METHOD, APPARATUS, ASEMBLY AND KIT FOR IDENTIFICATION TOKEN

• US 20080121707A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phillips, Simon, Mosteller, Barry Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/451
• 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 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface

Abstract

In some embodiments, an identification token assembly includes: a card-shaped plastic body having a first edge and a second edge, said plastic body having a scored line formed therein, the plastic body including a subcard body extending from the first edge of the plastic body to the second edge of the plastic body, the scored line adapted to allow the subcard body to be manually snapped off from the plastic body; a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by the subcard body; and an antenna supported by the subcard body and coupled to the RFID IC to transmit a signal generated by the RFID IC. In some embodiments, a kit includes: a first assembly including an identification token assembly; and a second assembly including: a body; a holder releasably attached to the body, the holder including a seat adapted to receive the subcard body after the subcard body is snapped off from the plastic body. In some embodiments, an assembly includes: a generally flat body; a carrier attached to the generally flat body, the carrier defining a seat; and a holder releasably received in the seat of the carrier, the holder defining a seat to receive an identification token. In some embodiments, a method includes: providing a card-shaped plastic body having a first edge and a second edge; scoring said plastic body from the first edge of the plastic body to the second edge of the plastic body to define a subcard body extending from the first edge of the plastic body to the second edge of the plastic body, the scored line adapted to allow the subcard body to be manually snapped off from the plastic body; supporting a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna with the subcard body; and coupling the antenna to the RFID IC.

Claims

1. An identification token assembly, comprising:

a card-shaped plastic body having a first edge and a second edge, said plastic body having a scored line formed therein, the plastic body including a subcard body extending from the first edge of the plastic body to the second edge of the plastic body, the scored line adapted to allow the subcard body to be manually snapped off from the plastic body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by the subcard body; and

an antenna supported by the subcard body and coupled to the RFID IC to transmit a signal generated by the RFID IC.

2. The identification token assembly of claim 1, wherein the plastic body comprises a length dimension and a height dimension, the height dimension of the plastic body is substantially 54 mm and the length dimension of the plastic body is substantially 85.6 mm, and wherein the scored line is substantially 18 mm from said right edge, such that said subcard body has dimensions of substantially 54 mm by 18 mm.

3. The identification token assembly of claim 1, wherein the plastic body comprises a generally rectangular card-shaped plastic body having a right edge and a left edge parallel to the right edge, said first edge comprising a top edge, said second edge comprising a bottom edge parallel to said top edge, said top and bottom edges oriented generally perpendicular to said left and right edges.

4. The identification token assembly of claim 3, wherein said top edge and said left edge are joined by a top left rounded corner, said bottom edge and said left edge are joined by a bottom left rounded corner, said top edge and said right edge are joined by a top right rounded corner, said bottom edge and said right edge are joined by a bottom right rounded corner.

5. The identification token assembly of claim 3, wherein the plastic body has a first notch formed in the top edge at a locus of the scored line and wherein the plastic body has a second notch, said second notch formed in the bottom edge at the locus of the scored line.

6. The identification token assembly of claim 5, wherein the first notch is defined between two convex quarter-circle radii and wherein the second notch is defined between two convex quarter-circle radii.

7. The identification token assembly of claim 1, wherein the RFID IC and the antenna are embedded in the subcard body.

8. The identification token assembly of claim 1, wherein the plastic body comprises a generally rectangular card-shaped plastic body having a right edge and a left edge parallel to the right edge, said first edge comprising a top edge, said second edge comprising a bottom edge parallel to said top edge, said top and bottom edges oriented generally perpendicular to said left and right edges, said top edge and said left edge are joined by a top left rounded corner, said bottom edge and said left edge are joined by a bottom left rounded corner, said top edge and said right edge are joined by a top right rounded corner, said bottom edge and said right edge are joined by a bottom right rounded corner, the plastic body has a first notch formed in the top edge at a locus of the scored line and wherein the plastic body has a second notch, said second notch formed in the bottom edge at the locus of the scored line, the first notch is defined between two convex quarter-circle radii, the second notch is defined between two convex quarter-circle radii, the RFID IC is embedded in the subcard body and the antenna is embedded in the subcard body.

9. The identification token assembly of claim 8, wherein the plastic body comprises a length dimension and a height dimension, the height dimension of the plastic body is substantially 54 mm and the length dimension of the plastic body is substantially 85.6 mm.

10. The identification token assembly of claim 9, wherein the scored line is substantially 18 mm from said right edge, such that said subcard body has dimensions of substantially 54 mm by 18 mm.

