Contactless electronic communication device with optional auxiliary power source

Abstract

A device having a card ( 40 ) and a support (PC). The card has (a) no internal battery, (b) a single antenna ( 10 ) that receives electromagnetically data and power, (c) a data processor, (d) rectifying and filtering circuitry receiving the electromagnetic input and supplying at output terminals (A, B) a voltage to the processor. and (e) two terminals ( 36, 38 ) on an external surface of the card which are connected to the output terminals (A, B). The support is mechanically and electrically connectable to the card. It has (a) a power source that may be a battery, (b) surface terminals that mate with the card's external terminals, (c) a switch for connecting the power source to the surface terminals, and (d) a mechanism for holding together the card and support with the card's and the support terminal's electrically engaged to one another.

1 . A electronic electromagnetic communication device of the type comprising a battery-less card ( 40 ) having: 
 means ( 10 ) for receiving electromagnetic signals,    means ( 18 ,  20 ,  24 ) for processing the electromagnetic signals received, and    means ( 26 ) for rectifying and filtering the electromagnetic signals received in order to supply at two output terminals (A, B), a supply voltage (V cc ) to the processing means ( 18 ,  20 ,  24 ),    two contacts ( 36 ,  38 ) on a surface of the card.    and means ( 32 ,  34 ) for connecting said two output terminals (A, B) to the two contacts ( 36 ,  38 ),    characterized in that said device also comprises a card holder (PC) having    means for supporting an electrical power source ( 48 ,  70 ), and    means ( 56 ,  58 ,  80 ,  82 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  132 ,  140 ) for connecting said electrical power source ( 48 ,  70 ) via said two surface contacts to said output terminals (A and B) of the rectifying and filtering means ( 26 ).    
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the connection means comprise a switch ( 60 ,  86 ,  110 ,  134 ,  142 ) for establishing and cutting off the connection between the power source ( 48 ,  70 ) and the terminals (A, B) of the rectifying and filtering means ( 26 ).  
   
   
       3 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the card holder connection means comprises conductors ( 50 ,  52 ) for connecting the electrical power source ( 48 ,  70 ) to surface contact ( 56 ,  58 ,  80 ,  100 ,  102 ,  132 ,  140 ) on a surface of the holder, and means for connecting and holding together the said surface contacts of the card with the surface contacts of the holder.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 10  wherein said holder comprise a mobile telephone apparatus (TM) and said holder surface contacts comprise studs ( 132 ) connected to a rechargeable electrical battery, and wherein said studs ( 132 ) are also usable for recharging the battery of the mobile telephone apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . A device comprising: 
 a card ( 40 ) having 
 an electronic contactless internal power-sourceless electromagnetic communication module (MC),  
 a single antenna ( 10 ) for receiving both power and data electromagnetic signals,  
 means ( 18 ,  20 ,  24 ) for processing the data in the electromagnetic signals received, and  
 means ( 26 ) for rectifying and filtering the electromagnetic signals received in order to supply, at two output terminals (A, B), a supply voltage (Vcc) to the processing means ( 18 .  20 .  24 ); and said output terminals (A, B) including two external terminals ( 36 ,  38 ) on an external surface of the card,  
   a support (PC, MC, TM,  138 ) removably connectable to the card having    an electrical power source ( 48 ,  70 ), 
 connections including surface terminals ( 56 ,  58 ,  80 ,  82 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  132 ,  140 ) mating with the external terminals ( 36 ,  38 ) for connecting the power source to the output terminals (A, B) of the rectifying and filtering means ( 26 ),  
 a switch ( 60 ,  86 ,  110 ,  134 ,  142 ) for making or cutting-off the connection between the power source ( 48 ,  70 ) and the output terminals (A, B) of the rectifying and filtering circuit ( 26 ), and  
 mechanical means ( 42 ,  44 ,  46 ) for receiving said card and connecting and holding together said external terminals ( 36 ,  38 ) of the card with the surface terminals ( 56 ,  58 ) of said connections of the support.  
   
   
   
       13 . A battery-less card comprising: 
 a card ( 40 ) having,    a) a single antenna ( 10 ) for receiving electromagnetic signals,    b) an electronic module (MC) including, means ( 18 ,  20 ,  24 ) for processing data in the electromagnetic signals received, and means ( 26 ) for rectifying and filtering the electromagnetic signals received in order to supply, at two output terminals (A, B), a supply voltage (Vcc) to the processing means ( 18 .  20 .  24 ), and    c) two external terminals ( 36 ,  38 ) on an external surface of the card connected to said output terminals (A, B);    whereby when said card is connected into a card holder (PC) with an electrical power source ( 48 ,  70 ) and with external power source surface terminals ( 56 ,  58 ,  80 ,  82 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  132 ,  140 ), and means ( 42 ,  44 ,  46 ) for guiding and stopping the card ( 40 ) in the card holder (PC) so as to make said card and holder contact terminals coincide, the power source may be connected to the output terminals (A, B) of the rectifying and filtering means ( 26 ).    
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the card has the physical dimensions of and the surface contacts have the physical dimension of and locations of ISO 7816.  
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 12  wherein the card has the physical dimensions of and the external terminals have the physical dimension of and locations of ISO 7816.  
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 13  wherein the external terminals have physical dimensions and locations as defined in ISO 7816.