Capacitive Patents (Class 235/451)
  • Patent number: 8651379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switchgear cabinet or rack comprising a mounting unit, the front of which has vertical mounting profiles that laterally delimit an installation space for installed user-side units, said profiles having fixing sections for attaching mounting sections of the installed units, and comprising components of a detection device for determining the presence of an installed unit in an installation position of the installation space. he components of the detection device have a vertical detector strip that is attached to a mounting profile and contains detector elements associated with the installed positions and arranged on or in said strip and code carriers that are provided on the installed units, the information from said carriers being transmitted for evaluation via the detector elements to a monitoring and control unit, either wirelessly or by wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Thielmann, Markus Hain, Volker Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8646698
    Abstract: A protective cover of a mobile electronic product capable of adding a backup battery to the exterior of the mobile electronic product, and the mobile electronic product is connected to the backup battery. In the protective cover of the mobile electronic product, a RFID module is installed for applying the mobile electronic product in a non-contact access identification device or a secured transaction device. The backup battery can supply electric power to the mobile electronic product to overcome the difficulty of accessing backup power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tennrich International Corp.
    Inventors: Shih-Hui Chen, Chin-Tien Lin, Hua-Chi Cheng
  • Patent number: 8646696
    Abstract: A chip card (1) comprises a chip card controller (3), a display (6), a display driver (5) operatively coupled to the chip card controller (3) and to the display (6), a user input device (12), and a user input interface (13) operatively coupled to the user input device (12). The user input device (12) is configured to turn on and/or turn off at least parts of the chip card (1) and is an integral part of the display driver (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: NPX B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Slikkerveer, Pawel Musial
  • Patent number: 8638551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a card reader having communicating function which includes: a top cover; a bottom cover having a first open slot at one side; a printed circuit board; a first memory insertion slot allowing a first removable memory card to be inserted; a processor for controlling the access of first removable memory card; a wireless communication module; a card reader controller; a connector; a charging circuit; a rechargeable battery; and a voltage regulation circuit; such that a portable electronic device is able to access the data in the first removable memory card with a wireless means, or a mainframe is able to access the data in the first removable memory card through the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Power Quotient International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Tsai, Jen-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 8636223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of assembly, labeling and programming decoupled EM tags used in the tagging and tracking of items wherein the tags including a printable label portion and a decoupler portion which are combined after printing on the surface of and programming a programmable device associated with the label portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Omni-ID Cayman Limited
    Inventors: Andre Cote, Paul Richard Clarke, Anthony Kington
  • Patent number: 8633615
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless power transmission/reception apparatus. The wireless power transmission/reception apparatus includes a wireless power transmission unit and a wireless power reception unit. The wireless power transmission unit receives power, generates a wireless power signal to be wirelessly transmitted, wirelessly transmits the generated wireless power signal in a magnetic resonance manner, receives a returned wireless power signal and detects the number of power consumption devices, and wirelessly transmits a wireless power signal using resonance frequency appropriate for the number of power consumption devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mchanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Du Lee, Kyung Uk Kim, Jeong Hoon Kim, Eung Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 8628011
    Abstract: A card personalization device for producing a portable USB object having a device that is capable of recognizing cards that are operating according to the ISO standard and cards operating according to the USB standard. The recognition device being coupled to a device for switching the power supply terminals on the contact pads corresponding to the USB or ISO power supply contacts of the card in accordance with the type of the detected card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: Emmanuel Thibaudeau
  • Patent number: 8628010
    Abstract: There is described an automatic remote acquisition system for determining the configuration of an installation having a number of devices, which are divided into standard devices grouped by cabinets, and into non-standard devices, and are each defined by a respective number of elementary units. The remote acquisition system has a number of passive transponders, each associated with a respective elementary unit to memorize respective identification data of the elementary unit; a number of active transponders, each associated with a respective non-standard device to memorize at least the identification data of the respective number of elementary units; and, for the passive transponders, a number of control units, each mounted in a respective cabinet to acquire the identification data, memorized in the respective passive transponders, of the elementary units of the standard devices in the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Selex Sistemi Integrati, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Michele Arpino
  • Patent number: 8628018
