Transaction card having internal lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10867230-B2
Application number	US-201916251204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

A transaction card construction and a method for making a transaction card are described. The transaction card construction comprises an inlay component and a housing component. The inlay component may comprise a light-penetrable layer and a backer layer. A light source may be disposed on or in the housing component, and the housing component and the inlay component may be joined such that light emitted by the light source passes through the inlay component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transaction card, comprising:
a housing component comprising a cavity having a cavity wall;
a light source; and
an inlay component configured to fit into the cavity and to change an appearance of the transaction card by modifying at least a portion of a light emitted by the light source.

2. The transaction card of claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to supply electrical power to the light source.

3. The transaction card of claim 2 , further comprising a switch configured to activate and deactivate the light source.

4. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources.

5. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the light source is disposed on the cavity wall.

6. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the inlay component comprises one of a clear, a transparent, or a translucent inlay.

7. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein modifying comprises diffusing the at least the emitted light portion to create an even distribution of light intensity in the inlay component.

8. The transaction card of claim 1 , further comprising a data storage component comprising at least one of a microchip, a communication device, a magnetic strip, a barcode, or a Quick Response (QR) code.

9. The transaction card of claim 1 , further comprising visual information on an outer surface of the transaction card.

10. A transaction card, comprising:
a housing component comprising a cavity having a cavity wall;
a light source configured to emit light having a color;
a power source configured to supply electrical power to the light source; and
an inlay component configured to fit into the cavity and to change an appearance of the transaction card by modifying the color based on a state-of-charge of the power source.

11. The transaction card of claim 10 , further comprising a switch configured to activate and deactivate the light source.

12. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources.

13. The transaction card of claim 11 , wherein upon activation, the light source is configured to emit a first color based on a first state-of-charge of the power source.

14. The transaction card of claim 11 , wherein upon activation, the light source is further configured to emit a second color based on a second state-of-charge of the power source.

15. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein the state-of-charge of the power source comprises one of a full power, a medium power, or a low power.

16. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein the inlay component comprises one of a clear, a transparent, or a translucent inlay.

17. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein changing an appearance of the transaction card comprises diffusing at least a portion of the emitted light to create an even distribution of light intensity in the inlay component.

18. The transaction card of claim 10 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable power source.

19. The transaction card of claim 10 , further comprising visual information on an outer surface of the transaction card.

20. A method of manufacturing a transaction card, the method comprising:
forming a housing component comprising a cavity having a cavity wall;
providing a light source powered by a power source, the light source emitting light having a color;
forming an inlay component configured to:
fit into the cavity; and

change an appearance of the transaction card by modifying at least a portion of a light emitted by the light source, wherein the color of the emitted light indicates a state-of-charge of the power source.

Assignees

• Capital One Services Llc

Inventors

• Suthar Om J

Classifications

• G06K19/07705 Primary

  the visual interface being a single light or small number of lights capable of being switched on or off, e.g. a series of LEDs · CPC title

• F21V33/00

  Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• G06K19/0723 Primary

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• G06K19/07722

  the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets (flat articles in general, see B32B37/00) · CPC title

• G06K19/0772 Primary

  Physical layout of the record carrier · CPC title