Patent Abstract:
A device comprising a token creation module operable to create a token; and a payment communication device operable to communicate the token to an external device.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/195,773, titled “CARDS, COMPONENT MODULES, MANUAL INPUT DEVICES, DYNAMIC SECURITY CODES AND METHODS OF FORMING ELECRONIC CARDS,” filed Jul. 22, 2015 (Attorney Docket No. D/154PROV) and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/189,740, titled “CARDS, COMPONENT MODULES, MANUAL INPUT DEVICES, DYNAMIC SECURITY CODES AND METHODS OF FORMING ELECRONIC CARDS,” filed Jul. 7, 2015 (Attorney Docket No. D/153PROV), which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Example embodiments relate to devices and transaction systems. For example, electronic cards including component modules and financial transaction systems using dynamic security codes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Two or more polymer layers may be fused together on a lamination machine. Card blanks may be punched from the fused layers. A portion of one surface of the card blank may be removed using a milling machine to form a recessed region including a deep recessed region and a shallow recessed region. The deep recessed region may correspond to the thickness of a component module including one or more components and a reel-to-reel substrate. The shallow recessed region may correspond to a thickness of the reel-to-reel substrate. A component module may be embedded using a reel to reel device by cutting the component module from the reel-to-reel tape and placing the component module into the recessed region. The component module may be adhered using an adhesive or a bonding process, such that the surface of the component (e.g., a processor) is about even with the surface of the card blank material. The module may be adhered prior to cutting or may be severed from the reel-to-reel tape during the adhesion process. For example, a tape section, including a display, a battery, a memory, a manual input device and a second processor, may be cut from a roll and laid over the recess, the size of the tape section corresponding to the size of the recess, such that components (e.g., a display, battery and processor) including the tape are positioned in the deep recess region, and the tape is positioned in the shallow recess region. Heat and/or pressure is applied to the surface of the card including the tape to fuse the tape to the card to form a card assembly. The card assembly is personalized by printing, embossing and/or data transfer to each processor to form a customer card. The card body may be personalized prior to the addition of the component module. 
         [0004]    According to some example embodiments, a Personal Identification Number (PIN), or other unlocking functionality, may be provided in an embeddable module for a card via, for example, capacitive buttons. For example, a card may include a processor, display, bridge contacts and capacitive buttons. A user may turn ON the display module by, for example, pressing a button such as a mechanical button or an electrical bridge button. The user may then use a capacitive array on the top of the card to enter a PIN or unlocking code. A visual (e.g., an LED or other light source) or vibrational indicator may be provided to indicate to the user that a capacitive button has been activated. The capacitive buttons, which may be other types of buttons, may be denoted by half circles. The capacitive sensors may be configured to sense a finger adjacent to the buttons. Therefore, the card may be printed with indicia representative of the other half of each button (i.e., an adjacent semi-circle). In doing so, a user may be presented with a printed area (half printed on the display module half printed on the card) that shows a full spherical button. 
         [0005]    According to some example embodiments, a display module may be provided to a user, and the user may enter a PIN/unlocking code and, for example, re-enter the same PIN/unlocking code to set a card to that unlocking code. One or more one-time or multiple-time use master reset codes may be included in the card so that if a user forgets his/her PIN/unlocking code, or otherwise wants to reset the code, the card may be returned to an initial PIN/unlocking code setup state. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Principles and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows component modules constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows devices constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows assembly units in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows component modules constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows assembly units in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows devices constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows component modules constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  FIG. 1  shows example component modules  100 ,  120 ,  140 ,  160  and  180 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , component module  100  may include, for example, substrate  105 , display  110  and display  115 . Substrate  105  may include, for example, organic, materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. For example, substrate  105  may be a polymer substrate (e.g., PVC, PVCA, PET, PETE and/or the like), a metal substrate (e.g., titanium), a carbon substrate, a composite substrate (e.g., FR-4) and/or a ceramic substrate. Substrate  105  may be flexible, partially flexible, or rigid. Substrate  105  may be transparent, partially transparent or opaque. Substrate  105  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting components of component module  100  to one or more external devices. According to some example embodiments, substrate  105  may be biodegradable. According to some example embodiments, substrate  105  may be a feed substrate, for example, a substrate compatible with reel-to-reel device. 
         [0015]    Displays  110  and  115  may static or dynamic displays. For example, each of display  110  and display  115  may be an electrophoretic display (e.g., e-ink), an LCD display, an LED display, a hybrid display, a photograph, a hologram and/or the like. Display  110  and/or display  115  may be a haptic display, a contact responsive display (e.g., touch responsive) and/or a light responsive display. Display  110  may be the same type of display as display  115 , or a different type of display. 
         [0016]    Substrate  105 , display  110  and display  115  may be arranged in component module  100  in correspondence to features of a partially formed device (not shown). For example, the partially formed device may include one or more spaces for display  110 , display  115  and/or substrate  105 . Substrate  105 , display  110  and display  115  may be arranged to fit into the spaces of the partially formed device such that substrate  105 , display  110  and/or display  115  complete the partially formed device or complete a portion of the partially formed device. 
         [0017]    Substrate  105 , display  110  and/or display  115  may, for example, complete or partially complete one or more surfaces of the partially formed device, before or after further processing operations. For example, material may be placed over a portion or all of component module  100  to complete the partially formed device, for example, one or more layers of protective material or graphics material. 
         [0018]    According to some example embodiments, substrate  105  may be transparent and complete a surface of the partially formed device, or a portion of the surface of the partially formed device, such that display  115  and/or display  110  is visible through substrate  105 . According to some example embodiments, display  110  and display  115  may be embedded in substrate  105  such that a surface of substrate  105 , a surface of display  110  and a surface of display  115  complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device. According to some example embodiments, the one or more spaces of the partially formed device may be a single recessed region of varying depth. At least a part of the recessed portion may include one or more through-device vias, and, for example, display  115  and/or display  110  may pass through the partially formed device. A surface of substrate  105  may complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device through which component module  120  is inserted, and a surface of display  115  and/or a surface of display  110  may complete or partially complete a surface of the device other than the insertion surface. 
         [0019]    According to some example embodiments, a visual display of one of displays  110  and  115  may be visible from one side of the device and a visual display of the other of displays  110  and  115  may be visible from the opposite side. 
         [0020]    According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  105  may be a detachable substrate used to insert display  110  and display  115  into the one or more spaces. 
         [0021]    Component module  120  may include, for example, substrate  125 , manual input device  130  and display  135 . Substrate  125  may include, for example, organic, materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. For example, substrate  125  may be a polymer substrate (e.g., PVC, PVCA, PET, PETE and/or the like), a metal substrate (e.g., titanium), a carbon substrate, a composite substrate (e.g., FR-4) and/or a ceramic substrate. Substrate  125  may be flexible, partially flexible, or rigid. Substrate  125  may be transparent, partially transparent or opaque. According to some example embodiments, substrate  125  may be biodegradable. Substrate  105  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting components of component module  100  and/or connecting component module  110  to one or more external devices. According to some example embodiments, substrate  125  may be a feed substrate, for example, a substrate compatible with reel-to-reel device. 
         [0022]    Manual input device  130  may be, for example, a mechanical button, a sensor (e.g., a touch sensor), an accelerometer, a piezoelectric switch, gyroscopic, a pair of contacts or combinations thereof. For example, manual input device  130  may be a pair of contacts connected to a circuit. The circuit may be completed by an object (e.g., a finger and/or a stylus) bridging the contacts, for example, to electrically connect the contacts. 
         [0023]    Display  135  may be a static or dynamic display. For example, display  130  may be an electrophoretic display (e.g., e-ink), an LCD display, an LED display, a hybrid display, a photograph, a hologram and/or the like. Display  130  may be a haptic display, a contact responsive display (e.g., touch responsive) and/or a light responsive display. 
         [0024]    Substrate  125 , manual input device  130  and display  135  may be arranged in component module  120  in correspondence to features of a partially formed device (not shown). For example, the partially formed device may include one or more spaces for manual input device  130 , display  135  and/or substrate  125 . Substrate  125 , manual input device  130  and display  135  may be arranged to fit into the spaces of the partially formed device such that substrate  125 , display  135  and/or manual input device  130  complete the partially formed device or complete a portion of the partially formed device. 
         [0025]    Substrate  125 , manual input device  130  and/or display  135  may, for example, complete or partially complete one or more surfaces of the partially formed device, before or after further assembly operations. According to some example embodiments, material may be placed over a portion or all of component module  120  to complete the partially formed device, for example, one or more layers of protective material or graphics material. 
         [0026]    According to some example embodiments, substrate  125  may be transparent, and complete or partially complete a surface of the device such that display  135  and/or manual input device  130  is visible through substrate  125 . According to some example embodiments, manual input device  130  and display  135  may be embedded in substrate  125  such that a surface of substrate  125 , a surface of manual input device  130  and a surface of display  135  complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device. According to some example embodiments, the one or more spaces of the partially formed device may be a single recessed region of varying depth. At least a part of the recessed region may include one or more through-device vias, and, for example, display  135  and/or manual input device  130  may pass through the partially formed device. A surface of substrate  125  may complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device through which component module  120  is inserted, and a surface of display  135  and/or a surface of manual input device  130  may complete or partially complete a surface of the device other than the insertion surface. 
         [0027]    According to some example embodiments, a visual display of display  135  may be visible from one side of the device and a surface of manual input device  130  may be visible from the opposite side. According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  125  may be a detachable substrate used to insert manual input device  130  and display  135  into the one or more spaces. 
         [0028]    Component module  140  may include, for example, substrate  145 , manual input device  150 , and displays  147  and  155 . Substrate  145  may include, for example, organic, materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. For example, substrate  145  may be a polymer substrate (e.g., PVC, PVCA, PET, PETE and/or the like), a metal substrate (e.g., titanium), a carbon substrate, a composite substrate (e.g., FR-4) and/or a ceramic substrate. Substrate  145  may be flexible, partially flexible, or rigid. Substrate  145  may be transparent, partially transparent or opaque. Substrate  105  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting components of component module  100  and/or connecting component module  110  to one or more external devices. According to some example embodiments, substrate  145  may be biodegradable. According to some example embodiments, substrate  145  may be a feed substrate, for example, a substrate compatible with reel-to-reel device. 
         [0029]    Manual input device  150  may be, for example, a mechanical button, a sensor (e.g., a touch sensor), an accelerometer, a piezoelectric switch, gyroscopic, a pair of contacts or combinations thereof. For example, manual input device  150  may be a pair of contacts connected to a circuit. The circuit may be completed by an object (e.g., a finger and/or a stylus) bridging the contacts, for example, to electrically connect the contacts. 
         [0030]    Displays  147  and  155  may static or dynamic displays. For example, each of displays  147  and  155  may be an electrophoretic display (e.g., e-ink), an LCD display, an LED display, a hybrid display, a photograph, a hologram and/or the like. Display  147  and/or display  155  may be a haptic display, a contact responsive display (e.g., touch responsive) and/or a light responsive display. Display  147  may be the same type of display as display  155 , or a different type of display. 
         [0031]    Substrate  145 , manual input device  150 , display  147  and display  155  may be arranged in component module  120  in correspondence to features of a partially formed device (not shown). For example, the partially formed device may include one or more spaces for manual input device  150 , display  147 , display  155  and/or substrate  145 . Substrate  145 , manual input device  150 , display  147  and display  155  may be arranged in component module  140  to fit into the spaces of the partially formed device such that substrate  145 , display  147 , display  155  and/or manual input device  150  complete the partially formed device or complete a portion of the partially formed device. 
         [0032]    Substrate  145 , manual input device  150 , display  147  and/or display  155  may, for example, complete or partially complete one or more surfaces of the partially formed device, before or after further assembly operations. According to some example embodiments, material may be placed over a portion or all of component module  140  to complete the partially formed device, for example, one or more layers of protective material or graphics material. 
         [0033]    According to some example embodiments, substrate  145  may be transparent and complete or partially complete a surface of the device such that one or more of display  147 , display  155  and/or manual input device  150  is visible through substrate  145 . According to some example embodiments, one or more of manual input device  150 , display  147  and display  155  may be embedded in substrate  145  (e.g., an opaque substrate) such that one or more of a surface of substrate  145 , a surface of manual input device  150 , a surface of display  147  and a surface of display  155  complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device. According to some example embodiments, the one or more spaces of the partially formed device may be a single recessed region of varying depth. At least a part of the recessed region may include one or more through-device via, and, for example, display  147 , display  155  and/or manual input device  150  may pass through the partially formed device. A surface of substrate  145  may complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device through which component module  140  is inserted, and one or more of a surface of display  147 , a surface of display  155  and a surface of manual input device  150  may complete or partially complete a surface of the device opposite from the insertion surface. 
         [0034]    According to some example embodiments, a visual display of display  147 , a visual display of display  155 , and a surface of manual input device  150  may be visible from different sides of the device according to the arrangement of component module  140  (e.g., a transparent substrate, or an embedded substrate and a recessed region with through-device vias). As one example, a visual display of display  147  and a surface of manual input device  150  may be visible from one side of the device, and a visual display of display  155  may be visible from the opposite side of the device. 
         [0035]    According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  145  may be a detachable substrate used to insert manual input device  150  and displays  147  and  155  into the one or more spaces. 
