Method and apparatus for personalizing contactless card with switch

An identification token is provided which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), an antenna and a switch. The switch is normally in a first state and is actuatable by a user's finger to a second state different from the first state. The identification token includes a conductive connection connected to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna. The identification token is enabled to send and receive signals so long as the conductive connection is unbroken. The identification token is subjected to a personalization process and the conductive connection is broken after or during the personalization process. After the conductive connection is broken, the switch operates to switch the identification token between operative and in operative states. Before the conductive connection is broken, the switch is actuatable but actuating the switch does not change the state of the identification token.

BACKGROUND

Many payment cards, such as credit or debit cards, are being deployed with contactless or proximity technologies. For example, MasterCard International Incorporated has developed specifications and guidelines for its member banks to issue PayPass® payment cards. These payment cards have a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and an antenna encapsulated in the plastic payment card body. The payment card body has the payment card number and other information embossed on one face and may have a magnetic stripe on the other face of the card. A cardholder may simply wave or tap the payment card on a contactless point of sale device to complete a purchase transaction.

In some situations, it may be desirable to provide an “on/off” switch in the payment card that allows the cardholder to selectively disable operation of the RFID chip. Unfortunately, the use of such a switch makes it difficult to manufacture and personalize the card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, and for the purpose of introducing concepts of embodiments of the present invention, a proximity payment card includes a user-actuatable switch and an electrically conductive connection which is broken after the card has been personalized or during personalization. Before the connection is broken, the card is functionally enabled so that conventional personalization equipment can interact with the card to load account number data and other card-specific data into the card's RFID integrated circuit (IC). After the connection is broken, the card is functionally disabled unless the switch is actuated to enable the card.

In some embodiments, the connection may be broken by embossing the card number or other information on the card after the necessary data has been loaded into the card's RFID IC. In other embodiments, the connection may be broken by detaching a portion of the card body.

FIG. 1is a schematic plan view of a proximity payment card100according to some embodiments. The proximity payment card100may include a card-shaped body102, which may resemble conventional payment cards in shape and size. The card-shaped body102may be formed of plastic or another suitable material.

The proximity payment card100may also include an RFID IC104. The RFID IC104may be mounted and/or installed in any suitable manner in the card-shaped body102. For example, the RFID IC104may be embedded (partially or completely) in the card-shaped body102. The RFID IC104may be suitably designed and configured to transmit payment card account information by radio frequency signaling to a POS terminal. In general, the RFID IC104may be designed and configured to operate in accordance with the “PayPass” standard promulgated by MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee hereof.

The proximity payment card100may further include an antenna106embedded in or otherwise mounted on the card-shaped body102. The antenna106may be in the form of one or more loops arranged along all or a portion of the periphery of the card-shaped body102. Alternatively, the antenna106may be of a different type and/or configuration. The antenna may be operative generally in accordance with the above-mentioned PayPass standard to receive interrogation and power signals (which may be the same signal) from a proximity coupling device of a POS terminal and to transmit payment card account number information and/or other information to the proximity coupling device.

In some embodiments, lettering (not shown inFIG. 1) or other symbols (not shown inFIG. 1) may be present on the front surface108of the card-shaped body102and/or on the rear surface (not shown) of the card-shaped body102. The proximity payment card100may have one or more magnetic stripes (not shown) on the card-shaped body102to allow the proximity payment card100to be read by a magnetic card reader.

Still further, the front surface108of the card-shaped body102may carry one or more logos and/or brands, including for example the brand/logo of a national payment card association such as MasterCard International Incorporated. The brand/logo of the issuer may also be present, as well as, for example, a specific card product brand. Other conventional features that may be present on the proximity payment card100(though such features are not shown) are an adhesive paper strip to receive the signature of the cardholder, and a security code or the like printed on the adhesive strip.

The proximity payment card100may also include a user-actuatable switch110that is supported in or on the card-shaped body102and that is electrically conductively coupled between the antenna106and the RFID IC104. In some embodiments, the switch110may be formed of a pressure sensitive material such as a quantum tunneling composite (QTC—not separately shown) as described in WIPO publications WO 98/33193, WO 99/38173 and WO 00/79546. As would be understood from these publications and the disclosure hereof, pressure from the user's finger applied to the switch110may cause the conductive/non-conductive state of the switch110to change in a manner and/or to a degree that may complete a connection112between the antenna106and the RFID IC104. However, other types of switches may alternatively be used, such as a membrane switch or a switch of a type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,220 issued to Selker. At times when the switch is not actuated (i.e., in a first state), the connection112is open-circuited. At times when the switch is actuated (i.e., in a second state), the connection112is complete.

