Colored smart card module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016364638-A1
Application number	US-201615179632-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jun 12, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A colored smart card module having a light-transmissible substrate with first and second sides; a card-reader contact element formed on the first side of the substrate; and a colored ink layer printed on the second side of the substrate. The printed colored ink layer is then at least in part visible from the first side of the substrate around the card-reader contact element. A smart card including such a colored smart card module is also provided.

First claim

1 . A colored smart card module comprising: a light-transmissible substrate having opposite first and second sides; a card-reader contact element formed on the first side of the substrate; and a colored ink layer printed on the second side of the substrate, the colored ink layer being at least in part visible from the first side of the substrate at or adjacent to the card-reader contact element.

2 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit connection element on the second side of the substrate, the colored ink layer being positioned at or adjacent to the integrated circuit connection element.

3 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the colored ink layer is positioned on the second side only where there is optical access to the second side from the first side.

4 . The colored smart card module of claim 3 , wherein the card-reader contact element includes a plurality of contact pads separated by at least one contact pad void, said optical access from the first side being provided through the at least one contact pad void.

5 . The colored smart card module of claim 3 , wherein said optical access from the first side is provided about a perimeter of the card-reader contact element.

6 . The colored smart card module of claim 3 , wherein the card-reader contact element includes at least one locator void, said optical access from the first side is provided through the at least one locator void.

7 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

8 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.

9 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is transparent.

10 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is translucent.

11 . The colored smart card module of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit chip.

12 . A smart card comprising: a smart card body having an opening and a graphical design having one or more colors on a surface of the smart card body at an edge of the opening; and the colored smart card module of claim 1 , the colored ink layer matching or substantially matching the or each said color at the edge of the opening of the smart card body.

13 . The smart card of claim 12 , wherein the colored ink layer of the colored smart card module is on a side thereof which is installed facing into the smart card body, the colored ink layer being colored to match a color of the smart card body at or adjacent to the said opening.

14 . The smart card of claim 13 , wherein the smart card module is installed in the smart card body such that the card-reader contact element is flush with the smart card body.

15 . The smart card of claim 12 , wherein the smart card module is installed in the smart card body such that the card-reader contact element is flush with the smart card body.

16 . The smart card of claim 12 , further comprising an integrated circuit connection element on the second side of the substrate, the colored ink layer being positioned at or adjacent to the integrated circuit connection element.

17 . The smart card of claim 12 , wherein the colored ink layer is positioned on the second side only where there is optical access to the second side from the first side.

18 . The smart card of claim 17 , wherein the card-reader contact element includes a plurality of contact pads separated by at least one contact pad void, said optical access from the first side being provided through the at least one contact pad void.

19 . The smart card of claim 12 , wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.

20 . The smart card of claim 12 , wherein the substrate is transparent or translucent.

Assignees

• Johnson Electric Sa

Inventors

• Ward Dominic John

Classifications

• G06K19/02

  characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine · CPC title

• G06K19/07747 Primary

  at least one of the integrated circuit chips being mounted as a module · CPC title

• G06K19/0772 Primary

  Physical layout of the record carrier · CPC title

• G06K19/044

  comprising galvanic contacts for contacting an integrated circuit chip thereon · CPC title

• G06K19/0722

  comprising an arrangement for testing the record carrier · CPC title