Abstract:
An identification card is prepared by attaching an antenna and integrated circuit chip onto a core layer of polyolefin, attaching a bottom sheet to the core layer thus encasing the antenna and integrated circuit chip, providing an image-receiving layer on one or both outer surfaces of the resulting sandwich, and laminating a protective layer or layers over the image-receiving layer(s). The identification document displays improved durability, ease of manufacture and protection of the electronic components.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an improved identification card. More specifically, this invention relates to an identification card containing an internal antenna and integrated circuit chip laminated between two protective, non-rigid layers onto which artwork may be printed, which are then laminated between to rigid outer layers.  
           [0002]    “Smart cards” which contain an IC chip are well known in the art and typically have been used for credit card and ATM transactions. Smart cards may either have contacts on their surface to interface with a card reader or they may be contactless cards and incorporate an antenna within the body of the card to transfer data without physical contact with a reading device.  
           [0003]    Typically smart cards have been made with a rigid core onto which an IC chip and antenna are positioned by means of glue or a mechanical device. The rigid core is then covered with a plastic, encasing the structure in a polymer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,633 issued to Mundigl, et al. discloses a method whereby an antenna is inserted into a recess in a carrier body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,021 issued to Tiffany, III teaches the use of low shrinkage glue to secure the electronic components to a rigid plastic core layer, which is then placed into a bottom mold assembly. A top mold assembly is then attached to the bottom mold creating a void. Thermoplastic is then injected into the void space to secure the electronic components. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,463 issued to O&#39;Malley, et al. discloses a microelectric assembly including an antenna embedded within a polymeric card by means of a mold assembly. The antenna and chip are placed into a mold and polymeric material is injected into the mold thus encasing the components.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,099 issued to Leighton discloses a process for manufacturing a combination contact/contactless smart card via a lamination process utilizing core sheets made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). In the Leighton method, a region of the card is milled to expose the contacts of the card.  
           [0005]    Due to the rigidity of the components used in the prior art cards, the electronic components cards can be subject to damage from bending stresses. Also, securing the antenna and chip with glue or a mechanical means is complicated and can needlessly increase the costs of production. Understandably, processes utilizing molds involve increased costs of tooling and production not seen in a lamination process. Both the highly plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) type and the polyester/poly(vinyl chloride) composite type can become brittle over time because of migration of the plasticizers, thus reducing the resistance of the document to cracking; such cracking renders the card unusable and vulnerable to tampering. Data that are crucial to the identification of the bearer are often covertly repeated on the document in encrypted form for data verification in a magnetic stripe, bar code, radio frequency module or integrated circuit chip. The inability to retrieve such data due to cracking renders the document invalid. In addition, many of the polyester/poly(vinyl chloride) composite documents have exhibited extreme sensitivity to combinations of heat and humidity, as evidenced by delaminating and curling of the document structure.  
           [0006]    Therefore, a need exists for a low-cost, easily constructed identification card having an antenna and chip incorporated into the body of the card, which protects these electronic components from damage. Applicants&#39; invention relates to a unique structure capable of protecting the IC chip and antenna. Applicants&#39; invention contains two relatively shock-absorbing layers, which may contain indicia. In an embodiment, two rigid outer laminate layers encase the relatively shock-absorbing layers, adding structural support and protection. Applicants&#39; card differs from the prior art in that normally rigid materials are used throughout the card, thus permitting external stresses and bending to damage the delicate IC chip and antenna. In applicants&#39; improved design, rigid outer layers disseminate external forces over a broad area of compliant layers, thus protecting the electronic components.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, this invention provides an identification card comprising:  
           [0008]    a core layer comprising a silica-filled polyolefin, said core layer having a first side and a second side,  
           [0009]    at least one antenna fixed to said to said first side of said core layer,  
           [0010]    at least one computer chip electrically connected to said antenna,  
           [0011]    a bottom sheet comprising a silica-filled polyolefin attached to said first side of said core by a first adhesive layer such that said antenna and said chip are enveloped between said core and said bottom sheet.  
           [0012]    an akyld resin spid containing an anti-binding agent printed on said first side of said core layer,  
           [0013]    a first laminate layer attached to said second side of said core layer by a second adhesive layer,  
           [0014]    a second laminate layer attached to said bottom sheet by a third adhesive layer such that said core and said bottom sheet are encased between said first laminate layer and said second laminate layer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 of the attached drawings shows a cross-section of an identification card of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 of the attached drawings shows a cross-section of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    To prepare an identification card of the present invention the first step is preshrinking a core layer. In order to provide an identification document having a bright white background and good color rendition, it is generally preferred that the core layer be formed from an opaque sheet of printable silica-filled polyolefin, such as the materials sold commercially by PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. under the Registered Trade Mark “TESLIN” sheet.  
