Registers – Coded record sensors – Feed mechanisms
Patent
1997-12-15
1999-10-19
Le, Thien Minh
Registers
Coded record sensors
Feed mechanisms
235441, G06K 0706
Patent
active
059693290
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a reading frame for a microcircuit card reader apparatus.
In the context of the invention, "card" means all types of card of the kind incorporating a hybrid or monolithic integrated circuit or "microchip". The term "microcircuit" will be used hereinafter. The card is, for example, a card in the "credit card" format, known also as a "memory card". The microcircuit is usually based on a microprocessor or a microcontroller including memory circuits, for example of the "PROM" type. It must be possible to insert this type of card into dedicated devices for reading and/or writing data. For the sake of simplicity, this device will be referred to as a "reader" hereinafter, it being understood that it can equally write data and perform other ancillary functions (electrical power supply, tests) referred to hereinafter. The data is stored in the aforementioned memory circuits, usually in encrypted form. It is therefore read from memory locations or written to memory locations.
Other logical architectures are used in particular for "electronic purse" or similar type applications.
In all cases there are input-output members in the form of contact areas, also known as "pads", flush with the surface of one of the principal faces of the card. Various standards (ISO, AFNOR, etc) define the position of these contact areas. They are used not only for the aforementioned data inputs-outputs but also to supply electrical power to the microcircuit and to enable various checks to be carried out, according to the applications concerned (presence test, etc). The reader includes a reading frame fitted with brush contacts that make galvanic contact with the aforementioned areas when the card is inserted correctly into the reading frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various needs and trends are currently emerging, including,
the need to make the operation of card reading apparatus more secure. To achieve this, it is necessary:
1) to assure that the card is inserted correctly before the microcircuit is powered up and the dialog sequence with the latter is begun.
2) to assure rapid disconnection of the power supply from the card in the event of a misoperation "pulling out" of the card, to limit the risk of damage to the circuits and/or fraud attempts.
To this end, current reading systems include a device for detecting correct insertion of the card which uses an end-of-travel contact whose closure conditions, the start of electronic initialization read-write sequences controlled by the electronics of the reader and monitored by a microprocessor to conform to a particular chronology for which the reader:
The microcircuit must then respond to the initialization sequence in a particular way in order to enable dialog between the microcircuit of the card and the microprocessor of the reader. At the end of this dialog the microprocessor performs a card deactivation sequence.
Microcontroller-based dedicated circuits are available which manage these sequences of initializing and ending dialog with the microcircuit and which additionally monitor overvoltages and short-circuits on the card.
Nevertheless, if the card is pulled out, the powering down and deactivation of the various channels entails:
1) opening of the card presence contact,
2) detection by microprocessor or the dedicated microcontroller of this opening before powering down of the card can be initialized by a sequence of logical operations.
The card can be pulled out at speeds up to 1 m per second. This requires a card presence contact having a travel of less than 0.1 mm to guarantee a reaction time less than 100 .mu.s compatible with execution of the card emergency deactivation sequence.
A first problem is that there is often a lack of precision as to the position of the end of travel contacts, especially if these are horizontal or mounted on a frame independent of the reading frame.
A second problem is that the reaction time of the microprocessor or the microcontroller depends on its internal program and on the clock frequency sequenc
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patent: 5402095 (1995-03-01), Janniere
patent: 5463210 (1995-10-01), Imura
patent: 5530235 (1996-06-01), Stefik et al.
patent: 5564933 (1996-10-01), Bouchan et al.
patent: 5581249 (1996-12-01), Yoshida
Framatome Connectors International
Le Thien Minh
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