FR2478849A1 - Credit card or cash dispenser card - has photocell providing power to active integral memory circuit read via optical coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

The identity card (10) for use as a credit card or as a personal card for operating a cash dispenser includes active electronic circuitry formed within the card. When the card is introduced into a suitable machine a photo-sensitive region (3) is strongly illuminated by a light (18) in the machine. This photosensitive region provides an electrical output which gives power to the electronic circuitry. The card includes memory elements and these may be accessed by the reading machine via a two-way coupling (19-14, 15-20). The card and the machine both include light emitters (15,19) and light sensors. The emitters (LED's) may take one of two output levels in order to transmit data to the corresponding receiver.

Description

PORTABLE IDENTIFICATION CARD AND SYSTEM
PROCESSING IMPLEMENTING SUCH
MENU
The subject of the present invention is a portable identification card comprising a memory for storing permanent information, an active electronic circuit for processing information and means for input and output of information and supply of electrical energy. .

The invention finds a particularly important application in the field of credit cards, allowing access to automatic cash dispensers. However, this application is not exclusive and the terms "portable identification card" must be interpreted as designating any easily handled and classified object capable of exchanging information with other components of a system.

 Many cards of the kind defined above have already been proposed. They have many advantages over the purely passive credit cards used today. Instead of only being able to be read, they allow internal operations of comparison, calculation or even bookkeeping. Current techniques for manufacturing integrated circuits and interconnections make it possible to produce such cards in the same format and above all the same thickness as standard credit cards. A card of this kind is described in "Electronics", February 15, 1980, pages 11 and 12.

 A common drawback of credit cards with a calculation circuit already proposed is that they require satisfactory mechanical contact between the circuit elements contained in the card and the corresponding elements of a reading and supply device.

The present invention aims to provide a portable identification card which meets the requirements of practice better than those known in the past, in particular in that it facilitates the transmission of information and energy between the card and the reading and supply device. .

 To this end, the invention proposes in particular a portable card of the kind defined above, of which said information input and output means and said energy supply means do not include any galvanic contact.

 The invention also provides a card of the kind defined above, the input and output means of which consist of members having an optical parameter capable of taking at least two distinct values and of which the energy supply means consist of by a photosensitive member connected to the active circuit and capable of restoring to it, in electrical form, the energy necessary for its operation, energy received in the form of a light flux.

The information output means are advantageously constituted by one or more light-emitting organs or else by one or more areas, the transparency of which can be modified by an electrical control. The input means are advantageously constituted by a photosensitive member such as a photoelectric cell. The energy supply means can be constituted by a photovoltaic cell, advantageously of the concentration type.

 If the input and output means comprise a single element, it is obviously necessary to provide, between the calculation circuit and these means, an electronic device for serial-parallel conversion of the information, which can be integrated into the calculation circuit.

The invention also relates to a processing system comprising a reading and supply device intended to receive a card and exchange information with it. This reading device can be constituted by an independent device, it can also be constituted by a terminal connected to a central computer.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of cards which constitute particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which
- Figure 1 is a block diagram showing, in elevation, the cooperating elements of a card and of the reading device of a system according to the invention, - - Figures 2 and 3 are schematic perspective views showing cards according to two variant embodiments,
- Figures 4 and 5, similar to Figure 1, show two other alternative embodiments,
- Figures 6 and 7 are schematic elevational views showing two other possible arrangements of the power supply means of the card.

 FIG. 1 shows, in an extremely schematic manner and without due regard to the scale, the basic principle of the cooperating elements of a card 10 and of a reading and supply device 11 intended to receive the card.

In the card 10, which will frequently be in the form of a thin rectangle, are housed the active calculation circuits and the memories 12. These circuits will not be described, because they can have any known constitution for similar applications. They are connected, by connections not shown, to the information input and output means and to the supply means.

The supply means 13, intended to supply the electrical power necessary for the operation of the circuits 12 and of the input and output means, comprise at least one cell for converting light energy into electrical energy. To obtain the power and the voltage necessary for the operation, provision will generally be made for several elements, typically photovoltaic cells.