         [0018]    The first indicium or indicia, which are typically the invariant information common to a large number of identification documents, for example the name and logo of the organization issuing the documents, may be formed by any known process capable of forming the indicium on the specific core material used. However, since it is usually desired to provide numerous copies of the first indicium on a large area of core layer material (in the form of a large sheet or web) in order to allow the preparation of a large number of “blank” documents at one time, a printing process such as color laser printing, is normally used to apply the first indicium. A modified laser printer useful for forming the first indicium in the present process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,694.  
         [0019]    In order to minimize the risk of damage to the fragile electronic components, preferably alkyd resin spids containing an anti-binding agent are printed onto one side of the shrunken core sheet on the side opposite from the indicia. These spids may be printed in any pattern, however, in an embodiment they are printed onto the core in a “racetrack” or oval pattern. Antennae, typically silver-epoxy antennae, are then printed onto the spids in a matching pattern. Integrated circuit chips are attached to solder bumps on the antennae in the conventional manner.  
         [0020]    The core layer with attached antennae and IC chips is then bonded to a bottom sheet of printable, silica-filled polyolefin with an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer may be composed of a number of commercially available adhesives, however, very desirably it is composed of a co-polyester based adhesive such as the adhesive sold commercially by Transilwrap, Inc., Richmond, Ind. under the name Transilwrap® TXP(3). Because IC chips are typically much thicker than the antennae, preferably recesses are cut in the TXP(3) adhesive layer to accommodate the IC chips. By removing a section of the adhesive, the identification card will be of uniform thickness. Because recesses were cut in this TXP(3) adhesive layer, in order to bond the IC chip to the bottom layer, an additional layer of adhesive is required. Although this adhesive may comprise any suitable adhesive, in the preferred embodiment it is a carboxylated polyethylene hot melt adhesive such as that manufactured by Transilwrap, Inc. and sold under the name Transilwrap® KRTY. This adhesive is applied to the bottom layer prior to assembly of the card and serves to bind the IC chip to the bottom layer. During lamination of the identification card, the TXP(3) adhesive layer will flow freely thus adhering the core sheet with the bottom sheet, sandwiching the electronic components in a bonded, flexible laminate of silica-filled polyolefin.  
         [0021]    Two layers of substantially transparent polymer are affixed to the bonded core layer/bottom layer structure. Depending upon the material used for the core layer and bottom layer, the process used to produce the first indicium and the type of substantially transparent polymer employed, fixation of the polymer layers to the core layer may be effected by heat and pressure alone. However, it is generally preferred to provide an adhesive layer on each polymer layer to improve its adhesion to the core layer. This adhesive layer may be a polyester, polyester urethane, polyether urethane or polyolefin hot melt or ultraviolet or thermally cured adhesive, and the adhesive may be coated, cast or extruded on to one surface of the polymer sheet. The polymer layers themselves may be formed from any polymer having sufficient transparency, for example polyester, polycarbonate; polystyrene, cellulose ester, polyolefin, polysulfone, or polyimide. Either an amorphous or biaxially oriented polymer may be used. Two specific preferred polyesters for use in the process of the present invention is poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which is readily available commercially, for example from ICI Americas Inc., Wilmington, Del. 19850 under the Registered Trade Mark “MELINEX”, and poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) (PETG), which is readily available commercially from Eastman Kodak Chemical, Kingsport, Tenn. The polymer layers provide mechanical strength to the image-receiving layer or layers and hence to the image(s) in the finished document. The thickness of the polymer layers is not critical, although it is generally preferred that the thickness of each polymer layer (including the thickness of its associated adhesive layer, if any) be at least about 0.1 mm, and desirably is in the range of from about 0.125 to about 0.225 mm. Any conventional lamination process may effect lamination of the polymer layers to the core layer, and such processes are well known to those skilled in the production of identification documents.  
         [0022]    The image-receiving layer of the present identification document may be formed of any material capable of receiving an image by dye difflusion thermal transfer. However, very desirably the dye diffusion thermal transfer printing step of the present process is effected by the process of U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,573. This patent describes a receiving sheet or layer which is comprised of a polymer system of which at least one polymer is capable of receiving image-forming materials from a donor sheet with the application of heat, the polymer system of the receiving sheet or layer being incompatible with the polymer of the donor sheet at the receiving sheet/donor sheet interface so that there is no adhesion between the donor sheet and the receiving sheet or layer during printing. In addition, the polymer system of the receiving sheet or layer can be substantially free from release agents, such as silicone-based oils, poly(organosiloxanes), fluorinated polymers, fluorine- or phosphate-containing surfactants, fatty acid surfactants and waxes. The present process may employ any of the donor sheet/image-receiving layer combinations described in this patent. Suitable binder materials for the dyes, which are immiscible with the polymer system of the image-receiving layer, include cellulose resins, cellulose acetate butyrate, vinyl resins such as poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) poly(vinyl acetate), vinyl alcohol/vinyl butyrate copolymers and polyesters. Polymers which can be used in the image-receiving layer and which are immiscible with the aforementioned donor binders include polyester, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(vinyl acetate), polystyrene and its copolymers, polyurethane, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), polyacrylonitrile, or a polymeric liquid crystal resin. The most common image-receiving layer polymers are polyester, polycaprolactone and poly(vinyl chloride). Processes for forming such image-receiving layers are also described in detail in this patent; in most cases, the polymer(s) used to form the image-receiving layer are dissolved in an organic solvent, such as methyl ethyl ketone, dichloromethane or chloroform, and the resultant solution coated on to the polymer layer using conventional coating apparatus, and the solvent evaporated to form the image-receiving layer. However, if desired the image-receiving layer can be applied to the polymer layer by extrusion casting, or by slot, gravure or other known coating methods.  
