Abstract: A smart card and method of locking a smart card to block the operation of at least one protected program stored in a read-only memory or ROM of the smart card, the smart card incorporating a central processor, the ROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory or EPROM and a random access memory or RAM, the method comprising the steps of: entering a logic lock in the EPROM, making multiple copies of the logic lock in the EPROM, and carrying out a logic OR on the logic lock and the multiple copies in order to block the performance of the protected program upon the detection of either (a) the logic lock or (b) at least one of the multiple copies.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hybrid chip card comprises the steps of providing a card body; forming a cavity in the card body; mounting the electronic module in the cavity of the card body; and connecting an antenna to the electronic module. The cavity opens out on a face of the card body and is adapted for receiving an electronic module. The electronic module includes an integrated circuit chip. The mounting step further includes the step of exposing a plurality of contact pads of the electronic module on the outer surface of the card. The plurality of contact pads permit contact communication between the electronic module and the chip card reader, and the antenna permits contact-free communication between the electronic module and the chip card reader. The hybrid chip card thus manufactured is capable of both contact and contact-free communication with a chip card reader.

Abstract: A memory or PC-cards serve as a large capacity mass memory for replicating floppy disks and other exchangeable magnetic supports. In order to improve these cards, there is added a microprocessor (MPC) with the direct wiring of the operational bus (BD2) of said microprocessor to the card memory (MEM). In this way, the card contains performable programs previously loaded by the computer (PC). Thus, the cards microprocessor functions not only with an internal set program memory, but also with performable programs loaded into the card by the computer. These programs can be modified as needed (provided that the user clearance procedures are respected).

Abstract: Method of communication between a processing unit associated with an applications program and portable information carriers of different types. It consists in adding a communications layer between the applications program and the carriers, so as to only one communications protocol in the applications program to access the carriers, whatever may be their type.

Abstract: Portable chip-card readers enabling a remote link to be set up with a central processing unit. It consists in providing, in a pack, for at least two different types, radiofrequency or infrared for example, of communication with the central processing unit. These communications means are selected from the chip card or for detecting signals of the central processing unit, or from both together. An activation circuit is used, if necessary, to activate the reader only on the detection of these signals. It enables the use of a signal reader for different applications, such as permission for entry or the payment of highway toll fees.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to chip cards and their functioning. When a chip card goes from a first state (A) to a second state (B), functions that were available in the first state are prohibited. To enable the analysis of the malfunctions of the card during a stage of qualification by the testing of an application under real-life experimental conditions, these functions need to be retrieved when a card suffers a malfunction. The invention proposes the placing, in the card, of two state indicators, the first indicator prohibiting the functions that are unnecessary for the step B and the second indicator checking the possibility of making the card return to the step A to retrieve the prohibited functions. The card reader may give the card a command for a return to the state A. This command is verified by the card. If the indicator is in a state that permits the return and if the command is correct, the first indicator is reset in the state corresponding to A. If not, the command is rejected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for generating digital signatures from portable apparatuses (A1, A2, . . . Ai . . . An) of the microprocessor-based card type, including means for computation, communication and retention of data, which means comprise at least one electrically programmable non-volatile memory, consisting in preparing enciphered data constituting coupons and loading these coupons into the non-volatile memories so as later to use these coupons in order to sign a message sent by a verifier device. According to the process, the preparation of the coupons is carried out by a certified central authority B or by the card itself.

Abstract: In chip cards comprising non-volatile electrically erasable and programmable memories, to avoid the risks due to an ageing of the EEPROM memories, there is provided a procedure for the automatic refreshing of the contents of certain zones of the memory. The refreshing can take place at predetermined time intervals or at the end of a predetermined number of uses or routinely, whenever the card is powered, when the refresh operation relates to only one part of a zone, the address of this part being obtained by means of a random generator.

Abstract: The invention concerns automatic systems for printing both sides of cards in black and white and in color. It comprises a black-and-white printing machine next to a color printing machine, each machine incorporating a thermal printing head, in front of which travel simultaneously a ribbon holding colorants to be deposited and the card to be printed, and at least one card-reversing device placed before or after a machine. The invention can be used for bank card printers.

Abstract: A contact-free card and a method for the manufacture of such a card. The card comprises a card body, an electronic module having an integrated chip card and two contact zones, and an antenna connected to the contact zones of said module by two contact terminals, wherein said module furthermore has contact pads connected to said chip for a contact-using operation of said card. Said method has a step according to which a layer of the card body is negative-molded on the antenna and a cavity is made in the card body, revealing said contact terminals of the antenna, followed by a step according to which the electronic module is mounted in the cavity of the card body. The invention can be applied to the manufacture of contact-free cards, which may or may not be combined and designed, for example, for remote cash type of operations.

Abstract: A method for securing access to detachable cards of the mass storage or I/O type using a password to encipher the address of the configuration register placed in the descriptor of the card, which descriptor is stored in a non-volatile memory of the card. The method prevents a computer from configuring the card unless a correct password is provided.

