Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
  • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/0008—General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
  • G06K7/10009—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
  • G06K7/10237—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/80—Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of contactless technology, and more particularly the field of the use of such technology in mobile communication terminals to execute applications called "contactless".
• contactless applications are based on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. These contactless applications may be, for example, relating to electronic transactions in the banking field or in public transport, or also applications for identification, access control.
• NFC Near Field Communication
• An NFC type communication is established between two contactless entities, or two NFC entities, one operating as a contactless card and the other operating as a contactless card reader.
• P2P mode for Peer To Peer
• two NFC entities operating as a contactless card exchange data locally and therefore play an equivalent role.
• Such an NFC entity is composed of a near-field communication device, or NFC device thereafter, and an associated antenna which enables it to set up contactless communication with another NFC entity.
• the NFC entity that operates as a contactless card can for example correspond to an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) radio tag.
• An NFC entity that operates as a card reader may correspond, for example, to an electronic payment terminal or equipment for validating electronic transport tickets, or to a tag reader adapted to identifying radio tags, depending on the applications considered. .
• the functionality of such a contactless entity may be provided by a mobile telephone terminal.
• the mobile telephone terminal contains a subscriber identity card, or SIM card (English Subscriber Identity Module), and an NFC device and its associated antenna.
• SIM card English Subscriber Identity Module
• so-called “contactless” applications which require a certain level of security when they execute, are usually installed in the subscriber's identity card of the mobile terminal, or SIM card. Communication can thus be established within the terminal between the contactless application of the subscriber identity card and the contactless device. Then, the contactless device, installed on the mobile terminal, allows a dialogue of the mobile terminal, specifically the application concerned, with another contactless entity located near the terminal. These mobile phones can then be used as a contactless card for example.
• Some mobile terminal architectures thus make it possible to co-operate with mobile telephony functionalities and NFC-type functionalities (for Near Field Communication).
• such a mobile terminal may comprise a microprocessor to which are connected, on the one hand, a subscriber identity card, or SIM card, and on the other hand, an NFC device which, itself, is connected at his antenna.
• the NFC device is soldered to a printed circuit of the mobile terminal.
• This architecture is therefore a rigid architecture with regard to the entire NFC device and the SIM card. Indeed, it is not possible to change mobile terminal while retaining the entire NFC device with its antenna and SIM card.
• This architecture rigidity therefore does not allow a subscriber of a mobile communication network to change the mobile terminal independently components useful for the non-contact card functionality or functions offered by this terminal.
• the power supply modes of the NFC device and the SIM card may differ or be incompatible.
• the NFC device when the NFC device is only connected to the mobile terminal at the SIM card, the implementation of the architecture described above can then become complex. Indeed, it is conventional that the NFC devices require a power supply whose voltage is greater than a threshold voltage of 3V for example, while the SIM cards can generally be operated under a power supply of 3V or 1.8 V.
• SIM-SWP SIM-SWP
• the present invention aims to improve the situation.
• a first aspect of the present invention provides an electronic entity adapted for a mobile terminal, said mobile terminal being able to include a subscriber identity card and suitable providing a first power supply adapted for operation of the subscriber identity card,
• said electronic entity comprising:
• a near field communication device which is associated with a threshold operating value of the device
• an antenna for the near field communication device ; and a wired interface for connecting the near-field communication device to the mobile terminal, said wired interface carrying the first power supply from the mobile terminal to the near-field communication device,
• a voltage converter on the one hand, receives the first power supply of the mobile via the wired interface and, on the other hand, provides the near-field communication device with a second power supply adapted according to said threshold value. operating the device;
• the near-field communication device based on the second power supply, provides a third power supply to the subscriber identity card, said third power supply having a value substantially equal to the first power supply.
• the electronic entity considered here is adapted for a mobile terminal and comprises a near field communication device or NFC (for 'Near Field Communication' in English), an antenna for this NFC device and a wired interface for connect to the mobile terminal and the SIM card.
• NFC near field communication device
• the electronic entity considered here comprises a near field communication device or NFC (for 'Near Field Communication' in English), an antenna for this NFC device and a wired interface for connect to the mobile terminal and the SIM card.
• NFC device or “non-contact device” are understood to mean an assembly comprising an NFC component, or non-contact component, and other electronic components that are useful for its implementation in a circuit for its use, such as, for example capacitors or resistors.
