Apparatus and method for sensing an integrated circuit card

An apparatus for sensing an integrated circuit (IC) card may include a bottom surface in contact with a chassis of an information handling system (IHS) to form a slot for receiving at least one type of IC card and a top surface in communication with a transmitting element for sensing a first type of IC card inserted within the slot. The apparatus further includes a contact field disposed on the bottom surface, the contact field for sensing a second type of IC card inserted within the slot.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of information handling systems, and more specifically, to methods and apparatus for sensing integrated circuit (IC) cards with information handling systems.

BACKGROUND

Integrated circuit (IC) cards and information handling systems (IHSs) have increasing applicability in daily business functions. Therefore, attention is drawn towards methods to integrate the IC card with the IHS to achieve all-in-one functionality. As a result, current IHSs are manufactured to provide limited IC card readability. In general, IC cards can be categorized into various types including contact IC cards or contactless IC cards. Contact IC cards typically contact a contact field of an electronic device, the contact field comprising several contact pins which allow for information and electric power transfer. In contrast, contactless IC cards may contain a mechanism to allow communication without contact, such as with a reader through identification methods such as radio-frequency identification (RFID).

Currently, in the case of a portable IHS, an IC card slot located on one side of the portable IHS may only accommodate a contact IC card but does not allow for readability of a contactless IC card. In order to take advantage of the convenience of contactless IC cards, an antenna may be mounted to the portable IHSs for communicating with the contactless IC card. Should a user close the lid of the portable IHS (e.g., a laptop), the antenna may be blocked from communicating with the contactless IC card. Further, if the laptop should function as a tablet causing the screen to cover the area where the antenna is mounted, the contactless IC card may not be properly sensed. Additionally, material (e.g., metal) from which the IHS chassis is constructed may interfere or block antenna signals, thus preventing the sensing of the contactless IC card.

Current systems may comprise adapters to allow a contact IC card to be sensed by a contactless IC card reader while allowing a contactless IC card to be sensed by a contact IC card reader. However, the addition of an adaptor to the IHS may require additional parts and not be cost effective. Further, in some circumstances, even with an adaptor, the communication pathway between the portable IHS and the contactless IC card may be interfered with or blocked. Thus, there exists a need for improved apparatus, systems and methods which enhance the readability of contact and/or contactless IC cards by IHSs.

SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of several aspects of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of at least some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the claims. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

One aspect of the disclosure provides for an apparatus for sensing an integrated circuit (IC) card whereby the apparatus includes a bottom surface in contact with a chassis of an information handling system (IHS) to form a slot for receiving at least one type of IC card. The apparatus includes a top surface in communication with a transmitting element for sensing a first type of IC card inserted within the slot. The apparatus further includes a contact field disposed on the bottom surface, the contact field for sensing a second type of IC card inserted within the slot.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides for an information handling system including a chassis and a sensing apparatus disposed within the chassis. The sensing apparatus is in contact with the chassis to form a slot for receiving at least one type of integrated circuit (IC) card, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a contact field disposed thereon for sensing a first type of IC card inserted within the slot and the top surface is in communication with a transmitting element for sensing a second type of IC card inserted within the slot.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure provides an information handling system (IHS) including a chassis, a housing disposed within the chassis, and an apparatus for sensing an integrated circuit (IC) card. The apparatus is in contact with the housing to form an inlet end of a slot for receiving at least one type of IC card, where the apparatus is in contact with the housing to further form a closed end of the slot. The apparatus further includes a bottom surface with a contact field disposed thereon for sensing a first type of IC card inserted within the slot and a top surface in communication with a transmitting element for sensing a second type of IC card inserted within the slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present apparatus, systems and methods are described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular apparatus, systems and methods described, as such may vary. Also, the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction, arrangement or order of components and/or steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the figures. Thus, the disclosure is capable of other aspects, embodiments or implementations or being carried out/practiced in various other ways.

