Contactless transaction card and adapter therefor

• US 20030213849A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quadnovation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quadnovation, Inc.
• Inventors: Luu, Daniel V. H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/072 the record carrier comprising a plurality of integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• 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 1/243 with built-in antennas

Abstract

A contactless transaction card includes first and second contactless integrated circuit (IC) chips and an antenna connected to both ICs for enabling contactless operation of the functions provided by each IC. The contactless transaction card is preferably fabricated by laminating together a plurality of layers to form a carrier substrate. The antenna and one of the IC chips is embedded within the layers of the carrier substrate so as to be permanently formed in the card, while the second IC chip is provided in the card in a region formed as a micro-sized card which is removable from the main portion of the carrier substrate. Additionally, an adapter card includes a holder for retaining a micro-sized contactless transaction card and contains an antenna arranged to connect with the micro-sized card. The adapter may be used to convert the micro-sized transaction card into a full-sized card and to enable access to the information associated with the IC chip contained in the card.

Claims

1. A contactless transaction card comprising:

a substrate dimensioned according to a standard-sized transaction card;

an antenna provided in the substrate;

a first integrated circuit chip mounted in the substrate and operatively connected to the antenna for enabling operation of a first contactless transaction function;

a micro-sized card defined in a portion of the substrate so as to be detachable from the substrate; and

a second integrated circuit chip mounted in the substrate within the portion of the substrate defined as the micro-sized card and operatively connected to the antenna for enabling operation of a second contactless transaction function.

2. The contactless transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the micro-sized card is detachably defined in the substrate by at least one cut through the thickness of the substrate, the cut being substantially shaped according to the periphery of the micro-sized card.

3. The contactless transaction card according to claim 2, further comprising at least one uncut connection bridge connecting the micro-sized card with a remainder portion of the substrate, wherein the antenna connects to the second integrated circuit chip card by extending across the at least one connection bridge.

4. The contactless transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the micro-sized card is connected to a remainder portion of the substrate along a perforated line.

5. A method of forming a contactless transaction card, comprising:

providing at least first, second and third layers of a material, wherein the first, second and third layers each have a shape and size substantially corresponding to a full-sized transaction card;

defining a shape corresponding to a micro-sized card in the first layer of material by forming a continuous cut through the first layer along a substantial portion of a periphery of the micro-sized card;

mounting a first integrated circuit chip within the shape corresponding to the micro-sized card of the first layer;

defining the shape corresponding to the micro-sized card in the second layer of material by forming a plurality of cuts through the second layer along the periphery of the micro-sized card, wherein the plurality of cuts leaves at least one bridge between the micro-sized card and a remainder portion of the second layer;

mounting a second integrated circuit chip on the second layer;

providing an antenna on the second layer in electrical connection with the first and second integrated circuit chips, the antenna connecting to the first integrated circuit chip by extending into the micro-sized card portion via the at least one bridge;

defining a shape corresponding to a micro-sized card in the third layer of material by forming a continuous cut through the third layer along a substantial portion of a periphery of the micro-sized card; and

laminating the at least first, second and third layers together.

6. A method of using a contactless transaction card having a micro-sized transaction card detachably defined within a standard-sized transaction card comprising:

bringing the standard-sized transaction card to a first access device for activating a function served by a first integrated circuit chip formed in the standard-sized transaction card; and

bringing the standard-sized transaction card to a second access device for activating a function served by a second integrated circuit chip formed in the micro-sized card portion of the standard-sized card.

7. A method of using a contactless transaction card having a micro-sized transaction card detachably defined within a standard-sized transaction card comprising:

detaching the micro-sized transaction card from the standard-sized card; and

inserting the micro-sized card into a carrier having an antenna arranged thereon to become aligned with an integrated circuit chip on the micro-sized card to thereby connect the antenna and the integrated circuit chip and enable contactless operation of a function provided by the integrated circuit chip on the micro-sized card.

8. A method of using a contactless transaction card having a plurality of integrated circuit chips provided therein, comprising:

bringing the standard-sized transaction card to a first access device for activating a function served by a first integrated circuit chip formed in the standard-sized transaction card; and

bringing the standard-sized transaction card to a second access device for activating a function served by a second integrated circuit chip formed in the micro-sized card portion of the standard-sized card.

9. An adapter for use with a micro-sized contactless transaction card comprising:

a base layer shaped and sized substantially according to a standard transaction card;

an intermediate layer having a thickness substantially corresponding to the thickness of the micro-sized contactless transaction card, and further having a cutout formed therein having a shape corresponding to the shape of the micro-sized contactless transaction card;

a top layer having a thickness less than that of the intermediate layer and further having a cutout formed therein having a shape corresponding to a portion of the shape of the micro-sized contactless transaction card, the cutout of the top layer being aligned over the cutout of the intermediate layer to form a pocket for holding the micro-sized transaction card; and

an antenna embedded either between the intermediate layer and the top layer or between the intermediate layer and the base layer, and having end portions arranged on a region at the surface of the base layer aligned with the cutouts of the intermediate layer and the top layer, so that insertion of the micro-sized transaction card into the pocket places an integrated circuit chip of the card into operative alignment and contact with the antenna for performing a contactless function.

10. A method of forming an adapter card for a micro-sized contactless transaction card, comprising:

providing at least first, second and third layers of a material, wherein the first, second and third layers each have a shape and size substantially corresponding to a full-sized transaction card;

forming a cutout corresponding in shape to a portion of a micro-sized card in the first layer;

forming a cutout corresponding in shape to the entirety of the micro-sized card in the second layer, the cutout in the second layer being aligned with the cutout formed in the first layer;

providing an antenna on the third layer and affixing ends of the antenna at a region of the third layer which is aligned with the cutouts in the first and second layers such that insertion of a micro-sized card in the cutouts places an integrated circuit chip of the micro-sized card into operative contact and alignment with the antenna; and

laminating the at least first, second and third layers together.