Book-like Document Transponder Security via Closure Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Book-like documents with transponder modules face issues with inadequate closing behavior, leading to undesired electronic and visual data reading, as existing shielding mechanisms are insufficient when the book cover insert protrudes, allowing data to be read even when closed.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating closure elements and a sensor that deactivate the transponder module when the book is closed, using magnetic or ferromagnetic materials to ensure secure closure and prevent data reading, while allowing easy opening for data access without additional measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a shield is provided in the book-like document to protect against undesired electronic reading, then electronic reading protection is improved, but the closing behavior remains insufficient allowing visual reading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectronic reading protectionVSAvoidclosing behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple protection mechanisms into a single integrated system: closure elements provide mechanical closing force, a sensor detects the closed state, and a switching mechanism electronically deactivates the transponder module. This merged system addresses both electronic and visual reading protection simultaneously, resolving the contradiction where previous solutions only addressed electronic protection while failing to ensure reliable closing behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the book cover insert accommodating the transponder module protrudes, then the transponder module is accessible, but adequate shielding is no longer provided allowing data reading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransponder accessibilityVSAvoiddata reading protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic protection system where the transponder module's accessibility and protection status change based on the book's state. When the book is closed, closure elements activate a sensor that switches the transponder module to an inactive state, preventing data reading. When opened, the transponder becomes accessible. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by making protection conditional rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If closure elements are added to ensure secure closing, then closing behavior is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing behaviorVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a self-service mechanism where closure elements automatically activate a sensor upon closing the book, which in turn automatically switches the transponder module to an inactive state. This self-activating system requires no manual intervention and operates autonomously based on the book's physical state. The complexity is minimized by using simple magnetic or capacitive sensors that naturally detect the closed state and trigger the switching mechanism without additional control circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents unwanted electronic and visual data reading by switching the transponder module to an inactive state during closure, ensuring data security and maintaining the book's closed state, while enabling easy data access when opened.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor which is contacted with the transponder module and activates and deactivates the transponder module, the closure elements in the closed arrangement of the book cover front to the book cover back put the sensor in a switching state that deactivates the transponder module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3341214B1Book-like document, in particular an identification document, with a transponder module and method for securing data in a book-like document
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3341214B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3341214B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3341214B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a book-like document, in particular an identification document, having a binding (12), which consists of a book front cover (13) and a book back cover (14), having one or more data pages (19) and/or having a personalization data page (21) and having a transponder (28) which is arranged in the binding (12) or the perzonalisation data page (21) and comprises an antenna (31) and an IC chip (32), wherein the book front cover (13) and the book back cover (14) each have at least one closure element (34, 37), by which the book front cover (13) and book back cover (14) are held in a closed arrangement (35) after the use of the book-like document (11), wherein a sensor (33) is provided which is contacted with the transponder module (28) and activates and deactivates the transponder module (28), and wherein the closure elements (34, 37) in the closed arrangement (35) of the book front cover (13) and the book back cover (14) set the sensor (33) into a switching state which deactivates the transponder module (28). The invention further relates to a method for securing data against unwanted readout from such a book-like document.