SUPPORTING STRUCTURE

Abstract

Support structure comprising: a carrier (1), an antenna structure (4,5) on the carrier (1); a receiving area (7) for releasably receiving an RF chip (11), wherein the receiving area (7) is arranged relative to the antenna structure (4, 5) in such a way that, when the RF chip (11) is arranged in the receiving area (7), an inductive coupling with the antenna structure (4, 5) is enabled; an inductive blocking element (9) on the carrier (1) which, in a first position of the inductive blocking element (9), blocks communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5) and, in a second position of the inductive blocking element (9), enables communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5), wherein the inductive blocking element includes a half turn (91) which is electrically isolated from a second half turn (92) in the first position and electrically connected in the second position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a support structure for a smart card.BACKGROUNDBiometric chips are chip cards in which a user can identify himself biometrically, for example via a fingerprint sensor.In order to initialize such a system, the chip card requires a power supply. At present, for example, a contact-based interface with contact areas formed, for example, according to ISO 7816 is frequently used for supplying energy, while the biometric chip card as a dual interface card additionally has an RF (radio) interface. The device for supplying the energy, which contains an integrated energy store, is only required once for initialization and then disposed of, which is problematic from an environmental aspect and from a cost aspect.In principle, although contactless energy sources are very widely used and easily available (e.g. smartphones, terminals), they are variable such that the respectively integrated contactless interface also varies greatly with regard to field strength, communication capability, position of the antenna within the contactless energy source, etc. Since in particular the initialization process is very sensitive with regard to interruptions of the communication during the operation, it is difficult to carry out the initialization operation or to direct its execution such that success is substantially ensured.This is because the (e.g. biometric) chip cards are typically not equipped with their own energy source, but it would nevertheless be desirable to be able to supply them with energy for the initialization process even away from external reading devices, such as e.g. bank terminals.WO 2022 / 211702 A1 describes a system for initializing a contactless card after a user receives it. However, the chip card is endangered on the way to the user, since an attacker can initialize it without directly accessing the chip card.JP 2003-69 335 A describes an auxiliary antenna structure for an IC card via which signals are transmitted from a writer to an IC card, thus enlarging the spatial area in which communication can be made. According to JP H09-269 985 A, a protective cover for chip cards is described which are foldable in an embodiment such that a metal layer is brought into the vicinity of the chip card during folding. In US 2010 / 0 102 966 A1, an RFID device is protected with a shield in a packaging prior to sale.SUMMARYA support structure is provided that includes a carrier, an antenna structure on the carrier, and a receiving area for releasably receiving an RF chip. The receiving region is arranged relative to the antenna structure in such a way that, when the RF chip is arranged in the receiving region, inductive coupling with the antenna structure is made possible. An inductive blocking element on the carrier blocks communication with the RF chip by means of the antenna structure in a first position of the inductive blocking element. In a second position of the inductive blocking element, the inductive blocking element enables communication with the RF chip by means of the antenna structure.Those skilled in the art will recognize other features and advantages of the invention upon reading the following detailed description and upon viewing the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements. The elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale with respect to one another. The features of the various illustrated examples may be combined unless they are mutually exclusive. FIG. 1 shows a support structure from the rear side of a first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the support structure from FIG. 1 from the front. Figure 3 discloses the support structure in an envelope. FIG. 4 shows a support structure from the rear side in a second embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the support structure from FIG. 4 from the front. FIG. 6 shows a support structure from the rear side in a third embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIt is to be understood that the description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the proposed methods and apparatus. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement various arrangements which, although not expressly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within the scope thereof. Moreover, all examples and embodiments outlined herein are intended in principle and expressly for explanatory purposes only to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the proposed methods and apparatus. Moreover, all statements herein describing principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.Fig. 1 shows a support structure 0 with a support, in this case a sheet of paper 1 from the rear side 16. The sheet of paper 1 is divided by two folding edges 2 into three sections 12, 13 and 14. In the lower section 14, a first antenna part 4 is applied to the paper 1. In one example, this is a spiral metal layer which is bonded to the rear side 16 of the sheet of paper 1 or is embedded in the paper 1. The antenna part 4 can be formed, for example, from wire (e.g. produced by means of a substantially known wire laying process), as an etched structure, for example from etched aluminum, or, for example, as a printed electrically conductive structure. The antenna element 4 is located in the lower section 14 within the area which is bounded on the other side of the paper, the front side 15, by the receiving area 3.In FIG. 1, a receiving region 7 in the region of the second section 13 is shown by dashed lines. The receiving region 7 is actually located on the front side 15, but is shown here in dashed lines in FIG. 1 to clarify the position. An antenna part 5 is provided on the rear side 16 in the central section 13, where the receiving device 7 is located on the front side 15.The first antenna part 4 and the second antenna part 5 are electrically coupled to one another via a connecting line 17. The connecting line 17 is a metal strip which electrically connects the two antenna parts to one another. The antenna parts 4 and 5 thus form a common antenna structure. If one of the antenna parts 4 and 5 is excited by an electromagnetic oscillation, the other part also oscillates. Electromagnetic signals can be transmitted with the aid of this antenna structure.In an embodiment not shown here, the antenna parts 4 and 5 are also coupled differently, in particular in a capacitive manner.In a third section 12 shown at the top in the figure there is an inductive blocking element 9, which in this case consists of a continuous metal layer. The metal layer is bonded to the sheet of paper 1. When the sheet of paper 1 is completely folded together at the folded edges 2, the inductive blocking element 1 is only separated by two layers of paper, above the antenna part 5, which in turn lies directly above the antenna part 4. With the aid of the inductive blocking element 9, electromagnetic waves are prevented from forming in the antenna structure 4, 5, since corresponding eddy currents form in the inductive blocking element 9.FIG. 2 shows the sheet of paper 1 from the front side 15; the folded edges 2 are again visible here. however, in FIG. 2, the sheet of paper 1 is shown fully unfolded, while it is shown as partially folded in FIG. 1.It is evident here again that the three sections 12, 13 and 14 of the sheet of paper 1, which are separated by the respective folding edges 2, again shown as dashed lines. The upper portion 12 is empty. Dashed lines merely indicate where the corresponding inductive block element 9 is located on the rear side 16.In the middle section 13 there is the receiving area 7, which forms a rectangle, into which a chip card 10 can be introduced. The recording area 7 is color-marked for a user. In the present example, the chip card 10 is detachably fastened in the receiving region 7 with the aid of an adhesive strip. The chip card 10 contains an RF chip 11. RF stands for radio frequency, it denotes a chip which has an interface for wireless signal transmission, for example in the form of antennas and antenna drive circuits. The smart card 11 also contains an identification biometric element, in this case a fingerprint sensor 19.In the lower section 14, the receiving area 3 can be seen, on which a mobile telephone 8 is placed. The mobile telephone 8 contains antennas with which it can inductively excite the antenna part 4 on the rear side 16.If the chip card 11 is located within the receiving area 7 while at the same time the mobile telephone 8 is located in the receiving area 3 and the inductive blocking element 9 is sufficiently remote from the antenna parts 4 and 5, the mobile telephone 8 can induce an electromagnetic wave in the antenna part 4. This wave is transmitted through the connecting line 17 into the antenna element 5, whereby the RF chip 11 is also excited. The latter receives energy with the aid of which the electrical components on the chip card 11 are operated. In addition, the RF chip 11 also receives message signals from the mobile telephone 8 and it can send message signals to the mobile telephone 8 via the antenna structure 4, 5 in the opposite direction.Figure 3 shows the sheet of paper 1 in an envelope 20. Here it is proposed that the user receives a letter containing an envelope 20 and therein a support structure 0. The support structure 0 comprises, as described above and to which the following reference numerals refer, a sheet of paper 