Patent Abstract:
A contactless transaction card includes first and second contactless integrated circuit (IC) chips and an antenna connected to both ICs for enabling contactless operation of the functions provided by each IC. The contactless transaction card is preferably fabricated by laminating together a plurality of layers to form a carrier substrate. The antenna and one of the IC chips is embedded within the layers of the carrier substrate so as to be permanently formed in the card, while the second IC chip is provided in the card in a region formed as a micro-sized card which is removable from the main portion of the carrier substrate. Additionally, an adapter card includes a holder for retaining a micro-sized contactless transaction card and contains an antenna arranged to connect with the micro-sized card. The adapter may be used to convert the micro-sized transaction card into a full-sized card and to enable access to the information associated with the IC chip contained in the card.

Full Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/382,344, filed May 23, 2002, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/150,088, filed May 20, 2002, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a versatile contactless electronic transaction card which may provide a plurality of contactless functions on one card. The present invention also relates to a contactless card which may be convertible for use in operating environments having different size accommodations for the contactless card. 
   2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
   Electronic transaction cards have long been prevalent in modern society for storing user or account specific information to provide convenient and fast transactions in a variety of situations. For example, such cards may be used to store information regarding a user&#39;s account information to facilitate purchase transactions or service transactions, or a user&#39;s identity to gain access through secure or privileged networks and systems. Generally, there are two types of such electronic transaction cards—the more established contact-type cards and the more recent contactless transaction cards. 
   Examples of a contact-type electronic transaction card include the credit card, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or the subscriber identity modules (SIM) card, as shown in  FIG. 2 . While credit cards are well known in this country, SIM cards are used primarily in Europe and Asia (although gaining in popularity in the United States) in communication devices such as mobile telephones to enable a user to access an individual account or a particular wireless communication network in a specific country. Generally SIM cards are provided in one of two sizes, i.e., a full-sized card which is sized similarly to a credit card, and a micro or plug-in sized card (see  FIG. 2 ) which is much smaller than a credit card (approximately 25 mm long and 15 mm wide). In the contact-type cards, the account and/or other user-specific information is stored or encoded on a magnetic strip or an integrated circuit (IC) chip embedded in the card. The information stored or associated with the card can only be accessed by placing the magnetic strip or IC chip in direct physical contact with a card reader or access device. 
   Contactless transaction cards, on the other hand, are presently commonly used in public transportation systems or for security/access control. Similarly to a contact-type card, the integrated circuit in a contactless transaction card may store information specific to a user such as a user&#39;s account information or identification information. On the other hand, while a contact-type card requires physical contact of the magnetic strip or IC with the card reader or access device, a contactless transaction card transmits and receives information from and to a card reader or access device via radiofrequency signals and does not require physical contact between the card and the reader or access device. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , a contactless transaction card  200  includes an integrated circuit  210  mounted on a card substrate  230  and an antenna  220  extending from the IC  210 , wherein the antenna  220  is also mounted on card substrate  230 . Preferably, both the IC  210  and the antenna  220  are embedded inside a plurality of layers laminated together to form the card  200 . The antenna  220  has a relatively long total length with respect to the IC  210 , and is typically incorporated in the card  200  in a looped manner or wound in a pattern within the plane of the card. The transfer or reading of information to or from a contactless transaction card is achieved by the transmission of RF signals through the antenna  220  extending from the integrated circuit  210 . The length of the antenna is proportional to the transmission and reception range thereof, so that the longer the antenna, the greater the distance away from the reader/access device the card can be held to successfully transfer or access information between the card and the reader/access device. 
   In an example of using a contactless transaction card, a user is enabled to gain access to a secured location by simply bringing the contactless transaction card close to an access device within a range appropriate for the antenna, whereupon the access device is enabled to read the identification data contained in the IC via the antenna in the card. If the access device determines that the user, based on the detected identification information, is authorized to access the secured location, the access device sends a signal which controls the security system to enable the user to gain access to the secured location. 
   When a contactless transaction card is used in a transportation system, for example, the IC mounted in the card contains the user&#39;s account information, such as an available balance (for a declining balance type of arrangement), or billing information (for a credit type of arrangement). The manner of operation for using the card to enter or exit the transportation system or to access or update the user&#39;s account is similar to the operation for access control, in that the card is simply brought towards the card reader within the transmission range of the antenna. 
   Contactless transaction cards provide several advantages over the standard integrated circuit (contact-type) cards, such as faster transaction times, greater ease of use, and less wear and tear on the cards and the access devices. Hence, the popularity of contactless transaction cards is increasing as wireless technology becomes incorporated into a greater variety of applications. 
   One consequence of the increased use of contactless transaction cards is that a user may be required to carry several cards at one time, each card usable in a different environment and/or for different functions. It would thus be desirable to consolidate and/or provide versatility to a contactless transaction card to reduce the number of cards maintained by a user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a contactless transaction card which includes first and second contactless integrated circuit (IC) chips and an antenna connected to both ICs for enabling contactless operation of the functions provided by each IC. The contactless transaction card is preferably fabricated by laminating together a plurality of layers to form a carrier substrate. The antenna and one of the IC chips is embedded within the layers of the carrier substrate so as to be permanently formed in the card, while the second IC chip is provided in the card in a region formed as a micro-sized card which is removable from the main portion of the carrier substrate. 
   The present invention also includes an adapter card having a holder for retaining a micro-sized contactless transaction card and containing an antenna arranged to connect with the micro-sized card. The adapter thus converts the micro-sized transaction card into a full-sized card and enables access to the information associated with the IC chip contained in the card. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a standard credit card corresponding to a first embodiment of a contact-type electronic transaction card as known in the art; 
       FIG. 2  shows a micro-sized SIM card corresponding to a second embodiment of a contact-type electronic transaction card as known in the art; 
       FIG. 3  shows a standard contactless transaction card as known in the art; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a contactless transaction card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIGS. 5A–5C  illustrate the layers forming the contactless transaction card shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  shows the micro-sized contactless transaction card of the present invention upon being separated from the card shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an adapter usable in connection with the micro-sized card shown in  FIG. 6  in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIGS. 8A–8D  illustrate the layers forming the adapter shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a carrier for a micro-sized contactless card, formed as a cover for a mobile communication device; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a first holder arrangement for the carrier shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the carrier arrangement shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative holder arrangement for the carrier shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A full-sized contactless transaction card  100  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4  and includes a card substrate  102  having a first contactless integrated circuit (IC) chip  104  and an antenna  106  embedded therein, and a micro-sized card  108  formed in the substrate  102  with a second contactless IC chip  110  mounted in the micro-sized card  108 . As indicated in  FIG. 4 , the first IC chip  104  and the antenna  106  are formed beneath the exterior surface of card substrate  102 . IC chip  108 , on the other hand, is accessible at the surface of micro-sized card  108 . 
   The micro-sized card  108  is formed in the card substrate  102  so as to be detachable therefrom. For example, a plurality of cuts  112  may be made through the thickness of the card substrate  102  to define the shape of the micro sized card  108 , leaving one or more uncut connection bridges  114  between the body of the micro-sized card  108  and the card substrate  102 . Alternatively, instead of forming cuts  112  around substantially the entire perimeter of the micro-sized card  108 , one or more sides of the micro-sized card may be detachably connected to the card substrate by a perforation through the card substrate (see  FIGS. 5A–5C ). 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5A–5C , the card substrate is preferably formed as a laminate of at least three layers  202   a ,  202   b ,  202   c  of a plastic or polymeric material, such as PVC. Top layer  202   a  is shown in  FIG. 5A  and has a cut  212   a  formed therethrough defining a substantial portion of the periphery of a micro-sized card  208   a . As shown in  FIG. 5A , top layer  202   a  does not include bridges between the body of micro-sized card  208   a  and the main portion of top layer  202   a . In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , however, one side of the micro-sized card  208   a  is connected to the main portion of layer  202   a  along a perforated line  218   a . IC chip  210  is provided in layer  202   a  so that at least electrical contacts of the IC  210  are exposed at both the front and rear surfaces of layer  202   a.    
   The middle layer  202   b  is shown in  FIG. 5B  and includes a micro-sized card  208   b  defined therein by cuts  212   b . Similarly to layer  202   a , one side of micro-sized card  208   b  is connected to the main portion of layer  202   b  along a perforated line  218   b . Unlike layer  202   a , however, the cuts  212   b  in layer  202   b  are interrupted along the perimeter of the shape of micro-sized card  208   b  to define bridges  214  between the body of micro-sized card  208   b  and the main portion of layer  202   b.    
