Passive RFID Payment Card Feedback Using Harvested Reader Energy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passive RFID cards lack the capability to provide direct feedback to users due to the absence of an independent power source, making it difficult to generate sufficient power for feedback mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A passive RFID card equipped with a processor, communication interface, and various actuators that utilize energy harvested from a card reader to provide feedback through vibrations, light emissions, sound, or color changes, utilizing voltage multipliers and regulators to amplify energy as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a battery is embedded in the card to provide feedback, then feedback capability is improved, but card size and portability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the power source function from a traditional battery and replaces it with an energy harvesting mechanism that draws power from the card reader during transactions. This removes the need for a battery while maintaining feedback capability, thus resolving the contradiction between feedback functionality and card size.
Solution Approach 2:
The card uses the transaction energy itself to power the feedback mechanism. The energy required for feedback is harvested from the card reader's power transmission during the transaction, making the system self-sufficient without requiring an independent power source, thereby maintaining small card size while enabling feedback.
2Ease of operation
If a battery is embedded in the card to generate feedback power, then feedback capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and logistical feasibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the battery component from the card design entirely, replacing it with passive RFID technology that harvests energy during transactions. This simplifies manufacturing by eliminating battery installation, sealing, and power management circuitry, while still enabling feedback through actuators like LEDs or vibration motors powered by harvested energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The card harnesses the power transmission signal from the card reader to energize feedback actuators during transactions. This self-powering approach eliminates the need for battery manufacturing and integration, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining feedback functionality.
3Ease of operation
If energy is harvested from card reader to power feedback, then feedback capability is improved, but energy availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The card reader transmits more energy than the card needs for basic communication, and the invention harnesses this excess energy to power feedback actuators. By utilizing the additional energy already being transmitted during the transaction, the system can drive LEDs, vibration motors, or other feedback mechanisms without requiring additional power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback system is powered by the transaction energy itself, converting the RF power transmission into usable electrical energy for actuators. This self-powering approach ensures that feedback capability is maintained whenever a transaction occurs, with no separate power management required.
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
Enables direct feedback to users through tactile, visual, or auditory signals using energy harvested from a card reader, enhancing user interaction and transaction awareness without the need for a battery.
Implementation Method 1
a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) card by using energy received from a passive RFID card reader
Implementation Method 2
The processor may be embedded in a power circuit board that includes a capacitor configured to store the energy associated with the RF signal that is received from the RFID card reader
Implementation Method 3
a voltage multiplier configured to amplify the RF signal by a predetermined factor
Implementation Method 4
The actuator may include a haptic device. The first feedback action may include a vibration that is detectable by a touch of a user of the payment card
Implementation Method 5
the actuator may include a light-emitting diode (LED) device, and the first feedback action may include an emission of light that is visible to a user of the payment card
Implementation Method 6
the actuator may include a speaker device, and the first feedback action may include an emission of sound that is audible to a user of the payment card
Implementation Method 7
the actuator may include a heater, and the first feedback action may include a change of a color of a portion of the payment card that is visible to a user of the payment card
Data Source
AI summary
Method and systems for obtaining direct feedback from a payment card by using energy received from a radio frequency identification (RFID) card reader is provided. The method is implemented by a processor that is embedded in the payment card. The method includes: receiving, from the RFID card reader, a radio frequency (RF) signal that relates to a proposed transaction; transmitting, to the RFID card reader, account information that relates to the proposed transaction; and causing an actuator that is embedded in the payment card to actuate a feedback action based on the RF signal. The actuator may include a haptic device that generates a vibration that is detectable by a touch of a user of the payment card.