Smartcard with coupling frame antenna

• US 10,552,722 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AmaTech Group Limited (Paragon Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Féinics AmaTech Teoranta (Paragon Group Limited)
• Inventors: Finn, David, Lotya, Mustafa, Molloy, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US15/939,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20180341847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 235492, 235487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07754 the connection being galvanic
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07794 the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Smartcard (SC) having a card body (CB) and a conductive coupling frame antenna (CFA) extending as a closed loop circuit around a periphery of the card body, and also extending inwardly so that two portions of the coupling frame antenna are closely adjacent each other, with a gap therebetween. The gap may extend from a periphery of the card body to a position corresponding with a module antenna (MA) of a transponder chip module (TCM) disposed in the card body, and may function like a slit (S) in a coupling frame (CF). A portion of the coupling frame antenna may be arranged to surround the ISO position of the transponder chip module in the card body. A coupling frame antenna (CFA) may be incorporated onto a module tape (MT) for a transponder chip module (TCM).

Claims

1. Smartcard comprising:

a card body (CB), wherein a given area of the card body is designated for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM) having a module antenna (MA);

characterized by;

a coupling frame antenna (CFA) comprising a conductive track routed around a perimeter of the card body, and further routed toward the interior of the card body to the area designated for receiving the transponder chip module, resulting in two portions of the coupling frame antenna (CFA) being closely adjacent one another with a gap (S, 203, 303) therebetween, the gap extending from a peripheral edge of the card body to the area of the card body designated for receiving the transponder chip module (TCM);

wherein;

the coupling frame antenna (CFA) comprises a single-turn, closed-loop circuit.

2. The smartcard of claim 1, wherein:

a portion of the conductive track surrounds the area designated for receiving the transponder chip module.

3. The smartcard of claim 1, wherein:

the coupling frame antenna (CFA) forms a loop around the area of the card body designated for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM).

4. The smartcard of claim 3, wherein:

when the transponder chip module is disposed in the loop, a portion of the coupling frame antenna overlaps a portion of the module antenna (MA) in the transponder chip module.

5. The smartcard of claim 1, wherein:

the coupling frame antenna begins in the center of the card body and extends over the peripheral area of the smartcard.

6. The smartcard of claim 1, wherein:

the conductive track has a width greater than its skin depth at a frequency of interest.

7. Smartcard comprising:

a card body (CB), wherein a given area of the card body is designated for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM) having a module antenna (MA);

characterized by;

a coupling frame antenna (CFA) comprising a conductive track routed around a perimeter of the card body, and further routed toward the interior of the card body to the area designated for receiving the transponder chip module, resulting in two portions of the coupling frame antenna (CFA) being closely adjacent one another with a gap (S, 203, 303) therebetween, the gap extending from a peripheral edge of the card body to the area of the card body designated for receiving the transponder chip module (TCM);

wherein;

the conductive track comprises multiple tracks.

8. The smartcard of claim 7, wherein:

a portion of the conductive track surrounds the area designated for receiving the transponder chip module.

9. The smartcard of claim 7, wherein:

the coupling frame antenna (CFA) forms a loop around the area of the card body designated for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM).

10. The smartcard of claim 9, wherein:

when the transponder chip module is disposed in the loop, a portion of the coupling frame antenna overlaps a portion of the module antenna (MA) in the transponder chip module.

11. The smartcard of claim 7, wherein:

the coupling frame antenna begins in the center of the card body and extends over the peripheral area of the smartcard.

12. The smartcard of claim 7, wherein:

the conductive track has a width greater than its skin depth at a frequency of interest.

13. Smartcard comprising:

a card body (CB), wherein a given area of the card body is designated for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM) having a module antenna (MA);

characterized by;

a coupling frame antenna (CFA) comprising a conductive track routed around a perimeter of the card body, and further routed toward the interior of the card body to the area designated for receiving the transponder chip module, resulting in two portions of the coupling frame antenna (CFA) being closely adjacent one another with a gap (S, 203, 303) therebetween, the gap extending from a peripheral edge of the card body to the area of the card body designated for receiving the transponder chip module (TCM);

wherein;

the coupling frame antenna is formed on one side of an inlay substrate.

14. The smartcard of claim 13, wherein:

a second coupling frame antenna is formed on another side of the inlay substrate.

15. The smartcard of claim 14, wherein:

one of the coupling frame antennas is formed as a closed circuit; and

the other of the coupling frame antennas is formed as an open circuit, having a start and end position.

16. The smartcard of claim 13, wherein:

a portion of the conductive track surrounds the area designated for receiving the transponder chip module.

17. The smartcard of claim 13, wherein:

the coupling frame antenna (CFA) forms a loop around the area of the card body designated for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM).

18. The smartcard of claim 17, wherein:

when the transponder chip module is disposed in the loop, a portion of the coupling frame antenna overlaps a portion of the module antenna (MA) in the transponder chip module.

19. The smartcard of claim 13, wherein:

the coupling frame antenna begins in the center of the card body and extends over the peripheral area of the smartcard.

20. The smartcard of claim 13, wherein:

the conductive track has a width greater than its skin depth at a frequency of interest.