Patent Application
20210064949
This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from Taiwan Patent Application No. 108131571 filed on Sep. 2, 2019, which is hereby specifically incorporated herein by this reference thereto.
This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from Taiwan Patent Application No. 109115756 filed on May 12, 2020, which is hereby specifically incorporated herein by this reference thereto.
The present invention relates to a smart card, especially to a smart card that flexibly adjusts the operating frequency.
People's daily lives are filled with the use of many cards. The traditional cards are only used as an information recording interface, such as the name of the card user, the period of use, etc. With the advancement of technology, the cards are no longer the traditional paper cards, and electronic recording media such as magnetic stripes, barcodes, and chips have been added. This allows the cards to carry more information and reduce the chance of being forged, thereby increasing the card's usage probability. However, with the popularization of card use, the phenomenon of stealing and using other people's cards gradually increases. People also inevitably lose cards inadvertently. Therefore, the verification function of the card itself is also important. In the prior art, the biometric sensor has been integrated on the conventional smart card to provide the user with the identity verification when using the conventional smart card.
When using the biometric sensor, it is necessary to supply power to the conventional smart card to execute the processing program. In the prior art, the way to supply the power comprises contact power supply (e.g. when the conventional smart card connecting to the card reader), battery power supply inside the conventional smart card, or contactless inductive power supply (e.g. when the conventional smart card proceeding contactless sensing). The current obtained by each way is very different. Taking contact power supply and contactless inductive power supply as examples, contact power supply provides a current of not less than 7 mA, but supply by proximity induction only provides a current of about 4 mA. The amount of current affects the operating frequency of the processor of the conventional smart card. The higher the current, the higher the frequency of operation is used, but the lower the current, the lower the frequency of operation is used. Due to the type of the power source may be the contactless inductive power supply (low current), so the conventional smart card usually operates at a lower operating frequency to avoid that the preset operating frequency cannot be used for operation when the power source provides low current. As a result, it is accompanied by corresponding shortcomings. The conventional smart card still operates at a lower operating frequency even if the conventional smart card receives a higher current from the power source. If the operating frequency is low, the processing speed is slow accordingly. Therefore, the user always feels the slower processing speed, which affects the user experience.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a smart card and a control method thereof to mitigate or to obviate the aforementioned problems.
To overcome the objective, the present invention enables the smart card to adjust the operating frequency of the microprocessor to enhance the user experience.
The present invention provides a smart card comprising a microprocessor, a biometric senor, a power supply decision unit and a power supply detection unit. The biometric sensor, power supply decision unit and the power supply detection unit electrically connect to the microprocessor. The microprocessor operates at a first operating frequency when the microprocessor receives an electric power from a power source. The power supply detection unit detects a type of the power source providing the electric power to the microprocessor. The power supply detection unit transmits a detection result to the power supply decision unit, which is then used by the microprocessor to determine whether to change the first operating frequency.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a control method of a smart card, which comprises a microprocessor and a biometric sensor, comprises steps of: operating the microprocessor at a first operating frequency, determining which type of a power source provides an electric power to the microprocessor; and determining whether the microprocessor changes the first operating frequency based on the determination in the previous step.
The present invention detects the type of the power source to determine whether to adjust the operating frequency. When the microprocessor receives larger power supply, the operating frequency of the microprocessor is increased accordingly to enhance the operating speed. Therefore, the user gets a better user experience under the premise of the microprocessor.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The microprocessor 10 electrically connects to the biometric sensor 20, the power supply decision unit 30 and the voltage regulator circuit 50. The power supply detection unit 40 serially connects to the microprocessor 10 through the voltage regulator circuit 50, and transmits a detecting signal of the type of the power source to the power supply decision unit 30 and the microprocessor 10.
The biometric sensor 20 is used to obtain the biometric information of the user so that the microprocessor 10 could use the biometric information to further process or determine the identity of the user. The biometric sensor 20 may be a fingerprint sensor, but is not limited thereto.