• the mobile terminal provides via the wired interface a first power supply to a voltage converter which is adapted to transform it into a second power supply adapted to the NFC device. Then, this second power supply is then used in particular to then feed the subscriber identity card, or SIM card, via the NFC device. More specifically, the second power supply is used by the NFC device to provide a third power supply to the SIM card, the third power supply having a value substantially equal to the first power supply.
• the NFC device and the SIM card can advantageously be powered by power supplies of different values, which are the first and second power supplies.
• the NFC device is powered by the mobile terminal via an adaptation of the voltage converter, which provides the NFC device the second power supply from the first power supply.
• the SIM card is then powered by the NFC device which is able to restore substantially the first power supply, in the form of a third power supply provided from the second power supply itself provided by the voltage converter .
• the SIM card is powered in fine via the NFC device in the form of a third power supply, it is powered substantially according to the value of the first power supply, that is to say that which is provided by the mobile terminal. Therefore, it is not powered directly by the mobile terminal, but it ultimately has the same power supply that if it was powered by the mobile terminal as is conventionally expected. It should be noted that this characteristic allows the respect of a nominal operation of interaction between a mobile terminal and its SIM card, even if the NFC device is architecturally cut-off power between the mobile terminal and the SIM card, it that is, the SIM card is powered by the NFC device and not by the mobile phone.
• the SIM includes a chip with a microcontroller, as well as memory, and is not only used to store the subscriber-specific information of a mobile communication network, but also to store and run contactless applications, such as applications that require a certain level of security.
• An NFC device intended to thus cooperate with a SIM card generally has a power supply terminal, or power pad, for the SIM card with which it will be brought to exchange.
• Providing such an architecture power failure allows the establishment of a consistent architecture that is based on an adaptation of the power supply to provide the NFC device to the SIM card.
• This architecture makes it possible, on the one hand, to respect the constraints of nominal operation between the mobile terminal and the SIM card and, on the other hand, to supply power supplies of different values to the SIM card and to the NFC device.
• the first power supply provided by the mobile terminal it can be adapted into a second power supply for the NFC device and then be converted back into a third power supply for the SIM card substantially equal to the first power supply. .
• this implementation remains advantageously transparent for the interactions between mobile terminal and SIM card or vis-à-vis potentially standardized interfaces between mobile terminal and SIM card.
• a mobile terminal can feed different SIM cards that require different power supply values such as 1.8V and 3V.
• an exchange between the mobile terminal and the SIM card connected thereto is set up and makes it possible to determine the power supply value which it is appropriate to supply to the SIM card.
• a SIM card that is adapted to cooperate with an NFC device may require a power supply of 1.8 V for example while the NFC device may require a power supply of 3 V.
• the third power supply that is to say say that which is provided by the NFC device to the SIM card and which is substantially equal to the power supply provided by the mobile terminal, then corresponds to the power supply it is adapted to provide the SIM card for its proper operation, that is, 1.8 V.
• the mobile terminal and the NFC device both provide a power supply that is adapted for the SIM card, ie 1.8 V.
• the voltage converter is then adapted to transform the power supply of the mobile terminal into a power supply with a value of 3 V adapted to the NFC device.
• the mobile terminal provides a power supply of 1.8 V (adapted for the SIM card cooperating with an NFC device) to the voltage converter, which itself provides a 3 V power supply to the NFC device, the latter rendering in fine to the SIM card the power supply adapted to its operation, that is to say the power supplied by the mobile terminal, here a value of 1.8 V.
• such an electronic entity with its voltage converter and power cut architecture between the mobile terminal and the SIM card, makes it possible to integrate NFC-type functionalities to any mobile terminal, while respecting the intended interactions nominally between mobile terminal and SIM card.
• the NFC device can be powered according to its characteristics, that is to say, so that the supplied to it is greater than the operating threshold value associated with it.
• the term 'mobile terminal' refers to any type of terminal that can be moved while remaining connected to a mobile communication network. It may be for example a mobile phone or a computer, etc.
• wired interface mean any set of physical links between two electrical pads, whether it is an electronic device pad or a battery pad for example. This link here allows the transport of a power supply between the mobile terminal and the NFC device of the electronic entity.