One of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing possible aspects, embodiments and/or implementations only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure which will be limited only by the appended claims. Further, use of terms such as “including”, “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, “consisting”, and variations thereof are meant to encompass the listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “and,” and “the” may include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a card” refers to one or several cards and reference to “a method of sensing” includes reference to equivalent steps and methods known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

FIG. 1illustrates one possible implementation of an IHS5comprising a CPU10. It should be understood that the present disclosure has applicability to IHSs as broadly described above, and is not intended to be limited to the IHS5as specifically described. The CPU10may comprise a processor, a microprocessor, minicomputer, or any other suitable device, including combinations and/or a plurality thereof, for executing programmed instructions. The CPU10may be in data communication over a local interface bus30with components including memory15and input/output interfaces40. The memory15, as illustrated, may include non-volatile memory25. The non-volatile memory25may include, but is not limited to, firmware flash memory, non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The non-volatile memory25may contain a firmware program (not shown) which may contain programming and/or executable instructions required to control a keyboard60, mouse65, video display55and/or other input/output devices not shown here. This type of firmware may be known as a basic/input output system (BIOS). The memory may also comprise random access memory (RAM)20. The operating system and application programs (e.g., graphical user interfaces) may be loaded into the RAM20for execution.

The IHS5may be implemented with a network port45to permit communication over a network70such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet. As understood by those skilled in the art, IHS5implementations may also include an assortment of ports and interfaces for different peripherals and components, such as video display adapters35, disk drives port50, and input/output interfaces40(e.g., keyboard60, mouse65).

FIG. 2Aschematically depicts a conventional portable IHS200in a lid open position while sensing IC cards203,206. As shown, an open position occurs when the lid201is in a position to allow a user to view the display210. The lid201is movable about a pivot point215to move between an open position, as shown inFIG. 2A, to a closed position, to be described below.

Although the present disclosure describes apparatus and systems for sensing IC cards, it should be understood that the present disclosure is applicable to sensing any conventional storage medium, such as a card for storing and/or transmitting data. Such card may contain an embedded circuit, memory storage components, and/or dedicated security logic. Examples of cards to be sensed by apparatus and systems described herein may include, but are not limited to, integrated circuit (IC) cards, smart cards, or the like. Smart cards, for example, may provide identification, authentication, data storage and/or application processing when utilized in combination with IHSs.

As previously mentioned, IC cards can be categorized into various types including contact IC cards or contactless IC cards. Contact IC cards typically have a contact field, comprising contact pins which allow for information and electric power transfer. In contrast, contactless IC cards may contain a mechanism to allow communication with a reader and/or electronic device through identification methods such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) or the like.

A conventional portable IHS200may comprise a card slot205for receiving a contact IC card206. The portable IHS200may further comprise a communication region204for sensing a contactless IC card203. A contact IC card206may be inserted into the card slot205to trigger communication between the contact IC card206and the portable IHS200or a card reader (not shown) coupled to the IHS. The card slot205may define a contact field, such as a conductive pad made of copper or suitable conductive material, for providing electric conductivity. In this implementation, such contact field may comprise one or multiple pins to selectively transmit data from the contact IC card206to the portable IHS200when the contact IC card206is inserted into the card slot205.

Either the card slot205or the communication region204may be disposed on any location of the portable IHS200. The communication region204, having an antenna mounted thereto, in some implementations, may be disposed on any location of the portable IHS200to enable radio frequency (RF) transparency to achieve communication between the contactless IC card and the antenna. As shown, the communication region204may be located on a palmrest225of the portable IHS200. In one implementation, the card slot205and the communication region204may be disposed on opposing edges of the portable IHS chassis230. Further, the communication region204may be primarily made of any suitable material, such as rigid plastic, for example, to reduce or eliminate interference or blockage of RF signals.

Referring still toFIG. 2A, the communication region204of the portable IHS200may be communicatively coupled to an antenna or any conventional transmitting element coupled to the portable IHS chassis230to allow the communication region204to sense a proximately placed contactless card203.

