Capacitive Payment Card Authentication via Orientation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users are reluctant to store payment card information on mobile devices or link it with digital wallets due to concerns about credit card fraud, biometric identity theft, and cumbersome authentication methods, leading to inefficiencies in online transactions and increased fraud risks for both users and merchants.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a payment card with conductive elements to generate input signals when placed on a capacitive touch sensor, determining the card's orientation and comparing it to a reference orientation to authenticate the user and transmit computer-readable payment card information to a payment processor module, eliminating the need for manual input and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually input payment card details each time, then security against fraud is improved, but transaction time and convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against fraudVSAvoidtransaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by detecting the physical presence and orientation of the payment card before processing the transaction. The capacitive sensor reads the card details and verifies orientation in advance, so that when the transaction is initiated, the authentication is already complete, eliminating the time-consuming manual input while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If users save payment card details on the device or with the application, then transaction convenience is improved, but security risk from credit card fraud increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risk from fraud

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the payment card information directly from the physical card using a capacitive sensor at the point of transaction, rather than storing it on the device or in the application. This eliminates the security risk of stored card details while maintaining the convenience of automated processing, as the card information is read on-demand from the physical card itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If users link payment card details with digital wallets, then transaction convenience is improved, but security risk from biometric identity theft increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risk from biometric theft

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the physical payment card as an intermediary between the user's biometric data and the transaction system. Instead of directly using biometric data that could be stolen, the card serves as a physical mediator that must be present and correctly oriented, providing a tangible security layer that does not rely on biometric storage while maintaining convenience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If traditional authentication means such as passwords are used, then security is improved, but user experience and convenience deteriorate due to excessive use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical system of typing passwords with a capacitive sensing system that automatically detects the physical presence and orientation of the payment card. This substitution eliminates the cumbersome password entry process while maintaining strong security through physical card verification, significantly improving user experience without sacrificing authentication strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution simplifies and secures online transactions by authenticating users and verifying their possession of the payment card, reducing the prevalence of online/mobile credit card fraud and streamlining the payment process while minimizing the need for users to store sensitive information.

Implementation Method 1

receive, from a capacitive touch sensor, input signals generated in response to conductive elements of a payment card that is placed on the capacitive touch sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10803446B2System and method for transmitting payment card information, and payment card

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

A system and a method for transmitting payment card information are provided. The system includes at least one memory including computer program code configured to, with at least one processor, cause the system at least to (i) receive, from a capacitive touch sensor, input signals generated in response to conductive elements of a payment card that is placed on the capacitive touch sensor, the conductive elements disposed on the payment card information present on the payment card, (ii) determine, using th e input signals, an orientation of the payment card that is placed on the capacitive touch sensor, (iii) compare the determined orientation with a reference orientation associated with the payment card, (iv) generate computer-readable payment card information based on the input signals on a condition that the determined orientation corresponds to the reference orientation, and (v) transmit the computer-readable payment card information to a payment processor module.