Adapting element for programmable electronic holders

• US 7,147,165 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Entrust Datacard Corporation (Entrust Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Datacard Corp. (Entrust Corp.)
• Inventors: Berthe, Benoît, Beulet, Frédéric, Mongin, Hervé
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/747,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 235/486, 235/475, 361/737
• US Class Current: 235/486
• 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

Abstract

The present invention concerns an adapting element (1) for at least one programmable electronic holder (2) to be personalized, having surface size larger than that of all programmable electronic holder to be personalized and meeting size accepted by the personalization machine, wherein the adapting element (1) is provided with a housing (101) of suitable size and shape to house and maintain at least one programmable electronic holder (2), so that contact or contactless communication means (203–204) of programmable electronic holder (2) are respectively positioned opposite or close to respective contact or contactless communication means of the personalization machine (3).

Claims

1. A plurality of identical adapting elements, for at least one programmable electronic holder to be personalized, having surface size larger than that of all programmable electronic holders to be personalized and having a geometry enabling it to be accepted by a personalization machine, wherein the adapting element having a housing of suitable shape and size to house and maintain at least one programmable electronic holder, so that a contact or contactless communication arrangement of the programmable electronic holder is respectively positioned opposite or close to a respective contact or contactless communication arrangement of the personalization machine, the elements being

in combination with a multipurpose personalization machine for programmable electronic holders, the personalization machine comprising at least;

an unstacking system to unstack adapting elements from an input hopper, and a stacking system to stack adapting elements in an output hopper, the input hopper and the output hopper possibly being separate or not,

an insertion system to insert programmable electronic holders in adapting elements at a start of the personalization machine, and a removal system to remove the programmable electronic holders from adapting elements at an end of the personalization machine,

a driving system to drive the adapting elements provided with programmable electronic holders, to cause them to transit through the personalization machine, and

a personalization device comprising a communication system between a database supplying the personalization data and the programmable electronic holders via contact or contactless link between the personalization device of the personalization machine and the communication means of the programmable electronic holder, to enable personalization of the programmable electronic holders by programming personalization data.

2. A plurality of identical adapting elements for adapting a specific category of programmable electronic holders to be personalized to a personalization machine, each adapting element being arranged to be transported respectively between an unstacking system for unstacking adapting elements and a personalization device, and between a personalization device and a stacking system to stack adapting elements, the adapting element having (a) a surface size larger than that of all programmable electronic holders to be personalized and (b) a geometry so that it can be accepted by a personalization machine, wherein the adapting element comprises a housing defining a cavity of suitable shape and size to house at least one programmable electronic holder having a determined form or type to be inserted in the adapting element during transportation between an unstacking system and a personalization device and to be removed from the adapting element during transportation between a personalization device and a stacking system, said housing being arranged for maintaining a programmable electronic holder inserted in said housing so that a contact or contactless communication arrangement of the programmable electronic holder is positioned opposite or close to a respective contact or contactless communication arrangement of the personalization device of a personalization machine to enable a communication link to be provided between the programmable electronic holder and the personalization machine, the plurality of identical adapting elements being in combination with a multipurpose personalization machine for programmable electronic holders, the personalization machine comprising:

(a) an unstacking system for stacking the adapting elements in an input hopper,

(b) a stacking system for stacking adapting elements in an output hopper, the input hopper and the output hopper being separate from each other or not,

(c) an insertion system for inserting the programmable electronic holders in adapting elements at an input of the personalization machine, and a removal system to remove the programmable electronic holders from adapting elements at an output of the personalization machine,

(d) a driving system for driving the adapting elements provided with programmable electronic holders, to cause them to transit through the personalization machine, and

(e) a personalization device comprising a communication system between a database for supplying the personalization data and the programmable electronic holders via a contact or contactless link between the personalization device of the personalization machine and the communication arrangement of the programmable electronic holder for enabling personalization of the programmable electronic holders by programming personalization data.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said housing includes a body deprived of any contact or contactless communication element.

4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the adapting element is an analogue adapting element and said body has a flat mechanical interface adapted for a personalization machine and stackable with other analogue adapting elements.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein the adapting element is a single piece independent of said personalization machine, the arrangement of the housing for maintaining the programmable electronic holder inserted in the housing including a connector for connecting one side of a flat programmable electronic holder.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the flat programmable electronic holder is a smart card.

7. The combination of claim 2 in combination with another plurality of identical adapting elements, each of the adapting elements of the another plurality being arranged to be transported respectively between an unstacking system for unstacking adapting elements and a personalization device, and between a personalization device and a stacking system to stack adapting elements, each of the adapting elements of the another plurality having (a) a surface size larger than that of all programmable electronic holders to be personalized and (b) a geometry so that it can be accepted by a personalization machine, wherein the adapting element comprises a housing defining a cavity of suitable shape and size to house at least one programmable electronic holder having a determined form or type to be inserted in the adapting element during transportation between an unstacking system and a personalization device and to be removed from the adapting element during transportation between a personalization device and a stacking system, said housing being arranged for maintaining a programmable electronic holder inserted in said housing so that a contact or contactless communication arrangement of the programmable electronic holder is positioned opposite or close to a respective contact or contactless communication arrangement of the personalization device of a personalization machine to enable a communication link to be provided between the programmable electronic holder and the personalization machine

the another plurality of identical adapting elements being arranged for providing an adaptation for one other single form or one other type of programmable electronic holders to be personalized.