11. The identification token assembly of claim 9, wherein said scored line is a first scored line, and said plastic body has a second scored line, said second scored line being formed in said subcard body, said second scored line adjacent said lower right corner to define a detachable corner portion of said subcard body, said second scored line adapted to allow the detachable corner portion to be manually snapped off from the subcard body, the plastic body having a third notch, the third notch formed in the right edge at the locus of the second scored line, the third notch defined between two convex radii that are different in angular extent from each other, the plastic body having a fourth notch, the fourth notch formed in said bottom edge between said second notch and said bottom right corner of said plastic body, the fourth notch defined between two convex radii that are different in angular extent from each other;

the third and fourth notches both being voids in the right and bottom edges, respectively;

the second scored line extending to reach from the third notch to the fourth notch.

12. The identification token assembly of claim 11, wherein the first scored line is substantially 30 mm from said right edge, such that said subcard body has dimensions of substantially 54 mm by 30 mm.

20. A kit comprising:

a first assembly comprising a identification token assembly as recited in claim 1; and

a second assembly comprising;

a body;

a holder releasably attached to the body, the holder including a seat adapted to receive the subcard body after the subcard body is snapped off from the plastic body.

21. The kit of claim 20 further comprising a ring releasably attached to the card, the holder defining an opening to receive the ring.

22. The kit of claim 20 further comprising an envelope and wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are disposed within the envelope.

23. The kit of claim 22 wherein the envelope comprises a number 10 envelope.

13. A proximity payment device assembly, comprising:

a generally rectangular card-shaped plastic body having a length dimension and a height dimension, said plastic body having a right edge, a left edge parallel to the right edge, a top edge and a bottom edge parallel to said top edge, said top and bottom edges oriented generally perpendicular to said left and right edges, said top edge and said left edge joined by a top left rounded corner, said bottom edge and said left edge joined by a bottom left rounded corner, said top edge and said right edge joined by a top right rounded corner, said bottom edge and said right edge joined by a bottom right rounded corner, said plastic body having a scored line formed therein to define a subcard body as a portion of the plastic body, the scored line parallel to said right and left edges and adapted to allow the subcard body to be manually snapped off from the plastic body, the plastic body having a first notch formed in the top edge at a locus of the scored line, the first notch defined between two convex quarter-circle radii, the plastic body having a second notch, said second notch formed in the bottom edge at the locus of the scored line, the second notch defined between two convex quarter-circle radii;

the first and second notches both being voids in the top and bottom edges, respectively;

the scored line extending across the height dimension of the plastic body to reach from the first notch to the second notch;

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

an antenna embedded in the subcard body and coupled to the RFID IC to transmit a signal generated by the RFID IC.

14. The proximity payment device assembly of claim 13, wherein the height dimension of the plastic body is substantially 54 mm and the length dimension of the plastic body is substantially 85.6 mm.

15. The proximity payment device assembly of claim 14, wherein the scored line is substantially 18 mm from said right edge, such that said subcard body has dimensions of substantially 54 mm by 18 mm.

16. The proximity payment device assembly of claim 14, wherein said scored line is a first scored line, and said plastic body has a second scored line, said second scored line being formed in said subcard body, said second scored line adjacent said lower right corner to define a detachable corner portion of said subcard body, said second scored line adapted to allow the detachable corner portion to be manually snapped off from the subcard body, the plastic body having a third notch, the third notch formed in the right edge at the locus of the second scored line, the third notch defined between two convex radii that are different in angular extent from each other, the plastic body having a fourth notch, the fourth notch formed in said bottom edge between said second notch and said bottom right corner of said plastic body, the fourth notch defined between two convex radii that are different in angular extent from each other;

the third and fourth notches both being voids in the right and bottom edges, respectively;

the second scored line extending to reach from the third notch to the fourth notch.

17. The proximity payment device assembly of claim 16, wherein the first scored line is substantially 30 mm from said right edge, such that said subcard body has dimensions of substantially 54 mm by 30 mm.

18. The proximity payment device assembly of claim 16, wherein said second scored line is oriented at 45°

relative to said right and bottom edges.

19. The proximity payment device assembly of claim 13, wherein the RFID IC and the antenna are completely embedded in the subcard body.

24. An assembly comprising:

a generally flat body;

a carrier attached to the generally flat body, the carrier defining a seat; and

a holder releasably received in the seat of the carrier, the holder defining a seat to receive an identification token.

25. A method comprising:

providing a card-shaped plastic body having a first edge and a second edge;

scoring said plastic body from the first edge of the plastic body to the second edge of the plastic body to define a subcard body extending from the first edge of the plastic body to the second edge of the plastic body, the scored line adapted to allow the subcard body to be manually snapped off from the plastic body;

supporting a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna with the subcard body; and

coupling the antenna to the RFID IC.