US 10628820

US Patent 10,628,820, titled "Multi-function electronic payment device," was issued on April 21, 2020, from an application filed on July 2, 2018. The inventor is David Wyatt. The original assignee was Virtual Electric Inc, with subsequent reassignments to CardWare Inc.

The abstract describes a multi-function electronic device that generates a programmed magnetic field of alternating polarity based on card swipe speed to emulate a standard credit card. It also details methods for user control to authorize credit, debit, cash, cryptocurrency, and card-to-card transactions. A key feature is the generation of limited-duration credit card numbers for enhanced security and the ability for the device to interact with similar devices for fund transfers.

A plain-language overview of the independent claims is as follows:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes an apparatus designed like a thin card. It includes memory to store various identification data, a processor, and a user interface to select specific identification data. The apparatus also has a magnetic card reader detection unit to sense if it's near a standard magnetic card reader. An integrated inductor assembly, controlled by the processor, generates a magnetic field with alternating polarity when a card reader is detected. This magnetic field, which encompasses the card reader, encodes the selected identification data and can be read by the magnetic read head of a standard magnetic card reader.
• Independent Claim 13: This claim outlines a multi-function electronic device featuring a near-field communication (NFC) unit, a touch sensor array, a display, a motion rate detection array, and memory storing user data and currency amounts. A processor in the device initiates a card-to-card transaction between two such devices upon detecting their proximity and receiving input from a first user via the touch sensor array. The transaction involves the exchange of stored currency and user data between the two devices using their NFC units.
• Independent Claim 17: This claim describes a method for performing a transaction. It involves receiving an input signal from a user at a multi-function electronic device, which enables the device's near-field communication (NFC) unit. The method then includes receiving an indication of the currency amount for the transaction, generating a limited-duration credit card number at the device, and transmitting this limited-duration credit card number to the transaction recipient.

Regarding litigation, the patent family has active litigation. This includes two PTAB cases: IPR2025-01147 (Not Instituted - Procedural) and IPR2023-00314 (Settlement). There are also US cases filed in the Texas Western District Court (7:24-cv-00279) and the Texas Eastern District Court (2:22-cv-00141), as well as first worldwide family litigation. A specific search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for patent 10628820 did not yield any direct entries for scheduled cases.