Light-Pulsing Card for Contactless Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current magnetic cards and payment systems face limitations in efficiently communicating data to magnetic stripe readers and capacitive touch screens, often leading to errors and requiring physical connections or proprietary protocols.

Innovation Solution

The development of a dynamic magnetic communications device that includes a magnetic encoder or emulator, capacitive touch sensors, and light sensors, allowing for bi-directional communication through electromagnetic fields, capacitive touch, and light pulses, enabling data transmission without physical connections and using proprietary protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetic cards use traditional magnetic stripe readers, then data can be read, but communication errors occur and reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata communication reliabilityVSAvoiddata reading errors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional magnetic field-based communication with optical communication using light sensors and light sources. This substitution eliminates electromagnetic interference and improves data communication reliability between the card and reader systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium for data transmission. Instead of direct magnetic field interaction, data is encoded into light pulses that are detected by light sensors, providing a more reliable communication channel that reduces data reading errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If cards use physical connections for communication, then data transmission is established, but flexibility and ease of operation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidphysical connection requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical physical connections with wireless optical communication. Light sources and light sensors enable data transmission without physical contact, significantly improving ease of operation and communication flexibility while eliminating the complexity of physical connection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cards use proprietary protocols for communication, then device-specific functionality is achieved, but adaptability to different systems is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem compatibilityVSAvoidproprietary protocol requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal optical communication interface using standard light sources and light sensors that can interface with various reader systems. This multi-functional approach allows the card to communicate with different types of readers (magnetic stripe, RFID, contactless) through a single optical protocol, improving system compatibility while reducing the need for multiple proprietary communication mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances data communication reliability and flexibility, allowing for secure, error-reduced transactions across various devices and systems, including magnetic stripe readers and capacitive touch screens, by using a dynamic magnetic communications device that integrates capacitive touch and light sensors for bi-directional communication.

Implementation Method 1

A magnetic encoder may change the information located on a magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripe reader may read changed magnetic information from the magnetic medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic encoding: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

A magnetic emulator may generate electromagnetic fields that directly communicate data to a magnetic stripe reader

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field generation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

A light sensing device or sound sensing device may be utilized to receive information wirelessly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 4

Electrodes of a display may be coupled to one or more capacitive touch sensors such that a display may be provided as a touch-screen display

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11120427B2Systems and methods for cards and devices operable to communicate via light pulsing

Publication Date: 2021.09.14 DYNAMICS INC

AI summary

A card is provided with a light sensor operable to receive information via light emitted from a display screen or another source of light. Accordingly, a mobile telephonic device or portable computer (e.g., tablet computer) may communicate information to a card via light pulses. Information communicated via light may include, for example, points balances, credit balances, debit balances, transaction history, software updates, coupons, promotions, advertisements or any other type of information.