1, a receiving area, a receiving area 7 and an inductive blocking element 9.The sheet of paper 1 is folded twice and the sections lie on top of each other. It is not possible to read out the biometric map on the postal path because the inductive blocking element 9 obstructs any electromagnetic wave by induced eddy currents or shields the antenna parts 4 and 5 electromagnetically. In other words, in the folded state, the inductive blocking element 9, here embodied as a shielding region, covers the antenna structure and the card. Because the magnetic field cannot enter the metallic surface, the NFC (Near-Field Communication) communication is not operable. Thus, it can be said that the card is protected from NFC communication as long as the paper 1 is folded in the envelope 0.In one embodiment, the envelope 20 additionally includes an inner layer formed entirely of metal. This metal layer inside the envelope also prevents electromagnetic waves from propagating on the support structure.When the user has received the letter, he first checks whether the envelope 20 has not been previously opened and then opens it. It removes the sheet of paper 1, unfolds it and places it on a table with the front side 15, as shown in FIG. 2. Then, he places his mobile phone 8 on the sheet of paper 1 in such a way that it lies completely in the receiving area 3. The chip card 10 has already been adhesively bonded by the transmitter in the receiving region 7.The user has acquired an actuation code wirelessly to his mobile phone. Using this activation code, it starts an app on the mobile telephone 8, with which the biometric chip card 7 is to be initialized. To do so, the recipient's fingerprint must be scanned and stored for the first time. The handy phone 8 transmits power and messages to the IC card and prompts the user to place the finger on the fingerprint sensor 19. The electronic components of the chip card 7 scan the fingerprint and store it in a memory on the chip card 7.When this has been done, the RF chip 11 outputs a corresponding signal via the antenna structure 4, 5 to the mobile telephone 8, which thereupon prompts the user to remove his finger from the chip card 7, informs him that the chip card is successfully initiated and to end the app. This process may be repeated multiple times in various embodiments.In other words, once the recipient receives the envelope 20, he takes the paper 1 from the envelope 20 and unfolds the paper. This process separates the three different sections and the shield loses its shielding effect. Now the paper is functional and the phone can easily be coupled to the intended coupling area to communicate with the smart card. The user can then detach the chip card 10 from the sheet of paper 1, dispose of it and use the chip card 10 in the future, because the fingerprint is stored on it, whereby it is secured biometrically. The energy for initialization has been provided by the mobile telephone 8, as a result of which the chip card 10 does not require its own energy supply and also does not require contact surfaces via which electrical energy is introduced into the chip card 10.Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a support structure 0 with a support, in this case a sheet of paper 1 from the rear side 16.Fig. 5 shows the corresponding front side 15 of the second embodiment. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the inductive blocking element 9 consists of a single, closed loop, in this example as a printed conductor track. This also short-circuits electromagnetic waves if an attacker attempts to apply electromagnetic waves from outside the letter in order to initialize the chip card.FIG. 6 shows a detail of a support structure 0 according to a third embodiment. The inductive blocking element 9 consists of a first half turn 91, a second half turn 92 and four electrical contacts 93 On the upper section 12 there is a first half turn 91 which terminates at its two ends with electrical contacts. In the middle section 13 there is a second half winding 92, which likewise terminates with two electrical contacts 93. When a user folds the sheet of paper 1 together along the fold edge 2 according to the arrows, an electrical contact 93 of the upper section 12 is located on a corresponding contact 93 of the middle section. Thus, the two half-turns 91 and 92 are electrically connected to each other, so that a complete, closed turn is formed. This winding short-circuits all electromagnetic waves, so that the winding consisting of the combined half-windings 91 and 92 forms an inductive blocking element 9. The other components of the support structure are not shown in FIG. 6, but the other components correspond to those of FIGS. 1 to 5 and are also provided at the corresponding locations. However, the manner of folding is different. The folding together takes place along the arrow direction and is thus the other way round than in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5.The following embodiments are also disclosed:According to a first number, a support structure (0) is provided, which comprises a carrier (1), an antenna structure (4, 5) on the carrier (1) and a receiving area for