Abstract: The system comprises firstly an electronic label and, secondly, a label reader. The label comprises a foil made of a material that conducts magnetic fields and has a low coercive field. It is placed against the antenna and is parallel to the antenna to form a shield and a flux concentrator for the electromagnetic waves. The reader comprises bars surrounded by coils to generate a magnetic field so that the lines of said magnetic field can get looped in passing into the label when the reader is placed in the vicinity of this label. If the object on which the label is placed is provided with a protective cup, the invention provides for positioning plates, made of a material similar to that of the foil, between the bars and the protective cup. Application to the remote identification of objects, in particular metal objects such as gas cylinders.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a data-processing system for the acquisition of software programs by a microcomputer. The system comprises, for this purpose, a data base service center in which application software programs are stored and a removable electronic memory carrier containing rights of access, to be introduced into a drive of the microcomputer to enable the remote-loading, into the microcomputer, of software programs for which the carrier contains the corresponding rights of access, this same carrier being capable of containing the rights to run the remote-loaded software. The disclosed device can be applied to portable microcomputers.

Abstract: The system has a reader of electronic labels comprising several devices for the transmission/reception of electromagnetic waves, offset angularly about a median axis so that, when the reader is placed in the vicinity of a label and irrespectively of their relative orientation, at least a part of the lines of the magnetic field generated by at least one of said transmission/reception devices can get looped by passing into the coil of the label in the direction of its axis. The label has a foil made of amagnetic and conductive material placed against the antenna and parallel to it to form a reflective screen for the electromagnetic waves. Application to the contact-free identification of objects, notably metal objects, such as gas cylinders.

Abstract: Gaming machines provided with mechanical counters according to the regulations, to which there is grafted an electronic payment mechanism working on the basis of a chip card. It consists in diverting a certain number of links of the units of the machine by the electronic payment mechanism to enable wagers to be placed and payments to be made through the chip card, without the receiving or issuing of tokens and, preferably, without the modifying of the contents of the TOTAL IN and TOTAL OUT counters. A downgraded version modifies the contents of these counters and the balance of the feeder box containing the coins is obtained by modifying the formula used to compute this balance. It enables the efficiency of gaming machines to be raised.

Abstract: In a memory card designed to count down a number of units by successive programming of non-volatile, electrically erasable and electrically programmable memory cells, the memory is organized into N rows of P cells, the weight of the cells of one row in the account being P times the weight of the next-ranking row. The countdown procedure is recurrent and consists in making a search, in scanning the memory according to the rising order of weights, of an erased cell, programming this cell and an erased cell and then erasing the entire row having an immediately lower rank unless the erased cell is located in the first row, and in recommencing this recurrent procedure until an erased cell is found in the first line. The auxiliary cell enables the detection of an abnormal interruption of the recurrent procedure and the restoring of the exact account of the memory which could have been distorted by this abnormal interruption.

Abstract: Game machines provided with electronic payment mechanisms. The conventional payment mechanism is replaced by a payment mechanism operating by tokens that are secured by contract-free detection and the machine is furthermore provided with a second payment mechanism operating by a chip card. Switching make it possible to change over from the token-operated payment mechanism to the chip-card operated payment mechanism when a card such as this is inserted into the corresponding payment mechanism. This device makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the games machines.

Abstract: A system for protecting integrated circuits on smart cards is described. The circuit (103) is placed in a cavity (102) in a ceramic package (101). Standard contacts (104) are deposited on the side of the package opposite to the cavity opening and connected to the chip (103) via feed-through conductors (106) extending into the cavity (102) and connected therein to wires (105) which are welded to the chip (103). The cavity (102) is either sealed by a lead (108) or filled with a protective material (208). Smart cards with a lifetime of over ten years may thus be obtained.

Abstract: A system controls the winding of a ribbon on a receiver reel rotationally driven by a stepping motor. The ribbon has successive indicators at regularly spaced intervals on the ribbon. A detection device, having two spaced optical cells at a predetermined distance between them, detects the passage of an indicator between the cells. A microprocessor counts the number of steps of the stepping motor that have been necessary to achieve movement of an indicator between the optical cells. The microprocessor also computes the number of pulses to be applied to the stepping motor per unit time to achieve a constant speed of the ribbon as it passes between cells.

Abstract: A micromodule includes a slotted metal strip and a perforated dielectric strip having a thickness of less than 70 micrometers, preferably between 30 and 50 micrometers. The metal strip is bonded to the dielectric strip so as to overlie the slots in the metal strip. A chip is bonded to the dielectric strip and connected to the metal strip through the perforations in the dielectric strip. An insulating resin layer encapsulates the chip and is bonded to the dielectric strip. The micromodule may be used, for example, in a smart card, as a radiating antenna, or as an identification label.