    Abstract: Radio frequency communications are effected. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a radio frequency communication circuit includes an antenna having a conductor and a semiconductor chip having a lower substrate surface coupled with the conductor to pass data carried by radio frequency signals to a radio frequency communication circuit in an active layer on an upper surface of the substrate. Accordingly, communications are facilitated via the substrate and can alleviate the need to use through-substrate connectors and further facilitate placement of the chip on the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Zenz, Franz Amtmann, Roland Brandl
  • Patent number: 8624740
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing personalized information are provided. Based on an identification of a customer through the use of a card, personalized information is selectively produced and wirelessly provided to a display such as a wireless display. The identification of the customer, as well as additional information, can be provided through the use of the card, wherein functions of the card can be enabled or disabled by the customer through the use of on-card switches, buttons, slides and/or bistable domes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8622298
    Abstract: A loading system for loading a cargo hold (2) of an aircraft (1), containers, pallets or like ULDs (20) for accommodating freight being introduced into the cargo hold through an access opening, being transported by means of a transport device (60) and being fastened in transport positions. With the ULDs are identification devices (30), e.g. RFID transponders, which identification devices have storage devices for storing first data, especially identification data. The system comprises at least one first reading device (40) for reading the first data of a ULD introduced into the cargo hold, and at least one first transmitter device (50) for transmitting the first data to at least one first recipient (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Telair International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Huber
  • Patent number: 8622302
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for estimating and, at least partially, compensating for fixed pattern noise (FPN) in an image sensor. In one configuration, an estimate of the FPN of an image sensor may be obtained by capturing a dark image (either a linear or an area image, depending on the sensor type) using a first exposure time, an illuminated image may be captured using a second exposure time, the second exposure time is greater than the first exposure time, and the dark image may be subtracted from the illuminated image to compensate, at least partially, for FPN. Certain configurations may utilize virtual scan lines. Two or more dark images may also be utilized to estimate FPN in an image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Datalogic ADC, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan L. Olmstead
  • Patent number: 8616455
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a radio frequency identification device (RFID), featuring a flat and flexible substrate made of polycarbonate equipped with an antenna (14) composed of conductive ink fully encased in the polycarbonate and a chip or integrated circuit module (29) connected to the antenna, the antenna formed by the winding of several turns features a turn overlap zone, an insulating strip of dielectric material separating the turns of the antenna in the overlap zone, the edges of the device being completely uniform so that no lines of demarcation between the various layers are visible, thereby preventing all attempt of delamination of the device over its thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: ASK S.A.
    Inventor: Carina Zambon
  • Patent number: 8616457
    Abstract: A smart battery label having an RFID or UHF antenna, sensors to monitor battery environmental data and a bi-state display for displaying battery data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Stanley Krawczewicz, Jay Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 8613392
    Abstract: A contactless reader includes a housing with a front wall oriented to face users of contactless identification tokens. The front wall has an outer surface that bears a first indicia indicating a location at which the contactless identification tokens are to be presented. The contactless reader also includes an antenna and electronic components within the housing for wirelessly sending data to and receiving data from contactless identification tokens. In addition, a casing is provided that attaches to the housing to cover the front wall of the housing and to cover the first indicia, wherein the casing has an outer surface bearing a second indicia that indicates the location at which the contactless identification tokens are to be presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventor: Simon Phillips
  • Patent number: 8608087
    Abstract: A smart card capable of independently displaying information is wirelessly connectable to an external interface. The smart card includes a main body, an antenna module, an electronic paper, a drive member and a radio frequency identification chip isolated from the drive member. The antenna module includes a first antenna for receiving first electromagnetic wave and a second antenna for receiving/transmitting second electromagnetic wave. The first and second antennas are respectively connected to the drive member and the radio frequency identification chip. The information can be independently displayed on the smart card to ensure confidence of the data. Moreover, the smart card can be more conveniently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dasheng Lee
  • Patent number: 8602306
    Abstract: The protection device (1) avoids accidental or fraudulent intrusion of at least one contactless communication object (3) with a smart circuit (31, 32) storing sensitive information or information giving access to services, the electronic circuit of the protected object remaining unchanged, notably by means (13) for receiving radio signals (S22) in a range of frequencies of the order of one megahertz to a few tens of megahertz, the received radio signals generating the operating power for enabling a circuit (11) generating a scrambling signal to be emitted by emission means (14) of the protection device as scrambling radio waves (S21) and switching means (12) validating or invalidating the operation of the generator of the scrambling signal of the protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Xiring SA
