Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With radio cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-10-16
Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With radio cabinet
C343S7000MS
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304223
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to contactless smart cards and validator devices for communicating data with them and, more specifically, to validator devices used on board transit vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Credit card-sized devices having memory, processing logic or other digital and analog electronics are commonly known as smart cards. Certain types of smart cards, commonly known as contactless smart cards, can communicate data with a validator device via a wireless radio frequency (RF), inductive or similar communication link that does not require electrical (galvanic) contact between the smart card and validator device. Smart farecards have been used for, among other purposes, payment of mass-transit fares. A patron can purchase a farecard having a certain denomination or value that corresponds to an account balance. To board a mass-transit vehicle, the patron places the farecard in the vicinity of the validator device. Via wireless or otherwise contactless communication between the validator and farecard, the validator device detects the presence of the farecard, identifies the account associated with that farecard, and debits the account balance. If the account balance is greater than the fare, the validator indicates such and allows the patron to board the vehicle. The transaction may include other steps as well, such as confirming the authenticity of the farecard. In some mass-transit systems, patrons must also present their farecards to the validator device upon exiting the vehicle. Such systems are sometimes referred to as check-in check-out (CICO) systems because a patron must use the validator both upon entering or checking into the vehicle and exiting or checking out of the vehicle. A CICO system can base the fare upon distance traveled, travel zones crossed or time elapsed.
Prior contactless CICO validator devices suffer from a number of problems. One problem is unintended check-out. Such a validator device is typically mounted at a height conveniently within the reach of a patron of average height. The device typically includes an antenna of a type and oriented in a manner that result in projection of an electromagnetic field in a generally horizontal direction. As a patron moves closer to the device the field thus becomes more intense. If a patron who has checked in stands too near the validator device during the ride, communication may occur between the validator device and a farecard in his shirt pocket, resulting in an unintended check-out transaction.
Another problem is that the RF field emanating from the validator device points directly at the patron. Although medical research has been inconclusive, it has been suggested that the cumulative effects of even very low energy RF fields can be harmful to persons, particularly those who have cardiac pacemakers.
Another problem is that a patron may withdraw the farecard before a check-in or check-out transaction has been completed. A typical smart card transaction takes between 100 and 300 milliseconds to complete. A patron may not appreciate how near the validator device he must bring the card and how long he must allow the card to remain there. An unknowledgeable patron may attempt to quickly wave the card by the validator device. Although a display or similar indicator on the validator device may alert the patron that the transaction did not complete, a patron may not deduce from such an indication that he should move the card more slowly or bring it closer to the device.
It would be desirable to provide a smart card validator device that inhibits unintended transactions with smart cards near the device, that promotes proper placement of a card when a transaction is intended, and that minimizes potential health risks from exposure to stray RF fields. These problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by the present invention in the manner described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for communicating data with a contactless smart card in which a user initiates such communication by at least partially inserting the smart card through an entrance to a cavity of the device. The cavity may be formed in the exterior surface of the housing of the device. In such embodiments of the invention the entrance to the cavity is bounded by the surrounding exterior walls of the housing. In other embodiments, the target area or entrance to the cavity may be defined by any other suitable boundary structure. The device includes an antenna that produces an electromagnetic field at least partially within the cavity. The device may be used for fare collection in mass-transit systems or other suitable environments.
The device may be mounted in an orientation in which the entrance to the cavity is oriented horizontally. Thus, to initiate communication between the smart card and the device, a user inserts the card into the target area or entrance to the cavity from a generally horizontal direction. Preferably, the antenna directs the electromagnetic field in a primarily vertical direction, i.e., transverse to the depth of the cavity. A smart card carried in the shirt pocket of a person who may be standing at a position horizontally displaced from the device is unlikely to communicate with the device because the field is not projected horizontally to any substantial extent. Furthermore, a user is unlikely to move the card too quickly into and out of the target area because placing the card into the target area requires a very deliberate movement. Also, potential health risks from exposure to RF energy are minimized because the field is not projected directly at the user.
The foregoing, together with other features and advantages of the present invention, will become more apparent when referring to the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings.
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Hilton Graham H.
Manley Alan
Brown Martin Haller & McClain
Cubic Corporation
Nguyen Hoang
LandOfFree
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