IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,594,603
Granted Patent B2
US 7,594,603 · App. 11/391,912 · Granted Sep 29, 2009

System and method for sensing biometric and non-biometric smart card devices

Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,594,603
App. No.
11/391,912
Granted
Sep 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system of detecting biometric and non-biometric, standard smart card devices includes a smart card host and smart card device reader, which is operable for receiving an Answer to Reset signal and determining whether the smart card device comprises a biometric or non-biometric, standard smart card device. If a biometric smart card device is detected, the smart card reader is operable for applying power used for standard smart card device operation to a first contact and applying power used by a biometric circuit to a second contact, and if a non-biometric, standard smart card device is detected, applying power only to the first contact.

Claims (20)

1. A system of detecting biometric and non-biometric smart card devices, comprising:

a smart card host; and

a smart card device reader operably connected to the host and adapted to receive one of either a biometric or non-biometric smart card device, wherein a biometric smart card device includes a biometric circuit and the non-biometric smart card device does not include a biometric circuit, said smart card device reader including a reader circuit that generates power to preselected contacts of a smart card device received therein and communicates therewith, and operable for receiving an Answer to Reset signal and analyzing the Answer to Reset signal to determine if a data code is present indicative that the smart card device is a biometric smart card device to determine whether the received smart card device comprises a biometric smart card device or non-biometric smart card device, wherein if the smart card device is determined to be a biometric smart card device, said smart card reader is operable for applying power used for smart card device operation to a first contact of the biometric smart card device and applying power used by the biometric circuit of the biometric smart card device to a second contact, and if the smart card device is determined to be a non-biometric smart card device, applying power only to the first contact.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device reader is operable for cycling through power levels on the first contact when a non-biometric smart card device is detected.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein said smart card device reader is operable for applying power to a second contact that is unused by the smart card device.

4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device reader is operable for applying power to the first contact to reset the smart card device.

5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device reader is operable for applying power to a programming voltage (Vpp) contact as the second contact of the smart card device after applying power to a common voltage contact as the first contact.

6. A system according to claim 5 , wherein said smart card device reader is operable for resetting the smart card device after applying power to the first and second contacts.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said smart card device reader is operable for receiving a PTOpen signal for establishing a communications session between the smart card device and smart card device reader.

8. A method of detecting biometric and non-biometric smart card devices, which comprises:

inserting one of either a biometric or non-biometric smart card device within a smart card device reader wherein the biometric smart card device includes a biometric circuit and the non-biometric smart card device does not include a biometric circuit;

generating an Answer to Reset signal and analyzing the Answer to Reset signal to determine if a data code is present indicative that the smart card device is a biometric smart card device to determine whether the smart card device comprises a biometric smart card device or non-biometric smart card device; and

if a biometric smart card device is detected, applying power used for smart card device operation to a first contact and applying power used by the biometric circuit to a second contact, and if a non-biometric smart card device is detected, applying power only to the first contact.

9. A method according to claim 8 , which further comprises cycling through power levels on the first contact when a non-biometric smart card device is detected.

10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of applying power to a second contact comprises the step of applying power to a contact that is unused by the smart card device.

11. A method according to claim 8 , which further comprises applying power to the first contact to reset the smart card device.

12. A method according to claim 8 , which further comprises applying power to a programming voltage (Vpp) contact at the second contact after applying power to a common voltage contact as the first contact.

13. A method according to claim 8 , which further comprises resetting the smart card device after applying power to the first and second contacts.

14. A method according to claim 8 , which further comprises generating a signal for establishing a communications session between the smart card device and smart card device reader.

15. A method according to claim 14 , which further comprises generating a PTOpen signal for establishing the communications session.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2024
From: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
To: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
Reel/Frame 068433/0883 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2006
From: TRAN, JOHN N.
To: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017736/0983 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070228154A1 · Oct 4, 2007