The proximity payment card100also includes an electrically conductive connection114which short-circuits the switch110. In other words, the connection114is parallel to and across the switch110and is between the RFID IC104and the antenna106. Because of the presence of the connection114, the RFID IC104is functionally coupled to the antenna106even when the switch110is in its unactuated state. Consequently, with the proximity payment card in its state shown inFIG. 1, the card is enabled to receive and respond to an interrogation signal or the like even at times when the switch110is not actuated. Moreover, with the connection114in place, the switch110does not operate to switch the card100between an operative condition and an inoperative condition, since the card100is always in an operative condition with the connection114in place.

FIG. 2is a high-level block diagram of conventional equipment200that may be used to personalize the proximity payment card100. As an alternative to using an entirely conventional piece of equipment to personalize the proximity payment card100, equipment that departs to some extent from the conventional may be used. For example, the personalization equipment used with the card may include conventional processing modules that are in an order that differs from that of conventional personalization equipment. However, it is a feature of the proximity payment card100that it makes possible personalization processing with equipment that is the same as or similar to personalization equipment currently employed to personalize proximity payment cards that lack an on/off switch. That is, with a proximity payment card such as that illustrated inFIG. 2, it may not be necessary for card issuers to change their card personalization processes to accommodate the presence of an on/off switch on the cards. As a result, adding the on/off switch to the card may, if the card is as illustrated inFIG. 1, result in little or no inconvenience or increase in expense for card issuers.

Referring, then, toFIG. 2, the personalization equipment200may include card processing modules such as a printing module202, a data loading module204, a testing module206and an embossing module208. Each of the modules202-208may be constructed and may operate in a conventional manner, except that, because of the configuration of the proximity payment card100, the embossing module may, in addition to embossing an account number or the like on the card body, also operate to break the conductive connection114. The module202,204,206,208may be arranged in the order stated in the previous sentence, so that the modules operate one after the other in that order to process (personalize) a proximity payment card. It will be appreciated that the personalization equipment may also include a card transport mechanism (not separately shown) to transport proximity payment cards from one processing module to the next. It will also be recognized that, in accordance with conventional practices, the personalization equipment200may be configured to process large batches of proximity payment cards in seriatim fashion.

The modules202,204,206and208need not be in the order shown, but it may be desirable for the testing module206to be downstream from the data loading module204, so as to test and confirm that card-specific data such as account number(s) and the account holder's name have been properly loaded into the card's RFID IC by the data loading module204. Moreover, it may be desirable for the embossing module208to be downstream from the data loading module204and the testing module206, so that data loading and testing are completed before embossing occurs, since the embossing breaks the conductive connection114.

FIG. 3is a flow chart that illustrates a process that may be performed in accordance with some aspects of the invention.

At302inFIG. 3, the proximity payment card100is inserted into the personalization equipment200(possibly as part of a batch of cards to be personalized). The card100, at the time of introduction into the personalization equipment200, may be in the form of a “blank” that includes only issuer-specific information, but not account-specific or account-holder-specific information.

At304, the printing module202prints account-specific and/or account-holder-specific information on the card body. For example, the account holder's name may be printed, at this point, on the front of the card body, and some or all of the account number, and possibly also a security code, may be printed on a signature strip on the back of the card body.

At306, the data loading module204may transmit information to the RFID IC of the proximity payment card and/or may exchange wireless (e.g., RF) signals with the RFID IC to load account-specific and/or account-holder-specific information into the RFID IC. This may also entail transmitting a power/interrogation signal to the proximity payment card to power-up the RFID IC. This is possible, notwithstanding that the switch110is not actuated (closed), because the conductive connection114is present to connect the RFID IC to the antenna106. The same module204(or another which is not shown) may magnetically encode account-specific and/or account-holder-specific information on a magnetic stripe (not shown) carried by the card.

At308, the testing module206may exchange wireless/RF signals with the RFID IC to confirm that the account-specific and/or account-holder-specific information has been properly stored in the RFID IC.

At310, the embossing module208may emboss information, such as the account number just stored in the RFID IC, into the card body. The embossing operation may result in breaking the conductive connection114, as illustrated inFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a schematic plan view of the proximity payment card (omitting a number of features of the card), showing the condition of the card after the embossing operation. An embossed account number produced by the embossing operation is indicated at402. As schematically illustrated inFIG. 4, the locus of the embossed characters in the number402intersects with the locus of the conductive connection114so that the embossing operation disrupts the plane of the card body at the conductive connection114, thereby breaking the conductive connection114. As a result, the proximity payment card100is no longer always enabled to respond to an interrogation signal, but rather can now be enabled and disenabled, respectively, by actuating and de-actuating the switch110(FIG. 1, not shown inFIG. 4).

