Contactless Card Pressed Circuit Security Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contactless chip-based payment cards are vulnerable to wireless theft due to continuous antenna listening, allowing unauthorized activation and transaction token generation, leading to increased security risks.

Innovation Solution

The card design features disconnected wires that form a circuit only when the user presses a designated area, requiring affirmative action to power the chip, preventing unauthorized activation and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the antenna continuously listens for radio signals to enable contactless transactions, then the convenience of contactless payment is improved, but the security of the card is worsened due to unauthorized activation and theft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontactless transaction convenienceVSAvoidcard security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning disconnected wire segments in specific locations within the card body. These wire segments are arranged to be brought into contact only when the card is pressed at a specific location, thereby pre-preparing the circuit path that will be activated by the user's pressing action rather than being continuously active

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by transitioning the circuit state from static and continuous (always connected) to dynamic and conditional (connected only when pressed). The wire segments are positioned to make contact only under specific mechanical conditions (pressing force at designated location), making the electrical connection dynamic rather than fixed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the chip is continuously powered and activated to enable ready-state transactions, then the transaction speed is improved, but the vulnerability to wireless theft increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoidwireless theft vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by making the chip power state intermittent rather than continuous. The circuit is activated only during brief periods when the user presses the card, powering the chip temporarily for the transaction duration, then deactivating it again. This periodic activation reduces exposure to wireless theft while maintaining transaction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If disconnected wires are used to require pressing action, then the security against unauthorized activation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation securityVSAvoidwire connection structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the security mechanism in a specific localized area of the card. The disconnected wire segments are positioned at a specific location that corresponds to the pressing area, creating a localized security feature rather than distributing complexity throughout the entire card structure. This allows the rest of the card to maintain its simple contactless design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 significantly reduces the risk of wireless theft by ensuring the chip can only be powered and activated with user intervention, thereby enhancing the security of contactless transactions.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Disconnected wires in a chip-based card are urged together to form a connected wire and a circuit between a chip on the chip-based card and an antenna on the chip-based card.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS10504019B1Pressed security trace completion

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 NCR VOYIX CORP

AI summary

A contactless card is provided. The card in a non-activated state lacks a circuit between a chip on the card and an antenna on the card. When one or more contact points on the card are pressed, the circuit is formed and the chip is powered on through an antenna that receives signals from a card reader. Once powered on, in an embodiment, the chip produces a one-time transaction specific token for authenticating a transaction using the card.