         [0023]    The identification cards of the present invention may have only a single image-receiving layer, but is generally preferred that they have two image-receiving layers, one such layer being provided on each layer of polyester on the side thereof remote from the core layer. Typically, one or more second indicia intended for human reading may be printed on the image-receiving layer on the front side of the identification document, and one or more additional second indicia intended for machine reading (for example, bar codes) may be printed on the image-receiving layer on the back side.  
         [0024]    Following the printing of the second indicia on the image-receiving layer, a protective layer is affixed over at least the portion of the or each image-receiving layer carrying the second indicia; this protective layer serves to protect the relatively fragile image-receiving layer from damage, and also prevents bleeding of the thermal transfer dye from the image-receiving layer. Materials suitable for forming such protective layers are known to those skilled in the art of dye diffusion thermal transfer printing and any of the conventional materials may be used provided they have sufficient transparency and sufficient adhesion to the specific image-receiving layer with which they are in contact and block bleeding of dye from this layer. Typically, the protective layer will be a biaxially oriented polyester or other optically clear durable plastic film.  
         [0025]    The protective layer desirably provides additional security features for the identification card. For example, the protective layer may include a low cohesivity polymeric layer, an optically variable ink, an image printed in an ink which is readable in the infra-red or ultraviolet but is invisible in normal white light, an image printed in a fluorescent or phosphorescent ink, or any other available security feature which protects the document against tampering or counterfeiting, and which does not compromise the ability of the protective layer to protect the identification document against wear and the elements.  
         [0026]    In an alternate embodiment, the image-receiving layer may be formed from any material capable of receiving ink-jet printing. Many commercially available inkjet receiver coatings will suffice, however it is important that the inkjet receiver coating is only applied in the area where printing will occur, to ensure that the polyester layer will properly adhere to the core layer. The identification card may then be personalized with a common inkjet printer prior to addition of the polyester layers. In this embodiment the personalized information is printed between the core layer and the polyester layers, thus eliminating the need for an additional protective layer.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a schematic cross-section through an embodiment of an identification card of the present invention. The document comprises a core layer  12  and a bottom layer  14 , both formed of an opaque white reflective polyolefin (preferably the aforementioned TESLIN® sheet). One side of the core layer and one side of the bottom sheet are printed with fixed indicia  16 . Sandwiched between the core layer  12  and the bottom layer  14  are an antenna  18  connected to an integrated circuit chip  20 . An alkyd resin spid  22  lies beneath the core layer  12  and the antenna  18 . An adhesive layer  24  (preferably KRTY) is applied to the bottom layer  14  on the side facing the core layer  12 . The bottom layer  14  and the core layer  12  are joined with an adhesive layer  26  (preferably TXP(3)). Recesses  28  are cut into the adhesive layer  26  to accommodate the integrated circuit chip  20 .  
         [0028]    The core layer  12  and bottom layer  14  are sandwiched between two polymer layers  30  formed from an amorphous or biaxially oriented polyester or other optically clear plastic such as polycarbonate. Each of these polymer layers  30  is fixedly secured to the core layer  12  and bottom layer  14  by an adhesive layer  32 . On the opposed side of each polymer layer  30  from the laminated core layer  12  and bottom layer  14  is provided an image-receiving layer  34  suited to accept a printed image or portrait or other variable indicia by dye diffusion thermal transfer methods.  