The disposition of the power supply decision unit 30 may be different. In one embodiment as shown in
With reference to
Besides, the circuit architecture of the power supply detection unit 40, the microprocessor 10 and the biometric sensor 20 may have different integration architecture. In one embodiment as shown in
The power sources described as follows are only for examples, but are not limited thereto. In one embodiment as shown in
The electric power of the contact power supply 61A, 61B means the electric power is provided by electrically contacting physical contacts on the smart card to the physical contacts in the card reader when the smart card is inserted into the card reader. The electric power of the contactless inductive power supply 62A, 62B means the electric power is provided by the induction current via inductive coupling or electric field coupling when the smart card approaches the card reader. The electric power of the battery power supply 63B is generated by the battery built-in the smart card. Generally, the contact power supply 61A, 61B provides an average current of about 7.4 mA, and the voltage value is about 5V. The contactless inductive power supply 62A, 62B provides an average current of about 4.2 mA, and the voltage value is about 2 to 12V. The battery power supply 63B provides an average current of about 6.5 mA, and the voltage value is about 3.7 to 4.2V. Thus, as to the current, the contact power supply 61A, 61B provides the maximum current, followed by the battery power supply 63B and the smallest current is provided by the contactless inductive power supply 62A, 62B. Therefore, the current magnitude may be used to determine the type of the power source. Since the contact power supply 61A, 61B provides a larger current, the microprocessor 10 is allowed to operate at a higher operating frequency. Since the contactless inductive power supply 62A, 62B provides a smaller current, the microprocessor 10 is allowed to operate at a lower operating frequency. Since the battery power supply 63B provides a medium current between the aforementioned currents, the microprocessor 10 is allowed to operate at a medium operating frequency between the aforementioned frequencies.
On the other hands, as to the voltage, the voltages provided by the contact power supply 61A, 61B and the battery power supply 63B are relatively stable, while the voltage provided by the contactless inductive power supply 62A, 62B fluctuates due to a slight change in distance between the smart card and the card reader. Taking the power supply period of 20 ms (milliseconds) as an example, the voltages provided by the contact power supply 61A, 61B and the battery power supply 63B could raise to the target voltage value in a very short time, and are stably controlled around the target voltage value. However, the target voltage value of the battery power supply 63B is smaller than the target voltage value of the contact power supply 61A, 61B. Further, the voltage value of the contactless inductive power supply 62A, 62B may fluctuate due to a change in distance between the smart card and the card reader, and a slight change in distance causes a voltage change. Therefore, the type of the power source can be determined by the slope of the voltage value climb, the variation of the voltage value and the target voltage value.
With reference to
With reference to
Receiving power supply (S10): When the smart card and the power source 60A connects or approaches to each other, the power source 60A provides current to the smart card to enable the smart card to operate.
Running at a first operating frequency (S20): When the smart card receives the current, the microprocessor 10 operates at the first operating frequency. Since the smart card just starts to operate, the type of the power source 60A is still unknown. Thus, the microprocessor 10 operates at the first operating frequency, which is lower frequency, to maintain the operation of the microprocessor 10 at the first operating frequency no matter which the type of the power source 60A is.
Detecting the type of the power source 60A for the microprocessor 10 (S30): Since the current provided by the power source 60A passes through the power supply decision unit 30 and the power supply detection unit 40A, the power supply detection unit 40A and the power supply decision unit 30 detect the type of the power source 60A. In one embodiment, to detect the type of the power source 60A means that to detect the current generated by which type of the power source 60A. The type of the power source 60A could be determined through detecting the power-supply path, the current value, the voltage value or the variation of the voltage value.
Determining whether the microprocessor 10 needs to adjust the first operating frequency by the detection result in the step S30 (S40): The microprocessor 10 determines whether the microprocessor adjusts the operating frequency based on the determination of the power supply decision unit 30. If the determination of the power supply decision unit 30 determines that the power source 60A provides a larger current, the microprocessor 10 replaces the first operating frequency with a second operating frequency, which is higher than the first operating frequency (S50). If the determination of the power supply decision unit 30 determines that the power source 60A provides a smaller current, the microprocessor 10 maintains to operate at the first operating frequency.
Furthermore, when the smart card is abnormally used and the microprocessor 10 is restarted or the power source 60A is cut off (S70), the step S20 is executed so that the microprocessor 10 operates at the first operating frequency again no matter which operating frequency is used before. Thus, the microprocessor 10 is ensured to operate smoothly as the initial state, and then executes the following steps.
With reference to
Detecting a power-supply path to the microprocessor 10 (S30A): Since the current provided by the power source 60B passes through the power supply detection unit 40A, the power supply detection unit 40A detects the power-supply path of the power source 60B.
Determining whether the power-supply path is provided from the contact power supply 61B (S41A): Since when the current is obtained with the physical contact, the power management unit 41A learns which the type of the power source 60B is through a first contact that supplies current. Thus, the power management unit 41A could therefore determine whether the type of the power source 60B is the contact power supply 61B. If so, the operating frequency is adjusted to the second operating frequency (S51A), which is higher. If no, the step S42A is executed.
Determining whether the power-supply path is provided from the contactless inductive power supply 62B (S42A): According to the
With reference to
Detecting a power-supply path to the microprocessor 10 (S30B): Since the current provided by the power source 60B passes through the power supply detection unit 40A, the power supply detection unit 40A detects the power-supply path of the power source 60B.
Determining whether the power-supply path is provided from the contact power supply 61B (S41B): Since when the current is obtained with the physical contact, the power management unit 41A learns which the type of the power source is through a first contact that supplies current. Thus, the power management unit 41A could therefore determine whether the type of the power source is the contact power supply 61B. If so, the operating frequency is adjusted to the second operating frequency (S51B), which is higher. If no, the step S42B is executed.
Determining whether the power-supply path is provided from the battery power supply 63B (S42B): Since when the current is obtained with the physical contact, the power management unit 41A learns which the power source is through a second contact that supplies current. Thus, the power management unit 41A could therefore determine whether the type of the power source 60B is the battery power supply 63B. If so, the operating frequency is adjusted to the third operating frequency (S52A), which is between the first and the second operating frequencies. If not, the microprocessor 10 maintains to operate at the first operating frequency (S60). The power management unit 41A may connect to the first and second contacts through the switching element, and detects whether the first contact or the second contact has a current through polling, thereby making a determination.
With reference to
Detecting a voltage provided to the microprocessor 10 (S30C): Since the variations of the voltage values and the target voltages of different types of the power source 60B are different, detecting the variation of the voltage value and the voltage value provided to the microprocessor 10 learns which the type of the power source 60B is.
Determining whether the variation of the voltage value from the power source 60B is larger than a variation threshold in a predetermined time (S41C). If so, the microprocessor 10 maintains to operate at the first operating frequency (S60). If not, the step S42C is executed. Since the contact power supply 61B and the battery power supply 63B provides electric power through the physical contacts, the voltages provided by the contact power supply 61B and the battery power supply 63B raise quickly to and maintain around the target voltage in the predetermined time, such as 20ms. However, the variation of the voltage value provided through the contactless inductive power supply 62B has greater change due to the change of the distance between the smart card and the card reader. Thus, if the variation of the voltage value from the power source 60B is larger than the variation threshold in the predetermined time, the type of the power source 60B is determined as the contactless inductive power supply 62B so that the first operating frequency is maintained, which is lower.
Determining whether the voltage value from the power source 60B is larger than a voltage threshold (42C): If so, the operating frequency of the microprocessor 10B is adjusted to the second operating frequency (S51C), which is higher, since the voltage value from the power source 60B is larger than the voltage threshold means that the type of the power source 60B such as the contact power supply 61B provides a larger voltage when the variation of the voltage value is stable following by the determination of the step S41C. If not, the operating frequency of the microprocessor 10B is adjusted to the third operating frequency (S52C), which is between the first and second operating frequency, since the voltage value from the power source 60B is smaller than the voltage threshold means that the type of the power source 60B such as the battery power supply 63B provides a smaller voltage when the variation of the voltage value is stable following by the determination of the step S41C. With further reference to
With reference to
Detecting a current provided to the microprocessor 10 (S30D): Since the current of different types of the power source 60B are different, detecting the current provided to the microprocessor 10 learns which the type of the power source 60B is.
Determining whether the current value from the power source 60B is larger than a first current threshold (41D): If so, the operating frequency of the microprocessor 10B is adjusted to the second operating frequency (S51D), which is higher. If not, the step S42D is executed.
Determining whether the current value from the power source 60B is smaller than a second current threshold (42D): If so, the operating frequency of the microprocessor 10B maintains to operate at the first operating frequency, which is lower (S60). If not, the current value from the power source 60B is between the first and second current thresholds. Thus, the operating frequency of the microprocessor 10B is adjusted to the third operating frequency (S52D), which is between the first and second operating frequency. With further reference to
In conclusion, the smart card as described adjusts the appropriate operating frequency according to the different types of the power source by detecting the type of the power source. Therefore, the smart card as described uses a higher operating frequency under the appropriate type of the power source to speed up the processing speed and enhance the user experience.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 108131571 | Sep 2019 | TW | national |
| 109115756 | May 2020 | TW | national |
