TRANSACTION CARD

• US 20080251581A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Faenza, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,066,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/04 Transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/20 Coloured material; Pigments or inks
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/30 Plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/351 Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/382 absorbing or reflecting infrared light

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing a transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features. An optically recognizable compound may be associated with a portion of the card for blocking infrared radiation and may comprise an infrared ink having nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles. Moreover, a portion of the transaction card may include a second optically recognizable compound disposed thereon. The second optically recognizable compound may comprise an infrared phthalocyanine dye, an infrared phosphor, and a quantum dot energy transfer compound. The infrared ink may be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.

Claims

1. A transaction card having a portion comprising:

a layer that is at least one of translucent and transparent; and

a first infrared blocking compound associated with said layer, wherein said first infrared blocking compound further comprises nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles.

2. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline indium tin oxide is incorporated into an ink.

3. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said infrared blocking compound blocks infrared radiation above about 1200 nm.

4. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said infrared blocking compound blocks infrared radiation from between about 1300 nm to about 2500 nm.

5. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said first infrared blocking compound is incorporated into said layer.

6. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles are dispersed in a solvent.

7. The transaction card of claim 6, wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of cyclohexane, n-propyl alcohol, free flow alkyd, and a mixture of VMCA resin in n-propyl acetate.

8. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles are incorporated into a plastic layer.

9. The transaction card of claim 1, further comprising a second infrared blocking compound associated with said layer.

10. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein said second infrared blocking compound is a quantum dot compound.

11. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein said second infrared blocking compound is an ink.

12. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein second infrared blocking compound comprises an infrared blocking film comprising a plurality of layers disposed on a substrate, said plurality of layers comprising at least two layers having different refractive indices.

13. The transaction card of claim 11, wherein said ink is selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, and Indium Oxide.

14. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein second infrared blocking compound comprises at least one of an isotropic dielectric multilayer film and a birefringement dielectric multilayer film.

15. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said layer has a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first infrared blocking material is a first ink that is printed onto said first surface and said second infrared blocking compound is a second ink that is printed onto said second surface.

16. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein said layer has a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first infrared blocking compound is disposed on said first surface and said second infrared blocking compound is disposed on said second surface.

17. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein said layer has a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first infrared blocking compound is disposed on at least one of said first surface and said second infrared blocking compound is disposed on said second surface.

18. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said first infrared blocking compound substantially covers at least one of said first surface and said second surface of said layer.

19. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein said first infrared blocking compound is a first ink that is printed onto said layer and said second infrared blocking compound is a second ink that is printed onto said layer.

20. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said layer is comprised of at least one of glass and a polymeric material.

21. A method of making an article, comprising the steps of:

providing a first layer that is at least one of translucent and transparent; and

,

associating a first infrared blocking compound to said layer, wherein said first infrared blocking compound further comprises nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said associating further comprises laminating said first layer to a second layer comprising a second infrared blocking compound.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating a second infrared blocking compound to said first layer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said second infrared blocking compound further comprises a quantum dot compound.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said second infrared blocking compound further comprises an infrared absorbing ink.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said second infrared blocking compound further comprises an infrared blocking film comprising a plurality of layers disposed on a substrate, said plurality of layers comprising at least two layers having different refractive indices.

27. A method of detecting an article comprising:

detecting an article by a reader, wherein a portion of said article comprises at least one of a translucent and transparent layer and a first infrared blocking compound associated with said surface, wherein said infrared blocking compound comprises nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles;

directing a beam of infrared light on a sensor in communication with said reader; and

determining when said beam of infrared light does not reach said sensor;

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising conducting a transaction in accordance with said determining.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising identifying a person in accordance with said determining.

30. An article having a portion comprising:

at least one of a translucent and transparent surface;

a first infrared blocking compound capable of blocking infrared light in a first wavelength range, said first infrared blocking compound associated with at least one of said surface and a second infrared blocking compound;

said second infrared blocking compound capable of blocking infrared light in a second wavelength range, said second infrared blocking compound associated with at least one of said surface and said first infrared blocking compound;

wherein said first infrared blocking compound comprises nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles.

31. The article of claim 30, wherein said first wavelength range does not overlap with said second wavelength range.

32. The article of claim 30, wherein said first wavelength range is above about 800 nm and below about 1000 nm.

33. The article of claim 30, wherein said first wavelength range is above about 1000 nm.

34. The article of claim 30, wherein said second infrared blocking compound comprises at least one of a birefringement dielectric multilayer film and an isotropic dielectric multilayer film.

35. The article of claim 30, wherein said second infrared blocking compound comprises an infrared blocking ink.

36. The article of claim 30, wherein said second infrared blocking compound comprises a metallic compound.

37. The article of claim 30, wherein said second infrared blocking compound comprises an infrared blocking film comprising a plurality of layers disposed on a substrate, said plurality of layers comprising at least two layers having different refractive indices.

38. The article of claim 30, wherein said second infrared blocking compound comprises a quantum dot compound.