    Inventor: Luc Deborgies
  • Patent number: 8605816
    Abstract: A non-contact wireless communication apparatus that includes: an antenna section configured to receive a carrier wave; an envelope-curve shaping section configured to shape a falling waveform of an envelope curve of the carrier wave into a gradual falling waveform; and a demodulation section configured to extract the envelope curve shaped by the envelope-curve shaping section and perform envelope-curve detection by binarizing the envelope curve with a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Takaaki Tsushima
  • Patent number: 8596535
    Abstract: A non-contact information processing device and a non-contact card medium issuing machine that can easily and quickly judge whether an electromagnetic radiation function of a non-contact communication antenna is working properly or not. Concretely to describe, provided is a card reader that includes non-contact information processing for recording and/or reproducing information through electromagnetic induction without contacting a card medium; and a transfer path for transferring the card medium. The non-contact information processing has a device-side non-contact communication antenna that is able to send and receive information to/from a medium-side non-contact communication antenna provided on the card medium. Provided is detection for detecting if the device-side non-contact communication antenna is working normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Junro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8596534
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for interfacing between a terminal and a smart card, and a smart card applied to the same. In other words, by presenting the configuration including a terminal equipped with several device resources requested for interworking during the execution of the service applications stored in a smart card, and a Universal Subscriber Identification Module (USIM), and a smart card to prepare the selective execution of the application considering the service supportable terminal based on a device resource list created by the terminal, it is possible to provide suitable services to the terminal performance considering the difference in the mounted terminal model and manufacturer due to the selective executability according to the device resources with which the terminal is equipped with a number of service applications stored in the smart card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Tae Kim, Kyung Ok Lee, Eun Su Jung, Hoo Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 8596536
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which may be a printer, includes an image acquisition subsystem and a processing subsystem. The image acquisition subsystem includes an imager and a source. The imager is configured to scan an image while the image acquisition subsystem moves with respect to the image forming apparatus and configured to provide electrical signals including information related to the scanned image. The source is configured to emanate electromagnetic radiation based on the electrical signals. The processing subsystem includes a receiving component configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation emanated from the source of the image acquisition subsystem. The image forming apparatus also includes a structure supporting both the image acquisition subsystem and the processing subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven M Goss, Gregory F Carlson, Ronald G Paul, Todd A McClelland, Randall L Stockberger, Jr., Jerry A Marshall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8584961
    Abstract: A marking system and related methods are disclosed in which a micromark having optically readable characteristics and electronically readable characteristics is made on a selected object. The optically and electronically readable characteristics of the micromark contain corresponding data. Preferred embodiments of the invention include non-volatile memory for storing duplicate data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Triune IP LLC
    Inventors: Ross Teggatz, Wayne Chen
  • Patent number: 8573494
    Abstract: An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Tyfone, Inc.
    Inventors: Siva G. Narendra, Prabhakar Tadepalli, Thomas N. Spitzer
  • Patent number: 8573495
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification electronic device with enhancing surface wave-guide effect includes a host or a programmable single IC, an identification transmitting/receiving device electrically connected to the host or the programmable single IC for generating a current, and an enhancing surface wave-guide coaxial cable structure. The enhancing surface wave-guide coaxial cable structure comprises a coaxial cable having at least one breach region without an outer conducting layer and a matching resistor, wherein the current builds up an electromagnetic (EM) wave while flowing through the at least one breach region, and the EM wave is transmitted along the outer conducting layer of the coaxial cable until to the matching resistor. Moreover, an electromagnetic field can be built up while the current flows through the at least one breach region, and a RFID electronic tag attached to an object can be automatically triggered by the electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventors: Tai-Hwa Liu, Yi-Chun Sung, Cheng-Lun Yin, Li-Chi Chang
  • Patent number: 8567663
    Abstract: A system and method of tracking biological fluid during a donation process. The system and method identify and release blood products from quarantined storage and print an appropriate blood bag label on demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Kip Seremjian
  • Patent number: 8565680
    Abstract: An article (100) has a device (122), and a radio frequency identification (RFID) module (102) coupled to the device. The RFID module is programmed to receive (210) provisioning instructions from a wireless source (142), and transfer (212) to the device the provisioning instructions when said device is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Feng Wang, Huitao Liu
  • Patent number: 8561907
    Abstract: A flicker-free illumination apparatus (28) for a code reader (10) has an illumination control (26) which is configured for a pulsed operation with an illumination intensity varying between light pulses (30) and pulse pauses (32). The illumination control (26) is further configured to maintain a non-zero illumination intensity during the pulse pauses (32), such that a basic intensity (34) remains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ralf Ulrich Nübling, Roland Gehring
  • Patent number: 8556182
    Abstract: A card data storage device with detector plate is described. The detector plate consists of a chip and a coupling loop inductively linked with the chip, wherein the coupling loop completely or partially surrounds an electrically non-conducting region of the card data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft fur Asset Management mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anatoli Stobbe, Werner Knop
  • Patent number: 8556178
    Abstract: A radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag can comprise an RFID chip, an antenna, and a feed line electrically coupling the RFID chip to the antenna. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, a communication interface, and an EIR device provided by a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, or a card reading device. The RFID reading device can further comprise an antenna and a feed line. The antenna for the RFID tag or for the RFID reading device can be provided by a patch cell, a patch cell array comprising two or more patch cells, or by a patch cell stack comprising two or more patch cells. An equivalent circuit for the patch can comprise at least two inductances and a shunt capacitance. An equivalent circuit for the patch cell array can comprise two or more inductance groups connected via a series capacitance and two or more shunt capacitances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ynjiun P. Wang, Huyu Qu
  • Patent number: 8550361
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may relate to systems, methods, and apparatus to facilitate locating a user of a transaction device. In one embodiment, a contactless transaction device for facilitating locating the user can be provided. The contactless transaction device may include an antenna operable to electromagnetically receive and transmit data. The contactless transaction device may also include a microchip comprising a memory operable to store consumer account data and location alert data and in communication with the antenna, wherein the microchip is operable to transmit the location alert data to a transaction terminal via the antenna when the contactless transaction device is presented to facilitate a transaction with the transaction terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P Skowronek
  • Patent number: 8550342
    Abstract: A system includes a wireless-enabled smart card reader able to be connected concurrently to at least two devices and a mobile device able to be connected wirelessly to the smart card reader and to control connections of the smart card reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Michael Kenneth Brown, Herbert Anthony Little, Neil Patrick Adams
  • Patent number: 8550341
    Abstract: A method wherein at least one service of an application stored in a microcontroller card is communicated to a terminal. The terminal transmits a command identifying the selected application to the card immediately after selecting the application. In order to reduce in the card the time for accessing the application service data by the terminal, a reply generator in the card selects the active services related to the application in the card in response to the command, and dynamically establishes a list of data identifying these services, to transmit a reply message including the identification data from the card to the terminal. A reply analyzer in the terminal analyzes the identification data of the reply message to communicate the at least one service of the application identified by the identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Gemalto SA
    Inventor: Christophe Foesser
  • Patent number: 8550365
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information encoding, marking, tracking, and transmission system for information related to nutritional substances, including nutritional content. Upon the creation of a nutritional substance, whether grown, raised, caught, collected or synthesized, information regarding the nutritional substance is accumulated, encoded and referenced to the particular nutritional substance. This information can be marked directly on the nutritional substance, but can instead be stored elsewhere, and referenced to the nutritional substance by means of a marking, unique identifier, a unique inherent property, unique genetic attribute, or an induced genetic attribute. A consumer of the nutritional substance can use this reference to retrieve the information regarding the creation of the particular nutritional substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Eugenio Minvielle
  • Patent number: 8544735
    Abstract: Systems, methods and IC card devices are described for updating parameters such as unblocking or blocking or re-blocking an application on an IC card device whereby an integrated circuit card device gets issued with one or more active applications and optionally one or more dormant applications. Post issuance, triggered by a cardholder action when using a primary application, the issuer will send a command, e.g. in the form of a script to the card that will update parameters of another application, e.g. to ‘wake up’ the or each dormant application. An on-card mechanism is provided for the deblocking of the dormant application while the primary application is active. For any further transactions performed with the card, the cardholder will be offered a choice between the unblocked applications on the card. Optionally the oncard mechanism can also block or re-block an application or perform other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick Mestré
  • Patent number: 8544756
    Abstract: The smart card comprises a module having a microcircuit and a body including a cavity for receiving the module, wherein the cavity defines at least one surface area for fastening the module in the cavity, the body being formed by a stack of at least first and second layers respectively presenting weak adhesion and strong adhesion with the module. The area extends in the weak adhesion layer and includes at least one hole leading to the strong adhesion layer so as to form an anchor point for the module directly with said layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Oberthur Technologies
