Patent Publication Number: US-2021184057-A1

Title: Transaction card for transferring solar power

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/289,319, filed Feb. 28, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,930,801), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/850,686 filed Dec. 21, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,243,088), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Transactions often involve use of a transaction card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card, a gift card, an automated teller machine (ATM) card, a rewards card or client loyalty card, or the like) to pay for products or services at a transaction terminal (e.g., point of sale (PoS) terminal) of an individual or business engaged in the sale of goods or services, e.g., via a swiping of the transaction card at a card reader, insertion of the transaction card into a chip reader, or wireless transmission of transaction card data to a wireless receiver. In some instances, a magnetic strip, integrated circuit chip, radio frequency (RF) antenna, and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) tag may be included in a transaction card to provide information associated with the transaction card (e.g., an account identifier, account information, a payment token, or the like). 
     SUMMARY 
     According to some implementations, a transaction card for communicating data relating to a transaction may comprise: a solar layer; a transaction card layer; and a power transfer layer; where the solar layer includes at least one solar panel capable of converting light into electricity; the transaction card layer supports the solar layer and includes a magnetic strip; and the power transfer layer includes circuitry capable of receiving electricity from the solar layer. 
     According to some implementations, a transaction card for communicating data relating to a transaction may comprise: a solar layer; a transaction card layer; and a power transfer layer; where the solar layer includes at least one solar panel capable of converting light into electricity; the transaction card layer includes: a housing portion for physically supporting the solar layer, and a component including account data; and the power transfer layer includes: a first component for receiving electricity from the solar layer, and a second component for providing electricity as output. 
     According to some implementations, a transaction card for communicating data relating to a transaction may comprise: a solar panel capable of converting light into electricity; a magnetic strip including account data; a first electrical component capable of receiving electricity from the solar panel; and a second electrical component capable of providing electricity as output; where dimensions of the transaction card are substantially: 85.6 millimeters long, 53.98 millimeters wide, and 0.76 millimeters thick. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  are diagrams of overviews of an example implementation of a transaction card described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example environment in which a transaction card described herein, may be used; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of example components of an example implementation of a transaction card; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are diagrams of example implementations of a solar layer of a transaction card described herein; 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  are diagrams of example implementations of power transfer components of a transaction card described herein; and 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  are diagrams of example implementations of a power transfer layer of a transaction card described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
     Individuals often carry transaction cards to enable the individuals to conduct transactions using the transaction cards, e.g., by using the transaction cards to purchase goods or services at retail stores, from online shopping websites, from other individuals, or the like. While transaction cards may be useful when being used to conduct transactions, transaction cards may not have any other use outside of the transaction context. Accordingly, individuals often carry transaction cards for extended periods of time while only making use of the transaction cards when conducting a transaction. 
     Some implementations, described herein, provide a transaction card for transferring solar power to one or more other devices. For example, a transaction card may include a solar layer for generating electricity from sunlight using solar cells. The transaction card may also include a power transfer layer for obtaining the electricity from the solar layer and allowing the electricity to be transferred to an electronic device (e.g., wirelessly via inductive charging and/or using physical contacts). The transaction card may also include a transaction card layer that is capable of providing support for the other layers and/or providing transaction data to a transaction terminal (e.g., to enable the transaction card to be used for making purchases of goods or services). 
     By including a solar layer and power transfer layer in a transaction card, the transaction card may be capable of charging electronic devices, e.g., when not in use for conducting a transaction. The ability to use a transaction card to charge an electronic device may obviate the need for an individual to carry other devices for charging the electronic device. The use of solar power creates a readily accessible and renewable source of power. In some implementations, the power transfer layer may include components to enable wireless charging of devices capable of wireless charging, such as cellular phones. In some implementations, the power transfer layer may include a battery to enable storage of electricity to be used for charging at a later time. The transaction card may also be used as a transaction card (e.g., capable of being used for purchasing goods and services), providing an individual with a useful multi-purpose device in a form factor that is easily portable. 
       FIGS. 1A-1B  are diagrams of overviews  100  and  150  of an example implementation of a transaction card described herein. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the overview  100  of the example implementation may include a solar layer  110 , a transaction card layer  120 , and a power transfer layer  130 . The three example layers are also depicted as combined into an example transaction card  140 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the example transaction card  140  includes a solar layer  110 . The solar layer  110  includes one or more components designed to generate and supply solar electricity. For example, the solar layer may include one or more solar panels. A solar panel may include a variety of components, such as a cover (e.g., constructed from transparent or semi-transparent glass, plexiglass, polycarbonate, or the like), one or more encapsulant layers (e.g., constructed from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), clear silicone, or the like), one or more solar cells (e.g., a photovoltaic cell that may be constructed from a variety of materials, including crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), or the like), and a backsheet (e.g., constructed from polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or the like). In some implementations, the solar layer  110  may include other components, whether the other components relate to the generation of electricity from light or whether the components relate to other functionality, such as transferring or storing electricity. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1A , the example transaction card  140  includes a transaction card layer  120 . The transaction card layer  120  includes one or more components designed to enable the transaction card to be used to conduct a transaction (e.g., to purchase goods and services). For example, the transaction card layer  120  may include a magnetic strip, integrated circuit chip, RF antenna, and/or RFID tag to provide information associated with the transaction card  140  (e.g., an account identifier, account information, a payment token, or the like). In some implementations, the transaction card layer  120  may include other components, such as components designed to physically support components of one or more other layers, such as solar layer  110  and power transfer layer  130 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1A , the example transaction card  140  includes a power transfer layer  130 . The power transfer layer  130  includes one or more components designed to receive electricity from the solar layer  110  and provide electricity as output. For example, the power transfer layer  130  may include a battery (e.g., a thin or ultra-thin lithium polymer rechargeable battery, a thin-film lithium-ion battery, or the like), one or more electrical contacts (e.g., electrically conductive material capable of transferring electricity through contact, such as copper, gold, silver, or the like), a wireless power transfer component (e.g., an inductive coil or antenna, such as a near-field communications (NFC) antenna, capable of generating an alternating electromagnetic field for creating inductive coupling with an electronic device to form an air transformer), and/or circuitry on a printed circuit board (PCB) including various components for managing the transfer of electricity from the solar layer  110  to an electronic device (e.g., via the one or more electrical contacts or the wireless power transfer component). In some implementations, the power transfer layer  130  may include other components, whether the other components relate to the transfer of electricity or whether the components relate to other functionality. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1A , transaction card  140  may include other components, such as a logo identifying an organization associated with the transaction card  140 , lettering identifying a user associated with the transaction card  140 , numbers indicating an account number and expiration date, a signature strip for a signature of the user associated with the transaction card  140 , or the like. 
     While example components in overview  100  of  FIG. 1A  are depicted and described as being included in three separate layers (e.g., solar layer  110 , transaction card layer  120 , and power transfer layer  130 ), the distinction between layers may, in some implementations, be logical, rather than actual dedicated layers for each of the functions described above. For example, various components described with respect to the solar layer  110  may be included in, or include, components described as being included in the transaction card layer  120  and/or power transfer layer  130 . Similarly, various components described with respect to the transaction card layer  120  may be included in, or include, components described as being included in the solar layer  110  and/or power transfer layer  130 . Likewise, various components described with respect to the power transfer layer  130  may be included in, or include, components described as being included in the solar layer  110  and/or transaction card layer  120 . In addition, the sizes of the layers, while depicted as each being the same size, may vary. By way of example, the example transaction card  140  includes a smaller solar layer  110  embedded in a transaction card layer  120  that is larger than the solar layer  110 . Other configurations and layouts are also possible. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the overview  150  of the example implementation depicts the transaction card  140  and an electronic device  155  (e.g., the device to receive power from transaction card  140 , such as a cell phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, video game device, battery pack, wearable device, or any other type of device capable of receiving an electrical charge). As shown in  FIG. 1B , and by reference number  160 , the transaction card  140  receives sunlight by having the solar panels included in the transaction card  140  exposed to the sun. The solar panels included in the solar layer  110  of the transaction card  140  convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be stored by components included in the solar layer  110  and/or the power transfer layer  130  of the transaction card  140 . While the example depicted in  FIG. 1B  includes the sun as the source of light, in some situations, other light sources may also enable solar panels to convert light into electricity (e.g., incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs, or the like). 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1B , and by reference number  170 , the transaction card  140  is placed on or near the electronic device  155 . By placing the transaction card  140  on or near the electronic device  155 , power may be transferred from the power transfer layer  130  of the transaction card  140  to the electronic device  155 . For example, in a situation where the power transfer layer  130  and the electronic device  155  include inductive charging components, placing the transaction card  140  on or near the electronic device  155  may create an inductive coupling, causing power to be transferred from the inductive components included in the transaction card  140  to the inductive components included in the electronic device  155 . As another example, transaction card  140  may include electrical contacts (e.g., metal contacts included in the power transfer layer  130  of the transaction card  140 ) that make contact with corresponding electrical contacts of the electronic device  155  to enable the transfer of power from the transaction card  140  to the electronic device  155 . While the example depicted in  FIG. 1B  shows the electronic device  155  in contact or proximity to the transaction card  140  to receive power, in some implementations, an intermediate component may be used to transfer power from the transaction card  140  to the electronic device  155 , such as a cable connected to the electronic device  155 , a case with contacts and/or inductive components connected to the electronic device  155 , or the like. 
     Accordingly, by including a solar layer  110  and power transfer layer  130  in a transaction card  140 , the transaction card  140  may be capable of charging electronic devices, e.g., when not in use for conducting a transaction. As noted above, the ability to use a transaction card  140  to charge an electronic device may obviate the need for an individual to carry another device for charging the electronic device. The use of solar power creates a readily accessible and renewable source of power. The transaction card  140  may also be used to conduct transactions (e.g., capable of being used for purchasing goods and services), providing an individual with a useful multi-purpose device in a form factor that is easily portable. 
     As indicated above,  FIGS. 1A-1B  are provided merely as examples. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described with regard to  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example environment  200  in which a transaction card described herein, may be used. As shown in  FIG. 2 , environment  200  may include a transaction card  210 , a transaction terminal  220 , a network  230 , and a transaction backend  240 . In environment  200 , transaction card  210  may communicate data associated with or relating to a transaction with transaction terminal  220 , which facilitates processing the transaction through communication with transaction backend  240  via network  230 . Devices of environment  200  may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. 
     Transaction card  210  includes a transaction card (such as transaction card  140 ) with solar components (e.g., solar layer  110 ), transaction card components (e.g., transaction card layer  120 ), and power transfer components (e.g., power transfer layer  130 ). Transaction card  210  is capable of storing and/or communicating data for a point of sale (PoS) transaction with transaction terminal  220 . For example, transaction card  210  may store or communicate data including account information (e.g., an account identifier, a cardholder identifier, etc.), expiration information of transaction card  210 , banking information, transaction information (e.g., a payment token), or the like. For example, to store or communicate the data, transaction card  210  may include a magnetic strip and/or an integrated circuit (IC) chip (e.g., a EUROPAY®, MASTERCARD®, VISA® (EMV) chip, or the like). 
     In some implementations transaction card  210  may store or communicate the above data using transaction card components, such as those that may be included in transaction card layer  120 . As described above, in some implementations, transaction card  210  may also include other components (e.g., in solar layer  110  and power transfer layer  130 ) to enable the transfer of power from light contacting the transaction card  210  to another electronic device capable of receiving power (e.g., electronic device  155 ). In some implementations, the dimensions of transaction card  210  are substantially: 85.6 millimeters long, 53.98 millimeters wide, and 0.76 millimeters thick, or otherwise in conformance with International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) standards. 
     In some implementations, transaction card  210  may include an antenna to communicate data associated with transaction card  210 . The antenna may be a passive radio frequency (RF) antenna, an active RF antenna, and/or a battery-assisted RF antenna. In some implementations, transaction card  210  may be a smart transaction card, capable of communicating wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), near-field communication (NFC), or the like) with a computing device, such as transaction terminal  220 , a digital wallet, a user device (e.g., a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, etc.), and/or another device. In some implementations, transaction card  210  may communicate with transaction terminal  220  to complete a transaction (e.g., based on being moved within communicative proximity of transaction terminal  220 ). 
     Transaction terminal  220  includes one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associated with facilitating a transaction (such as a PoS transaction). For example, transaction terminal  220  may include a communication device and/or computing device capable of receiving data from transaction card  210  and/or processing a transaction based on the data. In some implementations, transaction terminal  220  may include a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, and/or a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone, etc.). Transaction terminal  220  may be owned and/or operated by one or more individuals or businesses engaged in a sale of goods or services (e.g., one or more merchants, vendors, service providers, or the like). 
     Transaction terminal  220  may include one or more devices to facilitate processing a transaction via transaction card  210 . Transaction terminal  220  may include a PoS terminal, a security access terminal, an ATM terminal, or the like. Transaction terminal  220  may include one or more input devices and/or output devices to facilitate obtaining transaction card data from transaction card  210  and/or interaction or authorization from a cardholder of transaction card  210 . Example input devices of transaction terminal  220  may include a number keypad, a touchscreen, a magnetic strip reader, a chip reader, and/or an RF signal reader. A magnetic strip reader of transaction terminal  220  may receive transaction card data as a magnetic strip of transaction card  210  is swiped along the magnetic strip reader. A chip reader of transaction terminal  220  may receive transaction card data from an IC chip (e.g., an EMV chip) of transaction card  210  when the chip is placed in contact with the chip reader. An RF signal reader of transaction terminal  220  may enable contactless transactions from transaction card  210  by obtaining transaction card data wirelessly from transaction card  210  as transaction card  210  comes within a range of transaction terminal  220  that the RF signal reader may detect an RF signal from an RF antenna of transaction card  210 . Example output devices of transaction terminal  220  may include a display device, a speaker, a printer, or the like. 
     Network  230  includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, network  230  may include a cellular network (e.g., a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, a 4G network, a 5G network, another type of next generation network, etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computing network, or the like, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks. 
     Transaction backend  240  includes one or more devices capable of authorizing and/or facilitating a transaction. For example, transaction backend  240  may include one or more servers and/or computers to store and/or provide information (e.g., authorizations, balances, payment tokens, security information, account information, or the like) associated with processing a transaction via transaction terminal  220 . 
     Transaction backend  240  may include one or more devices associated with banks and/or transaction card associations that authorize the transaction and/or facilitate a transfer of funds or payments between an account of a cardholder of transaction card  210  and an account of an individual or business of transaction terminal  220 . For example, transaction backend  240  may include one or more devices of one or more issuing banks associated with a cardholder of transaction card  210 , one or more devices of one or more acquiring banks (or merchant banks) associated with transaction terminal  220 , and/or one or more devices associated with one or more card associations (e.g., VISA®, MASTERCARD®, or the like) associated with transaction card  210 . Accordingly, in response to receiving transaction card data associated with transaction card  210  from transaction terminal  220 , various banking institutions and/or card associations of transaction backend  240  may communicate to authorize the transaction and/or transfer funds between the accounts associated with transaction card  210  and/or transaction terminal  220 . 
     Transaction backend  240  may include one or more devices associated with security that may provide or deny authorization associated with the transaction. For example, transaction backend  240  may store and/or provide security access information that may or may not allow access through an access point (e.g., a gate, a door, or the like) of a secure location (e.g., a room, a building, a geographical area, a transportation terminal, or the like) based on information (e.g., account information, a key, an identifier, credentials, or the like) associated with transaction card  210  and/or provided by transaction terminal  220 . 
     Transaction backend  240  may include one or more devices associated with a rewards program with transaction card  210  and/or an entity (e.g., a bank, a merchant, a service provider, a vendor, or the like) associated with the transaction card  210  and/or transaction terminal  220 . For example, transaction backend  240  may authorize the earning and/or redemption of rewards (e.g., rewards points associated with transaction card  210 , cash rewards, client loyalty rewards associated with an entity associated with transaction terminal  220 , or the like) based on a transaction processed by transaction terminal  220  with transaction card  210 . 
     The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in  FIG. 2  are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices and/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/or networks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than those shown in  FIG. 2 . Furthermore, two or more devices shown in  FIG. 2  may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in  FIG. 2  may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) of environment  200  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices of environment  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of example components of an example implementation  300  of a transaction card  210 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , implementation  300  may include solar cover  305 , encapsulant  310 , solar cell(s)  315 , encapsulate  320 , backsheet  325 , wiring  330 A and  330 B, first transaction card layer  335 , power storage layer  340 , power circuit layer  345 , power output layer  350 , second transaction card layer  355 , and magnetic strip  360 .  FIG. 3  also indicates which components may, in the example implementation  300 , be included in each of the three logical layers (e.g., solar layer, such as solar layer  110 , transaction card layer, such as transaction card layer  120 , and power transfer layer, such as power transfer layer  130 ). Components of implementation  300  may be constructed and/or connected in a variety of ways, including soldering metallic components, laminating components together, or the like. 
     The example solar layer includes solar cover  305 , encapsulants  310  and  320 , solar cell(s)  315 , and backsheet  325 . Solar cover  305  may include, for example, a sheet of transparent or semi-transparent glass, plexiglass, polycarbonate, or the like, for protecting solar cell(s)  315  while still enabling light to penetrate to solar cell(s)  315 . Encapsulants  310  and  320  may include, for example, a layer of EVA, clear silicone, or the like, for protecting and insulating solar cell(s)  315  (e.g., from moisture, heat, or the like). Solar cell(s)  315  may include one or more photovoltaic cells for converting light into electricity, which may be of a variety of types of solar cells, such as crystalline silicon cells, a-Si cells, CdTe cells, or the like. Solar cell(s)  315  are also depicted as being connected to power circuit layer  345  via wiring  330 A connected to solar cell(s)  315  on one end and wiring  330 B connected to power circuit layer  345  on the other end. Backsheet  325  may include a layer of material for physically supporting and protecting solar cell(s)  315 , which may include a layer constructed of PVF, PET, or the like. 
     The example transaction card layer includes first transaction card layer  335 , second transaction card layer  355 , and magnetic strip  360 . The example transaction card layer also encompasses the example power transfer layer (e.g., enclosing and/or physically supporting the components of the power transfer layer). First transaction card layer  335  may be made of a variety of materials, including polymer-based materials, metallic material, wood material, or the like. For example, first transaction card layer  335  may be constructed of polyvinyl chloride acetate (PVCA). First transaction card layer  335  may include a variety of transaction card  210  features, including text (e.g., embossed or printed account numbers, cardholder name, expiration date, or the like), a hologram or other card association mark, an IC chip, or the like. In some implementations, as shown in the example first transaction card layer  335 , first transaction card layer  335  may define a notch or other feature for receiving, housing, connecting to, and/or supporting components of other layers, such as a hole or notches for receiving components of a solar layer and/or power transfer layer. Similar to the first transaction card layer  335 , the second transaction card layer  355  may also be constructed of a variety of materials, which may be the same as or different from the materials used to construct the first transaction card layer  335 . Second transaction card layer  355  may also include a variety of transaction card  210  features, including text, a signature strip, a magnetic strip  360  (e.g., comprised of magnetic tape, magnetic ink, or the like, to provide information associated with the transaction card  210  to a magnetic card reader), and/or other transaction card  210  features. While the example transaction card layer includes magnetic strip  360 , in some implementations a transaction card  210  may not include magnetic strip  360 , and may use another component (such as an IC chip) for providing information associated with the transaction card  210 . 
     The example power transfer layer includes power storage layer  340 , power circuit layer  345 , and power output layer  350 . Components of the example power transfer layer may, in some implementations, be included in or enclosed by materials comprising the transaction card layer (e.g., the power transfer layer may be encased in a polymer-based material that includes the first transaction card layer  335  and second transaction card layer  355 ). Power storage layer  340  may include one or more components for storing power, such as a thin or ultra-thin lithium polymer rechargeable battery, a thin-film lithium-ion battery, a thin capacitor, or the like. Power circuit layer  345  may include circuitry, including a printed circuit board (PCB) including components for receiving power from solar cell(s)  315  (e.g., wiring, such as wiring  330 A and  330 B) and components for providing power to power output layer  350  (e.g., additional wiring, an oscillator for producing a resonant frequency, a power transistor, a full wave rectifier for converting alternating current to direct current, a voltage regulator, an integrated circuit for managing battery charging, or the like). Power output layer  350  may include a variety of components for providing power, as output, to an electronic device. For example, power output layer  350  may include conductive output contacts for physically and electrically connecting with contacts of an electronic device and/or wireless power transfer components (e.g., inductive coil or antenna). 
     The depicted implementation  300  is intended to provide a logical representation of potential components of transaction card  210 , rather than a physically proportional representation. The number and arrangement of components shown in  FIG. 3  are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in  FIG. 3 . Furthermore, two or more components shown in  FIG. 3  may be implemented within a single component, or a single component shown in  FIG. 3  may be implemented as multiple, separate components. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of implementation  300  may provide the functionality described as being provided by another set of components of implementation  300 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are diagrams of example implementations  400  and  450  of a solar layer of a transaction card  210  described herein. As shown in  FIG. 4A , example implementation  400  depicts a first side of a transaction card  210 . In this example, the solar layer  410 , including one or more solar cells, covers almost the entire first side of the transaction card  210 . Other features of the first side of the transaction card  210 , such as an IC chip, account number, name, and expiration date, are depicted as being printed on top of and/or cut out from the solar layer  410 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , example implementation  450  depicts a second side of a transaction card  210 . In this example, the solar layer  460 , including one or more solar cells, covers the portion of the second side of the transaction card  210  that is below the magnetic strip. 
     In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include solar layer  410  and not solar layer  460 . In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include solar layer  460  and not solar layer  410 . In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include both solar layer  410  and solar layer  460 . 
     The arrangements of the solar layers, and the number and arrangement of other features shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are provided as examples. In practice, there may be additional features, fewer features, different features, a differently arranged solar layer, or differently arranged features than those shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  are diagrams of example implementations  500  and  550  of power transfer components of a transaction card  210  described herein. As shown in  FIG. 5A , example implementation  500  depicts a first side of a transaction card  210 . In this example, the power transfer components include conductive contacts  510  on the first side of the transaction card  210 . The conductive contacts  510  may be arranged to physical and electrically connect with conductive contacts of an electronic device (e.g., to transfer power from transaction card  210  to the electronic device). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , example implementation  550  depicts a second side of a transaction card  210 . In this example, the power transfer components include conductive contacts  560  that provide functionality similar to that of the conductive contacts  510  of  FIG. 5A  (e.g., to transfer power from transaction card  210  to an electronic device). 
     In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include conductive contacts  510  and not conductive contacts  560 . In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include conductive contacts  560  and not conductive contacts  510 . In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include both conductive contacts  510  and conductive contacts  560 . 
     The arrangements of the conductive contacts, and the number and arrangement of other features shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are provided as examples. In practice, there may be additional features, fewer features, different features, differently arranged conductive contacts, or differently arranged features than those shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
       FIGS. 6A-6B  are diagrams of example implementations  600  and  650  of a power transfer layer of a transaction card  210  described herein. As shown in  FIG. 6A , example implementation  600  depicts a power transfer layer  610  that includes an inductive charging circuit  620  and an inductive coil  630 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , the inductive charging circuit  620  may receive power from wiring connected to one or more solar cells and convert the power into current running through the inductive coil  630 . The current running through the inductive coil  630  is designed to enable the power transfer layer  610  to form an inductive coupling with another inductive coil of an electronic device, e.g., to enable the transfer of power from the transaction card  210  to the electronic device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , example implementation  650  depicts a power transfer layer  660  that includes a battery charging circuit  670  and an ultra-thin battery  680 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , the battery charging circuit  670  may regulate power received from wiring connected to one or more solar cells to charge the ultra-thin battery  680  and also regulate power output, e.g., through conductive contacts and/or a wireless power transfer component, such as an inductive coil. The combination of battery charging circuit  670  and ultra-thin battery  680  may be used for contact-based and/or contactless charging of an electronic device. 
     In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include power transfer layer  610  and not power transfer layer  660 . In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include power transfer layer  660  and not power transfer layer  610 . In some implementations, the transaction card  210  may include both power transfer layer  610  and power transfer layer  660 . 
     The number and arrangement of components shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are provided as examples. In practice, there may be additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in the example power transfer layers depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     As indicated above,  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B  are provided merely as examples. Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described with regard to  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B . 
     As noted above, by including a solar layer and power transfer layer in a transaction card  210 , the transaction card  210  may be capable of charging electronic devices, e.g., when not in use for conducting a transaction. The ability to use a transaction card  210  to charge an electronic device may obviate the need for an individual to carry a device for charging the electronic device. The use of solar power creates a readily accessible and renewable source of power. In some implementations, the power transfer layer may include components to enable wireless charging of devices capable of wireless charging, such as cellular phones. In some implementations, the power transfer layer may include a battery to enable storage of electricity to be used for charging at a later time. The transaction card  210  may also be used to conduct transactions (e.g., capable of being used for purchasing goods and services), providing an individual with a useful multi-purpose device in a form factor that is easily portable. 
     The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. 
     As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. 
     Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. 
     No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. As used herein, the term “or the like” is intended to be inclusive (e.g., as in “and/or the like”), unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, etc.), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.