RF presentation instrument with sensor control
View Patent ↗A presentation instrument is described which includes an input sensor, a memory unit, and an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit and receive data. The antenna is configured to receive a request for data stored on the memory unit, and may also be configured to induce a voltage from a magnetic field to power the presentation instrument. The input sensor may control whether the presentation instrument can be so powered from the magnetic field. Alternatively, input from the input sensor may otherwise control the functionality of the presentation instrument. By way of example, an input received by the input sensor may be transmitted in addition to the requested data. Additionally, a system is described to process the requested data and additional input data, in accordance with a rules data store.
1. A card including an input sensor, the card comprising:
a memory unit;
wherein the input sensor receives an input from a user verifying authorized usage of the card, wherein the input sensor comprises two contact pads on the card that are bridged by a finger of a user across the contact pads;
an antenna, wherein the antenna:
wirelessly receives a first set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including a request for data stored on the memory unit; and
transmits a wireless signal comprising a second set of electromagnetic waves including data responsive to the request;
draws wireless power for the card from a magnetic field via inductive coupling; and
a processing unit coupled with the memory unit, the input sensor, and the antenna, for controlling access to the memory unit based on whether the input from a user is received at the input sensor, wherein the processing unit:
prevents access to the memory unit by not wirelessly powering the memory unit when the input is not received at the input sensor; and provides access to the memory unit to retrieve the requested data when the input is received at the input sensor.
2. The card of claim 1 , wherein, the memory unit further comprises a secure storage region; and the processing unit controls access to the secure storage region based on the input received at the input sensor.
3. The card of claim 2 , wherein, the processing unit prevents access to the secure storage region unless the input is received at the input sensor substantially concurrent with the antenna receiving the first set of electromagnetic waves.
4. The card of claim 1 , wherein the input sensor is limited to a first state and a second state.
5. The card of claim 4 , wherein the input not being received at the input sensor causes the input sensor to be in the first state.
6. The card of claim 1 , wherein,
the input sensor further comprises a plurality of input sensors; and different combinations of input among the plurality of sensors result in different resulting states for the input sensor.
7. The card of claim 6 , wherein the input sensor further receives:
a biometric reading; and a password input.
8. The card of claim 7 , wherein the password input comprises an input received at a subset of the plurality of input sensors.
9. The card of claim 1 , wherein,
the antenna draws power from an external source to induce a voltage for the presentation instrument,
wherein the card is prevented from being powered from the external source without the input being received at the input sensor.
10. The card of claim 1 , wherein the presentation instrument comprises a credit card, a debit card, an ATM card, a stored value card, or a gift card.
11. A card including an input means, the card comprising:
means for wirelessly receiving a first set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including a request for data stored within the card;
means for receiving an input from a user verifying authorized usage of the card, wherein the means for receiving an input comprises two contact pads on the card that are bridged by a finger of a user across the contact pads;
means for drawing wireless power for the card from a magnetic field via inductive coupling;
means for storing data;
processing means coupled with the means for storing data and configured to control access to the means for storing data, based on the input from a user verifying authorized usage, including means for preventing access to the stored data by not wirelessly powering the memory unit when the input from a user verifying authorized usage is not received at the means for receiving, and means for providing access to the stored data to retrieve the requested data when the input from a user verifying authorized usage is received at the means for receiving; and
means for wirelessly transmitting a second set of electromagnetic waves comprising a signal including:
a subset of the data from the storing means; and data representative of the input.
12. The card of claim 11 , wherein:
the processing means controls access to a secure storage region based on an input received at the input means, wherein,
the means for storing data further comprises the secure storage region.
13. The card of claim 11 , further comprising:
means for wirelessly drawing power from an external source to induce a voltage for the card,
wherein the card is prevented from being powered from the external source unless the input is received at the input means substantially concurrent with the input being received.