MX2008004517A - Card and system for transmitting electric energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a card, the card (10) comprising identifiers (3), with which the primary use of the card (10) can be implemented. The card is characterized in that it further comprises a solar panel (2) positioned on the card (10) and consisting of solar cells, interface means (21, 22) for transmitting energy collected by the solar panel (2) to devices external to the card in such a way that the card's (10) solar panel (2) allows the card to have an additional use separate from said primary use, the additional use being arranged to forward current supply provided by the solar panel (2) to external devices (40) separate from the card. Further, the invention relates to a card receiver (30) and a system for transmitting electric energy for electronic devices.

Description

CARD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING ELECTRIC ENERGY Field of the Invention The invention relates to transmitting electrical energy generated as a result of a photoelectric effect to an electronic device, and particularly a card and a card receiver, and to a system in which the identification cards or corresponding cards can be used as part of a system that transmits electrical energy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The generation of electrical energy based on a photoelectric effect has been considered as a potential source of supply energy, particularly for small sized portable electronic devices. The generation of electrical energy based on a photoelectric effect is done with solar panels. It is known that a solar panel consists of one or more solar cells. Furthermore, it is generally known that also other sources of light than the sun can be used to activate the photoelectric cells of a solar panel. Cards of a type of charge card are known that include a solar electric system. The electrical energy generated, however, is used to serve internal functional characteristics of these cards. In addition, the production costs of such system cards are high. US2003019942 discloses an improved device the size of a credit card for collecting and storing solar energy. In the publication the energy stored in a battery included by the card, and then used in the card. The problem with the system described above is that the physical dimensions of the card restrict the size of the storage of electricity that will be placed in connection with it, and therefore also the capacity available to store electrical energy. Placing the electrical storage in a card that also increases the costs of the manufactured card. The above cards are only suitable for your primary purpose (s) of use, which may be one or more. On some cards, the primary use is supported by a solar system. Taking advantage of such cards, however, is confined to their primary use. The cards and their solar systems thus become useless when the primary use is over. The cards become useless when, for example, the validity of the card expires. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is thus to provide a system and a card that implement the system and a card receiver in which in a way that the above problems can be solved. The object of the invention is realized with a card system, card and receiver which are characterized in that they are indicated in the independent claims. The dependent claims are directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention. The invention relates to a device for transmitting electrical energy generated as a result of a photoelectric effect to a portable electronic system, and in particular to use what are called identification cards of the credit card classified as part of such a system. In addition, the invention relates to a card and a card receiver for charging electronic devices. An object of the invention is to provide a card for the purpose of charging portable electronic devices. The purpose of the card according to the invention is to allow the charging of electrical devices by means of solar energy, and particularly to charge the electrical devices by means of solar energy collectors the size of cards, for example the size of credit cards. A second object of the invention is to provide a card receiver for the purpose of charging portable electronic devices. The card receiver according to the object of the invention can receive a card having a solar panel as well as the interface means attached thereto. A third object of the invention is a system for the purpose of charging portable electronic devices. One embodiment of the invention provides a card comprising an identification means by means of the primary use of the card can be implemented. The card comprising the identification means can beFor example, a credit card or charge with a chip, a charge card with an EMV certificate (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) and / or PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), card with magnetic stripe, Dual Interface card ( contact identification and contactless identification), company card, identification card, membership card, key card, debit card, telephone credit card, or a card that contains a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module), USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module), UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card), ISIM (IP Multimedia Service Identity Module), R-UIM (removable user identity module), W-SIM (Willcom-SIM) etc. . These classified credit card cards provided with a solar panel and that supply electrical power to devices external to the card, what they have in common is that they have at least a primary purpose of use. The means of identification relates to this primary purpose of using the card. The identification means may have active and / or passive identification characteristics as well as the related functional characteristics for data storage and processing. This is the case for example with smart cards and memory. The active identification features refer, in this context, to features that are readable by a desired external arrangement to identify a card and / or its user. An external arrangement can be used by means of an automatic electrical system and / or by activation of a user. Examples of such identifiers include a magnetic stripe, bar code, RFID, bio-ID, smart chip and memory chip. The passive identifiers, in turn, include for example a hologram, signature, grofado, photograph, company logo, trademark and identifier that is visible on the surface of the card or can be made visible. One embodiment of an object of the invention provides a card that can be called a classified credit card. It is obvious that the size of the card may vary. At the moment, a credit card or a corresponding card is a rectangular card rounded at the edges and about the size of approximately 86 mm * 54mm * 1mm. A related credit card standard is ISO CR-80, for example. In addition, it can be observed that many cards the size of a credit card have limiting dimensions that deviate from the previous but still visually comparable to this size. The card comprises one or more solar cells that convert (s) the solar radiation into electrical energy. The generation of electrical energy in the card is based on a photoelectric effect, and to realize it, the high efficiency solar cells are used which form a solar panel when they are connected in series and / or in parallel.

The card is formed flat, it is natural that the solar panel is placed on these card surfaces that have the largest area. In known cards of the credit card type, these surfaces are conventionally provided with a magnetic stripe and an intelligent chip, for example. It is possible, however, to provide all surfaces of a rectangular card rounded at the edges with solar panels. The area of a solar panel formed on one surface by the solar cells of the card is, in most, equal to the size of this surface of the card. The solar panel can also be located in the inner layers of the card, providing that the layers of material between the light source and the solar panel in each particular case are impregnated with radiation, which is required to activate a photoelectric effect on the card. In execution, a solar panel must be placed and sized in such a way that the card can nevertheless be used for its primary purpose of use. In a magnetic stripe card, for example, a solar panel can be placed above and below the magnetic stripe, because the magnetic stripe covers only a small portion of the entire area of the back surface of the card. Several current cards have an empty, unused portion. The card according to the invention allows the area of the card to be used more efficiently. A solar panel of the above type, consisting of solar cells, is placed on the card. The card has an interface means for transmitting the energy collected by the solar panel to the devices external to the card in such a way that the solar panel of the card allows the card to have an additional use apart from its primary use previously mentioned. Such additional use is arranged to later supply the power source provided by the solar panel to the external card devices. According to one embodiment, a card that functions as a support structure for the solar panel comprises how an interface means a contact surface through which the electrical energy is transmitted to a card receiver, from where it can be further transported to a card receiver. a portable electronic card device. As a result of the photoelectric effect, the electric energy generated in the solar cells can be, according to one embodiment of the invention, transported to the card receiver via the identification elements integrated in the surface structure of the card. To transmit electrical energy from the card, for example an intelligent and memory chip, a hologram identifier, signature surface, embossed, company logo, trademark (eg logo) and bar code can be used as interfaces. Thus, a material layer or conductive material in the identifier is used. One embodiment of an object of the invention provides a card receiver for transmitting electrical power for electronic devices. The card receiver comprises the receiving means for receiving at least one card with a solar panel consisting of solar cells. The receiving means receives the power supply provided for the interface means by the card, and the supply means provides the power supply for an external device connected to the card receiver. The card receiver can be, for example, a fastener, liner and / or display base. This can be a shirt strip, cable reel and / or clothing clip connected to receivers according to the above description. It must be possible to provide the solutions with an interface mechanism compatible with an external device. It is also obvious that the piece connecting the card and the interchangeable external device may contain the same identifier or set of identifiers and the same contact methods as the card. According to a second modality, the card receiver further comprises storing the means for storing electrical energy in the card receiver. According to a third embodiment, the card receiver is arranged to receive two or more cards. The card receiver, such as an adapter, may comprise the means for managing the power supply. The adapter must naturally be connectable to a target device by its end. However, on the card side, the interface can always be of the same class, so any credit card of a standard size or similar card can also be used. The characteristics of the card according to the invention can preferably be added to existing cards, which allows not only the primary use but also an additional use by means of which portable electronic devices can be charged, if required. The cards that are the same size, the user can, if desired, use any card according to the invention.