To summarize, because of the conductive connection114, still in an unbroken condition at steps306and308inFIG. 3, the proximity payment card was enabled to allow for interaction between the data loading and testing modules with the RFID IC. Then embossing conveniently breaks the conductive connection114, such that the switch110now functions as a security feature which must be actuated by the user to allow for subsequent interactions by external devices with the RFID IC.

Referring again toFIG. 3, at312the card is ejected/removed from the personalization equipment, having been completely personalized, and now being ready for mailing to the prospective cardholder. At314, the card is sent to the cardholder.

In the proximity payment card100ofFIG. 1, the switch110operates (after the conductive connection114is broken) to selectively connect the RFID IC104to the antenna106, thereby selectively enabling the card. In an alternative embodiment of the proximity payment card, indicated generally at100ainFIG. 5, the antenna106ais permanently coupled to RFID IC104a, and the switch110is connected across two terminals502,504of the RFID IC104ato selectively provide an enable signal to the RFID IC104a. However, prior to personalization of the card100a(and during data loading and testing portions of the personalization process), the switch110is shorted by conductive connection114, so that the card100ais operative notwithstanding that the switch is not actuated. The card100aofFIG. 5may be subjected to the same personalization process as the card100ofFIG. 1, with the conductive connection also in this case being broken by the embossing operation to allow the switch110to switch the RFID IC, and hence the card100a, between inoperative and operative conditions. In this case, the RFID IC may operate in the sense of being powered up by an interrogation signal when the conductive connection is in a broken state and the switch is not actuated, but may be inhibited from sending and/or receiving data from any external device, so that the card100ais inoperative for purposes of performing a payment transaction and/or for transmitting an account number or other information when the conductive connection is broken and the switch is not actuated.

Another alternative embodiment of a proximity payment card is indicated generally at100binFIG. 6. As in the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the card100bshown inFIG. 6has an antenna that is always connected to the RFID IC, and has a switch110connected across terminals502,504of the RFID IC. However, in the card100bofFIG. 6, the conductive connection114ato be broken by the embossing portion of the personalization process does not short the switch110. Rather, the conductive connection may be coupled to two other terminals602,604of the RFID IC to in effect provide an “override enable” signal to the RFID IC. Thus the RFID IC may be programmed and/or configured so that it is operable for payment transactions, data loading and/or testing operations and the like whenever either the conductive connection114ais unbroken, or the switch110is actuated (or if both are the case). As before, the conductive connection114amay be broken during the embossing portion of the personalization process to allow the switch to become operable to switch the card100bbetween an inoperative state and an operative state.

In a variation on the embodiment ofFIG. 6, the conductive connection is connected to one, but not both, of the RFID IC terminals between which the switch is connected. In this variation, the conductive connection also is connected to a second RFID IC terminal, which the switch is not connected to.

Still another embodiment of the proximity payment card is indicated at100cinFIG. 7. The card-shaped body102aof the card100chas a detachable corner portion702. A scored line indicated as dotted line704defines the detachable portion702of the card100c. As in the card100ofFIG. 1, the switch110selectively connects the antenna106to the RFID IC104. A conductive connection114bshorts the switch110and passes through the detachable portion702. That is, the conductive connection114bcrosses (twice) the scored line704in the card-shaped body102a. With this arrangement, the conductive connection114bmay be broken by detaching the detachable portion702from the card-shaped body102a, rather than as a result of an embossing operation.FIG. 8(which omits a number of card features) shows the card100cin a condition after the detachable portion has been removed to break the conductive connection114b. In FIG.8, the dash-dot line802represents the edge formed by breaking the card-shaped body102aat the scored line.

FIG. 9shows yet another embodiment, indicated at100d. The card100dcan be thought of as a hybrid of the embodiments ofFIGS. 5 and 7. Like the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the card100dofFIG. 9includes a card-shaped body102ahaving a detachable corner portion702through which a conductive connection114bpasses. Like the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the card100dofFIG. 9has its switch110connected between terminals502,504of the RFID IC, and the switch is shorted by the conductive connection114b. As in the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the conductive connection is broken by detaching the corner portion after the card is personalized to allow the switch110to effectively switch the card on and off.

