Proximity payment card with cost-effective connection between user-actuatable input switch and RFID IC

• US 7,762,471 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tanner, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/517,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/492, 235/572.3, 235/572.7, 235/572.8, 340/572.3, 340/572.7, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies

Abstract

An identification token includes a body and an RFID IC embedded in the body. The RFID IC includes a first terminal and a second terminal. An antenna is also embedded in the body and is coupled between the terminals of the RFID IC to form two connections between the RFID IC and the antenna. A user-actuatable switch is supported by the body and has two different states. The switch is coupled to at least one of the terminals of the RFID IC. The connections between the RFID IC and the antenna are uninterrupted when the switch is in either state. The switch is not coupled to the RFID IC by any terminal other than the two terminals by which the antenna is coupled to the RFID IC.

Claims

1. An identification token comprising:

a body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the body, the RFID IC including a first terminal and a second terminal;

an antenna embedded in the body and coupled between said first and second terminals of the RFID IC to form two connections between the RFID IC and the antenna; and

a user-actuatable switch supported by the body and coupled to at least one of the terminals of the RFID IC, the switch having a first state and a second state different from the first state;

wherein the two connections between the RFID IC and the antenna are uninterrupted such that the antenna is electrically conductively connected to the RFID IC by both connections when the switch is in said first state and are uninterrupted such that the antenna is electrically conductively connected to the RFID IC by both connections when the switch is in said second state;

wherein said switch is not coupled to the RFID IC by any terminal other than said first and second terminals; and

wherein the RFID IC detects actuation of the switch and responds to said actuation by selecting between two different payment card account numbers stored in the RFID IC;

whereby said actuation functions as an input signal to the RFID IC.

2. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the RFID IC has no terminal other than said first and second terminals.

3. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the switch is coupled to only one of said first and second terminals.

4. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the switch is coupled to both of said first and second terminals.

5. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the switch is a first switch, and further comprising a second user-actuatable switch supported by the body and coupled to at least one of the terminals.

6. The identification token of claim 5, wherein the second switch has a first state and a second state different from the first state of the second switch;

and

wherein the two connections between the RFID IC and the antenna are uninterrupted such that the antenna is electrically conductively connected to the RFID IC by both connections when the second switch is in its first state and are uninterrupted such that the antenna is electrically conductively connected to the RFID IC by both connections when the second switch is in its second state.

7. The identification token of claim 6, wherein said second switch is not coupled to the RFID IC by any terminal other than said first and second terminals.

8. The identification token of claim 6, wherein the second switch is connected in parallel with the first switch.

9. The identification token of claim 6, wherein the second switch is not connected in parallel with the first switch.

10. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the body is card-shaped.

11. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of plastic.

12. The identification token of claim 1, wherein the RFID IC stores at least one payment card account number.

13. The identification token of claim 12, wherein the RFID IC stores a plurality of payment card account numbers.

14. An identification token comprising:

a body;

an antenna embedded in the body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the body, the RFID IC having two and only two terminals, the antenna coupled directly between the two terminals of the RFID IC; and

a user-actuatable switch supported by the body and coupled to at least one of the terminals;

wherein the RFID IC detects actuation of the switch and responds to said actuation by selecting between two different payment card account numbers stored in the RFID IC;

whereby said actuation functions as an input signal to the RFID IC.

15. The identification token of claim 14, wherein the switch is connected across the antenna.

16. The identification token of claim 14, wherein the switch is connected in parallel with a connection between the antenna and one of the terminals.

17. A proximity payment card, comprising:

a card-shaped body;

an antenna embedded in the body;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the body, the RFID IC having two and only two terminals, the antenna coupled directly between the two terminals of the RFID IC; and

a user-actuatable switch supported by the body and coupled to at least one of the terminals;

wherein the RFID IC stores at least two payment card account numbers; and

wherein the RFID IC detects actuation of the switch and responds to said actuation by selecting among said at least two payment card account numbers stored in the RFID IC;

whereby said actuation functions as an input signal to the RFID IC.

18. The proximity payment card of claim 17, wherein the switch is connected across the antenna.

19. The proximity payment card of claim 17, wherein the switch is connected in parallel with a connection between the antenna and one of the terminals.

20. The proximity payment card of claim 19, wherein the switch is a first switch, and further comprising:

a second user-actuatable switch connected across the antenna.

21. A method comprising:

providing an identification token which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) having two terminals, an antenna connected to the two terminals and a user-actuatable switch coupled to at least one of the terminals in a manner such that the switch does not disconnect the antenna from the RFID IC when the switch is in an open state; and

said RFID IC detecting a change of state of the switch;

wherein said RFID IC responds to detecting said change of state of the switch by selecting between two different payment card account numbers stored in the RFID IC, whereby said change of state of the switch functions as an input signal to the RFID IC.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the switch is connected across the antenna.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the switch is connected in parallel with a connection between the antenna and one of the terminals.