One embodiment of an object of the invention provides a system for transmitting electrical energy for electronic devices. The system comprises an interchangeable card receiver connectable to an electronic device, where the receiver has, placed in it, one or more cards with a solar panel consisting of solar cells in such a way that when the card is placed in the card receiver , the energy collected by the solar panel of the card is transmitted via terminals on the card to the card receiver, from where the electrical energy can be transmitted additionally to the external devices that will be connected to the receiver. According to another embodiment, the stored electrical energy of the card receiver with the storage medium if the electronic device has been separated from the card receiver. The system can take advantage of the card, which also comprises, adding to the identification characteristics of the previous or similar type, a solar panel. The cards in use expire. The invention allows the use of cards even after they can not be used for their primary purpose of use. According to one embodiment, the card according to the invention provides an additional use for the cards from which a SIM module is separated and transferred to a mobile telephone. The base of the remaining card can be used for additional use according to the invention. The invention thus allows the additional use of different cards, even after their primary use has expired or expired. They may additionally be used for the purpose of loading according to the invention. The present invention allows mobile solar electric systems to be used in several different situations and objects of use. The user's sympathy increases, contributed by the small size of the card receiver. According to the inventive idea, it is possible to manufacture portable charging devices based on a photoelectric effect, where the devices can be used to charge mobile phones, handheld computers, laptops and portable mass memory players, for example. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1A shows a mode of the card according to the invention; Figure 1B shows the card of Figure 1A with two different interface means; Figure 1C shows the card according to Figure 1A with two different interface means; Figure 2A shows a second embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 2B shows a third embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a fourth embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 4A shows a fifth embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 4B shows a sixth embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 4C shows a seventh embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 4D shows an eighth embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 4E shows a ninth embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 4F shows a tenth embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 5A shows an eleventh embodiment of the card according to the present invention; Figure 5B shows the card according to Figure 5A, in which the interface means is located on the sides of the SIM module; Figure 6 shows a mode of the card receiver according to the present invention; Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the card receiver according to the present invention; Figure 8A shows a third mode of the card receiver according to the present invention; Figure 8B shows a fourth mode of the card receiver according to the present invention; Figure 9 shows a main view of a system configuration mode; Figure 10 shows a modality of the connection between the card receiver and an electrical device. Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to Figures 1A to 5B, they show modalities of the cards 10 according to the present invention. The card 10 is preferably the size of the generally known cards. The card 10 can be a credit card, charge card, identification card, smart card, SIM card or other corresponding card.

