Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making an electronic device such as a smart card which includes at least a microcircuit embedded in a carrier medium and which includes exit hubs linked to interface elements composed of a terminal block and/or an antenna. The connections between the exit hubs and the interface elements are made by depositing a low-viscosity conducting substance which remains flexible after its application, using a syringe or similar device. Preferably, a polymer resin charged with conducting or intrinsically conducting particles is used for the connections.

Abstract: A smart card, which in normal use in a network allows the transfer of goods/services to a user of the card from a network operator by subtracting prepaid units of value stored in the card. The card has an embedded integrated circuit with a serial number unique to each card, and a prepaid units register for storing a number of remaining units of prepaid value. In response to an interrogation, the serial number and the number of remaining prepaid units may be read out. A key number is also stored in the circuit. It has a first portion unique for each card, and a second portion which is common to a plurality of cards, but unique for a network operator. The key number in normal use of the card cannot be read from the card. An algorithm is also stored in the card, and in normal use it also is not readable from the card. A microprocessor calculates a certificate in accordance with the algorithm as a function of the key number and the number in said prepaid register, and the certificate is readable from the card.

Abstract: The invention concerns a particular structure of enhanced short message, and a method for synchronizing and ensuring the security of exchanged enhanced short messages having this structure. Conventionally, an enhanced message is transmitted by a message service centre to a subscriber identification module (or SIM module) of a mobile station. The body (2) of this enhanced message contains in particular a first field (3) for remote commands pertaining to a remote application. This body (2) also contains a second field (4) for storing the current value of a synchronizing counter, to be compared to a previous value of the synchronizing counter, stored in the SIM module. The body (2) can contain another field (6) for storing a certificate, the body signature, for proving the authenticity of the enhanced message and the identity of its transmitter. The enhanced message is accepted or refused by the SIM module depending on the coherence of these values with the internal status of the SIM module.

Abstract: An improvement to a method for making cards with an electronic module is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a card body (1) having a cavity (3, 4), an electronic module (5I) shaped to fit said cavity, and at least one first adhesion means (12c-15c) adherable to the card body and the module, depositing at least said first adhesion means in said cavity, inserting said module into the cavity in a substantially centered position, and pressing at least said first adhesion means between the card and the module. The method further comprises a step of providing a second adhesion means (11b) which is also deposited in the cavity (3, 4). said second adhesion means is capable of having sufficient tackiness to maintain the module (5) in a centered position in the cavity, at least until said first adhesion means has been pressed. The cards produced by carrying out the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shielded magnetic-field antenna has at least one turn of a metallic element and metallic tubular shielding positioned around the element. The turn (3a) is produced in a printed circuit on a card made of insulating material (4a). The shielding has two open rings (5a, 6a) each produced in a printed circuit and disposed respectively on a bottom card (9a) and a top card (10a) made of insulating material. The cards are assembled by gripping the turn between the top and bottom cards. A plurality of metallic vias (7a, 8a) connect side edges of the two rings. The vias extend through the cards, and are positioned around the turn.

Abstract: A thin integrated circuit card with an improved manually activated switch. The card is of the type that has two external plates, a lower one (12) and an upper one (14) that are separated by at least one interconnecting plate in which there is at least one switch (26). The switch is able to allow or inhibit the passage of an electric current between its two terminals (34). The switch has a pushbutton (28) which is positioned at a peripheral edge (40) of the card.

Abstract: A smart card that is compatible with multiple different protocols includes a standard set of contacts that comply with the protocols of a published standard, and another contact not designated by the standard which is used to indicate whether the card is to operate in a non-standard mode. When the card is to operate in the non-standard mode, a simple start-up procedure is employed which does not require strict timing constraints, enabling a less expensive interface device to be used. The interface device can be connected to any bus of a computer which operates in accordance with a desired non-standard protocol. Due to the flexibility and functionality offered by smart cards that have microprocessors incorporated therein, the multi-protocol smart card can be used to drive, or otherwise communicate with, any of a variety of peripheral devices, whether or not a personal computer is present in the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to modems designed to allow transmission of data between a terminal (a personal computer or PC) and a network. To improve the operating versatility of a modem or its utilization by a smartcard, the modem is equipped according to the invention with a receptacle (80) for receiving a smartcard (120), with a connector (110) for this card and a card interface circuit (100), and the microcontroller (50) of the modem (the microcontroller controlling communication with the network when commanded by the PC) also controls the card interface circuit. This microcontroller thus constitutes the kernel of the modem and at the same time the kernel of a card reader.

