A STACK OF SMART CARDS

Abstract: The invention relates to a stack of smart cards, provided with means for attaching the cards to each other. Each smart card is provided with at least one magnet having a north and a south pole. In the assembled position of the stack the magnets of adjacent smart cards are neighbouring each other wherein the north pole of a first card's magnet neighbours the south pole of a second card's magnet and the south pole of the first card's magnet neighbours the north pole of the second card's magnet so as to form a closed magnetic circuit.

Description: A stack of smart cards. The invention primarily relates to a stack of smart cards, provided with means for attaching the cards to each other. Such a stack of smart cards is required when the separate smart cards forming part of the stack carry data or information which is distributed over the cards forming the stack, or when a person wishes to carry a large number of smart cards conveniently with him. Use of said data or information necessitates then that the stack of smart cards is assembled in order to form a consistent database suited for use in different applications, such as consumer electronics and telephony applications. It is known to assemble a stack of smart cards by mechanically attaching the smart cards to each other. This, however, is costly, and the mechanical means for attaching the smart cards may wear out during use. It is an object of the present invention to circumvent the above drawbacks. To this end, the stack of smart cards according to the invention is characterized in that each smart card is provided with at least one magnet having a north and a south pole, and that in the assembled position of the stack the magnets of adjacent smart cards are neighbouring each other wherein the north pole of a first card's magnet neighbours the south pole of a second card's magnet and the south pole of the first card's magnet neighbours the north pole of the second card's magnet so as to form a closed magnetic circuit. It is remarked that the use of magnets in positioning smart cards is known per se from JP-A-08235324. In this Japanese citation, metallic pieces are provided on the corners of the smart card whereas an interface device, which is arranged for receiving the smart card, includes magnets on places which are directly adjacent to the metallic pieces on the corner sides of the smart card when same is inserted in the interface device. The magnetic force exerted by the magnets on the metal corner pieces of the smart card is said to accurately position the smart card after its insertion in the interface device. The magnets that are included in the smart cards according to the invention do, however, not serve to properly position the smart cards with respect to each other, but serve to act as an attachment means for building the stack without requiring any further attachment means among the smart cards forming the stack. Different solutions for including the magnets in the smart cards are feasible. The magnets can for instance be surface-mounted on the respective smart cards. It is, however, preferred that the magnets are embedded in the smart cards. This allows for a more secure building of the stack since the magnets cannot be dislocated without spoiling the smart card in which it is embedded. The invention is also embodied in a single smart card provided with at least one first magnet having a north and a south pole and arranged for attaching to another smart card with at least one second magnet having a north and a south pole so as to form a stack of smart cards. In still a further aspect of the invention, the stack of smart cards or even a single smart card according to the invention can be used in combination with host equipment, such as but not limited to mobile phone equipment, which is characterized in that it is provided with at least one magnet having a north and a south pole which in the operative position neighbour the south and north pole respectively of at least one magnet connected or embedded to a smart card. In still a further aspect of the invention, the separate smart cards can be stored in a carrier, which according to the invention is characterized in that it includes a magnetic base upon which a layer is provided with at least one slot for receiving a smart card. Preferably, such carrier comprises a protective cover which on one of its sides is pivotably connected to the base. The invention shall now further be elucidated with reference to the drawing, which shows in Fig. 1 a schematic sketch of a smart card according to the invention; in Fig. 2 one first embodiment of a stacked smart card according to the invention; in Fig. 3 a stack of a plurality of smart cards according to the invention; and in Fig. 4 a carrier for smart cards according to the invention. Same reference numerals in the Figures refer to same parts. Referring now first to Fig. 1, a smart card 1 is shown comprising a plastic body in which a chip 2 is embedded and two magnets 3 and 4 on respective ends of the smart card 1. Each of the magnets 3 and 4 has a north pole N and a south pole S. In Fig. 2, showing a cross-section of a smart card 1 according to the invention, it is shown that the magnet 3, 4 of this card, at least its north pole N and its south pole S, immediately neighbour the south pole S and north pole N of a second magnet 5, which may either form part of an adjacent smart card or form part of a host equipment with which the smart card 1 is combined to form an operative combination. In Fig. 3, it is shown that a stack of smart cards 1 may be formed by putting one smart card on top of the other, such that neighbouring north and south poles of adjacent magnets alternate each other. The magnets 3, 4 are preferably embedded in the smart cards 1, but may also be surface-mounted. Fig. 4 shows a carrier 6 having a magnetic base 7 on top of which a for instance plastic layer 8 is provided with slots 9 suited for receiving smart cards. The smart cards 1 attach then to the base 7 of magnetizable material due to the magnetic forces exerted with the magnet 3, 4. The carrier 6 preferably includes a protective cover 10, which on one of its sides is pivotably connected to the base 7. In view of the foregoing it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the spirit and the scope of the present invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims and that the present invention is thus not limited to the examples provided. In view of the foregoing it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the spirit and the scope of the present invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims and that the present invention is thus not limited to the examples provided.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. Stack of smart cards, provided with means for attaching the cards to each other, characterized in that each smart card (1) is provided with at least one magnet (3, 4) having a north (N) and a south (S) pole, and that in the assembled position of the stack the magnets (3, 4) of adjacent smart cards (1) are neighbouring each other wherein the north pole (N) of a first card's magnet (3, 4) neighbours the south pole (S) of a second card's magnet (3, 4) and the south pole (S) of the first card's magnet (3, 4) neighbours the north pole (N) of the second card's magnet (3, 4) so as to form a closed magnetic circuit. 2. Stack of smart cards according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnets are embedded in the smart cards (1). 3. Smart card provided with at least one first magnet having a north (N) and a south (S) pole and arranged for attaching to another smart card (1) with at least one second magnet having a north (N) and a south (S) pole so as to form a stack of smart cards according to claim 1 or 2. 4. Host equipment arranged to operate in combination with a stack of smart cards according to claim 1 or 2, or a single smart card according to claim 3, characterized in that it is provided with at least one magnet having a north (N) and a south (S) pole which in the operative position neighbour the south (S) and north (N) pole respectively of at least one magnet connected or embedded to a smart card (1). 5. Carrier (6) for a smart card (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it includes a magnetic base (7) upon which a layer (8) is provided with at least one slot (9) for receiving a smart card (1). 6. Carrier according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a protective cover (10) which on one of its sides is pivotably connected to the base (7).

Inventors: RAPELI JUHA, RAPELI, JUHA
Applicants: KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS SVENSKA AB, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V., PHILIPS AB
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06K17
IPC codes: A45C11, G06K19