Adapting element for programmable electronic holders and use in a multipurpose personalization machine

• US 7,183,505 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Entrust Datacard Corporation (Entrust Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Datacard Corp. (Entrust Corp.)
• Inventors: Berthe, Beno, Auchere, Sylvain, Mongin, Herve, Beulet, Free
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Hung V.
• Application Number:
  US10/747,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20050034889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 174/52.1, 174/52.4, 174/520, 361/737, 361/681, 361/684, 361/686, 361/685, 361/748, 439/59, 257/679, 710/303
• US Class Current: 174/520
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00

Abstract

The present invention concerns an adapting element (1) for at least one programmable electronic holder (2) to be personalized, having a size larger than that of all programmable electronic holders to be personalized and meeting the size accepted by a personalization machine, the adapting element (1) being characterized in that it is provided with a housing (101) of adapted size and shape to house and maintain at least one programmable electronic holder (2), and in that it comprises first communication means (103) enabling it to receive personalization data via contact or contactless link, from a personalization device of a personalization machine, and second communication means (102, 104) enabling it to transmit said personalization data to the programmable electronic holder via contact or contactless link. The present invention also concerns the use of the adapting element (1) in a multipurpose personalization device for programmable electronic holders.

Claims

1. An adapting element for at least one programmable electronic holder, the adapting element having a surface size larger than that of all the programmable electronic holders, the programmable electronic holder being arranged to be personalized in a personalization machine, the adapting element being of a size to enable it to be received by the personalization machine , the size of the adapting element enabling the adapting element to be driven in the personalization machine including a transportation system for transferring the adapting elements to a plurality of personalization stations, the adapting element being of a size to enable it to be received by the personalization machine, the size of the adapting element enabling the adapting element to be moved on the transportation system, the adapting element including (a) a housing having a shape and size to house and hold in place at least one of the programmable electronic holders of a given size and shape, (b) a receiver arrangement for enabling the adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine via a contact or contactless link, and (C) a transmitter arrangement for enabling the adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the at least one programmable electronic holder via a contact or contactless link.

2. The adapting element according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter arrangement includes at least one holder connector, able to hold in place at least one programmable electronic holder, and electric or optical links, ensuring a link between the holder connector and the receiver arrangement.

3. The adapting element according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter arrangement includes an antenna which allows the adapting element to communicate via a contactless link with the programmable electronic holder, the antenna being connected to the receiver arrangement and arranged opposite at least a portion of the programmable electronic holder comprising an antenna.

4. The adapting element according to claim 3, wherein the antenna is connected to the receiver arrangement includes an electronic card having components for managing communication between the adapting element and the programmable electronic holder.

5. The adapting element according to claim 1, wherein the receiver arrangement includes an antenna for enabling the adapting element to communicate via a contactless link with the personalization device of the personalization machine.

6. In combination, a plurality of identical adapting elements, each of each adapting element being for at least one programmable electronic holder, each adapting element having a surface size larger than that of all the programmable electronic holders, the programmable electronic holder being arranged to be personalized in a personalization machine, each adapting element being of a size to enable it to be received by the personalization machine, the size of each adapting element enabling each adapting element to be driven in the personalization machine, each adapting element including (a) a housing having a shape and size to house and hold in place at least one of the programmable electronic holders of a given size and shape, (b) a receiver arrangement for enabling each adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine via a contact or contactless link, and (c) a transmitter arrangement for enabling each adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the at least one programmable electronic holder via a contact or contactless link, each of the adapting elements being in a multipurpose personalization machine for personalized programmable electronic holders, the personalization machine including:

an unstacking system to unstack the 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 being combined or constituting separate components,

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

a driving system to drive the adapting elements including the programmable electronic holders and causing the adapting elements to transit through the personalization machine, and

a personalization device comprising a communication system between a database for supplying the personalization data and the programmable electronic holders via the adapting elements to enable personalization of the programmable electronic holders by programming the personalization data.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the driving system includes a tape or belt.

8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the driving system includes a revolving disk.

9. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the insertion and/or removal systems for the programmable electronic holders and/or the stacking system and/or unstacking systems for the adapting elements are manual.

10. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the personalization device of the personalization machine includes a cylinder, wheel or linear elevator comprising a plurality of connectors for connecting with contact lugs of the adapting elements.