Turning now toFIG. 2B, a schematic is shown of a conventional portable IHS200in a lid closed position. As shown, a lid closed position occurs when the lid201either partially or fully covers the keypad215of the portable IHS200in such a way as to prevent a user from viewing the display. In the lid closed position, the palmrest225and/or communication region204may be blocked by the lid201of the portable IHS200. Accordingly, the communication pathway between the communication region204and a contactless IC card203placed in proximity to the palmrest225may be interfered with or blocked by the lid201of the portable IHS200. Therefore, a conventional portable IHS200, as depicted inFIGS. 2A & 2B, may contain a communication region240which may fail to sense a contactless IC card203when the lid201is in a closed position.

FIG. 3Adepicts a plan view of a sensing apparatus for sensing an IC card, the sensing apparatus indicated generally at300. It should be understood that the terms sensing apparatus300and apparatus are used interchangeably herein. In one implementation, the sensing apparatus300is shown having a transmitting element301disposed thereon for sensing a contactless IC card placed in proximity to the sensing apparatus300. In another implementation, the transmitting element301may be disposed on the chassis of a portable IHS such that a surface of the sensing apparatus300may be in communication with the transmitting element301. It should be understood that the sensing apparatus300may sense information stored on a card, such as a contactless IC card, for example, by way of detecting, reading, identifying, perceiving, receiving, handling, or understanding such information. The transmitting element301may be a low power transmission antenna for contactless or Near Field Communication (NFC). The contactless transmission of data offered by the transmitting element301may provide advantages over interactions involving contact IC cards, such as faster transmission speed of data and ease of use. The transfer or reading of information for contactless transmission via the contactless IC card is achieved by sending signals such as radio frequency (RF) signals, for example, between the contactless IC card and the transmitting element301in communication with a surface of the sensing apparatus300. A user may place the contactless IC card in proximity to the sensing apparatus300, such as a transmitting element301disposed thereon, to enable the transmitting element301to sense/read the identification data contained on the IC card. Data from the transmitting element301may then be transmitted to the portable IHS200and/or IHS processor through means by which any conventional antenna may transmit information.

InFIG. 3A, the transmitting element301is shown disposed on a top surface305of the sensing apparatus300. When in contact with (e.g., mounted within) the chassis230of a portable IHS200beneath the palmrest225, for example, the top surface305of the sensing apparatus300may be upward facing to form a communication region on the palmrest225for sensing a proximately placed contactless IC card. Generally, the transmitting element301may be placed in proximity to the top surface310of the sensing apparatus300to enable communication between the transmitting element301and a contactless IC card inserted into the slot formed between the sensing apparatus300and chassis230. In one implementation, the transmitting element301is disposed on the top surface310of the sensing apparatus300.

Referring now toFIG. 3B, a schematic is shown of a bottom surface310of the sensing apparatus300depicted inFIG. 3A. It should be understood thatFIG. 3Adepicts a view of the top surface305of the sensing apparatus300, whileFIG. 3Bdepicts a view of the bottom surface310of the same sensing apparatus300. The generally planar surface of the bottom surface310may receive a contact IC card or contactless IC card. Raised edges302on either side of the planar surface may contact the chassis230of the portable IHS200to form a slot into which a contact IC card or contactless IC card may be inserted. The bottom surface310may include a contact field304mounted thereon containing multiple contact pins315for sensing and reading the contact IC card when in contact with the contact field304.

While one end of the contact field304may contact the sensing apparatus300, the other end of the contact field304may define a connecting element303. Such connecting element303may contact internal structures (i.e., motherboard) of the portable IHS200as to enable the transfer of data between the contact IC card and the portable IHS. As shown the transmitting element301and the contact field304may both be disposed on the sensing apparatus300(e.g. a single PCB with antenna trace).

