Dynamic magnetic stripe communications device with stepped magnetic material for magnetic cards and devices

• US 9,646,750 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Workley, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US14/660,920
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 235488, 235380, 235492, 235451, 235487, 235493, 235449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils

Abstract

A flexible card may include a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device having multiple layers, such as an electromagnetic generator, a magnet, and a shield. A shield may form a non-flexible layer within the stack and may bend, but the shield may not be able to stretch or compress. Flexible layers may surround and adhere to the shield such that when the card is flexed, the flexible layers may stretch and compress with the movement of the shield. The dynamic magnetic stripe communications device may include one or more coils. Each coil may contain a stepped material, such that a length of a lower layer of the stepped material is longer than a length of a middle layer of the stepped material which is longer than a length of a top layer of the stepped material.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a coil;

a first layer including a soft magnetic material, the first layer at least partially within the coil; and

a second layer including a soft magnetic material, the second layer on the first layer, a length of the second layer being less than a length of the first layer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein an end of the first layer extends beyond an end of the second layer at a first end of the coil.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein an end of the first layer extends beyond an end of the second layer at a first end of the coil, and

an end of the first layer extends beyond an end of the second layer at a second end of the coil.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of the first layer is between about 2.9 to 3.1 inches, and

the length of the second layer is between about 2.8 and 2.9 inches.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of the first layer is about 2.984 inches, and

the length of the second layer is about 2.858 inches.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer,

wherein an end of the first layer extends beyond an end of the second layer and an end of the third layer at a first end of the coil.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer,

wherein a first end of the first layer extends beyond a first end of the second layer and a first end of the third layer at a first end of the coil, and

the first end of the second layer extends beyond the first end of the third layer at the first end of the coil.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer,

wherein a first end of the first layer extends beyond a first end of the second layer and a first end of the third layer at a first end of the coil, and

a second end of the first layer extends beyond a second end of the second layer and a second end of the third layer at a second end of the coil.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer,

wherein a first end of the first layer extends beyond a first end of the second layer and a first end of the third layer at a first end of the coil,

a second end of the first layer extends beyond a second end of the second layer and a second end of the third layer at a second end of the coil,

the first end of the second layer extends beyond the first end of the third layer at the first end of the coil, and

the second end of the second layer extends beyond the second end of the third layer at the second end of the coil.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer,

wherein the length of the first layer is between about 2.9 to 3.1 inches,

the length of the second layer is between about 2.8 and 2.9 inches, and

the length of the third layer is between about 2.7 and 2.8 inches.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third layer including a soft magnetic material, the third layer on the first layer and the second layer, a length of the third layer being less than the length of the second layer,

wherein the length of the first layer is about 2.984 inches,

the length of the second layer is about 2.858 inches, and

the length of the third layer is about 2.734 inches.