• This wired interface may for example be a plastic sheet comprising a set of connection wires.
• the term 'power supply' is understood to mean an electric current supplied in a suitable form. Here it can be provided in the form of current value, or voltage value and or frequency.
• the term 'voltage converter' is understood to mean any type of voltage converter which is capable of applying a conversion ratio, that is to say a ratio of the value of the output voltage to the value of the voltage. input.
• a conversion ratio that is to say a ratio of the value of the output voltage to the value of the voltage. input.
• a ratio between the output voltage and the input voltage can be obtained by switching connections at the capacitors.
• such a voltage converter thus advantageously makes it possible to adapt the power supply delivered to the NFC device from the mobile terminal, regardless of this first power supply delivered.
• No limitation is attached to the term 'voltage converter' in the sense that any suitable means for converting a first power supply into a second power supply can be implemented.
• a charge pump converter corresponding to a circuit with capacitors or an inductance converter.
• the mobile terminal is able to further include a battery adapted to be connected to the wired interface.
• the first power supply provided by the mobile terminal is substantially that of the battery, possibly via regulating devices.
• the first power supply corresponds to the power supply required by the SIM card for its operation.
• the electronic entity can thus be connected to the mobile terminal only via the wired interface, while being able to work with any type of SIM card.
• Such characteristics advantageously make it possible to adapt the electronic entity to any type of mobile terminal and to facilitate its implementation within the mobile terminal.
• the architecture provided in one embodiment of the present invention readily allows the use of any SIM card and any NFC device, i.e., an NFC device and its antenna.
• the implementation of the present invention may be based on the use of SIM card and standardized NFC device for example. A user can therefore advantageously change mobile terminal while maintaining the same SIM card.
• the antenna is connected to the NFC device and thus constitutes an interface between the NFC device and a possible contactless entity located near the NFC device of the electronic entity of the mobile terminal and adapted to communicate. with the NFC device via its antenna. It is therefore natural to provide for operation of the terminal in card emulator mode or even operation in card reader mode.
• the contactless proximity entity may correspond to a card reader of an electronic payment terminal or any other NFC type card reader.
• the NFC device of the electronic entity may contain information specific to the user of the mobile terminal for a given contactless application. This information can be transmitted to the entity without proximity contact via the antenna. For example, such information can decrement a counter associated with a number of transport tickets available to the user in the context of a contactless public transport application.
• the contactless proximity entity may correspond to a card or a tag
• the mobile terminal may for example read identification data present at the card and transmitted via the card. antenna, thanks to the NFC device.
• the electronic entity further comprises a power supply link adapted to provide an antenna power supply from the antenna to the near-field communication device, said near-field communication device then providing, based on the antenna power supply, the third power supply to the SIM card via the wired interface.
• a power supply can then allow certain types of transactions between a contactless application installed in the SIM card and the contactless entity located nearby.
• supply link is understood to mean any physical link between two entities according to one embodiment of the present invention allowing the transport of electrical energy from one of the two entities to the other entity.
• it may be a wire or a cable, which may be copper.
• This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case where the battery of the mobile terminal supplying the SIM card is weak or discharged, since it is here planned to be able to receive a power supply from the antenna.
• the antenna can capture the energy then provided by the proximity contactless entity in order to transmit it to the SIM card.
• the power supply thus provided by the NFC device to the SIM card from the power supply received from the antenna corresponds substantially to the first power supply, such as for example 1.8 V.
• the first power supply such as for example 1.8 V.
• the power supply of both the NFC device and the SIM card by means of an energy picked up by the antenna therefore allows operation of the NFC device when the battery of the mobile terminal is weak.
• this operation is preferably a reduced operation, or in restricted mode, or referenced as 'sleep mode', in order to save the energy consumed.
• the NFC device is undernourished with respect to its power supply constraints for optimal operation, and on the other hand, even if the SIM card can be powered under a voltage that corresponds to its constraints. of optimal operation, it is intended to operate in restricted mode to save power consumption.
• a mobile terminal having a SIM card whose threshold operating value is about 1.8 V It is then possible to capture electrical energy at the antenna for generating a voltage of 1.8 V. This voltage is supplied to the NFC device that provides it to the SIM card.
• the wired interface comprises a protocol link adapted to connect the SIM card and the near-field communication device.
• the near-field communication device cut off between the mobile terminal and the SIM card, but also the data exchange protocol link, of the SWP type, is also cut off between the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal.
• SIM card is also cut off between the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal.
• a mobile terminal has a protocol pad with the SIM card. It is here intended to mask this pad so that the SIM card in the present architecture is connected by its protocol link pad to the NFC device via the wired interface of the electronic entity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• a second aspect of the present invention provides a mobile terminal adapted to both operate in a communication network and to manage near-field communications, which includes a subscriber identity card and an electronic entity according to the first aspect of the present invention.
• the electronic entity includes:
• a near field communication device which is associated with a threshold operating value of the device
• an antenna for the near-field communication device ; and a wired interface for connecting the near-field communication device to the mobile terminal, said wired interface carrying the first power supply from the mobile terminal to the near-field communication device,
• a voltage converter on the one hand, receives the first power supply of the mobile via the wired interface and, on the other hand, provides the near-field communication device with a second power supply adapted according to said threshold value. operating the device;
• the near-field communication device based on the second power supply, provides a third power supply to the subscriber identity card via the wired interface, said third power supply is substantially equal to the first power supply electric.
• This mobile terminal may be able to further include a battery adapted to be connected to the wired interface.
• the electronic entity may further include a power connection adapted to provide an antenna power supply from the antenna to the near-field communication device, wherein the near-field communication device provides, based on the the antenna power supply, the third power supply to the subscriber identity card via the wired interface.
• the wired interface may include a protocol link between the subscriber identity card and the near field communication device.
• a third aspect of the present invention provides a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of mobile terminals according to the second aspect of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an architecture of an electronic entity according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates a battery power supply according to one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates an antenna power supply according to one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates connection means of the mobile terminal and its SIM card with the electronic entity according to one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates in detail an example of an electronic architecture making it possible to implement one of the embodiments of the present invention
• FIG. 6 illustrates a mobile telephone system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 1 illustrates an architecture of an electronic entity 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Such an electronic entity 1 is intended to be connected to a mobile terminal 6, which may for example be a mobile phone, to allow a first power supply from a pad 8 of the mobile terminal 6 to an NFC device 2, via of a wired interface 10.
• the wired interface comprises for this purpose a power connection 4 between the mobile terminal 6 and a voltage converter 7.
• the pad 8 of the mobile terminal 6 is adapted to provide this first power supply electric.
• the voltage converter 7 converts this first power supply into a second power supply adapted to the optimal operation of the mobile terminal. NFC device 2.
• the NFC device 2 has a power output which is adapted to supply the third power supply to the SIM card 5.
• the wired interface 10 comprises a power supply link 9 from the NFC device. to the SIM card.
• the electronic entity 1 may further comprise a protocol link (not shown in FIG. 1) in its wired interface connecting a pad of the NFC device to a corresponding pad of the SIM card, allowing the NFC device to be cut off, with respect to protocol exchanges, between the mobile terminal and the SIM card.
• a protocol link (not shown in FIG. 1) in its wired interface connecting a pad of the NFC device to a corresponding pad of the SIM card, allowing the NFC device to be cut off, with respect to protocol exchanges, between the mobile terminal and the SIM card.
• a protocol link (not shown in FIG. 1) in its wired interface connecting a pad of the NFC device to a corresponding pad of the SIM card, allowing the NFC device to be cut off, with respect to protocol exchanges, between the mobile terminal and the SIM card.
• SWP Single Wire Protocol
• FIG. 2 illustrates a battery power supply according to one embodiment of the present invention
• the power supply of the mobile terminal is provided by a battery 8.
• the power supply pad 8 of the mobile terminal therefore corresponds to the battery which supplies the first power supply to the voltage converter 7 in the form a voltage U n via the wired interface 10.
• the voltage converter 7 transforms the voltage U n at an output voltage U s to be supplied to the NFC device 2. Then, via the power supply link 9, the NFC device then feeds the SIM card through the third power supply.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention corresponding, for example, to the architecture of the electronic entity 1 in an operating mode, called 'battery-OFF'.
• the battery-OFF mode corresponds to an operation of the mobile terminal without a battery, because the latter is discharged, or at least considered as discharged. It is therefore here to operate a contactless application installed on the mobile terminal, specifically in the SIM card of the mobile terminal, without the power of the battery.
• an NFC device operating in 'card emulator' mode receives a power supply via its antenna when it is in connection with an NFC proximity unit of the NFC card reader type. Therefore, it is intended here to feed both the NFC device and the SIM card, through this device, on the basis of this power received via the antenna.
• the power supply is intended to allow the execution of transactions between the contactless application installed in the SIM card and the proximity NFC entity.
• the electronic entity 1, and more particularly the antenna 3, is in communication with an proximity NFC entity ED, which can therefore correspond to an NFC card reader, such as a card reader of an electronic payment terminal.
• the electronic entity 1 operates in card emulator mode, that is to say it is able to communicate with proximity ED NFC entities of the card reader type.
• the antenna power supply picked up by the antenna 3 passes through the NFC device 2 and is conveyed to the SIM card 5 via the power supply 9 of the wired interface 10.
• the NFC device corresponds to a radio tag, such as an "RFID" ("Radio Frequency IDentification") tag.
• FIG. 4 illustrates connection means of the mobile terminal and its SIM card with the electronic entity according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• connection means of the mobile terminal and its SIM card are here represented with regard to the conventional contacts of the SIM card.
• the SIM card is illustrated in gray and on this SIM card is positioned the wired interface 10 which has the shape of a sheet, which may correspond to a plastic film for example, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• This tablecloth is here represented in white.
• Contacts C1 to C8 of the mobile terminal intended to be connected to the corresponding contacts of the SIM card are also grayed out.
• the contact Cl represents the power supply pad of the mobile terminal.
• it is intended to somehow isolate this contact Cl of the SIM card so that the NFC device can be inserted in power failure between the mobile terminal and the SIM card.
• the power supply pad C1 of the mobile terminal 6 is, on the one hand, cut off from the corresponding contact of the SIM card and, on the other hand, connected to the power supply link 4 of the interface
• This supply link is connected to the voltage converter 7 to supply the NFC 2 device in fine. Then, as described above, the NFC device 2 once powered (or still powered), is able to output a power supply suitable for the SIM card via the power supply link 9.
• This power supply link 9 is finally connected to a pad 401 which passes through the sheet thus allowing to cross the web from the upper face shown in Figure 4 to the underside of the web.
• a metal connection 40 ⁇ (shown in dashed lines as located on the non-illustrated face of the web) on the lower face of the web between the pad 401 and a contact of the SIM card conventionally referenced Cl and named here, for reasons of Clarity C1_SIM, allows to power the SIM card.
• the contact Cl of the mobile terminal is isolated from the contact C1_SIM SIM, and the SIM card is electrically powered by the NFC device via the power connection 9.
• the contact C6 corresponds to the contact of the mobile terminal intended to be connected to a corresponding contact of the SIM card to enable data exchange according to a communication protocol, such as for example a protocol of SWP type.
• a communication protocol such as for example a protocol of SWP type.
• it is also provided to position the NFC device in protocol break between the mobile terminal and the NFC device. For this purpose, it is therefore provided, as described above with respect to the supply contact, to isolate the contact C6 of the mobile terminal of the SIM card.
• a bidirectional protocol link 403 of the wired interface 10 then connects an output adapted for this purpose of the NFC device with a corresponding contact of the SIM card C6 referred to and referred to herein C6_SIM for reasons of clarity.
• a conductive pad 402 makes it possible to carry protocol exchanges from the upper face of the sheet to the lower face of the sheet.
• a metal connection 402 'on the lower face of the web between the pad 402 and the contact C6_SIM of the SIM card makes it possible to route the protocol exchanges between the NFC device and the SIM card.
• This metal connection 402 ', located on the underside of the web, is shown in dotted lines.
• the contact C5 of the mobile terminal corresponds to the mass. It is furthermore planned to supply the mass to the electronic entity 1 by connecting this contact C5 via a link 404 of the wired interface 10. Thanks to these contact means, it is possible to implement an embodiment of the present invention that allows to provide an NFC device advantageously cut off between the mobile terminal and its SIM card.
• Figure 5 illustrates in detail an example of an electronic architecture for implementing one of the embodiments of the present invention.
• an electronic entity 1 comprising an antenna 3, an NFC device 2 and a voltage converter 7, connected to a SIM card 5 of a mobile terminal via a wired interface 10 partially shown only in FIG.
• the SIM card 5 presents in particular:
• the voltage converter 7 comprises IN ports which are connected to the power supply terminal contact Cl via the power supply link 4 of the wired interface 10.
• the power supply contact Cl of the mobile terminal is here illustrated by the contact VCl_SLOT of the SIM card.
• the voltage converter 7 then transforms the voltage thus received into a voltage greater than the operating threshold value of the NFC device 2.
• a pin OUT of the voltage converter 7, corresponding to the output power pad of the voltage converter 7, is directly connected to a VBAT pad of the NFC device 2 in order to supply it according to the output voltage of the voltage converter.
• the voltage delivered by the voltage converter 7 is greater than an operating threshold value of the NFC device 2.
• the voltage Ue between the pad VCl_Slot and the ground is 1.8V and after transformation by the converter of voltage 7, the output voltage Us corresponding to the voltage between the pad VBAT and the ground is greater than or equal to the operating threshold value of the NFC device 2, ie greater than or equal to 3V for example.
• the NFC device not previously provided in the initial architecture of the mobile terminal, can be powered according to the second power supply which may be different from the first and third power supply, that is to say different from that of the mobile terminal. Then, the NFC device 2 is then adapted to provide output at a pin SIMVCC a power supply for the SIM card via the power supply 9 of the wired interface 10.
• This power supply corresponds to the power supply of the mobile terminal in one embodiment of the present invention to meet existing constraints of compatibility power supply between mobile terminal and SIM card as explained above.
• the NFC device 2 can be supplied with voltage by the antenna 3.
• the antenna 3 can in this case receive energy from an NFC entity located near the mobile terminal not shown in this figure, for example a card reader.
• Antennel and Antenna 2 of the antenna 3 then pick up the electrical energy of the proximity NFC entity which is then stored by capacitors C1 and C2 at the antenna 3.
• the transport of this electrical energy since Antenna 3 to the NFC device 2 is enabled by a wired link connecting the Antenna and Antenna 2 ports of the antenna 3 respectively to ANT1 and ANT2 pads of the NFC device 2.
• the NFC device 2 is able to provide a power supply adapted to the SIM card by its SIMVCC output pad by means of the power connection 9 connecting the SIMVCC pad of the NFC device 2 to the contact C1_SIM of the SIM card 5.
• the electrical energy received at the level of the contact C1_SIM of the SIM card 5 corresponds, in the above-mentioned example, to a voltage supply of 1.8V.
• This embodiment makes it possible to supply the SIM card 5 with voltage in the case where the battery 2 is weak or even discharged, by using an external source of voltage, namely the proximity NFC entity ED, thus allowing transactions between this entity and the contactless application installed in the SIM card.
• the wired interface 10 also comprises a wired link 403 between a SWP pad of the NFC device 2 and the contact C6_SIM of the SIM card 5 allowing the transport of protocol information between the NFC device 2 and the SIM card 5.
• the electronic circuits relating to the antenna 3, the NFC device 2, as well as the voltage converter 7, are implemented within the same circuit, which is connected to the SIM card 5 via the wired interface 10.
• Figure 6 illustrates a mobile telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• a system comprises a plurality of terminals 60, each adapted, according to an embodiment of the present invention, on the one hand to manage mobile telephone communications, and on the other hand to manage NFC type communications.
• the system comprises mobile telephone network equipment, such as base stations 62, with which the terminals 60 can communicate via an antenna 63 of the mobile phone. It also includes an NFC equipment 61 NFC application with which the mobile phones 60 can communicate via an antenna 13 associated with the NFC device. These two antennas 63 and 13 are adapted for the implementation respectively of mobile telephony applications and NFC applications.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Transceivers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=43500996

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2010
  • 2010-05-27 FR FR1054119A patent/FR2960674A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2011
  • 2011-05-23 WO PCT/FR2011/051160 patent/WO2011148086A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-05-23 JP JP2013511728A patent/JP2013529344A/ja active Pending
  • 2011-05-23 KR KR1020127034188A patent/KR20130095658A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2011-05-23 EP EP11727253.4A patent/EP2577555A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-05-23 CN CN2011800357920A patent/CN103026364A/zh active Pending
  • 2011-05-23 US US13/699,864 patent/US8670801B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events