As previously mentioned, the sensing apparatus300may provide a slot when in contact with an IHS chassis to receive either a contact IC card or a contactless IC card. When inserted into the sensing apparatus300, the contactless IC card may communicate with the transmitting element301or the communication region204formed thereby. In one implementation, the sensing apparatus300may be formed of rigid plastic which may provide an RF-transparent environment for communication between the contactless IC card and the transmitting element301. In this implementation, when the lid201of the portable IHS200is in a closed position, the contactless IC card203can still be sensed or read by the transmitting element301or the communication region204of a portable IHS200. Therefore, the sensing apparatus300, when disposed within a portable IHS200, may provide consistent communication between an IC card and a portable IHS200, whether the portable IHS200is in a lid open or lid closed position.

Turning now toFIG. 4, a cross section view is provided depicting an apparatus300for sensing at least one type of IC card. As shown, the sensing apparatus300may contact the chassis230of a portable IHS to form a slot410for receiving a contact IC card206or a contactless IC card203. Once inserted, the contact IC card206may contact the contact pin315, as part of the previously mentioned contact field304, to enable the sensing apparatus300to sense information from the contact IC card206. In one implementation, the sensing apparatus' contact field, with at least one contact pin315disposed thereon, may be located near the rear (i.e., closed end420) of the slot410. Once inserted into the slot, mating contact pads on the contact IC card206may align with the contact pins315disposed on the contact field of the sensing apparatus300.

The length and/or width of the slot410may accommodate the full length and/or width of any conventional card (i.e., IC card). The height (i.e., thickness) of the slot410may accommodate receiving either a contact IC card206or a contactless (e.g., thick or thin) IC card203. The distinction of a thick or thin IC card is a generally known standard in the industry.

In one implementation, the slot410may have a constant height throughout the entire length of the slot410. As shown inFIG. 4, the height of the slot410may be greater at the point of card entry415but may eventually reduce towards the closed end420of the slot410at a reduction point405. Although either a contactless IC card203or contact IC card206may be inserted into the slot410at the point of card entry415, the contactless IC card203, may not be further inserted into the slot410past the reduction point405. The reduction point405prevents one of the IC cards, specifically the contactless IC card203, from contacting the contact field304of the sensing apparatus300. In one implementation, a contact IC card206may be inserted into the slot410such that the contact IC card206may be seated to the full depth of the slot410towards the closed end420. In the case of contactless IC cards, the slot410may accommodate the insert of a thin contactless IC card to the full depth of the slot410or partial insertion of a thick contactless IC card up to the reduction point405within the slot410. As mentioned, the mating contact pads disposed on the contact IC card206may align to mate with the contact pin315of the sensing apparatus300.

In another implementation of the present disclosure, a transmitting element (not shown) may be disposed on a surface of the sensing apparatus300proximate to the slot's point of card entry415. For example, a contactless IC card203may be inserted into the slot410such that the contactless IC card203may be seated only to the reduction point405. The proximity of the contactless IC card203to the transmitting element301disposed on the sensing apparatus300may activate communication between the contactless IC card203and the transmitting element301. Further, the location of a transmitting element301on the sensing apparatus300toward the slot's point of card entry415may enable the sensing of either a thin or thick contactless IC card. The sensing apparatus300may allow the insertion and sensing of either a contactless IC card203or a contact IC card206regardless of whether the lid of the portable IHS is in an open or closed position.

In another implementation of the present disclosure, the transmitting element may be mounted within the chassis of the portable IHS whereby the transmitting element301senses a contactless IC card203. The sensing apparatus300may be disposed within the chassis of the portable IHS and placed in proximity to the transmitting element301to enable a card (i.e., contactless IC card) inserted into the slot410to communicate with the transmitting element301.

Apparatus and systems of the present disclosure may generally enhance the sensing and/or readability of IC cards. Such apparatus and systems may allow the sensing and/or reading of either a contactless IC card or a contact IC card when the lid of a portable IHS is in a closed position or when the portable IHS is in a tablet mode. Further, apparatus and systems herein may enable the use of a wireless card, such as a contactless IC card, for example, with a portable IHS having a metal chassis.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular examples, embodiments and/or implementations, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Such changes in form and detail, including use of equivalent functional and/or structural substitutes for elements described herein, fall within the scope of the appended claims and are intended to be covered by this disclosure.