A further embodiment shown inFIG. 10is indicated at100e. The card100ecan be thought of as a hybrid of the embodiments ofFIGS. 6 and 7. Again the embodiment ofFIG. 10has a card-shaped body102awith a detachable corner portion702, but in this case the conductive connection114cis between two terminals of the RFID IC that are different from the two terminals between which the switch110is connected. In another variation, the conductive connection shares one but not both of the RFID IC terminals for the switch, but is also connected to an RFID IC terminal that the switch is not connected to. In either the variation described in the previous sentence or in the embodiment shown inFIG. 10, the detachable corner portion may be removed after the card has been personalized to bring the switch into play for selectively enabling the card.

The proximity payment card embodiments described in connection withFIGS. 7,9and10may be subjected to a personalization process substantially as described above in connection withFIG. 3, except that in the personalization process applied to the cards ofFIGS. 7,9and10, the embossing operation does not result in breaking the conductive connection. As in other embodiments, the personalization of the cards ofFIGS. 7,9and10may be performed with conventional personalization equipment and/or in a substantially conventional manner. According to some approaches for processing the cards ofFIGS. 7,9and10, the detachable portion may be removed by the card issuer, but according to other approaches, the card may be sent to the user with the corner portion still in place, and the user may elect either (a) to keep the card-body intact so that the switch need not be actuated to use the card, or (b) to detach the corner portion, thereby breaking the conductive connection and thereby making operation of the switch necessary for execution of a payment transaction with the card.

The cards illustrated inFIGS. 7,9and10may alternatively be personalized in a manner that does not include embossing.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, a conductive connection may be broken in some way other than by embossing the card body or detaching a detachable portion of the card body. For example, the conductive connection may be broken by punching a hole in the card body at the locus of the conductive connection.

Embodiments of some aspects of the invention have heretofore been described with reference to a card-shaped proximity payment device, but the teachings disclosed herein are also applicable to proximity payment devices which are not card-shaped. As used herein and in the appended claims, “proximity payment device” refers to any device, whether or not card shaped, which transmits to a point of sale terminal, by wireless transmission, a payment account number.

The card-shaped bodies referred to herein may be dimensioned in accordance with standard card sizes, such as the well-known ID1 and ID000 sizes, or may alternatively be of any convenient size.

In the embodiments with the detachable portions, a notch with curved edges may be formed at each of the locations where the scored line meets the edge of the card body. As a consequence, the detachable portion, after being detached, may have only rounded corners, and such may also be the case for the card itself after the detachable portion has been detached. Notches of this sort are disclosed, for example, in co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/857,009, filed Nov. 6, 2006.

Although not indicated in the drawings, one or more of the proximity payment devices may have a contact interface like that of a conventional smart card that includes a contact interface.

The principles taught herein have heretofore been described in the context of proximity payment devices. Nevertheless, these teachings are also applicable to cards or the like issued by transportation systems (e.g., mass transit systems) for access to the transportation systems; to cards used to identify the holder for purposes apart from or in addition to transaction payments; and to so-called electronic passports (also known as RFID-enabled passports). As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “identification token” refers to an object that serves as one or more of a proximity payment device, a transportation card, an identification card and/or an RFID-enabled passport. The term “transportation card” refers to a card or similar device used to pay, or confirm or evidence payment of, a charge for using a transportation system. The term “RFID-enabled passport” refers to an internationally recognized travel document that includes an IC and an antenna and communicates with a terminal by a wireless communication technique.

An item is to be considered “supported by” a body if mounted on or partially or entirely embedded in the body.

As used herein and in the appended claims, “personalizing” and “personalization” refer to any one or more of operations in which card- or account-specific information is applied to the card, and thus includes printing and/or embossing information on the card, storing data in the card RFID IC and/or magnetically coding information in a magnetic stripe on the card.

In some embodiments in which the switch is connected between two terminals of the RFID IC, and assuming the conductive connection has been broken, the card may be operative for a payment transaction only at times when the switch is in its closed state. However, in other embodiments in which the switch is connected between two terminals of the RFID IC, and again assuming that the conductive connection has been broken, the card may be operative during a predetermined period of time after the switch has been actuated and then released.

The above description and/or the accompanying drawings are not meant to imply a fixed order or sequence of steps for any process referred to herein; rather any process may be performed in any order that is practicable, including but not limited to simultaneous performance of steps indicated as sequential.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “embedded” includes both completely and partially embedded.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “identification code” refers to a payment card account number or any other number or code that is stored in and transmitted by the RFID IC of an identification token.