    Inventors: Olivier Bosquet, Mourad Laknin, Denis Vere
  • Patent number: 8544745
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods associated with a heat-dissipating card connector for use with a card reader connected to an electronic device. The connector has a body configured to receive a card that has circuitry, when the card is inserted into the card reader. The connector body includes a plurality of electronic contacts that engage the card circuitry and operationally link the card to the electronic device. The connector body includes at least one heat conductive spring that includes a card engaging portion. The card engaging portion contacts the card and directs heat from the card when the card is inserted in the card reader. A heat directing element, also part of the heat conductive spring, transfers heat from the card engaging portion to a heat-dissipating structure of the electronic device when the card is inserted in the card reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Genesis Technology USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Loyd Mullins, Chi-Lun Lin, Zhuo Chen
  • Patent number: 8548380
    Abstract: A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that intelligently routes NFC data from a NFC device between multiple user interfaces based upon a power level of its internal batteries. The communications device utilizes a communications device user interface to send and/or receive the NFC data from the NFC device when its internal batteries are sufficient to operate the communications device user interface. The communications device begins to route some of this NFC data from being sent and/or received by the communications device user interface to a NFC user interface as its internal batteries deplete. Eventually, all of the NFC data will be sent to and/or received by the NFC user interface as the internal batteries of the communications device become so depleted that they are unable to reliably operate the communications device user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: David Grant Cox
  • Patent number: 8544758
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one implementation, a RFID device comprises: a near field only RFID tag that does not function as a far field RFID tag and is pre-manufactured; and a conductive element independent from the near field only RFID tag and configured to function as a far field antenna. The near field only RFID tag and the conductive element are coupled in proximity to each other such that the RFID device functions in both a near field and a far field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8544759
    Abstract: A wireless IC module that can function as a component of an RFID system even when mounted on a metal article includes a loop-shaped electrode that is constructed such that a plane of a loop of the loop-shaped electrode is substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface of a wireless IC module. The loop-shaped electrode functions as a magnetic field antenna and is electromagnetically coupled with a metal article so that the surface of the metal article functions as a radiator antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Kato
  • Patent number: 8543163
    Abstract: A signal enhancer chip for a radio frequency identification system and a signal enhancer are disclosed. The signal enhancer chip includes: a receiving circuit, a sending circuit and a power supply module. The receiving circuit comprises a demodulation amplification module and a digital quantizing module. The sending circuit comprises a logic control module and a modulation module. The demodulation amplification module is for amplifying and demodulating the received communication signal sent by a dual interface SIM card. The digital quantizing module converts an analog communication signal output from the demodulation amplification module to the digital communication signal. The logic control module processes the digital communication signal output from the digital quantizing module and generates a subsidiary carrier wave signal necessary for returning to a reader. The modulation module generates a communication signal to be sent according to the subsidiary carrier wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Quanray Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kewei Jin
  • Patent number: 8540151
    Abstract: A method, for maximizing the financial benefits that accrue to one from optimally taking advantage of the incentives offered by the various providers of credit cards, includes the steps of: (1) collecting card provider information regarding currently offered incentives, (2) collecting one's information regarding past and proposed card purchases, (3) analyzing this information to determine the benefits that would accrue to one from making the proposed purchase with each of one's available cards, (4) communicating the results of this analysis so as to enable it to be used in selecting the card to be used in one's next purchase, (5) presenting the incentives of other cards which are not in the one's card portfolio, and (6) if one is considering adding one of these other cards to one's portfolio in order to take advantage of its incentives, advising of the impact on one's credit rating of applying for a new card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: OptiWallet, LLC
    Inventors: John Snyder, Peter C Vogelberger, Howard M Saperstein
  • Patent number: 8540165
    Abstract: An electronic card is assembled from top and bottom graphic layers, top and bottom thermal sensitive adhesion tapes and an inlay assembly laminated together. The inlay assembly is made of a sub-assembly of a PCB base with one or more electronic components mounted to it, thermal sensitive adhesion tape and a stiffening substrate, all laminated together, while a battery insert and possible additional inserts made of PVC are mounted in openings in the sub-assembly around electronic components such as the battery. The stiffening substrate has a thermal coefficient substantially the same as that of the PCB base. The card need not contain any solder connections and is ISO 7810 compliant. Lamination is performed at a warm, not hot, temperature that does not damage the battery or melt any components together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: PrivaSys, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Foo, Joan Ziegler, Mark Poidomani, Lawrence Routhenstein, Ziv Alon, Charles McGuire