 The information input means can be confused with the supply means, but this solution has the disadvantage of requiring sequential operations and therefore energy storage, for example on capacitors. It will generally be preferable to use input means 14 separate from the supply means. These means may in particular include a photoelectric cell, or or more cells to allow parallel transmission of information. The cells will generally be provided to transmit the information in binary form.

 The information output means 15 can be either light-emitting, or with variable transparency or reflectivity.

 In the first case, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, they can be constituted by at least one light-emitting diode or even, if one wishes to reach a high frequency, a diode or laser diodes.

 In the second case, which is not shown in the figure, the information output means will be formed by members constituting an optical door, which have the advantage of lower electrical consumption than that of light emitters. .

 When the complexity of the circuits 12 is not excessive, all of the elements which have just been described can often be integrated into a single chip 16 incorporated in a card 10 of standard format. This card may carry additional indications directly perceivable by the card owner and / or coded indications in magnetic, optical, or other form.

 The reading and feeding device 11 comprises a cell intended to receive the card and to hold it in place precisely. However, this device will generally not need to include the pressure elements of the card against the device which are necessary to make satisfactory galvanic contacts.

 When the card is in place in its cell, the supply means 13 are placed so as to receive the light flux from a source 18 carried by the device 11. There are many types of sources to choose from, given that no modulation is necessary.

It is possible in particular to use an incandescent or fluorescent light source whose emission spectral distribution is compatible with the sensitivity of the means 13. It will however often be preferable to use a monochromatic light source adapted to the means 13 to increase the energy conversion efficiency.

 The input means 14 are for their part associated with a modular light emitting member 19. This member may in particular be constituted by a light-emitting diode or mamy a laser diode, the emission wavelength of which is adapted at the peak of sensitivity of the information input means 14.

Finally, the device 11 comprises a member 20 intended to cooperate with the output means 15. If these means 15 emit light, the member 20 will be constituted by a photoreceptor or photoreceptors.

If the means 15 are constituted by an optical door, the member 20 must constitute an assembly comprising an emission part directing a light flux towards the optical door capable of transmitting the flux towards a reception part or of stopping it.

 The device 11 will also include control electronics which it is not necessary to describe here: it can be regarded as comprising a sequencer 21 controlling on the one hand a power circuit 22 supplying the source 18, d on the other hand a logic and calculation circuit 23 which cooperates with the members 19 and 20.

It is obviously not necessary that the source 18 and the members 19 and 20 be placed directly opposite the corresponding components of the card 10. The light transmissions can be carried out in particular by optical fibers.

 We will now describe, by way of examples, some particular embodiments of hardware.

 In FIG. 2, where the elements corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference number assigned to the index a, the set of electronic elements constitutes a monolithic circuit with gallium arsenide or any other semi-compound electroluminescent conductor. The chip thus constituted incorporates the circuits 12 a for calculation and memory, a zone or zones 15 a constituting the light emitter output means. The supply means consist of three photovoltaic cells 13a.

 Finally, the information input means 14a can be formed by a photodiode or a phototransistor integrated into the circuit 12a.

 In the variant shown in FIG. 3, the electronic elements with the exception of the output means constitute a monolithic circuit on a silicon chip 24 b retained in the card 10 b. As in the case of FIG. 2, the supply means 13 b can be constituted by photovoltaic cells and the information input means 14 b by photodiodes or phototransistors. The output means 15 b are constituted by electroluminescent elements attached to the side of the monolithic circuit 24 b or on it.

 The variant embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the previous one only in that the photovoltaic cells 13 c are supplied by a light concentrator 25, constituted by a layer of glass or plastic doped with a photoluminescent material. The light emitted by the source 18 c is absorbed by the photoluminescent material and then re-emitted with a wavelength suitable for photovoltaic cells 13 c.

In addition, a concentration of the re-emitted light occurs when the plastic or glass is in a thin layer.