11. In combination, a plurality of identical adapting elements, each of the adapting elements being in a multipurpose personalization machine for personalized programmable electronic holders, each of the adapting elements having a surface size larger than that of all programmable electronic holders to be personalized and meeting the size accepted by a personalization machine, the adapting element including (a) a housing of adapted shape and size to house and maintain at least one programmable electronic holder, (b) a receiver arrangement for enabling the adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine via contact or contactless link, and (c) a transmitter arrangement for enabling the adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the programmable electronic holder via contact or contactless link, 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 the adapting elements at the start of operation of the personalization machine, and a removal system to remove the programmable electronic holders from the adapting elements at the end of operation of the personalization machine,

a driving system to drive adapting elements including programmable electronic holders and causing the adapting elements to transit through the personalization machine, and

a personalization device comprising a communication system between a database for supplying the personalization data and the programmable electronic holders via the adapting elements to enable personalization of the programmable electronic holders by programming the personalization data.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the driving system includes a tape or belt.

13. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the driving system includes a revolving disk.

14. The combination according to claim 11 ,wherein at least one of the insertion and removal systems for the programmable electronic holders is respectively arranged to provide manual insertion and removal, and at least one of the stacking system and unstacking systems for the adapting elements is respectively arranged to provide manual stacking and unstacking.

15. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the personalization device of the personalization machine includes a cylinder, wheel or linear elevator comprising a plurality of connectors for connecting with contact lugs of the adapting elements.

16. An adapting element for a personalization machine comprising a transportation system for transferring the adapting elements to a plurality of personalization stations, each adapting element having a surface size larger than that of all of the programmable electronic holders to be personalized and being of a size (a) to enable the adapting elements to be received by the personalization machine, and (b) to enable the adapting elements to be moved on the transportation system of the personalization machine, the adapting element including:

(a) a housing having a shape and size to house and hold in place plural programmable electronic holders of different given sizes and shapes at different times, (b) a first contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine, and (c) a second contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the at least one programmable electronic holder for enabling personalization of the programmable holders.

17. The element according to claim 16, in combination with a system including the personalization machine and a driving system, the driving system including a tape or belt for driving plurality of the adapting elements to and from the personalization device.

18. An adapting element for a personalization machine to enable personalization of programmable electronic holders, the adapting element having a surface size larger than that of all of the programmable electronic holders to be personalized and being of a size (a) to enable the adapting element to be received by the personalization machine, and (b) to enable the adapting element to be driven in the personalization machine, the adapting element including:

(a) a housing having a shape and size to house and hold in place plural programmable electronic holders of different given sizes and shapes at different times, (b) a first contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine, and (c) a second contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the at least one programmable electronic holder, the adapting element being in combination with a system including the personalization machine and a driving system, the driving system including a revolving disk for driving a plurality of the adapting elements to and from the personalization device.

19. An adapting element for a personalization machine to enable personalization of programmable electronic holders, the adapting element having a surface size larger than that of all of the programmable electronic holders to be personalized and being of a size (a) to enable the adapting element to be received by the personalization machine, and (b) to enable the adapting element to be driven in the personalization machine, the adapting element including:

(a) a housing having a shape and size to house and hold in place plural programmable electronic holders of different given sizes and shapes at different times, (b) a first contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine, and (c) a second contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the at least one programmable electronic holder, the adapting element being in combination with (a) the personalization machine, (b) a system for driving a plurality of the elements to and from the personalization device, (c) a system for inserting the elements on the driving system, (d) a system for removing the elements from the driving system, (e) a system for stacking the elements on the driving system, and (f) a system for unstacking the elements from the driving system, at least one of the systems (c), and (d) being respectively arranged for manual insertion and removal of the elements, at least one of the systems (e) and (f) being respectively arranged for manual stacking and unstacking of the elements.

20. An adapting element for a personalization machine to enable personalization of programmable electronic holders, the adapting element having a surface size larger than that of all of the programmable electronic holders to be personalized and being of a size (a) to enable the adapting element to be received by the personalization machine, and (b) to enable the adapting element to be driven in the personalization machine, the adapting element including:

(a) a housing having a shape and size to house and hold in place plural programmable electronic holders of different given sizes and shapes at different times, (b) a first contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to receive personalization data from a personalization device of the personalization machine, and (c) a second contact or contactless communication device for enabling the adapting element to transmit said personalization data to the at least one programmable electronic holder, the adapting element being in combination with the personalization machine, the personalization device of the personalization machine including (a) a cylinder, wheel or linear elevator for carrying a plurality of the elements at one time , and (b) a plurality of connectors for connecting with contact lugs of the adapting elements.