Passive smart cards, metal cards, payment objects and smart jewelry
First Claim
1. An RFID device comprising:
- a transponder chip module (TCM) comprising an RFID chip (IC) and a module antenna (MA);
characterized by;
a coupling frame (CF) comprising a conductive surface and having an electrical discontinuity comprising a slit (S) or non-conductive stripe (NCS) extending through the surface from an outer edge thereof to an inner position thereof, wherein the coupling frame is disposed so that the slit overlaps a portion of the module antenna;
wherein;
at least one of the coupling frame and the module antenna is moveable with respect to the other so that communication with the transponder chip module may selectively be enhanced or suppressed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
RFID devices comprising (i) a transponder chip module (TCM, 1410) having an RFIC chip (IC) and a module antenna (MA), and (ii) a coupling frame (CF) having an electrical discontinuity comprising a slit (S) or non-conductive stripe (NCS). The coupling frame may be disposed closely adjacent the transponder chip module so that the slit overlaps the module antenna. The RFID device may be a payment object such as a jewelry item having a metal component modified with a slit (S) to function as a coupling frame. The coupling frame may be moved (such as rotated) to position the slit to selectively overlap the module antennas (MA) of one or more transponder chip modules (TCM-1, TCM-2) disposed in the payment object, thereby selectively enhancing (including enabling) contactless communication between a given transponder chip module in the payment object and another RFID device such as an external contactless reader. The coupling frame may be tubular. A card body construction for a metal smart card is disclosed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An RFID device comprising:
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a transponder chip module (TCM) comprising an RFID chip (IC) and a module antenna (MA); characterized by; a coupling frame (CF) comprising a conductive surface and having an electrical discontinuity comprising a slit (S) or non-conductive stripe (NCS) extending through the surface from an outer edge thereof to an inner position thereof, wherein the coupling frame is disposed so that the slit overlaps a portion of the module antenna; wherein; at least one of the coupling frame and the module antenna is moveable with respect to the other so that communication with the transponder chip module may selectively be enhanced or suppressed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of selectively enhancing or suppressing communication with a transponder chip module (TCM) comprising an RFID chip (IC) and a module antenna (MA), the method comprising:
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providing a coupling frame (CF) having an electrical discontinuity comprising a slit (S) or non-conductive strips (NCS); and moving at least one of the transponder chip module (TCM) and the coupling frame (CF) so that (i) the slit overlaps the module antenna (MA) to enhance communication; and
(ii) the slit does not overlap the module antenna to suppress communication. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A card body construction for a smart card (SC) comprising:
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a first metal layer having an opening for receiving the a first portion of a transponder chip module and a slit extending from the opening to an outer edge of the layer, so that the layer may function as a coupling frame; a second metal layer has having an opening for receiving a second portion of the transponder chip module and a slit extending from the opening to an outer edge of the layer, so that the slit overlaps a module antenna of the transponder chip module; and a third metal layer having a slit overlapping the module antenna of the transponder chip module. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification