Abstract: A wireless reader has a processor within an integrated circuit, and the processor is used to generate a primary signal to be wirelessly transmitted from an antenna of the wireless reader to a wireless tag. A transmit pin of the integrated circuit is coupled to the processor by a signal path in the integrated circuit. The transmit pin outputs the primary signal from the integrated circuit to the antenna for wireless transmission of the primary signal to the wireless tag. A sensor is configured to sense current or voltage variations of the primary signal at a point in the signal path between the processor and the transmit pin, and a signal extraction unit is configured to extract, based on the current or voltage variations, a data signal wirelessly transmitted by the wireless tag to the wireless reader via load modulation of the primary signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication device communicates with an inductively coupled device via a wireless carrier signal that may be modulated by both the wireless communication device and the inductively coupled device. The inductively coupled signal is transmitted from a transponder antenna of the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device also includes an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary antenna is enabled while the wireless communication device is receiving a modulated version of the wireless carrier signal from the inductively coupled device.

Abstract: A payment reader includes an anti-tamper circuit for periodically providing control signals to tamper detection devices for detecting tamper attempts. The anti-tamper circuit includes a battery that drives a clock source. The clock source outputs a periodic signal to an enabling circuit and a pulse generator. The pulse generator provides enabling signal to an enabling circuit when it receives the periodic signal, and the enabling circuit provides an oscillator activation signal to a local oscillator when the enabling circuit receives the enabling signal and the periodic signal. The local oscillator provides an oscillating signal to the pulse generator, which utilizes the oscillating signal to exchange control signals with the tamper detection devices.

Abstract: A payment reader includes a tamper detection system for monitoring and protecting against attempts to tamper with the payment reader. The tamper detection system includes tamper detection devices such as tamper switches or tamper meshes, and tamper detection circuitry to control and interface with the tamper detection devices. Pulses are selectively provided from each of a plurality of tamper signal pins of the tamper detection circuitry to an associated tamper detection device, the outputs of the tamper detection devices are multiplexed, the multiplexed signal is received at a tamper detection pin, and a tamper attempt is identified if a pulse was not received within the multiplexed signal. While not transmitting, each of the tamper signal pins is switched to an input state, and a tamper attempt is also identified if any aberrant signal is received at the tamper signal pins while in the input state.

Abstract: A transition glitch suppression circuit can be used to remove unwanted glitches occurring within a time delay of the rising edge or falling edge of a signal. The transition glitch suppression circuit has a delay element that can delay the input signal by the time delay to generate a delayed input signal. The transition glitch suppression circuit also has first and second logic circuits that process the input signal and the delayed input signal to generate corresponding outputs. A multiplexer provides the output signal for the suppression circuit by selecting between the output of the first logic circuit and the output of the second logic circuit based on the value of the output signal.

Abstract: A payment reader includes a tamper detection system for monitoring and protecting against attempts to tamper with the payment reader. The tamper detection system includes tamper detection devices such as tamper switches or tamper meshes, and tamper detection circuitry to control and interface with the tamper detection devices. Pulses are selectively provided from each of a plurality of tamper pins of the tamper detection circuitry to an associated tamper detection device, and a tamper attempt is identified if that pulse is not received at an associated tamper pin. All other tamper pins are switched to an input state, and a tamper attempt is also identified if an aberrant signal is received at the tamper pins while in the input state.

Abstract: A communication device generates a wireless carrier signal and communicates by modulating the wireless carrier signal. A measurement circuit of the communication device measures an inductively coupled signal that is based on the transmitted wireless carrier signal and a measurement value is calculated for that signal. The measurement value is used to select a modulation procedure that is used by the communication device to encode data to be transmitted. The communication device generates and transmits a wireless data signal based on the data to be transmitted, the selected modulation procedure, and the carrier signal.

Abstract: A wireless reader has a processor within an integrated circuit, and the processor is used to generate a primary signal to be wirelessly transmitted from an antenna of the wireless reader to a wireless tag. A transmit pin of the integrated circuit is coupled to the processor by a signal path in the integrated circuit. The transmit pin outputs the primary signal from the integrated circuit to the antenna for wireless transmission of the primary signal to the wireless tag. A sensor is configured to sense current or voltage variations of the primary signal at a point in the signal path between the processor and the transmit pin, and a signal extraction unit is configured to extract, based on the current or voltage variations, a data signal wirelessly transmitted by the wireless tag to the wireless reader via load modulation of the primary signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication device such as a payment reader has a wireless communication interface and is able to establish wireless pairing with an interactive electronic device such as a merchant device running a point of sale application. In order to establish pairing, the wireless communication device accesses an identifier. The identifier is transmitted to the interactive electronic device via the wireless communication interface, and the interactive electronic device sends the identifier to a pairing server. The pairing server retrieves a passkey based on the identifier and sends the retrieved passkey to the interactive electronic device via a secure connection. The wireless communication device and the interactive electronic device establish wireless pairing based on the retrieved passkey.

Abstract: A wireless communication device such as a payment reader has a wireless communication interface and is able to establish wireless pairing with an interactive electronic device such as a merchant device running a point of sale application. In order to establish pairing, the wireless communication device accesses a passkey and encrypts the passkey. The encrypted passkey is transmitted to the interactive electronic device via the wireless communication interface, and the interactive electronic device sends the encrypted passkey to a pairing server. The pairing server decrypts the encrypted passkey and sends the decrypted passkey back to the interactive electronic device via a secure connection. The wireless communication device and the interactive electronic device establish wireless pairing based on the passkey and the decrypted passkey.

Abstract: A device for receiving a data signal transmitted via load modulation has a transmitter portion that transmits a primary signal along a signal path to an antenna for wireless transmission of the primary signal. A sensor senses current or voltage variations of the primary signal in the signal path, and a signal extraction unit extracts the data signal based on the sensed current or voltage variations.

Abstract: In some examples, a system and method for pairing a payment object reader with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal is described herein. The payment object reader includes one or more light indicators configured to display information in an optical pattern of one or more colors, brightness, lightness, and intensities, wherein the light indicators display a first optical pattern representative of an operational status of the payment object reader in a first mode, and a second optical pattern representative of a pairing code in a second mode. A display control component, executed by a processor, is configured to control the light indicators in accordance with the pairing code to generate the second optical pattern, the second optical pattern when shared with the POS terminal enables pairing between the payment object reader and the POS terminal. When paired, the payment object reader allows the POS terminal to accept payments from a customer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing and verifying transactions involving authentication with a secure credential, such as a smart card, in an untrusted or semi-trusted environment. An application module, operating in an untrusted or semi-trusted environment can be denied access to sensitive data. The application module can determine a preliminary command to be sent to the credential and transmit the preliminary command to a broker module. The broker module, operating in a trusted environment, can supply sensitive data and transmit the command to the credential. Subsequently, the broker module can extract sensitive data from a response before it is transmitted to the application module. A verification server can audit the transaction to verify that it was carried out properly.

Abstract: A point of sale system has a display for receiving touch inputs, a controller to receive the touch inputs from the display, and a secure controller to receive touch input data from the controller. The system also has a card interface module and a contactless interface module to provide encrypted data to the secure controller. The secure controller can operate in either a secure mode or a non-secure mode. When a non-secure mode is engaged, the secure controller provides the touch input data to a processor. When a secure mode is engaged, the secure controller blocks at least a portion of the touch input data from the processor.

Abstract: Methods and devices for receiving a data signal transmitted via load modulation, by detecting current supplied in an amplifier feeding the antenna of the device which transmits the carrier signal.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: Methods and devices for receiving a data signal transmitted via load modulation, by detecting current supplied in an amplifier feeding the antenna of the device which transmits the carrier signal.

Abstract: Processor system with a general purpose processor and a cryptographic processor dedicated to performing cryptographic operations and enforcing the security of critical security parameters. The cryptographic processor prevents exposure of critical security parameters outside the cryptographic processor itself, and instead implements a limited scripting engine, which can be used by the general purpose processor to execute operations that require the critical security parameters.

Abstract: A decision feedback equalizer, transceiver, and method are provided, the equalizer having at least one comparator, the at least one comparator comprising a first stage, comprising a main branch having two track switches with a resistive load, an offset cancellation branch, a plurality of tap branches with transistor sizes smaller than the main branch, in which previous decisions of the equalizer are mixed with the tap weights using current-mode switching, and a cross coupled latch branch; and a second stage, comprising a comparator module for making decisions based on the outputs of the first stage and a clock input, and a plurality of flip-flops for storing the output of the comparator module.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing and verifying transactions involving authentication with a secure credential, such as a smart card, in an untrusted or semi-trusted environment. An application module, operating in an untrusted or semi-trusted environment can be denied access to sensitive data. The application module can determine a preliminary command to be sent to the credential and transmit the preliminary command to a broker module. The broker module, operating in a trusted environment, can supply sensitive data and transmit the command to the credential. Subsequently, the broker module can extract sensitive data from a response before it is transmitted to the application module. A verification server can audit the transaction to verify that it was carried out properly.