Proximity payment card with printed indication of switch location

• US 20080054078A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tanner, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

An identification token includes a body and an RFID IC embedded in the body. An antenna is also embedded in the body and is coupled to the RFID IC. A switch is embedded in the body and coupled to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna. The switch is located at a switch location in the body. The switch is actuatable by being pressed by a user'"'"'s finger. The identification token also includes a printed indication on the body for indicating the switch location to the user of the identification token.

Claims

1. An identification token comprising:

a body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the body;

an antenna embedded in the body and coupled to the RFID IC;

a switch embedded in the body and coupled to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna, the switch located at a switch location in the body, the switch actuatable by being pressed by a user'"'"'s finger; and

a printed indication on the body for indicating the switch location to the user of the identification token.

2. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the body is card-shaped and has a front planar surface, the printed indication being located at the front planar surface of the card-shaped body.

3. The identification token of claim 2, wherein the printed indication has a thickness sufficient for the printed indication to be tactilely detected by the user in contrast to the front planar surface of the card-shaped body.

4. The identification token of claim 3, wherein a tactilely detectable recess is formed in the thickness of the printed indication.

5. The identification token of claim 2, wherein the printed indication has a color or tone that contrasts with a background color or tone on the front planar surface.

6. The identification token of claim 2, wherein the printed indication has a texture that contrasts with a texture on the front planar surface.

7. The identification token of claim 2, wherein:

the card-shaped body has a rear planar surface that is opposite the front planar surface;

the switch is actuatable by the user pressing a rear switch location on the rear planar surface; and

the rear planar surface has no indication of the rear switch location.

8. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the switch includes a pressure-sensitive material.

9. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the RFID IC stores at least one payment card account number.

10. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the switch is embedded in the body so as not to be visible to the user.

11. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the switch is embedded in the card such that there is no indication that the switch is present other than said printed indication.

12. A method comprising:

embedding an antenna in a card-shaped body;

embedding a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) in the card-shaped body so that the RFID IC is coupled to the antenna;

embedding a pressure-sensitive switch in the card-shaped body such that the switch is coupled to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna; and

printing an indication on the card-shaped body to indicate a location of the switch.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

applying a protective layer to the card-shaped body over the printed indication.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

storing at least one payment card account number in the RFID IC.

15. A proximity payment card comprising:

a card-shaped body having a front planar surface, the surface having at least one background color;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the body, the RFID IC storing at least one payment card account;

an antenna embedded in the body and coupled to the RFID IC;

a pressure-sensitive switch embedded in the body at a switch location and coupled to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna; and

a printed indication on the front planar surface of the card-shaped body, the printed indication being in a color that contrasts with the at least one background color of the front planar surface, the printed indication located on the front planar surface so as to indicate the switch location to a user of the proximity payment card.

16. The proximity payment card of claim 15, wherein the switch includes quantum tunneling composite.

17. The proximity payment card of claim 15, wherein the printed indication has a thickness sufficient for the printed indication to be tactilely detected by the user in contrast to the front planar surface of the card-shaped body.

18. The proximity payment card of claim 17, wherein a tactilely detectable recess is formed in the thickness of the printed indication.

19. The proximity payment card of claim 15, wherein the printed indication has a texture that contrasts with a texture on the front planar surface.

20. The proximity payment card of claim 15, wherein the switch is embedded in the card such that there is no indication that the switch is present other than said printed indication.