 The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 (where the members corresponding to those already described are designated by the same reference number assigned with the index d) differs essentially from those of FIGS. 2 to 4 in that the output means d information 15 d is constituted by one or more optical doors. These doors can be placed next to the integrated circuit 24 d, as shown in the figure, or integrated into the circuit. In the illustrated embodiment, these doors work by reflection and are associated with a member 20 which comprises a light emitter 26 and receivers 27 in a number equal to that of the doors. Light can obviously be brought to the doors and returned to the receivers via optical fibers. The doors themselves can be made of an electro-reflective or electrotransparent material such as a liquid crystal or an electro-optic ceramic.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the supply means 13 e are constituted by voltaic cells made of monocrystalline material and are placed next to the integrated circuit 24 e which incorporates the calculation circuits and the memories.

Finally, in the variant shown in FIG. 7, the photovoltaic cells 13 f are formed by pellets of polycrystalline or amorphous material and cover a large part of one of the faces of the card.

This solution makes it possible to use, as a light source, a simple incandescent or fluorescence lamp. These cells are connected to the integrated circuit 24 f incorporated in the card 10 f by connections not shown.

 The arrangements which have been described can obviously be supplemented by means intended to further increase reliability, in particular - testing. In particular, light emitting or receiving elements not assigned to the transmission of information can be provided to verify the state of the organs before implementation. However, whatever the embodiment chosen, it is not necessary to provide a mechanical device intended to exert a pressing pressure on galvanic contacts or means for cleaning these contacts in order to ensure satisfactory transmission of signals. electric.

 The invention is obviously not limited to the particular embodiments which have been shown and described. It extends to any variant remaining within the framework of equivalences. In particular, the card can have other functions than a usual credit card, for example of a medical nature. The contactless energy transmission means can be other than optai c, for example electromagnetic, the card then having to incorporate a coil.

Claims (10)

 1 - Portable card for supporting and processing information comprising a memory for storing permanent information, an active electrical circuit for processing information and means for input and output of information and supply of electrical energy , characterized in that said information input and output means and said energy supply means are without galvanic contact.  2 - Portable card for supporting and processing information comprising a memory for storing permanent information, an active electronic circuit for processing information and means for input and output of information and supply of electrical energy , characterized in that the input and output means are constituted by members having an optical parameter capable of taking at least two distinct values and in that the energy supply means are constituted by a photosensitive member connected to the circuit active and capable of restoring to it, in electrical form, the energy necessary for its functioning which it receives in the form of a luminous flux.  3 - Card according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information output means comprise at least one electroluminescent member or at least one optical door (15d). 4 - Card according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the information input means (14) comprise at least one organ of the photoelectric cell, photodiode or phototransistor type, or more organs to allow a parallel transmission rather that sequential information. 5 - Card according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply means comprise at least one photovoltaic cell and optionally a light concentrator (25) containing a photoluminescent material chosen to re-emit light with a length wave adapted to the sensitivity of the photovoltaic cell (13). 6 - Card according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active electronic circuit and the information input and output means constitute an integrated circuit in an electroluminescent compound semiconductor substrate, such as gallium arsenide (fig. 2). 7 - Card according to any one of claims 1 to G, characterized in that the active electronic circuit, the information input means and the supply means constitute a monolithic circuit on silicon substrate (24b).  8 - System comprising a reading and supply device and a card according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system is designed to receive said card in a position where the input and output means of information and electrical power supply of the card are placed in a position where they cooperate with corresponding means of the device (11, lic or lad).  9 - System according to claim 8, characterized in that the device comprises a light source (18) whose spectral distribution is adapted to the sensitivity of the energy supply means of the card and a modular photoemissive member intended to cooperate with the information input means of the card. 10 - System according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a member intended to cooperate with the output means of the card, consisting of at least one photoreceptor (20) or by an assembly (26, 7) having an emission part directing a light flux on the output means and a reception part receiving the light flux transmitted or reflected by the card output means (lod).