Method and apparatus for personalizing contactless card with switch

• US 7,731,094 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phillips, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/702,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/487, 235/492
• 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

Abstract

An identification token is provided which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), an antenna and a switch. The switch is normally in a first state and is actuatable by a user'"'"'s finger to a second state different from the first state. The identification token includes a conductive connection connected to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna. The identification token is enabled to send and receive signals so long as the conductive connection is unbroken. The identification token is subjected to a personalization process and the conductive connection is broken after or during the personalization process. After the conductive connection is broken, the switch operates to switch the identification token between operative and in operative states. Before the conductive connection is broken, the switch is actuatable but actuating the switch does not change the state of the identification token.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an identification token which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), an antenna and a switch, said switch being normally in a first state and being actuatable by a user'"'"'s finger to a second state different from said first state, said identification token including a conductive connection connected to at least one of said RFID IC and said antenna, said identification token being enabled to send and receive signals so long as said conductive connection is unbroken;

personalizing said identification token; and

breaking said conductive connection;

wherein;

after said conductive connection is broken, said switch is operable to switch the identification token from an inoperative condition to an operative condition; and

before said conductive connection is broken, said switch is actuatable from said first state to said second state but is not operative to switch the identification token from said inoperative condition to said operative condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said conductive connection, prior to being broken, is connected to short-circuit said switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said switch is open in said first state, and is at least partially electrically conductive in said second state.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said switch open-circuits a connection between said antenna and said RFID IC when said switch is in said first state, and said switch completes said connection between said antenna and said RFID IC when said switch is in said second state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

testing said personalized identification token prior to breaking said conductive connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said personalizing includes storing at least one identification code in the RFID IC.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said storing includes wirelessly transmitting said at least one identification code to said identification token.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one human-readable character includes at least one digit of a payment account number stored in said RFID IC.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said identification token includes a card-shaped body which supports said RFID IC, said antenna and said switch; and

said breaking of said conductive connection is performed by embossing at least one human-readable character in said card-shaped body.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said identification token includes a card-shaped body which supports said RFID IC, said antenna and said switch; and

said breaking of said conductive connection is performed by detaching from said card-shaped body a portion of said card-shaped body, said portion including a portion of said conductive connection.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said detaching is performed by snapping off said portion of said card-shaped body along a scored line that defines said portion of said card-shaped body relative to said card-shaped body.

12. An identification token, comprising:

a plastic body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by said plastic body;

an antenna supported by said plastic body;

a normally-open switch that is actuatable by a user'"'"'s finger and is supported by said plastic body; and

a conductive connection parallel to said switch to short-circuit the normally-open switch said conductive connection functionally coupling the antenna to the RFID IC even when the switch is in an unactuated condition.

13. The identification token of claim 12, wherein said switch open-circuits a connection between said antenna and said RFID IC when said switch is in an open condition, and said switch completes said connection between said antenna and said RFID IC when said switch is in a closed condition.

14. The identification token of claim 12, wherein said plastic body is substantially card-shaped.

15. The identification token of claim 12, wherein:

said plastic body includes a detachable portion defined by a scored line in said plastic body; and

said conductive connection passes through said detachable portion of said plastic body.

16. An identification token comprising:

a card-shaped plastic body having human-readable characters embossed therein;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by said plastic body;

an antenna supported by said plastic body;

a normally-open switch that is actuatable by a user'"'"'s finger and is supported by said plastic body, wherein actuation of said switch allows for interactions by external devices with the RFID IC; and

a conductive connection embedded in said plastic body and broken at one of said embossed human-readable characters.

17. The identification token of claim 16, wherein said identification token is operative to perform a payment card transaction when said switch is in a closed condition and said identification token is not operative to perform a payment card transaction when said switch is in an open condition.

18. The identification token of claim 17, wherein said switch open-circuits a connection between said antenna and said RFID IC when said switch is in said open condition, and said switch completes said connection between said antenna and said RFID IC when said switch is in said closed condition.

19. A method comprising:

providing an identification token which includes a card-shaped plastic body, a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by said plastic body, an antenna embedded in said plastic body, a normally-open switch supported by said plastic body, and a conductive connection embedded in said plastic body and connected to short-circuit said switch;

storing information in said RFID IC by wirelessly transmitting said information to said antenna;

testing said identification token by exchanging wireless communication with said identification token; and

after said storing and testing, embossing at least one human-readable character in said plastic body, said embossing causing said conductive connection to be broken such that said switch is operable to switch said identification token between an inoperative condition and an operative condition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one human-readable character includes numerals that represent said at least one payment account number stored in said RFID IC.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said switch is connected between said antenna and said RFID IC, and said conductive connection is, prior to said embossing, connected between said antenna and said RFID IC.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said testing includes causing the identification token to transmit information stored in said RFID IC.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said storing includes wirelessly transmitting a power signal to said identification token.

24. A method comprising:

providing an identification token which includes a card-shaped plastic body, a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by said plastic body, an antenna embedded in said plastic body, a normally-open switch supported by said plastic body, and a conductive connection embedded in said plastic body and connected to short-circuit said switch;

storing information in said RFID IC by wirelessly transmitting said information to said antenna;

testing said identification token by exchanging wireless communication with said identification token; and

after said storing and testing, detaching a portion of said plastic body to break said conductive connection.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said switch is connected between said antenna and said RFID IC, and said conductive connection is, prior to said detaching, connected between said antenna and said RFID IC.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said testing includes causing the identification token to transmit an identification code stored in said RFID IC.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said storing includes wirelessly transmitting a power signal to said identification token.

28. An identification token, comprising:

a card-shaped plastic body which includes a detachable portion defined by a scored line in said plastic body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) supported by said plastic body, said RFID IC including a plurality of terminals;

an antenna supported by said plastic body;

a normally-open switch that is actuatable by a user'"'"'s finger and is coupled to at least one of said terminals of said RFID IC; and

a conductive connection that passes through said detachable portion of said plastic body, said conductive connection connected to at least one terminal of said RFID IC.