Activation and control system using NFC key with magnetic coupling.

Abstract

An activation and control system using an NFC key with magnetic coupling, characterized in that it comprises a physical key (1) provided with a passive NFC tag (2) and a magnet (3), and an electronic device (4) comprising a Hall sensor (5), an NFC reader with at least one NFC antenna (6), and a microcontroller and / or SoC.

Description

Activation and control system using NFC key with magnetic coupling TECHNICAL SECTOR Portable electronic technology; NFC authentication systems; electronic devices with evolutionary stage control; physical activation and access management mechanisms; consumer electronics with assisted physical interaction. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the current state of the art, several systems utilize technologies for identifying, activating, or pairing devices. However, none of them integrate the physical elements, sensors, security mechanisms, and progressive hardware control that characterize the system described in this utility model. The following is a review of the different systems identified. • NFC identification systems Modern devices (mobile phones, smartwatches, access cards) use passive or active NFC to: or Payments, or Identification, or Quick Matching, or Tag reading. However, the system that is the subject of this utility model differs from these systems in the following ways: or Require physical coupling via magnet or Integrate mandatory detection by Hall sensor or Require simultaneous matching of magnet + NFC to validate the action or Being oriented towards progressive or step-by-step control of internal hardware. Consequently, although NFC technology is known, its combined use with a magnetic system and progressive hardware control is not present in the prior art. • Physical and electronic keys Within the state of the art, there are USB keys, RFID cards, and proprietary devices used for: or Access to vehicles and buildings or Attendance control, or Authentication in industrial systems. However, the system that is the subject of this utility model differs from these systems in the following ways: Or, it is a progressive hardware control key or It is integrated into portable devices for personal use or Modify the device hardware behavior based on the key's evolutionary level or To allow controlled interactions between two end devices or Combine additional security elements such as the hall sensor to ensure the magnet and NFC match to perform their function Unlike the system that is the subject of this utility model, none of these systems contemplates multiple keys associated with evolutionary stages of the hardware or physical activation mechanisms. • Magnetic systems with hall sensors Within the state of the art, Hall sensors are commonly used in tablet and smartphone casings (to detect opening / closing), industrial devices, or proximity meters. Its function within the previous state of the art is limited to: or Detect the presence / absence of a magnet or activate / deactivate a screen or sleep mode However, unlike the system that is the subject of this utility model, there is no integration of: or Magnet + NFC as a double security requirement or A state machine dependent on physical keys or Progressive control of the device hardware Access control systems based exclusively on software In the current state of the art, personal electronic devices limit functions through internal software configurations, user profiles, or restrictions applied at the operating system level. These systems rely entirely on logical control mechanisms and do not incorporate external physical elements to modify the device's operation. Unlike the system that is the subject of this utility model, this type of solution: or They do not use external physical keys. or They do not implement a hardware state sequence dependent on a detected physical object. or They do not use a mandatory combination of magnetic docking and NFC verification to enable activation. Consequently, within this category of devices there are no solutions that integrate an external physical key, a magnetic docking mechanism, and a progressive hardware evolution system based on the joint detection of a magnet + NFC antenna. Fast pairing systems between devices Currently, mobile phones allow quick pairing using different types of protocols: or NFC (Android Beam, HCE) or Bluetooth Quick Pairing o Apple AirDrop (not NFC, but BLE + UWB) However, unlike the utility model presented: They do not require rigid physical contact or magnetic coupling, nor do they incorporate external keys. There is no simultaneous NFC + Hall sensor validation. There are no multiple levels of access controlled by physical keys These systems are designed for data transfer, but not for the controlled creation of relationships through secure exchange, the activation of evolutionary stages of the device (progressive activation of hardware elements) and the mandatory physical verification for activation. • Systems with evolutionary states or levels In the current state of the art, there are toys or applications that unlock content by: or Achievements or Usage time or Educational progression However, unlike the system that is the subject of this utility model, these systems are exclusively software dependent, do not involve physical keys, do not affect the hardware, and do not condition the electrical operation of the device. Currently, within the state of the art for these systems, there is no electronic device whose hardware changes its functional state according to the physical key detected. Considering the entire state-of-the-art analysis for different systems and the use of existing technologies, no systems have been identified that combine: • Passive NFC linked to an external physical key • Magnet integrated into the key • Hall sensor in the device • Simultaneous Hall + NFC pairing required for activation • Different keys associated with evolutionary stages • Control of internal hardware based on the detected key (sensors, camera, communication systems) • Privacy and security management via hardware control using detected key • Secure interaction between devices via physical proximity (NFC + parental verification) • Use of the above set of features for personal electronic devices The overall conclusion of this analysis is that there are isolated technologies and components. However, none are part of an integrated solution like the one proposed. The presented system is considered to constitute a functional technical improvement not described in the state of the art and provides a novel and useful solution to secure activation, physical authentication, secure interactions between devices and controlled hardware evolution of portable electronic devices. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises two main elements that are involved in the invention that is the subject of this utility model Physical key • Passive NFC tag (2) • Integrated neodymium magnet (3) • Protective cover and preferably circular design (1) • Unique identifier (UID) . • Variants of the physical key, each associated with an evolutionary state of the hardware. The electronic device that includes the following elements: • Active NFC reader • Hall sensor placed under the coupling surface (5) • Circular NFC antenna around the magnet area (6) • Microcontroller and / or SoC responsible for interpreting signals • Controllable physical HW modules: or Haptic actuators or Camera or LEDs or Screen or Communication antennas or Microphone / speaker or Other sensors (accelerometer, ) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1.- Front view of the physical key The front view of the physical key (preferably circular) is shown. Inside, both the magnet and the passive NFC tag with its antenna will be housed. Figure 2.- Rear view of the physical key Figure 2 highlights the following elements (1) Physical key casing (2) Passive NFC tag of the physical key with its antenna (ring housed inside the physical key) (3) Neodymium magnet of the physical key for coupling to electronic device and detection of the physical key placed by hall sensor in electronic device Figure 3.- Sectional cut of physical key - electronic device connection Figure 3 highlights the following elements (1) Physical key casing. The outer cover, the part that the user handles. (2) Passive NFC tag of the physical key with its antenna. The circular ring coil, schematically represented as a white rectangle. (3) Neodymium magnet of the physical key. Central element (black rectangle), attached to the coil, but without interfering with it. (4) Electronic device housing. Area where the coupling mechanism is located and with a magnetized surface in the area under the magnet of the physical key. (5) Hall sensor of the electronic device. Located just below the central area (white rectangle) to detect the magnet of the physical key. (6) NFC antenna of the electronic device. Represented as a coil or plate located around the ring-shaped Hall sensor, just like (2). PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The following describes the operation of the three functions associated with the physical key as an activation system, evolutionary authentication, and secure interaction between portable electronic devices using an NFC key with magnetic coupling. In all these operating scenarios, the system manages security through the following means: • The key does not store personal data. • The evolutionary state is saved on the device, not on the key. • NFC + Hall verification prevents copies or fake activations. • Possibility of revoking keys in case of loss. Activation When the device starts up, it enters active mode if: 1. The Hall sensor (5) detects the magnetic field of the magnet (3) on the physical key. 2. The NFC reader detects the presence of the tag (2) and verifies UID and authentication. 3. The microcontroller confirms that both events are simultaneous. This dual requirement prevents accidental activations or manipulations and guarantees security and privacy. Evolutionary hardware control Each physical key is associated with a device state, which determines which hardware elements are activated. For illustrative purposes, three activation levels can be considered: • State 1: enabling a basic set of modules (e.g., elementary sensors or minimal functions). • State 2: enabling additional device modules. • State 3: enabling expanded modules or extended capabilities. The above list is merely illustrative. The set of hardware elements that can be activated or deactivated may include any module present in the device, provided that its operation is conditional upon the detection of the corresponding physical key. The evolutionary system is implemented as a state machine housed in a microcontroller and / or SoC, configured to activate or deactivate physical elements of the device based on the detected key, requiring the simultaneous coincidence of NFC and Hall signals for the state transition. Safe interactions between pairs of electronic devices When two devices are physically brought close together: 1. A physical key activates the NFC antenna 2. An exchange of information takes place 3. Both devices enter a state pending further validation according to the device configuration. Physical coupling ensures that the interaction is consensual. In addition to the NFC antenna used for reading the attached physical key, the device may incorporate a second NFC antenna located in another area of ​​the device and intended for reading external keys to perform the secure exchange between devices.

Claims

1. An activation and control system using an NFC key with magnetic coupling, characterized in that it comprises a physical key (1) provided with a passive NFC tag (2) and a magnet (3), and an electronic device (4) comprising a Hall sensor (5), an NFC reader with at least one NFC antenna (6), and a microcontroller and / or SoC.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the controllable hardware modules include one or more of the following: haptic actuators, a camera, RGB LED rings, a light halo, wireless antennas, microphones, speakers, or sensors.

3. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an internal memory of the electronic device (4) protected by encryption. 4.System according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic device (4) comprises, in addition to the NFC antenna (6) intended for reading the attached physical key, a second NFC antenna located in another area of ​​the device for reading external keys.