Figure 1A shows a mode of the card according to the present invention, in which the support base of a contactless card is used with respect to data transmission. The card comprises the interface means 21, 22, with which the card receiver, for example an intermediate cable or an intermediate piece of the type of a card cover, can be connected by means of its own receiver means. With respect to the transmission of data, in a contactless card the interface means allowing the transmission of electrical energy can be placed, for example, in connection with an identifier (logo) which it names an organization and / or brand. The interface means of the card can be placed in any of the surface structures of the card. The interface means 21, 22 comprise contact surfaces of a positive terminal 21 and a negative terminal 22. Furthermore, the card contains a solar panel 2 consisting of solar cells, which can, according to the previous arrangement, be placed to cover only one part, or the entire area of the card. Figure 1B shows a card in which the interface means 21, 22 are also placed at the opposite end of the card. In this case, the card 10 can be placed in the card receiver in more than one way. The interface means according to Figure 1A and 1B are placed at the same point on opposite sides, but can also be placed at different points. This facilitates the use of the card 10. The number of interface means and their positions may vary in a situation where the cards are used in such a card receiver in which the receiving contact surfaces of the interface means are placed in different points. Thus, different types of cards can be received with a card receiver if their interface means 21, 22 are placed at different points. Figure 1C shows a mode of the card according to the present invention, wherein the interface means 21, 22 is placed on both ends of the card. This arrangement allows the card 10 to be placed on the receiver even more versatile than before. The interface means of Figure 1C comprises a positive terminal 21 and a negative terminal 22 which are placed on the card ends, two on the upper surface and two on the end surface. It is obvious that one or more positive terminals 21 and negative terminals 22 can be placed at the ends of the card and on the sides at different points. Figure 2A shows a second embodiment of the card 10 according to the present invention. The positive terminal 21 and negative terminal 22 in the interface means that carry electrical energy outwardly, are placed on the edge of one end in the Figure, but they can also be placed on the side edges of the card or inside them. The interface means 21, 22 here are placed on different sides of the card 10 than the solar panel. Thus, the interface means 21, 22 does not reduce the area of the solar panel. Figure 2B shows a third embodiment of the card according to the invention. Figure 6 shows a card 10, in which the support base for a card with magnetic stripe is used. A magnetic strip 50 and a signature area 51 function here as the identification means. The solar panel is in this mode on the opposite side. The electrical energy is transported from the card 10 from the back of the card with magnetic stripe. The magnetic stripe 50 and raised letters are read by different devices, so they are read in separate times. Thus, the magnetic strip 50 may also be placed on the same side as the raised letters, whereby the entire area on the other side may be used for the panel. Figure 3 shows a fourth embodiment of the card 10 according to the present invention, in which the support base of a smart card is used. The identification means 3 of the card comprise a smart chip in the present, the characteristics of which may vary according to the primary purpose of the use card. The solar panel 2 is in Figure 3 placed around the smart chip that functions as an identification means 3. Figure 4A shows a fifth embodiment of the card according to the invention. The card corresponds to the card according to Figure 3, but its identification means 3 also comprises another means of identification 3a which can be a holographic figure, for example. In this embodiment, the interface means 21, 22 of the card 10 are provided in connection with the primary identification means, ie 3a of the holograms. The primary identification means may also comprise a security thread (not shown). The interface means can be placed in connection with an identifier (eg logo) that it calls an organization and / or brand, for example. The intention is to take advantage of the layer of conductive material or material in the identifier. Figure 4B shows a sixth embodiment of the card according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the interface means 21, 22 of the card 10 are provided in connection with the primary identification means, i.e. a signature space 3b, of the card. Figure 4C shows a seventh embodiment of the card according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the interface means 21, 22 of the card 10 are provided in connection with the primary identification means, ie the raised letters 3c, of the card, on the opposite surface of the card. Figure 4D shows an eighth embodiment of the card according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the interface means 21, 22 of the card 10 are provided in connection with the primary identification means, i.e. the raised letters 3c, of the card. Figure 4E shows a ninth embodiment of the card according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the interface means 21, 22 of the card 10 are provided in connection with the primary identification means, ie a company logo 3e, of the card. Figure 4F shows a tenth embodiment of the card according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the interface means 21, 22 of the card 10 are provided in connection with the primary identification means, ie a bar code 3f, of the card, on the opposite side of the card. Figure 5A shows an eleventh embodiment of the card 10 according to the present invention. Figure 5A shows a mode of the card according to the present invention, in which the support base of a SIM module is used. Here, the identification means 3 is a SIM module, but it can also be another corresponding module used in terminals, such as USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module), UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card), ISIM (Identity Module). Multimedia Service IP), R-UIM (removable user identity module) or W-SIM (Willcom-SIM). A SIM module is generally provided in such a way that it has been manufactured on a card 10 the size of a credit card. The identification means 3 is separated from the card 10 and transferred to the card device, such as a mobile communication device. In the embodiment, the support structures of the SIM cards are used even after the SIM module has been separated from the support structure.