detachably receiving an RF chip (11). The receiving region (7) is arranged relative to the antenna structure in such a way that, when the RF chip (11) is arranged in the receiving region, inductive coupling with the antenna structure (4, 5) is made possible. An inductive blocking element (9) on the carrier (1) blocks communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5) in a first position of the inductive blocking element. In a second position of the inductive blocking element ( 9), the inductive blocking element ( 9) enables communication with the RF chip ( 11) by means of the antenna structure ( 4, 5).In a further embodiment, the inductive blocking element contains an electrically conductive surface, in particular a metal surface.In a further embodiment, the inductive blocking element contains an electrically closed winding which, in the first position, is positioned in such a way that it blocks communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5) and, in a second position of the inductive blocking element (9), enables communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5).In one embodiment, the inductive blocking element consists of a single low-impedance, closed winding, wherein electromagnetic energy is extracted from the antenna structure ( 4, 5) in the first position.According to the invention, the support structure contains the inductive blocking element a half-turn ( 91) which is electrically separated from a second half-turn ( 92) in the first position and is electrically connected in the second position.A support structure according to a further embodiment contains a receiving device (3) for a mobile telephone.A support structure according to a further embodiment of the antenna structure (4, 5) comprises two helical antenna parts (4, 5)In a further embodiment, the antenna parts ( 4, 5) are electrically connected to one another via a connecting line ( 17).According to a further embodiment, the carrier (1) is folded together in the first position, while the carrier (1) is not folded together in the second position.According to a further embodiment, the carrier is cellulose-based.According to another aspect, an envelope is disclosed that includes inductive blocking means (9) for blocking an antenna structure introduced into the envelope.List of reference characters0 Carrier structure 1 Sheet of paper 2 Folded edge 3 Receiving region 4 Antenna part 5 Antenna part 7 Receiving region 9 Metal surface 10 Chip card 12 Section 13 Section 14 Section 15 Front side 16 Rear side 17 Connecting line 19 Fingerprint sensor 20 Envelope 91 Half turn 92 Half turn 93 Electrical contact

Claims

A carrier structure, comprising: a carrier (1), an antenna structure (4, 5) on the carrier (1); a receiving area (7) for detachably receiving an RF chip (11), wherein the receiving area (7) is arranged relative to the antenna structure (4, 5) such that, when the RF chip (11) is arranged in the receiving area (7), inductive coupling with the antenna structure (4, 5) is made possible; an inductive blocking element (9) on the carrier (1) which, in a first position of the inductive blocking element (9), blocks communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5) and, in a second position of the inductive blocking element (9), permits communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5), wherein the inductive blocking element contains a half winding (91) which is electrically separated from a second half winding (92) in the first position and is electrically connected in the second position.Support structure according to claim 1, wherein the inductive blocking element contains an electrically conductive surface, in particular a metal surface.Support structure according to claim 1, wherein the inductive blocking element includes an electrically closed winding which, in the first position, is positioned so as to block communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5) and, in a second position of the inductive blocking element (9), to allow communication with the RF chip (11) by means of the antenna structure (4, 5).Support structure according to claim 3, wherein the inductive blocking element consists of a single low-ohmic closed winding, wherein in the first position electromagnetic energy is extracted from the antenna structure (4, 5).Support structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a receiving device (3) for a mobile telephone.Support structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna structure (4, 5) contains two respectively spiral antenna parts (4, 5).Support structure according to claim 6, wherein the antenna parts (4, 5) are electrically connected to one another via a connecting line (17).Support structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (1) is folded together in the first position, while the support (1) is not folded together in the second position.The support structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support is cellulose-based.Support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receiving area (7) is configured to receive a chip card (10) containing the RF chip (11).

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