Electronic Card Wakeup Circuit for Low-Standby Secure NFC Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic cards face challenges with insufficient power reception from external magnetic fields, leading to unstable wireless communication, increased operation time, and reduced usability and security due to high standby power consumption.

Innovation Solution

An electronic card configuration that includes a processor, a power management circuit, a wireless communication circuit, and a wakeup circuit, which manages power supply to reduce standby power and enhance operation efficiency, allowing for simultaneous improvements in usability and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic function circuit operates continuously to provide security and display functions, then the security and display functionality are maintained, but the standby power consumption increases and operation time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity functionVSAvoidstandby power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic function circuit operates in periodic cycles: active state during authentication/communication tasks and standby state during non-use periods. The control circuit manages this periodic operation by activating the electronic function circuit only when authentication is required or data needs to be transmitted, thereby maintaining security functionality while dramatically reducing standby power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If wireless power reception and wireless communication operate simultaneously, then power can be received during communication, but electromagnetic interference occurs causing unstable communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower reception efficiencyVSAvoidwireless communication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operation into distinct phases: power reception phase and communication phase. The control circuit divides the operational timeline so that wireless power reception and wireless communication do not overlap, eliminating electromagnetic interference while ensuring both functions can operate at full efficiency during their respective designated time slots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system alternates between power reception operations and communication operations in periodic cycles. During power reception periods, the communication circuit remains inactive, and during communication periods, power reception is suspended. This periodic alternation prevents electromagnetic interference while maintaining both functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the operation time of the electronic function circuit is extended to handle authentication, then security processing is completed, but the time required to pass the card over the reader increases reducing usability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit prepares the electronic function circuit in advance by pre-loading authentication data and pre-configuring the circuit for rapid operation. When the card is presented to the reader, the authentication process can proceed immediately at high speed without requiring extended operation time, thus maintaining security while improving usability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system rushes through the authentication process by using high-speed wireless communication and optimized processing algorithms. The electronic function circuit operates at maximum speed during the brief window when the card is over the reader, completing authentication quickly without requiring the user to hold the card in place for an extended period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 proposed configuration shortens operation processing time, reduces standby power, and improves usability and security by ensuring stable wireless communication and extended operation time without increasing power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

For wireless power reception, there is a technique using an external magnetic field, such as NFC

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12282374B2Electronic card

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic card includes an electric storage device, a charging circuit, a wireless communication circuit, a processor, an electronic function circuit, a power management circuit, and a wakeup circuit configured to start the power management circuit upon receiving an external trigger. The power management circuit supplies, after being started by the wakeup circuit, power of the electric storage device to the processor and the electronic function circuit. The processor stores, before the start of wireless communication, an operation state or an output result of the electronic function circuit which is obtained by an operation with power of the electric storage device, and causes, after operation processing of the electronic function circuit, the wireless communication circuit to start the wireless communication.