Contactless Card Controller Clock Frequency Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Processors often experience interruptions during program startup and execution due to insufficient electrical power, despite sensors indicating sufficient energy availability, because the output impedance of the antenna coil does not match the input impedance of the controller, leading to voltage collapse and reset issues, especially during high-power operations like crypto processing or EEPROM programming.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an auxiliary program that gradually increases the processor's clock frequency to determine the maximum sustainable frequency without exceeding the power supply, ensuring stable operation and storing this frequency for future use, allowing the processor to operate within safe energy reserves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor starts and executes a program with high power consumption (e.g., crypto operations, EEPROM programming), then the program functionality is achieved, but the processor draws more power from the source than the source makes available, causing voltage collapse and interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by executing an auxiliary program before the main program to determine the maximum sustainable clock frequency. This preliminary determination allows the system to know in advance what power level the source can support, preventing voltage collapse during subsequent high-power operations. The auxiliary program tests different clock frequencies and identifies the highest one that can be sustained without causing interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the clock frequency adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically determines the maximum sustainable clock frequency through the auxiliary program and then operates the main program at this optimized frequency. This dynamic adaptation allows the processor to run at high speeds when the power source can support it, while avoiding voltage collapse when power is insufficient.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor detects sufficient magnetic field strength to indicate available energy, then the controller believes power is available, but the output impedance of the antenna coil does not match the input impedance of the controller, causing energy transfer failure and voltage collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the auxiliary program to actually test whether the power source can sustain the required power level. The auxiliary program monitors the real-time power availability and clock frequency combination, providing feedback about what frequency can be sustained. This feedback mechanism compensates for the inaccurate sensor readings by directly measuring system performance under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the clock frequency as a test parameter in the auxiliary program. By systematically changing the clock frequency and observing whether the system can sustain it without voltage collapse, the system determines the maximum sustainable frequency. This parameter testing approach reveals the true power transfer capability regardless of impedance matching issues.
3Speed
If the processor operates at high clock frequency to improve processing speed, then productivity increases, but power consumption increases beyond what the source can provide, causing interruptions during execution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the maximum sustainable clock frequency through the auxiliary program before the main program executes. This preliminary determination establishes the highest safe operating frequency that the power source can support, preventing energy exhaustion during subsequent high-speed operations. The system knows in advance what frequency limit to enforce.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by having the system itself determine its own power sustainability limits through the auxiliary program. The processor tests its own capability to sustain different clock frequencies by monitoring whether the power source can keep up. This self-determination allows the system to autonomously set its operating parameters without external intervention.
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
Prevents program interruptions by determining and utilizing the maximum sustainable clock frequency, ensuring stable and uninterrupted operation, even during high-power tasks, and storing this setting for future use to save time and prevent security-critical resets.
Implementation Method 1
the energy present in the magnetic field cannot be transferred to the controller because the output impedance of the antenna coil does not match the input impedance of the controller
Implementation Method 2
Controllers, which include a processor, volatile and non-volatile memory and corresponding interfaces for off-chip communication, of contactless data carriers which include an antenna coil, are able to detect a magnetic field strength with the help of sensors which are integrated in the controller
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method and a chip card for starting and executing an operating system of a controller of a portable data storage medium, wherein the data storage medium comprises at least one antenna coil which is connected to the at least one controller, wherein an output impedance of the antenna coil is not matched to an input impedance of the controller. The controller first of all executes a utility program in order to check whether electrical energy provided by the antenna coil is sufficiently large to start and execute the operating system on the controller. If the check by the utility program revealed that it is possible to start and execute the operating system with the energy provided, the controller starts the operating system and executes the latter.