Smartcard with coupling frame and method of increasing activation distance of a transponder chip module
First Claim
1. A coupling frame (CF) for a smartcard (SC), comprising:
- a metal layer (ML) having an opening (MO) for receiving a transponder chip module;
and a discontinuity, comprising a slit (S) or a non-conductive stripe (NCS), extending from the opening to a periphery of the metal layer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conductive coupling frame (CF) having two ends, forming an open loop having two ends or a discontinuous metal layer disposed surrounding and closely adjacent a transponder chip module (TCM, 610), and substantially coplanar with an antenna structure (AS, CES, LES) in the transponder chip module (TCM). A metal card body (MCB, CB) or a transaction card with a discontinuous metal layer having a slit (S) or a non-conductive strip (NCS, 1034) extending from a module opening (MO) to a periphery of the card body to function as a coupling frame (CF). The coupling frame (CF) may be thick enough to be non-transparent to RF at frequencies of interest. A switch (SW) may be provided to connect ends of the coupling frame (CF) across the slit (S, 630). A reinforcing structure (RS) may be provided to stabilize the coupling frame (CF) and card body (CB). The transponder chip module (TCM) may comprise an antenna structure which may be a laser-etched antenna structure (LES) or a chemical-etched antenna structure (CES), and may comprise and a non-perforated contact pad (CP) arrangement. A coupling frame (CF) may be incorporated onto the module tape (MT, CCT) for a transponder chip module (TCM).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A coupling frame (CF) for a smartcard (SC), comprising:
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a metal layer (ML) having an opening (MO) for receiving a transponder chip module; and a discontinuity, comprising a slit (S) or a non-conductive stripe (NCS), extending from the opening to a periphery of the metal layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of enhancing coupling of a transponder chip module (TCM) with an external reader, wherein the transponder chip module is disposed in a card body (CB, MCB) of a smart card having a metal layer (ML) and comprises an antenna structure (AS), characterized by:
forming the metal layer as a coupling frame (CF) closely adjacent to and surrounding the transponder chip module, wherein the coupling frame has an opening for receiving the transponder chip module and a slit (S) or a non-conductive stripe (NCS), extending from the opening to a periphery of the metal layer. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A smartcard comprising:
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a transponder chip module comprising an RFID chip and an antenna; and a coupling frame, comprising; a metal layer; an opening in the metal layer for receiving the transponder chip module; and a discontinuity, comprising a slit or a non-conductive stripe, extending from the opening to a periphery of the metal layer; wherein the coupling frame is disposed coplanar with the transponder chip module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification