Cards and assemblies with user interfaces

• US 8,066,191 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Workley, James H., Cloutier, Bruce S., Shepherd, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/710,315
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 235/488, 235/380, 235/383, 705/14
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07701 the record carrier comprising an interface suitable for human interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07745 Mounting details of integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components

Abstract

Laminated cards with user interfaces are provided. The user interfaces can have enhanced tactile feel. In one embodiment, a card may be constructed to have a dual-layer user interface. In another embodiment, a card may be constructed to include a support structure. In yet another embodiment, a card may include a relatively soft material that covers at least a portion of the user interface. In yet another embodiment, a card may include a user interface that is fluidically coupled to a bladder. In a further embodiment, a card can include any combination of a user interface, which may be a dual-layer user interface, a support structure, a soft material that at least partially covers a user interface, and a bladder.

Claims

1. A laminated card comprising:

a board;

a user interface on the board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the bladder is a second user interface on the board.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the bladder exists in a support structure fixed to the board.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein the user interface is one of a plurality of user interfaces and the bladder is not one of the user interfaces.

4. The card of claim 1, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

5. The card of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

6. The card of claim 1, further comprising:

a display.

7. The card of claim 1, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

8. A laminated card comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a user interface mounted to the printed circuit board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the bladder is a second user interface mounted to the printed circuit board.

9. The card of claim 8, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

10. The card of claim 8, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

11. The card of claim 8, further comprising:

a display.

12. The card of claim 8, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, printed circuit board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

13. The card of claim 8, wherein said printed circuit board is flexible.

14. A laminated card comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a user interface mounted to the printed circuit board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the bladder is a false user interface.

15. The card of claim 14, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

16. The card of claim 14, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

17. The card of claim 14, further comprising:

a display.

18. The card of claim 14, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, printed circuit board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

19. The card of claim 14, wherein said printed circuit board is flexible.

20. A laminated card comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a user interface mounted to the printed circuit board;

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface; and

a conduit for fluidically connecting the user interface and the bladder.

21. The card of claim 20, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

22. The card of claim 20, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

23. The card of claim 20, further comprising:

a display.

24. The card of claim 20, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, printed circuit board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

25. The card of claim 20, wherein said printed circuit board is flexible.

26. A laminated card comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a user interface mounted to the printed circuit board;

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface; and

a step structure fixed to the printed circuit board and a conduit for fluidically connecting the user interface and the bladder, wherein the user interface comprises a dual layer user interface having inner and outer layers, the outer layer mounted to a tier structure, and wherein the conduit exists in the step structure.

27. A laminated card comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a user interface mounted to the printed circuit board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the user interface is one of a plurality of user interfaces, and each user interface is fluidically coupled to the bladder.

28. A laminated card comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a user interface mounted to the printed circuit board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the user interface is one of a plurality of user interfaces and any one of the user interfaces is operative to function as the bladder.

29. The card of claim 28, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

30. The card of claim 28, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

31. The card of claim 28, further comprising:

a display.

32. The card of claim 28, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, printed circuit board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

33. The card of claim 28, wherein said printed circuit board is flexible.

34. A laminated card comprising:

a board;

a user interface on the board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the bladder is a false user interface.

35. The card of claim 34, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

36. The card of claim 34, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

37. The card of claim 34, further comprising:

a display.

38. The card of claim 34, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

39. A laminated card comprising:

a board;

a user interface on the board;

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface; and

a conduit for fluidically connecting the user interface and the bladder.

40. The card of claim 39, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

41. The card of claim 39, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

42. The card of claim 39, further comprising:

a display.

43. The card of claim 39, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

44. A laminated card comprising:

a board;

a user interface on the board;

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface; and

a step structure fixed to the board and a conduit for fluidically connecting the user interface and the bladder, wherein the user interface comprises a dual layer user interface having inner and outer layers, the outer layer mounted to a tier structure, and wherein the conduit exists in the step structure.

45. A laminated card comprising:

a board;

a user interface on the board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the user interface is one of a plurality of user interfaces, and each user interface is fluidically coupled to the bladder.

46. The card of claim 45, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

47. The card of claim 45, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

48. The card of claim 45, further comprising:

a display.

49. The card of claim 45, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.

50. A laminated card comprising:

a board;

a user interface on the board; and

a bladder fluidically coupled to the user interface, wherein the user interface is one of a plurality of user interfaces and any one of the user interfaces is operative to function as the bladder.

51. The card of claim 50, further comprising a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device.

52. The card of claim 50, further comprising:

a battery; and

a processor.

53. The card of claim 50, further comprising:

a display.

54. The card of claim 50, further comprising:

a top exterior layer;

a laminate material; and

a bottom exterior layer, wherein the laminate material, board, user interface, and bladder exist between the top and bottom exterior layers.