Devices and methods for contactless card alignment with a foldable mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11922254-B2
Application number	US-202117492810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Mar 28, 2019
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

Example embodiments of systems, methods, and devices for transaction card alignment are provided. In one example embodiment, a mobile device may include a first component and a second component foldable with respect to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration. The mobile device may further include a screen interface on an interior side of the first component, and an alignment feature along the interior side, the alignment feature providing alignment for a contactless card with respect to the screen interface, wherein the contactless card is uncovered by the second component in the first configuration and covered by the second component in the second configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile device, comprising:
a first component and a second component foldable with respect to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration;
a card reader disposed within the first component or the second component, wherein the card reader is operable to transmit data with a contactless card when the contactless card is positioned between the first and second components, wherein the contactless card positioned according to an alignment feature along the first component or the second component; and
an exterior screen interface along an exterior side of the second component, the exterior screen interface providing positioning feedback, generated by a processor of the card reader, of the contactless card when the contactless card is sandwiched between the first and second components when the first and second components are in the second configuration.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first screen interface on an interior side of the first component, and a second screen interface on an interior side of the second component; and
the alignment feature providing alignment for the contactless card with respect to the first or second screen interfaces, wherein the contactless card is uncovered by the second component in the first configuration and covered by the second component in the second configuration.

3. The mobile device of claim 2 , the second screen interface operable for also providing the positioning feedback of the contactless card with respect to the screen interface.

4. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first screen interface and the second screen interface is a capacitive touch screen interface.

5. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the first component is rotatably coupled with the second component.

6. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a visual indicator displayed via the first screen interface or the second screen interface.

7. The mobile device of claim 2 , wherein the alignment feature comprises an abutment extending from at least one of the first component and the second component, wherein the abutment is positioned between a set of hinges coupling the first and second components together.

8. The mobile device of claim 2 , further comprising a slot recessed into at least one of: the first component and the second component, wherein the slot permits the contactless card to be inserted between the first component and the second component when the second component is in the second configuration, wherein the slot includes a first surface opposite a second surface, and a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces extend perpendicular to a plane defined by the second screen interface, and wherein the third surface is oriented perpendicular to the first and second surfaces.

9. A data transmission system, comprising:
a mobile device comprising:
a first component and a second component foldable with respect to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration;
a card reader having a processor and memory, wherein the card reader is operable to transmit data with a contactless card when the contactless card is determined to be aligned according to an alignment feature between the first component and the second component; and
an exterior screen interface along an exterior side of the second component, the exterior screen interface providing positioning feedback, generated by the processor of the card reader, of the contactless card when the contactless card is sandwiched between the first and second components when the first and second components are in the second configuration.

10. The data transmission system of claim 9 , the mobile device further comprising:
a first screen interface on an interior side of the first component and a second screen interface on an interior side of the second component; and
the alignment feature along the interior side, the alignment feature providing alignment for the contactless card with respect to the first screen interface or the second screen interface, wherein the contactless card is uncovered by the second component in the first configuration and covered by the second component in the second configuration.

11. The data transmission system of claim 10 , the second screen interface operable to also provide the positioning feedback of the contactless card with respect to the first screen interface.

12. The data transmission system of claim 10 , wherein the first component is rotatably coupled with the second component.

13. The data transmission system of claim 10 , wherein the alignment feature comprises a visual indicator displayed via the first screen interface.

14. The data transmission system of claim 10 , wherein the alignment feature comprises an abutment extending from at least one of the first component and the second component, the abutment operable to engage the contactless card.

15. The data transmission system of claim 10 , further comprising a slot recessed into at least one of: the first component and the second component, wherein the slot permits the contactless card to be inserted between the first component and the second component when the second component is in the second configuration.

16. A method comprising:
providing a mobile device operable to transmit data with a contactless card, the mobile device comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the first and second components are foldable with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein a contactless card is covered by the second component in the closed configuration and uncovered by the second component in the open configuration;
determining whether the contactless card is positioned between the first and second components and aligned according to an alignment feature along the first component or the second component;
permitting data transmission between the contactless card and a card reader of the mobile device when the contactless card is determined to be aligned to the alignment feature between the first and second components; and
providing positioning feedback via a third screen interface disposed along an exterior side of the second component, wherein the positioning feedback is generated by a processor of the card reader when the first and second components are in the closed configuration.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising denying data transmission between the contactless card and the card reader of the mobile device when the contactless card is determined to be unaligned between the first and second components.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising providing the alignment feature along an interior side of the first component or the second component, the alignment feature providing alignment for the contactless card with respect to a first screen interface or a second screen interface, wherein determining whether the contactless card is aligned between the first and second components comprises determining whether the contactless card is aligned with the alignment feature.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising visibly displaying the alignment feature via the first screen interface or the second screen interface.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
providing a slot recessed into at least one of: the first component and the second component; and
receiving the contactless card

Assignees

• Capital One Services Llc
• Capital One Service Llc

Inventors

• Rule Jeffrey
• Ilincic Rajko
• Hart Colin

Classifications

• G06K7/10366 Primary

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title

• A63F13/00

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title

• A63F13/20

  Input arrangements for video game devices · CPC title

• A63F13/95

  Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges · CPC title

• G06K7/0056

  housing of the card connector · CPC title