Abstract: A unitary housing for an extended-format releasable plug-in card (15). The housing comprises a first block (12) adapted to the standard plug-in card format and designed to contain the standardized portion of the card (15) inserted into the slot of a microcomputer, as well as a second block (16). The housing is characterized in that the second block (16) can receive at least the extension (Z.sub.2) of the card (15), and includes flanges (18) positionable between the side edges of the card (15) and those of the first block (12). The flanges (18) enable the first and second blocks (12, 16) to be rigidly connected so that they are inseparable and the whole housing thereafter forms a single block. Said housing is useful for mechanically protecting extended-format PCMCIA electronics.

Abstract: A method for printing on an exposed polymerised thermoplastic or curable layer of the body of a portable data medium, and a portable data medium particularly a chip card, comprising a polymerised layer, are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of mixing a polymerisable thermoplastic or curable binder and at least one light-sensitive compound responsive to laser radiation having a predetermined wavelength in such a way that it changes from a first state to a second coloured state, in order to form a mixture, exposing the mixture to the laser radiation having a predetermined wavelength; and polymerising the mixture to form the polymerised layer of the body of the data medium. The method is particularly suitable for printing on smart cards.

Abstract: To limit the functions of microprocessors present in smart card readers that are designed to react to external demands in real time, a coupling circuit has been created to couple the reader to the smart card. The coupling circuit carries out all the synchronization operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns data transfer carried out by a communication network. It concerns in particular a method for safe data transfer by a communication network, between a first entity consisting of a chip card and a second entity, which consists in the preliminary production of an electronic signature for proving the initialisation of the transfer, this signature being stored in at least a memory zone of the chip card, then, when the data transfer is completed, in erasing this signature. The invention is applicable to electronic purses.

Abstract: Method of bonding a polyurethane surface to a polyvinyl chloride or other polymer substrate containing surface moisture, particularly useful for making chip cards. A resin comprising a polyol and a diisocyanate is placed on the substrate, followed by pressing, in the presence of a tertiary amine catalyst able simultaneously to catalyze the reaction of the polyol with the diisocyanate to form a polyurethane network and the reaction of the surface moisture with the diisocyanate to convert water molecules into polyurea.

Abstract: Method for attaching a polyurethane (PU) surface to a polyvinyl chloride or other polymer surface, particularly useful for making smart cards. A plasticizer compatible with both the PU and the polymer is placed between the surface of the polymer and the surface of a bicomponent PU precursor resin, and pressure is applied to incorporate the plasticizer in the polymer surface and in the polyurethane as it forms.

Abstract: Method of public key cryptography based on the discrete logarithm that makes use of the computation of the variable r=g.sup.k modp where p is a prime number called a modulus, the exponent k is a random number usually with a length of N bits and g is an integer called a base, wherein an entity E carries out operations of authentication and/or of signature, including exchanges of signals with another entity in which this variable comes into play.

Abstract: A system for loading an applet and its associated use rights into a smart card having other applets with associated use rights with values that change as the application is used is provided that stores, remotely from said smart card, an applet and use rights with a predetermined initial value, associated with the applet, and has a smart card having a processing unit, and a memory unit, the memory unit being connected to the processing unit and storing a second application having use rights. The smart card may be connected to said remote storage means, and the application, having use rights with a predetermined value, may be loaded from said remote storage means into said smart card.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for welding thermoweldable sheets of which at least one is made of polycarbonate. The method is characterized in that the sheets to be welded are separated from the metal electrodes (4,5) of the high frequency press by means of a glass plate (2,3). Application to the fabrication of high density magnetic cards.