Systems and methods for alignment techniques for magnetic cards and devices

• US 10,022,884 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Cloutier, Bruce S.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAY, LINDA LAMEY
• Application Number:
  US13/272,436
• Time in Patent Office: 2,469 Days
• Field of Search: 156267, 156270, 156299, 156353, 428611, 428905
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/005 Computer numerical control means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/007 Control means comprising cameras, vision or image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/30 having the cutting member controlled by scanning a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/32 with the record carrier formed by the work itself
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/34 scanning being effected by a photosensitive device
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/36 scanning being effected by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/27 Means for performing other operations combined with cutting B26D9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/74 by welding and severing , or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/90 Measuring or controlling the joining process
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1833 Positioning, e.g. registration or centering
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/185 combined with the cutting of one or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 41/00 Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1056 Perforating lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1057 Subsequent to assembly of laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1092 All laminae planar and face to face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1093 with covering of discrete laminae with additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1097 : Lamina is running length web

Abstract

Cards may be populated with components and alignment cues. A fully populated card may then be laminated using either of a clear (e.g., transparent) laminate or an obscure (e.g., opaque) laminate. Visual and/or non-visual alignment cues within a card may be utilized to align a trimming and/or singulation device to the card. The card may be singulated and/or trimmed with the aligned singulation and/or trimming device to position one or more components of the card.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

populating a card with at least one alignment cue and a plurality of components to form a populated card, wherein one of said plurality of components includes a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device;

laminating said populated card to form a laminated card;

aligning a trimming device to said at least one alignment cue; and

trimming said laminated card with said aligned trimming device to position said dynamic magnetic stripe communications device within a distance from a side of said card,

wherein said laminating of said populated card includes laminating such that a portion of said trimmed card includes said at least one alignment cue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one magnetic material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one hard magnet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said aligning a trimming device includes aligning said trimming device to a magnetic field.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one notch.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue includes at least one notch,

said trimming device includes at least one protrusion, and

said aligning a trimming device includes engaging said at least one notch with said at least one protrusion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one datum.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is an optical alignment cue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is a non-optical alignment cue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one indicia.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one tick mark.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is at least one alignment target.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said aligning a trimming device includes training said trimming device onto said at least one alignment cue.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one alignment cue is a mechanical alignment cue.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of components is a flexible printed circuit board, and

said populating a card with at least one alignment cue includes printing indicia onto said flexible circuit board.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of components is a display.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of components includes at least a board, a processor, a battery, a display, and a button.

19. A method, comprising:

populating a card assembly with a plurality of components and at least one alignment cue to form a populated card assembly, wherein one of said plurality of components includes a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device;

laminating said populated card assembly with a laminate layer including at least one laminate material;

aligning a trimming device to said at least one alignment cue; and

trimming said laminate layer with said aligned trimming device to form a trimmed laminate layer,

wherein said dynamic magnetic stripe communications device is positioned at a target distance from a side of said trimmed laminate layer, and

said laminating of said populated card assembly includes laminating such that a portion of said populated card assembly includes said at least one alignment cue.