Automatic recovery of integrated circuit cards
US6536671B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F7/082
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Integrated circuit cards comprising a microprocessor, volatile memory (RAM), non-volatile memory (ROM, EEPROM), and a power coupling device allowing external power to be supplied to the card. The integrated circuit cards further comprise failure protection device for maintaining power for a short period of time in case of a power supply failure, and a power-failure detector sensing a power supply failure. This power-failure detector triggers the transfer of information from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory if a power supply failure is sensed. The failure protection device provides power for this transfer. The integrated circuit cards further comprise a device for setting a power supply failure indicator (PF) into the non-volatile memory if a power supply failure is sensed by the power-failure detector, in order to leave a trace that a power supply failure has occurred, where the failure protection device provides the power for setting the indicator (PF).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.