Systems and methods for drive circuits for dynamic magnetic stripe communications devices

Abstract

Dynamic magnetic stripe communications devices are provided as magnetic stripe emulators. A magnetic stripe emulator may include a coil. Drive circuits may be coupled to this coil in order to produce electromagnetic fields from the coil operable to communicate with a magnetic stripe reader.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A power control circuit, comprising:
 a switching device with low ON mode series resistance operable to switch a power supply signal from a power source to a drive circuit in response to a non-high impedance state of a control signal;   a circuit component configured to hold the switching device in an OFF state in response to a high-impedance state of the control signal; and   a voltage regulator configured to provide at least one reference signal to the drive circuit.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a filter configured to filter the at least one reference signal. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a capacitor configured to filter the reference signal. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the voltage regulator is a low drop-out linear regulator. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the voltage regulator is a zener diode circuit. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein a magnitude of the at least one reference signal below a minimum magnitude of the supply signal. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the switching device is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the control signal is a control signal of a processor. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the power supply signal is a current provided by a battery. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the switching device is operable to provide an output signal to at least one output stage of a current control circuit of the drive circuit. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the drive circuit includes a plurality of operational amplifiers, and
 the switching device is operable to provide an output signal to at least one output stage of a current control circuit of the drive circuit and to the plurality of operational amplifiers.   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the voltage regulator is configured to provide the reference signal independent of a magnitude of the power supply signal. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the power supply signal is received by the voltage regulator from a battery,
 the power supply signal varies based on a charge of the battery, and   the voltage regulator is configured to provide the reference signal independent of a magnitude of the power supply signal.   
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the reference signal is a plurality of reference signals, the power supply is a battery;
 the plurality of reference signals are a first voltage and a second voltage, and   a magnitude of each of the first voltage and second voltage is selected from the group consisting of (0.5)*(the battery voltage less 0.2 v-0.5 v) and the battery voltage less 0.7 v-2 v.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the drive circuit includes an operational amplifier and one or more transistors of a ramp generator in an open loop control configuration, and
 the switching device is operable to provide an output signal to the operational amplifier, at least one output stage of a current control circuit, and the one or more transistors.