         [0029]    After the variable indicia have been printed on the image-receiving layers  34 , a biaxially oriented polyester or other optically clear durable plastic protective layer  36  is applied to protect the variable indicia and prevent bleeding of dye from the image-receiving layers  34 . The protective layer  36  may be provided with a low cohesivity layer, security ink or other security feature.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows a schematic cross-section through an alternate embodiment of an identification card of the present invention. The document, generally designated  10 , comprises a core layer  12  and a bottom layer  14 , both formed of an opaque white reflective polyolefin (preferably the aforementioned TESLIN® sheet). Opposed sides of the core layer and the bottom sheet are printed with fixed indicia  16 . Sandwiched between the core layer  12  and the bottom layer  14  is an antenna  18  connected to an integrated circuit chip  20 . An alkyd resin spid  22  lies beneath the core layer  12  and the antenna  18 . An adhesive layer  24  (preferably KRTY) is applied to the bottom layer  14  on the side facing the core layer  12 . The bottom layer  14  and the core layer  12  are joined with an adhesive layer  26  (preferably TXP(3)). Recesses  28  are cut into the adhesive layer  26  to accommodate the integrated circuit chip  20 .  
         [0031]    The laminated core layer  12  and bottom layer  14  is sandwiched between two polymer layers  30  formed from an amorphous or biaxially oriented polyester or other optically clear plastic such as polycarbonate. An inkjet receiver coating  38  is supplied between the core layer  12  and a polymer layer  30 . The inkjet receiver coating  38  may contain personalized data  40  Each of the polymer layers  30  is fixedly secured to the core layer  12  and bottom layer  14  by a layer  32  of adhesive.  
         [0032]    The following Examples are now given, though by way of illustration only, to show details of specific preferred reagents, conditions and techniques used to prepare identification cards of the present invention.  
       EXAMPLE 1  
       [0033]    Core layers of silica-filled polyolefin were prepared, preferably of the aforementioned TESLIN®, of 0.01″ thickness in the size of four A4 sheets (210 mm×297 mm×4 mm). The core layers were heated at 105° C. for approximately 30 minutes to pre-shrink the material. Alkyd resin spids, in a racetrack design, were then printed on the bottom side of the shrunken core layers, and background artwork was printed on a side of the core layers. Silver-epoxy antennae were then screenprinted onto the spidded areas of the sheets, and IC chips were then attached to the antennae. Because the core layers were heated repeatedly during this process, it is important that the polyloefin be pre-shrunk to avoid any shrinking problems during printing of the artwork or attachment of the electronic components.  
         [0034]    Bottom layers were prepared by pre-shrinking 10 mm thick silica-filled polyolefin sheet in the manner described above. Artwork was printed onto a side of the bottom layer. 1.5 mm of an adhesive, preferably KRTY, was applied to an opposed side of the bottom layers to adhere the IC chip to the bottom layer.  
         [0035]    The core layers and the bottom layers were joined by a free film of adhesive (7 mm of TXP(3)) cut into A4 sized sheets. Holes were precut in the TXP(3) adhesive sheets to accommodate the IC chips. The core layers and bottom layers were then joined by the TXP(3) adhesive layer such that the antennae and chips were sandwiched between them, thus encasing and protecting the electronic components. The core layers and bottom layers were joined (up to 10 at a time) using a Tetrahedron press. Initially, the pressure used was very low (of less than approximately 400 psi) and the temperature was relatively high (approximately 290° F.) so that the TXP(3) adhesive layer was allowed to flow and so that the electronic components are not damaged. Pressure and temperature were then increased to approximately 3 ksi and 300° F. to bond the three layers together. The temperature was then lowered to approximately 170° F. while the pressure remained relatively high (approximately 2 ksi) so that the TXP(3) adhesive layer would solidify without altering the form of the pressed core layer. Pressure was then reduced and the press was opened, yielding a core layer/bottom layer laminate encasing the electronic components.  
         [0036]    This core layer/bottom layer was then laminated using a nip-roll lamination process. The top laminate material used was a 7/3 TXP(5)/KRTY onto which a dye diffusion thermal transfer receiver coating had been applied to the adhesive side. The bottom laminate was a 7/3 TXP (5)/KRTY layer. The resulting card was then imprinted with personal information on both the front and back using an Atlantek printer. Security features, such as UV sensitive inks or Polasecuree, can be added to the top surface of the card. After this, a 0.001″ thick bi-axial polyester laminate was applied to both sides of the identification card.  
       EXAMPLE 2  
       [0037]    The core layer/bottom layer was prepared as described in Example 1. For personalization, however, an inkjet receiver coating, preferably a Grace-Davision formulation, was patch-coated onto selective areas of the core layer opposite the bottom layer. It is important that the entire core layer was not coated with the receiver coating or the core would not properly adhere to the polyester laminate. Image and text were printed onto the receiving layer using a Canon® 8200 printer and pigment-based inks. The printed cores were then belt laminated on both sides using 7/3 TXP (0)/KRTY as both the top and bottom laminate.  
         [0038]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides an identification card which affords significant improvements in durability (by protecting the integrated circuit chip and antenna) and ease of manufacture as compared with the prior art identification cards and smart cards described above. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and represent a limited number of the possible specific embodiments that can provide applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements may be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.