Manufacturing system to produce contactless devices with switches

• US 8,157,178 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dewan, Sunil, Kean, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US11/875,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/492, 235/379
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"

Abstract

A contactless device comprises circuitry storing information, a switch having a first position and a second position, and a fusible link. When the fusible link is intact, wireless reading and writing of the information is enabled regardless of the position of the switch. When the fusible link has been parted, wireless reading of the information is enabled when the switch is in the first position, and wireless reading of the information is disabled when the switch is in the second position. The contactless device may be placed in a non-responsive state, and transformed to a responsive state by parting a second fusible link, or by transmitting an authenticating code to the device. The contactless device may be a card, or some other kind of device.

Claims

1. A contactless device, comprising:

circuitry comprising memory for storing information;

a switch operably coupled to the circuitry, the switch having a first position and a second position; and

a fusible link electrically coupled to the circuitry;

wherein when the fusible link is intact, wireless reading and writing of the information from and to the memory are enabled regardless of the switch position; and

wherein after the fusible link has been parted, wireless reading of the information is enabled when the switch is in the first position and wireless reading of the information is disabled when the switch is in the second position.

2. The contactless device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna for wirelessly receiving and transmitting information to and from the circuitry, and

wherein when the fusible link is intact, the antenna is fully connected to the circuitry regardless of the switch position; and

after the fusible link has been parted, the antenna is fully connected to the circuitry when the switch is in the first position, and the antenna is at least partially disconnected from the circuitry when the switch is in the second position.

3. The contactless device of claim 1, wherein the fusible link is wired in parallel with the switch.

4. The contactless device of claim 1, wherein the contactless device is a payment device, and wherein the information comprises an account credential.

5. The contactless device of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a credential allowing access, a credential allowing authorization, or identification information.

6. The contactless device of claim 1, further comprising a second fusible link electrically coupled to the circuitry, the parting of which transforms the contactless device from a non-responsive state to a responsive state.

7. A method, comprising:

providing a contactless device comprising

     1) circuitry that further comprises memory for storing information,

     2) an intact fusible link electrically coupled to the circuitry, and

     3) a switch operably coupled to the circuitry and having a first position and a second position;

personalizing the contactless device by storing information in the circuitry; and

parting the fusible link, thereby configuring the contactless device so that wireless reading of the information from the memory is enabled when the switch is in the first position and wireless reading of the information from the memory is disabled when the switch is in the second position.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein parting the fusible link comprises melting the fusible link by the application of electrical current.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising, after personalizing the contactless device, placing the contactless device in a non-responsive state.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein placing the contactless device in a non-responsive state further comprises storing a blocking code in the memory comprised in the contactless device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising transforming the contactless device from the non-responsive state to a responsive state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the contactless device from the non-responsive state to the responsive state comprises parting a second fusible link comprised in the contactless device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the contactless device from the non-responsive state to the responsive state comprises removing or replacing a blocking code stored in the memory comprised in the contactless device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the contactless device from the non-responsive state to the responsive state comprises wirelessly transmitting an authenticating code to the contactless device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the contactless device from the non-responsive state to the responsive state comprises wirelessly transmitting an authenticating code to the contactless device from a separate authenticating device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the contactless device from the non-responsive state to the responsive state is performed by an intended user of the contactless device.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the contactless device is a payment device, and the information comprises an account identifier.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the information allows payment, access, or authorization.

19. A system, comprising:

a contactless payment device, the contactless payment device comprising

     1) circuitry that further comprises memory for storing account information,

     2) a switch operably coupled to the circuitry and having two positions such that wireless reading of account information from the memory is enabled when the switch is in the first position and wireless reading of account information from the memory is disabled when the switch is in the second position, and

     3) a fusible link electrically coupled to the circuitry, the parting of which fusible link transforms the contactless payment device from a non-responsive state to a responsive state; and

a separate device for parting the fusible link.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the separate device is a sleeve, and wherein parting the fusible link comprises inserting the contactless device into the sleeve.

21. A system, comprising:

a contactless payment device comprising circuitry and a fusible link electrically coupled to the circuitry;

a personalization machine configured to personalize the contactless payment device by storing identifying information in a memory comprised in the circuitry; and

a module configured inline with the personalization machine, the module further configured to blow the fusible link in the contactless payment device.