   Middle layer  202   b  further includes an IC chip  204  mounted therein and an antenna  206  formed thereon. Antenna  206  typically (although not necessarily) has a total length several times the perimeter of card layer  202   b , and is therefore coiled or looped around the planar area of the layer  202   b . As antenna  206  is coiled around layer  202   b , it runs across and contacts IC chip  204  so as to enable information to be stored and accessed in IC chip  204  via RF transmission through the antenna  206 . Antenna  206  also includes end segments  216  extending from the coiled portion, over the bridges  214  and into the body of micro-sized card  208   b . Preferably, the bridges  214  are located along the peripheral shape of micro-sized card  208   b  so that the end segments  216  of antenna  206  extend into the body of the micro-sized card  208   b  at positions aligned with the appropriate contact points of IC chip  210 . Since the layers  202   a ,  202   b    202   c  will be stacked and laminated together, as described further below, the appropriate contact points of IC chip  210  contact the antenna end segments  216  at the rear surface of layer  202   a  when the layers are assembled into the finished card as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   For each contactless chip, the antenna loop(s) are connected to the chip at a positive region thereof and also at a negative region of the chip, so that the electromagnetic signals flow in to the respective chip at one side thereof, and out from the chip at another side thereof The middle portion of each chip is ground. 
   Antenna  206  may be formed on the layer  202   b  in several ways. For example, antenna  206  can be simply provided as a length of a filament or wire affixed to the surface of layer  202   b . Alternatively, antenna  206  may be formed as a continuous line of a conductive ink, which may be deposited on the layer  202   b  by printing. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5C , bottom layer  202   c  of the card substrate is formed similarly to top layer  202   a  shown in  FIG. 5A , except that the cut-out shape of micro-sized card  208   c  does not include a mounted IC chip. In particular, the cut  212   c  substantially defining the periphery of micro-sized card  208   c  does not include bridges. Thus, only the middle layer  202   b  includes bridges  214  between the micro-sized card  208   b  and the main portion of the card layer  202   b.    
   After forming the layers  202   a ,  202   b  and  202   c  as described above, the layers are aligned over each other and laminated together to form the contactless transaction card as shown in  FIG. 4 , with antenna  206  and IC chip  204  permanently integrated within the card substrate. In the final form of the contactless transaction card, the antenna  206  is in permanent contact with the contactless IC chip  204  to enable contactless operation of the function provided therein, similarly to a standard full-sized contactless card. Additionally, operation of another contactless function is enabled via the contactless IC chip  210  by the antenna ends  216  extending between or within the layers forming the micro-sized card to connect with the contactless IC chip  210  while the micro-sized card is retained as part of the full-sized card. Thus, the two contactless chips  204  and  210  share the antenna  206  for transmitting and receiving information to and from the respective IC chips, resulting in one contactless card being usable for more than one type of contactless transaction. 
   Preferably, the micro-sized card is connected to the main portion of the card along only one perforated edge formed through all of the layers  202   a ,  202   b ,  202   c , and only the middle layer  202   b  includes the bridges  214  to provide a surface for the antenna to be connected to the IC chip  210  of the micro-sized card. The ease with which the micro-sized card can be detached from the larger contactless card is maximized by providing the perforated edge between the micro-sized card and the main portion of the card substrate and by reducing the thickness of the bridges by forming the bridges in only one of the plurality of layers of the card. 
   Although the construction of the contactless card has been described above with respect to a specific embodiment, in practice the invention encompasses alternative embodiments, including contactless cards having more than two IC chips embedded, contactless cards formed having more layers than that shown and discussed with reference to  FIGS. 5A–5C , inter alia. 
   Upon removing the micro sized card  108  from the card substrate  102 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , the micro sized card must then be connected with another antenna to restore contactless operation of the contactless chip  110 . For example, the micro sized card  108  may be inserted into an adapter card  300 , such as that shown in  FIG. 7 , which includes a substrate  302 , an embedded antenna  304 , and a pocket  306  for holding a micro-sized card  108 . 
   Like the carrier substrate shown in  FIGS. 5A–5C , the adapter card  300  may be formed of a plurality of layers laminated together. Preferably, the layers are each made of a plastic or polymeric film, although it is not necessary that each layer be made of the same material. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8A , the top layer  302   a  is formed with a cutout region  308  sized and shaped corresponding to about half the micro-sized card  108 . Layer  302   a  preferably has a thickness which is sufficiently pliable to enable a micro-sized card to be slipped through the cutout region  308  and underneath the pocket  306 . 
   The second layer  302   b  is shown in  FIG. 8B  and includes a cutout  310  the size and shape of the micro-sized card  108 . Preferably, the second layer  302   b  has a thickness greater than that of the top layer  302   a  and is approximately equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the micro-sized card  108 . 
   A third layer  302   c  as shown in  FIG. 8C  includes an antenna  304  formed thereon in a manner similar to that provided on middle layer  202   b  of the contactless card as shown in  FIG. 5B . End segments  312  of the antenna  304  extend into an alignment indicator  314  formed on the surface of layer  302   c , so that upon assembly of the layers, the antenna ends  312  are affixed to the layer  302   c  in the alignment indicator  314  region at a location corresponding to where the IC chip of contactless card  108  is positioned when the card is properly inserted into the adapter. 
   Alternatively, the antenna may be formed between the top layer  302   a  and the second layer  302   b , with the end segments  312  affixed to the third layer  302   c  in the region of the indicator  314  upon assembly of the adapter. Optionally, a fourth layer  302   d  may be provided as the bottom layer of the adapter  300 . The bottom layer is solid, with no shapes, holes or cutouts formed therein. Other alternatives are also envisioned within the scope of the present invention, including adapter cards formed with additional or different layers, and carrier cards with different structures for forming the contactless card holder. 
   To use the adapter  300 , the micro-sized card  108  is inserted into the pocket  306  with the contactless IC chip  110  facing the alignment indicator  314 . This places the IC chip  110  into electrical contact with the antenna end segments  312  and enables contactless operation of the function provided by the chip. 
   Alternatively, the micro-sized card  108  may be operatively stored in a carrier provided on the housing of a mobile telephone. Since many people today typically keep their mobile telephones close at hand and readily accessible, it would be very convenient for them to keep the micro-sized contactless card within the housing of a mobile telephone. With this arrangement, a user only needs to wave the mobile telephone in front of the reader when necessary to use the contactless card, rather than having to rummage for the contactless transaction module in his or her wallet, purse or bag. 
     FIG. 9  shows a cover  50  in accordance with the present invention attached to a mobile telephone  40 . Cover  50  defines an interior space having a thickness at least sufficient to accommodate the thickness of a contactless transaction card  108  and a holder  60  ( FIG. 11 ) into which the contactless transaction module is inserted. As can be seen in  FIGS. 10–12 , cover  50  includes stationary tabs  52  formed along the bottom edge thereof for engaging with corresponding slots formed in the housing of mobile telephone  40 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 9 , cover  50  is shown to be attachable to the mobile phone along the top edge of cover  50  by a latch mechanism controlled by resilient pushtab  54 . For example, an upwardly-facing hook-type latch may be formed at the base of pushtab  54 , wherein the latch catches under a ledge  56  formed along the inner surface at the top edge of cover  50  when the cover is attached to mobile phone  40 . Alternatively, pushtab  54  and the corresponding latch may be formed on the top edge of cover  50 , to catch a corresponding ledge formed on the housing of mobile phone  40 . 
   Cover  50  can be attached to mobile phone  40  by inserting tabs  52  into the corresponding slots formed in the housing of mobile phone  40 , and pressing the top edge of cover  50  against mobile phone  40  until the latch on tab  54  catches under ledge  56  on cover  50  or on the housing of mobile phone  40 , depending on the configuration of the cover and phone. 
   Cover  50  can be detached from mobile phone  40  by pressing on pushtab  54  to release the latch from the ledge on cover  50  or on the telephone housing, whereby cover  50  can be lifted off the surface of mobile phone  40  so as to disengage tabs  52  from their respective slots in the phone housing. 
   The resiliency of pushtab  54  may be provided by a spring which secures the pushtab to the mobile phone housing or to cover  50 , or may be provided simply by the naturally deformable characteristic of a plastic material from which the tab is formed. 
   Of course, cover  50  can be adapted in shape and dimensions to accommodate different styles of mobile telephones. Moreover, depending on the handset style of the mobile telephone, particularly those in which a detachable battery unit forms the back cover of the phone housing, cover  50  may be constructed as an additional cover over the battery unit. In this variation, cover  50  may optionally be formed with inwardly-facing detents or other protruding elements along the side edges of cover  50 , for engaging corresponding grooves or slots formed on the battery unit or phone housing. Cover  50  may then be slid on and along the battery unit to engage and disengage cover  50  into position on the phone and to remove the same. 
   A first embodiment of such a cover  50  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In this embodiment, ridges  62  and  64  are formed on the interior surface of cover  50  which correspond in shape to the micro-sized card  108 . Ridges  62 ,  64  may have a height as great as the thickness of card  108 , but may be lower. Ridges  62  and  64  serve as positioning guides to maintain the position of a contactless micro-sized card  108  inserted into holder  60 . 
   A retaining strip  68  is affixed to the interior surface of cover  50  by posts  66  and spans from the vicinity of the end of ridge  62  to the vicinity of the end of ridge  64 , across the space substantially encompassed between ridges  62  and  64 . The length of retaining strip  68  is at least equal to the corresponding length or width dimension of card  108 . The surface of retaining strip  68  facing the interior surface of cover  50  is preferably situated at a height which is very slightly less than the thickness of card  108 , to provide tension against card  108  when inserted into holder  60 , but not at a height so low as to prevent insertion of card  108  into holder  60 . Retaining strip  68  serves to securely hold card  108  in place against ridges  62  and  64  when the card is inserted into holder  60 . 
   Ridges  62  and  64 , posts  66 , and retaining strip  68  are preferably constructed of the same materials used to form the interior surface of cover  50 . Alternatively, retaining strip  68  may be made of a material having elasticity to enhance its retaining function. 
   Cover  50  may be provided with an antenna  30  already “built-in” on the surface of the cover  50 , with antenna ends  34  being provided at a location such that they would naturally line up with the IC  110  on the contactless card  108  when subsequently inserted into holder  60 . The antenna ends  34  may be provided either on the interior surface of cover  50  or on the surface of the retaining strip  68  which faces an inserted card  108 . 
   In the case in which the micro-sized card  108  is sized and shaped like a plug-in sized SIM card, the card  108  is inserted into holder  60  at an orientation such that the angled corner  14  is aligned with the position of ridge  62 , and then sliding the card  108  under retaining strip  68  until the inserted corners of the module abut ridges  62  and  64 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Of course, the orientation of holder  60  can be varied so that the angled corner of the inserted card  108  is positioned to the upper right side of the cover as opposed to the upper left side as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , or so that the angled corner is positioned at the lower left or lower right corner of the holder, wherein the card  108  is inserted from above the retaining strip  68  as seen in the drawings. Alternatively, ridge  64  can be designed to conform to the corner adjacent the angled corner of a micro-sized card  108  in the short dimension as opposed to the long dimension. Similarly, ridge  62  can be positioned to orient the angled corner marking at the upper left, upper right, lower left, or lower right corner of holder  60 . 
   Of course, if the size and shape of micro-sized card  108  is formed to be different from that of a plug-in sized SIM card and as illustrated in the drawings, holder  60  in cover  50 , specifically ridges  62  and  64 , should be correspondingly shaped to conform to the size and shape of the card  108 . 
   In view of the various possible orientations and configurations of micro-sized card  108  in holder  60 , ridges  62  and  64  should be configured so that when a micro-sized card  108  is inserted in holder  60 , IC  110  on micro-sized card  108  will be placed in the appropriate position facing the interior surface of cover  50  to become aligned with the ends  34  of antenna  30  provided on the surface of cover  50 , as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
   Another embodiment of a carrier for a micro-sized contactless transaction card is shown in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, a holder for a contactless transaction card is formed as a pocket  70  on the interior surface of cover  50 . Pocket  70  is formed by an envelope  72  securely attached to the interior surface of cover  50 , and is sealed or has a barrier along three of the four sides to prevent a contactless transaction card inserted therein from sliding out. The width of envelope  72  is sized to snugly accommodate the contactless transaction card therein, and the height thereof is preferably less than that of the card. 
   Envelope  72  also includes a window  74  large enough to enable the user to push an inserted module out of pocket  70  with his or her finger. Pocket  70  is positioned on the interior surface of cover  50  with its bottom end  78  close to one edge of cover  50  and pocket opening  76  positioned more towards the center of cover  50 , relative to bottom end  78 . To insert the card, the module is laid against the interior surface of the cover  50  above the pocket opening  76  and slid into pocket  70 . 
   Similarly to the carrier embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the antenna is permanently affixed on the surface of the cover, with the ends of the antenna located at the appropriate location to be aligned with the IC when the contactless transaction card is inserted into pocket  70 . Here, it is important that the contactless transaction card be inserted so that the side containing the IC is facing the surface of cover  50 , so that the IC lines up with the ends of the antenna provided on the cover. 
   Carriers for the contactless transaction modules according to the present invention may be embodied in alternative forms other than as the adapter  300  or a cover for a mobile telephone as disclosed above. For example, such carriers may be formed as a cover or an accessory for a laptop or notebook computer, a palmtop or handheld organizer or computing device such as a personal digital assistant, or any other type of portable electronic and/or communication device. Such carriers may be embodied in any form which may be convenient to a mobile user, so long as the carrier includes a holder for a contactless transaction module and an antenna provided in or on the carrier at a location so as to be aligned with a contactless transaction card when the card is inserted into the holder. 
   Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6