Biometric Smartcard Enrollment Carrier for Wireless Power Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in providing secure, reliable, and convenient biometric enrolment for devices with limited user interfaces, such as contactless smartcards, due to varying placement of wireless power transfer arrangements within user devices, leading to inconsistent energy harvesting and enrollment difficulties.
Innovation Solution
An enrolment assistance device with a biometric sensor and wireless power transfer arrangement, featuring a carrier with conductors to harvest and transfer energy from a user device to a smartcard, signaling when sufficient energy is reached to ensure proper alignment and enable fingerprint enrollment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user manually positions the smartcard against the mobile device during enrollment, then the wireless power transfer and communication can be established, but the user experiences cumbersome operation while simultaneously trying to follow enrollment instructions on the display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary alignment marker system that mediates between the user device and smartcard positioning. The alignment markers displayed on the user device screen serve as an intermediary guide, eliminating the need for users to manually align components while following enrollment instructions. This intermediary visual guidance system resolves the contradiction by providing automatic positioning assistance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wireless power transfer arrangement is placed in varying positions within different user devices, then the design flexibility of user devices is maintained, but the energy harvesting becomes inconsistent leading to enrollment failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects the actual position of the wireless power transfer arrangement in the user device and adjusts the alignment markers accordingly. The enrollment system receives feedback about power transfer status and provides real-time guidance to optimize energy harvesting. This feedback loop maintains reliability despite variations in user device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment markers are dynamically adjusted based on the detected position of the wireless power transfer arrangement. Rather than using fixed alignment markers, the system adapts the visual guidance in real-time to match the actual hardware configuration, allowing the system to accommodate varying device designs while maintaining reliable energy harvesting.
3Loss of information
If the user device screen displays enrollment instructions on the frontside, then the user can follow guidance, but the user must simultaneously position and press the smartcard against the backside of the device which is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent solves this contradiction by projecting the alignment guidance information from the frontside display to the backside surface through the use of alignment markers that appear on both sides of the device. This dimensional extension allows users to see instructions on the front while simultaneously having visual guidance on the backside for proper smartcard placement, eliminating the need to switch between viewing instructions and positioning the card.
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
Facilitates user-friendly biometric enrollment by ensuring adequate energy transfer for smartcard operation, guiding users to the correct position through alerts on their device, thereby simplifying the enrollment process.
Implementation Method 1
a first surface portion arranged with a conductor configured to wirelessly harvest energy from a wireless power transfer arrangement of a user device
Implementation Method 2
a second surface portion spaced apart from the first surface portion and configured to receive the contactless smartcard, the second surface portion arranged with a conductor arranged to be connected to the conductor of the first surface portion via a connector and configured to wirelessly transfer the harvested energy to the wireless power transfer arrangement of the contactless smartcard
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an enrolment assistance device (10) configured to facilitate biometric enrolment of a user of a contactless smartcard (1), and a method performed by the device (10). In an aspect, an enrolment assistance device (10) is provided configured to facilitate biometric enrolment of a user of a contactless smartcard (1) comprising a biometric sensor (2) and a wireless power transfer arrangement (3). The enrolment assistance device (10) comprises a carrier (5) comprising a first surface portion (7) configured to receive a user device (6) equipped with a wireless power transfer arrangement and a second surface portion (8) spaced apart from the first surface portion (7) and configured to receive the contactless smartcard (1). The first surface portion (7) is arranged with a conductor (11) configured to wirelessly harvest energy from the wireless power transfer arrangement of the user device (6) and the second surface portion (8) is arranged with a conductor (12) arranged to be connected to the conductor (11) of the first surface portion (7) via a connector (13) and configured to wirelessly transfer the harvested energy to the wireless power transfer arrangement (3) of the contactless smartcard (1). The contactless smartcard (1) is configured to transmit a signal to the user device (6) upon the user device (6) being moved into position by a user in the first surface portion (7) enabling the contactless smartcard (1) to harvest an amount of energy exceeding an energy threshold via the conductor (12) of the second surface portion (8), the signal causing the user device (6) to provide an alert to the user that a desired position of the user device (6) has been reached.