IP Library Granted Patent US 10,255,734
Granted Patent B2
US 10,255,734 · App. 15/864,180 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Electronic credential signal activation systems and methods

Inventor: Mark A. Cox (West Chester, PA)
Assignee: X-Card Holdings, LLC
G07C9/00111G06K19/06G06K19/06196G06K19/073G06K19/0712
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,255,734
App. No.
15/864,180
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An circuit includes a first inductive coil and a second inductive coil each including a plurality of metal traces. The first and second inductive coils are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages. Each of the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field. A first circuit element is configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response at a first power level of the first output voltage. A second circuit element is configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more functions when the second output voltage exceeds a second power level. The first and second power levels are related to movement of the first and second inductive coils through the electromagnetic field.

Claims (34)

1. A circuit, comprising:

a first antenna comprising a first plurality of metal traces disposed in a first coil;

a second antenna comprising a second plurality of metal traces disposed in a second coil, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages, and wherein each of the first plurality of metal traces and the second plurality of metal traces are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field, wherein a level of the first output voltage and a level of the second output voltage are related to movement of the first and second antennas through the electromagnetic field;

a first circuit element configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response when the level of the first output voltage is at a first value; and

a second circuit element configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more predetermined functions when the level of the second output voltage exceeds a second value.

2. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a radiofrequency signal.

3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein each of the first output voltage and the second output voltage are generated from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

4. The circuit of claim 3 , comprising a signal interface coupled to each of the first antenna and the second antenna and configured to generate the first output voltage and the second output voltage from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

5. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, the first circuit, and the second circuit are contained within a core for use in manufacturing a smart card.

6. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the first coil comprises a first plurality of loops.

7. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the second antenna comprises a second coil.

8. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna is positioned at a first location and the second antenna is positioned at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

9. A circuit, comprising:

a first inductive coil comprising a first plurality of metal traces;

a second inductive coil comprising a second plurality of metal traces, wherein the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil are each configured to receive a first signal from an electromagnetic field and generate respective first and second output voltages, and wherein each of the first plurality of metal traces and the second plurality of metal traces are configured to inductively couple to the electromagnetic field, wherein a level of the first output voltage and a level of the second output voltage are related to movement of the first and second antennas through the electromagnetic field;

a first circuit element configured to receive the first output voltage and generate a first response when the level of the first output voltage is at a first value; and

a second circuit element configured to receive the second output voltage and transition to an active state to perform one or more predetermined functions when the level of the second output voltage exceeds a second value.

10. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic field comprises a radiofrequency signal.

11. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein each of the first output voltage and the second output voltage are generated from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

12. The circuit of claim 11 , comprising a signal interface coupled to each of the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil and configured to generate the first output voltage and the second output voltage from energy harvested from the magnetic field.

13. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the first inductive coil, the second inductive coil, the first circuit, and the second circuit are contained within a core for use in manufacturing a smart card.

14. The circuit of claim 13 , wherein the first inductive coil comprises a first plurality of loops.

15. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the first inductive coil is positioned at a first location and the second inductive coil is positioned at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

16. A method, comprising:

moving a first inductive coil comprising a first plurality of metal traces through an electromagnetic field;

generating a first output voltage for a first circuit element, wherein the first output voltage is generated by movement of the first inductive coil through the electromagnetic field;

generating a first circuit response by the first circuit element when the first output voltage exceeds a first power level;

moving a second inductive coil comprising a second plurality of metal traces through the electromagnetic field simultaneously with the first inductive coil;

generating a second output voltage for a second circuit element, wherein the second output voltage is related to movement of the second inductive coil through the electromagnetic field; and

transitioning the second circuit element to an active state to perform one or more predetermined functions when the second output voltage exceeds a second power level.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first power level and the second power level are related to movement of the first and second inductive coils through the electromagnetic field.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein generating the first output voltage comprises harvesting energy from the electromagnetic signal and generating the first output voltage using the harvested energy.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises a radiofrequency signal.

20. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit element is a light-emitting diode.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 14312220 · Jun 23, 2014
Provisional Application 61837910 · Jun 21, 2013
Related Publication 20180130272A1 · May 10, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,260,695