Transparent/translucent financial transaction card including an infrared light filter
DCFirst Claim
1. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs each having a source and a detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
- a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet being transparent or translucent with respect to human visible light; and
a near Infrared light filter covering one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet, said filter comprising a screen-printed coating of a light filtering powder dissolved in a clear liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight;
said filter producing sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs by blocking near Infrared light emitted by said source from reaching said detector, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light.
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Abstract
A financial transaction card is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment. The card includes a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge. The material sheet has one or more areas that are at least minimally transparent or translucent with respect to human-visible light. A filter associated with at least one of the areas provides sufficient opacity to light that is detectable by sensors in the automated card processing equipment to render the card detectable by the equipment.
116 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs each having a source and a detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted from said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
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a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet being transparent or translucent with respect to human visible light; and
a near Infrared light filter covering one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet, said filter comprising a screen-printed coating of a light filtering powder dissolved in a clear liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight;
said filter producing sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs by blocking near Infrared light emitted by said source from reaching said detector, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for manufacturing a financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs each having a source and a detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted by said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
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selecting a substantially planar material sheet having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
said material sheet being transparent or translucent with respect to human visible light;
applying a near Infrared filter to cover one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet, as follows;
dissolving a light filtering powder in a clear liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight to form a coating;
screen printing said coating onto said material sheet; and
allowing said coating to dry on said material sheet to harden said filter;
said filter producing sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs by blocking near Infrared light emitted by said source from reaching said detector, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light at a transmittance level of at least about 15%. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs each having a source and a detector respectively positioned to face opposing sides of said card when said card is positioned in said equipment for detection and to detect said card by sensing an interruption of near Infrared light transmitted by said source to said detector due to the presence of said card, comprising:
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a sheet of material that is transparent or translucent to human viewing and having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
a near Infrared filter applied to cover one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet;
said filter comprising a coating on said material sheet of a light absorbing dye powder dissolved in a clear plastic resin-based liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight;
said filter providing sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs by blocking near Infrared light emitted by said source from reaching said detector, thereby triggering detection of said card, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs, comprising:
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a sheet of material that is transparent or translucent to human viewing and having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
a near Infrared filter applied to cover one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet;
said filter comprising a coating on said material sheet of a light absorbing dye powder dissolved in a clear plastic resin-based liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight;
whereby said filter provides sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light; and
wherein said filter is made from a first organic solvent-soluble, near Infrared powdered absorption dye and a second organic solvent-soluble, near Infrared powdered absorption dye, said second dye having more ultraviolet light and/or heat stability than said first dye, said first and second dye materials being dissolved in said liquid carrier.
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38. A financial transaction card that is transparent or translucent to human viewing yet detectable by automated card processing equipment having near Infrared source/detector pairs, comprising:
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a sheet of material that is transparent or translucent to human viewing and having upper and lower surfaces bounded by a continuous peripheral edge;
a near Infrared filter applied to cover one of said upper or lower surfaces of said material sheet;
said filter comprising a coating on said material sheet of a light absorbing dye powder dissolved in a clear plastic resin-based liquid carrier at a powder-to-carrier ratio of about 0.2-5% by weight;
whereby said filter provides sufficient card opacity relative to one or more near Infrared light wavelengths to render said card detectable by said source/detector pairs, while still allowing said card to transmit human visible light; and
wherein said liquid carrier is a vinyl resin-based coating material that includes (by weight) about 20-25% vinyl resins, about 35-40% aromatic petroleum distillates, about 5-10% cyclohexanone, about 5-10% diacetone alcohol, about 5-10% gamma butyrolactone, less than about 5% naphthalene, and about 2% aliphatic petroleum distillates. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification