Abstract:
An apparatus includes a first substantially card-shaped body. The first card-shaped body has a plurality of voids formed therein to define sides of a second substantially card-shaped body. The second body is smaller than the first body and is adapted to be detached from the first body. The second body is joined to the first body by a plurality of breakable tabs. The voids have a total length, inclusive of the tabs, that does not exceed about 64 mm.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/843,044, filed Sep. 8, 2006 and entitled “Method of making proximity payment device”, which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Proximity payment devices are in widespread use. For example, proximity payment cards in the well-known ID-1 standard size incorporate a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna. In use, the card is presented to a proximity reader that is part of a point of sale (POS) terminal to initiate a payment transaction. The card receives a wireless interrogation signal from the proximity reader via the card antenna. The interrogation signal powers up the RFID IC, which exchanges RF communications with the proximity reader. As part of the communications, the RFID IC provides a payment account number to the POS terminal. The POS terminal uses the payment account number to obtain authorization for the payment transaction. 
         [0003]    One well-known standard for proximity payment applications is known as “PayPass” and was promulgated by MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee hereof. 
         [0004]    It has also been proposed that proximity identification devices similar to proximity payment cards may be used for other purposes, such as transit payment/access, travel documents (e.g., “RFID-enabled passports”) and/or for other identification purposes. Cards of this kind, including proximity payment cards that incorporate RFID chips, fall under the rubric of “contactless smart cards”. 
         [0005]    According to other proposals, proximity payment devices and other identification devices may be provided by incorporating a contactless smart card, in the standard ID-000 size (nominally 25 mm by 15 mm), into a device such as a wristwatch, bracelet or wristband. In the above-referenced provisional patent application, the present inventor has disclosed an approach for assembling a proximity payment device of this kind. According to this approach, an ID-000 “subcard” is detachably carried in a larger card-shaped body having the standard ID-1 dimensions. The carrier card body includes an antenna that is coupled to an RFID-IC in the subcard. Because the carrier is of the standard ID-1 size, it can be conveniently processed by customary “personalization” equipment that is used to load card-specific data (e.g., the payment account number) into ID-1 proximity payment cards. Communications between the personalization equipment and the subcard are carried out by way of the antenna in the carrier. The personalization equipment may also print card-specific information on the subcard. After personalization of the subcard, it may be detached from the carrier and inserted into a device such as a wristwatch. The wristwatch incorporates an antenna to which the subcard RFID chip may be coupled, and the wristwatch can then be used as a proximity payment device. 
         [0006]    The present inventor has recognized that even the relatively small ID-000 contactless smart card may be too large for convenient insertion into some wristwatches or other items. The present inventor has also identified another potential disadvantage of the ID-1 carrier/ID-000 subcard arrangement. That is, the voids in the carrier which define the subcard fall within the region of the ID-1 dimensions that is contacted by a card-handling suction cup in a commonly used type of personalization equipment. Consequently, when such personalization equipment is to be used with the ID-1 carrier/ID-000 subcard arrangement, the personalization equipment is typically modified to relocate the suction cup so that it is clear of the voids in the carrier. The modification of the personalization equipment may be a significant expense and inconvenience for some payment card issuers. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing dimensional aspects of an ID-1 carrier/small subcard arrangement provided according to some embodiments. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but also showing some electrically functional aspects of the ID-1 carrier/small subcard arrangement. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart that illustrates a process for making a proximity payment device in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the subcard after it has been detached from the carrier. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic plan view of the subcard, showing in phantom an RFID IC embedded in the subcard. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic plan view of a proximity payment device that includes the subcard. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a plan view that schematically illustrates another embodiment of a carrier/subcard arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In general, and for the purpose of introducing concepts of embodiments of the present invention, a subcard smaller than the ID-000 size is formed in an ID-1 sized carrier. For example, the subcard may be nominally 17 mm by 15 mm, and thus may be small enough to fit conveniently in women&#39;s wristwatches or other relatively small devices. Further, the voids which define the subcard may be located within the ID-1 dimensions so as to be clear of a “keep-out zone” at which a suction cup in standard personalization equipment contacts conventional ID-1 proximity payment cards. Consequently, it may be feasible to perform personalization processing of the carrier/subcard arrangement with standard, unmodified personalization equipment. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing dimensional aspects of an ID-1 carrier/small subcard arrangement  100  provided according to some embodiments. The carrier/subcard arrangement  100  includes a carrier  102 , formed as a plastic body, which may have dimensions that are substantially in accordance with the well-known ID-1 standard for identification cards. For example, as indicated at  104 , the carrier  102  may have a length dimension of 85.9 mm; also, as indicated at  106 , the carrier  102  may have a height dimension of 54.18. In an alternative embodiment, the carrier may have length and height dimensions of 85.6 mm and 53.98 mm, respectively. In either of these embodiments, and in other alternative embodiments, the carrier may be in substantial compliance with at least some of the dimension requirements of the ID-1 standard, and may be said to have dimensions of substantially 86 mm by 54 mm. The thickness of the carrier  102  may be substantially in accordance with a thickness dimension prescribed by the ID-1 standard. In still other embodiments, the carrier  102  may have other dimensions besides those referred to above. 
         [0016]    The carrier/subcard arrangement  100  also includes a subcard  108  defined within the carrier  102  by voids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 . The subcard  108  is formed as a plastic body within and integrally with the carrier  108 . The subcard  108  has a right edge  118  that is shared with the right edge  120  of the carrier  102 . In other words, the right edge  118  of the subcard  108  is defined by the right edge  120  of the carrier  102 . 
         [0017]    The subcard  108  is joined to the carrier  102  by breakable tabs  122 ,  124 ,  126  that are integrally formed with the subcard  108  and the carrier  102  and that separate the voids from each other. Specifically, the tab  122  is between voids  110 ,  112 ; the tab  124  is between voids  112 ,  114 ; and the tab  126  is between voids  114 ,  116 . One or more of the tabs  122 ,  124 ,  126  may be of reduced thickness relative to the carrier  102  and the subcard  108 . 
         [0018]    As indicated at  128 , the subcard has a length dimension of substantially 17 mm; and as indicated at  130 , the subcard has a height dimension of substantially 15 mm. Consequently, the total length of the voids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 , inclusive of the tabs which separate the voids, is substantially  49  mm (i.e., twice the length of the subcard plus one times the height of the subcard). 
         [0019]    In the particular embodiment shown, the subcard  108  is defined within the carrier  102  such that the lower edge  132  of the subcard  108  (the lower edge  132  corresponding substantially to the length dimension of the subcard  108 ) is parallel to the lower edge  134  of the carrier  102  (the lower edge  134  corresponding substantially to the length dimension of the carrier  102 ). However, according to an alternative embodiment which is not shown, the subcard may be defined within the carrier such that its length dimension is parallel to the height dimension of the carrier. 
         [0020]    The subcard  108  is substantially rectangular, with rounded 90° corners, except that the lower right-hand corner  136  of the subcard  108  is effectively cut-off, i.e., formed of two 135° rounded sections with a 3 mm length therebetween. The 3 mm length is oriented at 45° relative to the lower edge  132  and the right edge  118  of the subcard  108 . This cut-off corner  136  may aid in correctly installing the subcard in a proximity payment device. 
         [0021]    The subcard  108  may include a substantially conventional RFID IC, which is not shown in  FIG.1 , but is indicated by reference numeral  137  in  FIG. 4A . The RFID IC  137  may be embedded within the subcard  108 . Further, conventional contacts  138  ( FIG. 1 ) are formed on the surface of the subcard  108  to allow for electrically conductive connection to the RFID IC  137  ( FIG. 4A , not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the subcard  108 . One or more of the contacts  138  are electrically conductively coupled to the RFID IC  137   
         [0022]    It will be noted from  FIG. 1  that the subcard  108 , and the voids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  which define the subcard  108 , are all clear of (away from) a keep-out zone (represented by dashed line circle  140 ) on the surface of the carrier  102 . The keep-out zone is the locus at which a suction cup (not shown) in a standard conventional item of card personalization equipment (not shown) contacts a conventional ID-1 card when such a conventional ID-1 card is processed by the standard personalization equipment. If the subcard were located within the ID-1 carrier so as to place the contacts  138  in the location called for by the ID-1 standard, then at least one of the resulting voids (not shown) would overlap with the keep-out zone  140  and would therefore prevent proper operation of the conventional personalization equipment. Accordingly, if the subcard were located within the ID-1 carrier so as to place the contacts  138  in the location called for by the ID-1 standard, it would be necessary to perform an expensive and inconvenient modification to the standard personalization to reposition the suction cup so as to render it capable of properly handling such a hypothetical carrier/subcard arrangement. However, because of the small size and the particular location (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the subcard  108  within the carrier  102 , the carrier/subcard arrangement  100  can be properly handled and personalized by standard, unmodified personalization equipment. 
         [0023]    As will be seen, one factor, in addition to the small size of the subcard, that makes possible the favorable location of the subcard  102  within the carrier is the fact that (in accordance with an invention disclosed in the above-referenced provisional patent application) the subcard  108  may be personalized by wireless communication with the RFID IC  137  via an antenna  142  ( FIG. 2 ) embedded in the carrier  102 . For this reason, and since direct electrical contact with the contacts  138  via the personalization equipment is not required, the subcard may be located at any convenient or advantageous position within the carrier, and need not be located so as to place the contacts  138  in the standard ID-1 contact location for interaction by direct electrical contact with standard personalization equipment of the type that interacts with ID-1 contact smart cards. 
         [0024]    Referring once more to  FIG. 1 , the keep-out zone  140  is, as noted, shaped as a circle. The keep-out zone  140  has a diameter  142  of substantially 43 mm. The right-most point of the keep-out zone  140  is at substantially 58 mm (as indicated at  143 ) from the left edge  144  of the carrier  102 . The point of the keep-out zone that is nearest the top edge  146  of the carrier  102  is substantially 9.18 mm distant (as indicated at  147 ) from the top edge  146 . Consequently, the center  148  of the keep-out zone  140  is substantially 30.7 mm from the top edge  146  and is substantially 36.5 mm from the left edge  144 . 
         [0025]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the antenna  142  embedded in the carrier  102  is electrically conductively coupled by electrically conductive connections  202 ,  204  to contacts  138 - 1  and  138 - 2 , respectively, on the subcard  108 . The contacts  138 - 1  and  138 - 2  are in turn electrically conductively coupled to the RFID IC  137  ( FIG. 4A , not shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the subcard  108 , so that the antenna  142  is (so long as the subcard  108  has not yet been detached from the carrier  102 ) electrically conductively coupled to the RFID IC  137  via the connections  202 ,  204  and the contacts  138 - 1  and  138 - 2 . 
         [0026]    The connection  202  passes through tab  124  as part of its path from the antenna  142  to the contact  138 - 1 ; and the connection  204  passes through tab  122  as part of its path from the antenna  142  to the contact  138 - 2 . It should be understood that the layout of the connections  202 ,  204  and/or of the antenna  142  may be different from that shown, and that the routing of the connections  202 ,  204  through the tabs may be different, and may for example include tab  126  instead of tab  124  or  122 . As another alternative, both connections  202  and  204  may be routed through tab  124 . Similarly, contacts other than contacts  138 - 1  and  138 - 2  may be used as the connections to the RFID IC  137  from the antenna  142 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart that illustrates a process for making a proximity payment device in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
         [0028]    At  302  in  FIG. 3 , a carrier/subcard arrangement is provided such as that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . At  304  in  FIG. 3 , a process step customarily referred to as “pre-personalization” is performed with respect to the subcard  108 . As is familiar to those who are skilled in the art, pre-personalization entails writing into the RFID IC of a payment card or similar device certain information such as loading of keys to be used in subsequent transactions and setting of parameters (such as to select a particular card brand to be borne by the subcard  108 ). In addition, information such as a payment card association brand, etc., may be printed on the subcard  108  as part of the pre-personalization process. The information stored in the RFID IC and/or printed on the subcard may be such as is common to all subcards processed in a particular production run. According to some aspects of the invention, the pre-personalization, possibly along with subsequent steps of the process, may be performed by standard equipment configured to communicate wirelessly with non-contact (“proximity”) ID-1 cards. Accordingly, as part of the pre-personalization steps, or as another part of the process not explicitly indicated in  FIG. 3 , the carrier/subcard arrangement  100  may be loaded (e.g., as part of a batch of like carrier/subcard arrangements) into conventional personalization equipment. The personalization equipment handles the carrier/subcard arrangement  100  as if the carrier/subcard arrangement  100  were a conventional non-contact ID-1 card, and communicates with the RFID IC in the subcard  108  via the antenna  142  embedded in the carrier  102 . 
         [0029]    As will be understood from previous discussion, the personalization equipment referred to in the previous paragraph may be a standard item of equipment, and need not have been modified by changing the location of a card-handling suction cup. 
         [0030]    At  306  in  FIG. 3 , a process step customarily referred to as “personalization” is performed with respect to the subcard  108 . This step may, but need not, be performed by the same personalization equipment which performed step  304 , or by a similar piece of equipment. This step may, but need not, be performed prior to removing the carrier/subcard arrangement from the personalization equipment which performed step  304 . Alternatively, step  306  may occur after the carrier/subcard arrangement is removed from the personalization equipment referred to in the previous sentence and after loading the carrier/subcard into another, but similar, piece of personalization equipment. 
         [0031]    In the personalization step  306 , the subcard  108  is effectively assigned to a particular payment card account and/or to a particular account holder by writing into the RFID IC  137  (again via radio frequency communication through the antenna  142  in the carrier  102 ) information such as a payment card account number and the name of the account holder. Other information, such as expiration date, may be stored in either of the pre-personalization and personalization steps. Moreover, the pre-personalization and personalization steps may be combined in one operation. Such an operation (or operations, if the steps are performed separately) may be performed by use of an item of conventional contactless card programming equipment, such as the model 9000 available from Datacard Group, Minnetonka, Minn. 
         [0032]    In addition to encompassing writing of data into the RFID IC  137 , personalization may also include printing card-specific (i.e., account-/account-holder-specific) information on the subcard  108 . 
         [0033]    At  308  in  FIG. 3 , the subcard  108  is detached from the carrier  102 . For example, this may be done by the account holder, after the carrier/subcard arrangement  100  has been mailed to the account holder from the card issuer (issuing bank). The detaching of the subcard  108  from the carrier  102  may be accomplished by snapping the tabs  122 ,  124 ,  126  (i.e., by snapping the subcard  108  from the tabs  122 ,  124 ,  126  and from the carrier  102 ). This operation also effectively detaches the subcard  108  and the RFID IC  137  from the antenna  142 . Further, this operation breaks the connections  202 ,  204  between the antenna  142  and the RFID IC  137 . 
         [0034]    The subcard  108  may alternatively be detached from the carrier by the issuer, either manually or by suitable automated equipment. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4 and 4A  are plan views that illustrate (different aspects of) the subcard  108  in isolation from the carrier  102  (e.g., after the subcard has been detached from the carrier). 
         [0036]    At  310  in  FIG. 3 , the subcard  108  is installed in a device so that the device becomes a proximity payment device. The device may be, for example, a wristwatch, a wristband or a bracelet. The device may include an antenna to which the RFID IC is coupled by the installation of the subcard in the device. This may be done by spring-loaded or spring contacts in the device brought into electrically conductive contact with one or more of the contacts  138  by installation of the subcard in the device. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a proximity payment device  502  (e.g., a wristwatch) of the type which is produced at step  310 . Reference numeral  504  indicates the watch case or housing in which the subcard  108  has been installed. Reference numeral  506  indicates a schematic representation of an antenna to which the subcard is electrically conductively coupled while installed in the device  502 . (In practice this may be a small loop or ferrite antenna.) The conductive connection between the subcard  108  and the antenna  506  (i.e., between the RFID IC  137 — FIG. 4A , not separately shown in FIG.  5 —and the antenna  506 ) may be via the contacts  138 - 1 ,  138 - 2 , or by other contacts in an arrangement which is not illustrated. The antenna  506  may be embedded in and/or supported by the watch case/housing  504 . The device  502  may include a wristband  508  secured to the watch case/housing  504 . 
         [0038]    The device  502  may, for example, also include one or more conventional wristwatch components which are not shown. Among these components may be a movement, a numeric liquid crystal display, a wristwatch chip, a battery, etc. The proximity payment device  502  need not be a wristwatch but may rather be a wristband or a bracelet, or a pendant, etc. 
         [0039]    The proximity payment device  502  may operate in a conventional manner. For example, the proximity payment device may operate in accordance with the above-mentioned “PayPass” standard. The proximity payment device  502  may be presented to a proximity reader (not shown) of a POS terminal (not shown) to accomplish payment for a sales transaction. When the proximity payment device is presented to the proximity reader, the device receives and/or is powered up by an interrogation signal from the proximity reader. The proximity payment device  502  receives the interrogation signal via the antenna  506 . The received interrogation signal may power-up the RFID IC  137 . Possibly after a handshake procedure or the like, the RFID IC may transmit a payment card account number and/or other information to the POS terminal via the antenna  506 . The POS terminal may then interact with the payment card system to charge the current sales transaction to the payment card account represented by the payment card account number received from the proximity payment device  502 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a plan view that schematically illustrates another embodiment of a carrier/subcard arrangement (indicated generally by reference numeral  100   a  in  FIG. 6 ). The carrier/subcard arrangement  100   a  shown in  FIG. 6  differs from the carrier subcard arrangement  100  of  FIGS. 1-2  primarily in terms of the location of the subcard  108  within the carrier  102   a  shown in  FIG. 6 . In particular, the subcard  108  is located in carrier  102   a  in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  such that the contacts  138  are located relative to the carrier  102   a  in compliance with the provisions of the ID-1 standard relative to the location of contacts within the ID-1 geometry. The subcard  108  may accordingly be arranged for personalization via standard contact personalization equipment, except that the personalization equipment would require modification of the location of the card-handling suction cup referred to above. This is because the voids to define the subcard  108  in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  may fall within the keep-out zone described above in connection with  FIG. 1 . (In  FIG. 6 , the punching and/or scoring and/or voids which define the subcard  108  within the carrier  102   a  are collectively represented simply by the outline of subcard  108 . The total length of the voids, inclusive of tabs—not shown—that detachably attach the subcard to the carrier, may be about 64 mm. This total length corresponds to twice the length (17 mm) plus twice the height (15 mm) of the subcard.) Alternatively, the carrier  102   a  may include an antenna that is electrically conductively coupled by suitable connections to the RFID IC (not separately shown in  FIG. 6 ) of the subcard  108 . The layout of the antenna and the connections to the RFID IC (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) may be different in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  than in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . If an antenna is present in the carrier  102   a,  the process of  FIG. 3  may be applied to the carrier/subcard arrangement  100   a,  except that the contactless personalization equipment may need to be modified to move the card-handling suction cup to be clear of the subcard location shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0041]    The subcard shown herein with dimensions of substantially 17 mm by 15 mm may, in various embodiments, be suitable for use with contactless readers, or with contact readers, or may be a so-called “dual interface” device that is usable with both contactless and contact readers. Accordingly, the IC in the subcard may be arranged to support either one of, or both, contactless and contact reading. 
         [0042]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.