  • Patent number: 8538332
    Abstract: A communications device has a NFC communicator (15) having a coupler (17) to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field, a demodulator (42) to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler and a modulator (40) to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator. The device also has at least one secure element (30; 31) separate from the near field RF communicator (15) to provide secure data storage for transaction data representing or relating to a transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Innovision Limited
    Inventors: Heikki Huomo, Ian Keen, Marc Borrett
  • Patent number: 8534563
    Abstract: An exemplary aspect of the present invention is a memory card that includes: a memory that stores data; a driver that modulates the data stored in the memory; a transmitter that transmits the data modulated by the driver to a receiver provided in an external main unit; and an IC chip having the driver and the transmitter formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Nakashiba, Hiroaki Ohkubo, Mitsuji Okada, Shigeharu Nakata, Shuuichi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8528829
    Abstract: A wireless communication device includes a wireless IC device, a dielectric substrate, and a metal plate. A radiation conductor coupled to the wireless IC device is provided on the front surface of the dielectric substrate, and a ground conductor connected to the radiation conductor through an interlayer connection conductor is provided on a back surface. The dielectric substrate is fixed to the metal plate via an insulating adhesive, and is crimped by a conductive member. The front and back surfaces of the metal plate are electrically connected to each other by the conductive member, and when a high-frequency signal is supplied from the wireless IC device, a high-frequency signal current on the front surface side of the metal plate is conducted to the back surface side of the metal plate through a surface boundary portion between the conductive member and the metal plate, and radiated as a high-frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Kato, Koji Shiroki
  • Patent number: 8523062
    Abstract: A method of creating a single transaction card is disclosed and comprises embossing the single transaction card within a pocket to form embossed characters on a first surface of the single transaction card, filling the pocket with a fill panel to provide a substantially flush surface on a second surface of the single transaction card, wherein a third surface of the fill panel is in uniform, direct contact with an interior of the pocket. Another method is disclosed for machining a face pocket within a single transaction card and disposing a microchip therein. In various embodiments, a single transaction card is comprised of a continuous metal layer, such as, for example, titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stevan Varga, Lisa Ann Morrill Webb
  • Patent number: 8517383
    Abstract: An interactive game board system includes a game board, a plurality of capacitive sensors embedded in the game board, a microprocessor with input channels for the capacitive sensors, computer memory means, software instructions and data for directing an interactive game, one or more playing pieces with electrically an conductive portion, and power supply means. An interactive game board system includes interdigitated sensors. An interactive game board system includes capacitive sensors operating in dynamic sensing mode. An interactive game board system includes means for identifying individual game pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Pure Imagination, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Wallace, Philip Trevor Odom
  • Patent number: 8517280
    Abstract: A contactless IC card which ensures the reliability of an IC chip mounted therein. Even if the distance between the contactless IC card and a reader/writer is too short, the card prevents an excessive voltage from being applied to the IC chip so that breakdown or reliability deterioration of the circuitry of the IC chip does not occur. The body of the contactless IC card has two interconnection substrates stacked between two external sheets. A first antenna coil formed on one interconnection substrate and a second antenna coil formed on the other interconnection substrate are opposite in winding direction. The number of turns of the second antenna coil is larger than that of the first antenna coil. Therefore, when the IC card comes close to the reader/writer, the voltage between two terminals of the IC chip is always smaller than the voltage induced in the second antenna coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Fukuo Owada
  • Patent number: 8511570
    Abstract: The invention concerns a transponder (10), kit and method for marking wood material, such as logs. The transponder comprises a rigid casing adapted to be inserted into the wood material by means of impact, the casing comprising a wedge-shaped first edge (12) adapted to penetrate into the wood material due to said impact, and a second edge (16) opposite to the first edge, the first and second edges (12, 16) defining an insertion direction of the transponder, and radio-frequency trans-ponding means (20) covered by the casing. According to the invention, the casing is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The transponder is easily applicable into a log and stays well within the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden
    Inventors: Janne Häkli, Kaarle Jaakkola, Kaj Nummila, Juha-Matti Saari, Bo Axelsson, Kari Kolppo
  • Patent number: 8511567
    Abstract: A smart-card chip arrangement comprises: a smart-card chip (148); an organic semiconductor layer (166, 168, 170, 172) disposed on a surface of the chip, and at least one transistor (150, 152, 154, 156) formed in the organic semiconductor layer. The at least one transistor is configured so as to enable an invasive attack on the chip to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Cambridge Enterprise Ltd.
    Inventors: Philip C. Paul, Simon Tam, Simon W. Moore