Figure 5B shows a card 10 in which the interface means 21, 22 is placed adjacent to the SIM 3 module in such a way that the interface means 21, 22 remain on the card 10 even after the SIM 3 module has been separated. Thus, the interface means 21, 22 can be formed from the conductive material in connection with the formation of the SIM module in connection with the manufacture of the SIM module. Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a card receiver 30 according to the present invention. The card receiver 30 is an intermediate piece comprising receiving the means 23, 24 of the input, where the points of the interface are compatible with the interface means 21, 22 of the card that transmits the electrical energy outwards. The card receiver 30 also comprises the output interface points 31, 32 compatible with the input of the electronic card device that is desired for the power supply. The card receiver comprises a switch 26 for switching on / off the reception. Figure 7 shows a second mode of the card receiver 30 according to the present invention. The card receiver 30 is an intermediate piece comprising receiving the input means 23, 24, where the points of the interface are compatible with the interface means 21, 22 of the card that transmits the electrical energy outwards. The card receiver 30 also comprises the output interface points 31, 32 compatible with the input of the electronic card device that is desired for the power supply. The card receiver 30 comprises the medium receiving the card 25, with which the card can be received by the card receiver 30. The receiving means 25 can comprise the reception of the medium 25 of different sizes and joining ways. Figure 8A shows a third mode of the card receiver 30 according to the invention. The card receiver comprises here a control unit 35 with electricity storage. The storage of electricity can comprise, for example, a battery 36 and / or a capacitor 37, and can charge independently of whether the contact surface of the output of the intermediate piece is connected to the input of the electronic card device, desired for delivery of electric power. The card receiver 30 may consist of one or more parts. The receiving part of the card can be a fixed part with which the connection parts compatible with the card devices can be connected. In such a case, the card receiver can be used to connect several card devices. Figure 8B shows a fourth mode of the card receiver 30 according to the present invention. The card receiver comprises here a control unit 35. The card receiver 10 provided with the control unit 35 can comprise the reception means 23b, 24b of the input, which can receive the interface means of the card 21, 22 on their contact surfaces independent of their polarity. The control unit 35 identifies the polarity of the interface means of the card 21, 22 to be received and changes them to be compatible with the card device. Thus, the card receiver 30 can also receive cards whose +/- terminals are opposite on the card. Figure 9 shows a principle view of a modality of a system configuration. The card 10 is not activated until it is connected to an electrical device 40 operated by means of the card receiver 30. In other words, the card 10 does not have its own battery but the card is passive and is activated when it is connected in operation, physically assembling the system parts together or using a switch placed on the card receiver. The card receiver 30, in turn, has an electricity storage comprising a battery 36 and / or a capacitor and separate means 31, 32 to connect with a desired device, for example a mobile phone. The intermediate piece 30 can be connected to the contact surface of the outlet of the card 10. The connection can be implemented mechanically, by means of negative pressure, chemically, magnetically or electrically. The electrical energy generated as a result of a photoelectric effect in the solar cells 2 can be transported to the intermediate piece via the interface means 21, 22 of the card.

Figure 10 shows a mode of a connection between the card receiver and an electrical device, which is a wireless connection. Electric power is transferred wirelessly by means of electromagnetic induction. The card receiver comprises a transmitter 65 for transmitting electric power. The electrical device, in turn, comprises a receiver 66 for receiving the electrical energy transmitted by the transmitter 65. Thus, the invention provides a preferred card, a card receiver and a system that allow the use of charge cards, smart cards , memory cards or identification cards for the purpose of charging portable electronic devices. The invention uses existing cards, by which their primary use is not hindered or endangered, but the card according to the invention allows the card, for example a credit card, debit card etc. have an additional feature with which the card can be used not only for its primary purpose but also as a charging device or a source of electricity, depending on the power consumption of the device. It is obvious to one skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in a plurality of ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the claims.

Claims (10)

1. A card, comprising - means of identification by means of which the primary use of the card can be implemented, the card is characterized in that it also comprises, - a solar panel placed on the card, - interface means for transmitting the energy collected by the solar panel to the external devices to the card in such a way that the solar panel of the card allows the card to have an additional use apart from its primary use, the additional use is arranged to remit the electric power supply provided by the solar panel to the external devices to part of the card.

2. A card according to claim 1, characterized in that the card is the size of a credit card.

3. A card according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the area and position of the solar panel of the card is arranged in such a way that a means of identification of the card is usable.

4. A card according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface means of the card is provided in connection with the primary identification means of the card.

5. A card receiver, for transmitting electrical energy for the electronic devices, characterized in that the card receiver comprises the receiving means for receiving a card with a solar panel, receiving the means for receiving the electric power supply provided by the card for the interface means, and the supply means for providing the current supply for an external device connected to the card receiver.

6. A card receiver according to claim 5, characterized in that the card receiver additionally comprises storing the means for storing electrical energy in the card receiver. A card receiver according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the card receiver additionally comprises an electric power control unit for controlling the reception of electrical energy. A card receiver according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the card receiver is arranged to receive two or more cards. 9. A system for transmitting electrical energy for electronic devices, characterized in that the system comprises a switchable card receiver interchangeable with an electronic device, one or more cards with a solar panel consisting of solar cells that are installed in the receiver in a manner such that when the card receiver has the card installed therein, the energy collected by a solar panel in the card is transmitted via the interface means in the card to the card receiver, from which the electric power is additionally transmissible to the external devices that are. will connect to the receiver. A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the card receiver stores the electric power co.p a storage medium if the electronic device has been separated from the card receiver.