilitate wireless transmission and reception of radio-frequency (RF) signals that may be carrying information. The processor 118 may be a general-purpose processor or may be part of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor 104 may also be a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor chip, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a state machine, or a programmable logic device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first approach for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from the RFID card 110 by using energy received from the passive RFID card reader 105 entails using power/energy that is transferred directly to the actuator 120, i.e., energy-harvesting. Because the power is directly applied to the actuator, in an exemplary embodiment, the voltage may be limited to a relatively low value of approximately 2.5 volts or less. In this aspect, the actuator 120 may need to be of a type that only requires such a relatively low voltage value in order to operate. However, in another embodiment, when a sufficient amount of energy is harvested and directly applicable to the actuator, the voltage that corresponds to the energy harvesting may be greater than 2.5 volts, or any other voltage value that may be generated based on the energy harvesting operation.

In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 may include any one or more of the following types of actuators: a haptic device that is configured to generate a vibration that is detectable by a user of the RFID card 110; a light-emitting diode (LED) device that is configured to generate an emission of light that is visible to a user of the RFID card 110; a speaker device that is configured to generate an emission of sound that is audible to a user of the RFID card 110; and/or a heater or other type of temperature sensor device that is configured to change a color of a portion of the RFID card 110 that is visible to a user of the RFID card 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature sensor device may include a resistor.

FIG. 2 is a component diagram 200 that illustrates a second approach for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from an RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader, according to an exemplary embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the second approach for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from the RFID card 110 by using energy received from the passive RFID card reader 105 entails the use of an actuator 120 that requires a direct current (DC) source, such as an electromechanical actuator. The second approach also entails the use of a voltage multiplier 205, such as, for example, a Cockroft-Walton Voltage Multiplier, that is configured to amplify the voltage to a relatively higher value that may be usable by such an electromechanical actuator 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the RFID card 110 may also include a voltage regulator 210 that is configured to regulate the DC voltage level and power in order to provide stable DC power to the actuator 120.

FIG. 3 is a component diagram 300 that illustrates a third approach for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from an RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader, according to an exemplary embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, the third approach for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from the RFID card 110 by using energy received from the passive RFID card reader 105 entails the use of an actuator 120 that requires an alternating current (AC) source, such as, for example, a linear resonance actuator. The third approach also entails the use of the voltage multiplier 205 and the voltage regulator 210, and further entails the use of a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal generator 305 that is configured to convert an input DC signal into an AC signal prior to supplying the signal to the linear resonance actuator 120.

In an exemplary embodiment, upon being started, the processor in RFID payment card 110 executes a process for obtaining direct feedback from a passive RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader. An exemplary process for obtaining direct feedback from a passive RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader is generally indicated at flowchart 400 in FIG. 4.

In process 400 of FIG. 4, at step S402, the processor in RFID payment card 110 receives a radio frequency (RF) signal that relates to a proposed transaction from passive RFID card reader 105. The RF signal is received via a wireless power transfer between the passive RFID card reader 105 and the RFID payment card 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the process 400 is initiated when a user of the RFID payment card 110 causes an interaction with the passive RFID card reader 105 in order to attempt to execute the proposed transaction, such as a swipe of the RFID payment card 110 through a slot in the passive RFID card reader 105, an insertion of the RFID payment card 110 into a slot in the passive RFID card reader 105, a tap of the RFID payment card 110 upon a screen of the passive RFID card reader 105, or any other suitable operation for causing the interaction. As a result of the interaction, the passive RFID card reader 105 generates the RF signal and then transmits the RF signal to the RFID payment card 110. In this aspect, the RF signal may be understood as relating to the proposed transaction that is desired to be executed by the user of the RFID payment card 110, and thereby gives rise to the interaction between the passive RFID card reader 105 and the RFID payment card 110.

In an exemplary embodiment, energy associated with the reception of the RF signal may be harvested and then stored in a capacitor or other energy storage mechanism that is embedded in the RFID payment card 110. In an exemplary embodiment, because the amount of energy that is transferred by the passive RFID card reader 105 to the RFID payment card 110 may be relatively low, the generated RF signal may have a relatively low amount of power that does not exceed a predetermined threshold, such as, for example, 2000 milliwatts. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and as such, in another embodiment, when a sufficient amount of energy is harvested and directly applicable to the actuator, the amount of power that corresponds to the energy harvesting may be greater than 2000 milliwatts. In this aspect, the amount of power associated with the RF signal may vary based on several factors, such as, for example, a distance between the passive RFID card reader 105 and the RFID payment card 110, a type of the passive RFID card reader 105, and/or any other variable that may affect the amount of the power associated with the RF signal.

At step S404, the processor in RFID payment card 110 transmits account information that relates to the proposed transaction to the passive RFID card reader 105. In an exemplary embodiment, the account information may include a name of an account holder that is associated with the RFID payment card 110; information relating to the account holder, such as a home address, a telephone number, an email address, and any other suitable type of information relating to the account holder; and information that relates to a corresponding account, such as an identification of a financial institution that administers the account and an account number.

At step S406, the processor in payment card 110 causes the actuator 120 to actuate a feedback action based on the first RF signal received in step S402. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 includes a haptic device that is configured to generate, as the feedback action, a vibration that is detectable by a touch of a user of the payment card.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 includes a light-emitting diode (LED) device that is configured to generate, as the feedback action, an emission of light that is visible to the user of the payment card. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 includes a speaker device that is configured to generate, as the feedback action, an emission of sound that is audible to the user of the payment card. In still another exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 includes a heater and/or a temperature-sensitive actuator device, such as, for example, a resistor, which is configured to generate, as the feedback action, a change of a color of a portion of the payment card that is visible to a user of the payment card.

In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 may be an electromechanical actuator that requires a direct current (DC) source. In this circumstance, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the RFID payment card 110 may further include: a voltage multiplier 205 configured to amplify the signal by a predetermined factor; and a voltage regulator 210 configured to transfer the amplified signal from the voltage multiplier to the actuator 120.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the actuator 120 may be a linear resonance actuator that requires an alternating current (AC) source. In this circumstance, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the RFID payment card 110 may further include: a voltage multiplier configured 205 to amplify the signal by a predetermined factor; a voltage regulator 210 configured to receive the amplified signal from the voltage multiplier and to regulate a voltage of the amplified signal; and a pulse-width modulator 305 configured to modulate the amplified and voltage-regulated signal and to transfer the modulated signal to the actuator 120.

Accordingly, with this technology, an optimized process for implementing a method for obtaining direct feedback from an RFID card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader is provided.