         [0036]    Component module  160  may include, for example, substrate  165  and integrated circuit (IC) chip  170 . Substrate  165  may include, for example, organic, materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. For example, substrate  165  may be a polymer substrate (e.g., PVC, PVCA, PET, PETE and/or the like), a metal substrate (e.g., titanium), a carbon substrate, a composite substrate (e.g., FR-4) and/or a ceramic substrate. Substrate  165  may be flexible, partially flexible, or rigid. Substrate  165  may be transparent, partially transparent or opaque. Substrate  165  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting components of component module  100  and/or connecting component module  110  to one or more external devices. According to some example embodiments, substrate  165  may be biodegradable. According to some example embodiments, substrate  165  may be a feed substrate, for example, a substrate compatible with reel-to-reel device. 
         [0037]    IC chip  170  may be, for example, a processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or a memory. According to some example embodiments, IC chip  170  may be an EMV chip (e.g., an EMV compliant processor). 
         [0038]    Substrate  165  and IC chip  170  may be arranged in component module  160  in correspondence to features of a partially formed device (not shown). For example, the partially formed device may include one or more spaces for substrate  165  and/or IC chip  170 . Substrate  165  and IC chip  170  may be arranged to fit into the spaces of the partially formed device such that substrate  165  and/or IC chip  170  complete the partially formed device or complete a portion of the partially formed device. 
         [0039]    Substrate  165  and IC chip  170  may, for example, complete or partially complete one or more surfaces of the partially formed device, before or after further assembly operations. According to some example embodiments, material may be placed over all or a portion of substrate  165 , and over a portion IC chip  170 , to complete the partially formed device, for example, one or more layers of protective material or graphics material. 
         [0040]    According to some example embodiments, IC chip  170  may be embedded in substrate  165  such that IC chip  170  penetrates through substrate  165  or is exposed as a portion of a recess of substrate  165 . One or more surfaces of IC chip  170  may be contiguous with a surface of substrate  165 . According to some example embodiments, the one or more spaces of the partially formed device may be a single recessed region of varying depth. At least a part of the recessed region may include a through-device via, and, for example, IC chip  170  may be adhered to substrate  165  and pass through the partially formed device. A surface of substrate  165  may complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device through which component module  160  is inserted, and a surface of IC chip  170  may complete or partially complete a surface of the device other than the insertion surface. 
         [0041]    According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  165  may be a detachable substrate used to insert IC chip  170  into the one or more spaces. 
         [0042]    Component module  180  may include, for example, substrate  183 , display  185 , IC chip  187 , manual input device  193 , power supply  190  and display  195 . 
         [0043]    Substrate  183 , display  185 , IC chip  187 , manual input device  193 , and display  195  may be arranged as a variation of the arrangements disclosed above. 
         [0044]    Power supply  190  may include, for example, a battery, RF harvesting device, and/or a power regulating device. As shown using a dashed box, display  185  may be stacked underneath IC chip  187 . Similarly, power supply  190  may be stacked with manual input device  193  and display  195 . IC chip  187  may be, for example, embedded in substrate  183 , on an opposite side of substrate  183  from display  185 , or stacked with display  185  on one side of substrate  183 . Display  185  may be, for example, embedded in substrate  183 , on an opposite side of substrate  183  from IC chip  187 , or stacked with IC chip  187  on one side of substrate  183 . Manual input device  193  and display  195  may be, for example, embedded in substrate  183 , on an opposite side of substrate  183  from power supply  190  or stacked with power supply  190  on one side of substrate  183 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows devices constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , device  200  may be, for example, an electronic card including substrate  210 , processor  220 , display  230  and component module  240 . Substrate  210  may include, for example, one or more polymer layers. According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  210  may include conductive traces. Processor  220  may be, for example, an EMV chip. Display  230  may be, for example, information printed on substrate  210 . Component module  240  may include button  250  and display  260 . Button  250  may be, for example, a mechanical dome button. Display  260  may be, for example, an electrophoretic, bi-stable display. 
         [0046]    A portion of component module  240  not including button  250  and display  260  may be a component module substrate. The component module substrate may, for example, fill portions of a recess in substrate  210  not occupied by button  250  and display  260 . 
         [0047]    According to some example embodiments, the component module substrate may be one or more polymer layers. According to other example embodiments, the component module substrate may include conductive traces. The conductive traces of the component module substrate may connect button  250  and display  260 . According to at least one example embodiment, the conductive traces of the component module substrate connect button  250  and display  260 , and connec to conductive traces of substrate  210  and/or to devices outside of component module  240  (e.g., a battery and/or processor  220 ). For example, the component module substrate and substrate  210  may be interconnected, flexible printed circuit boards. 
         [0048]    The component module substrate may be fixed within a recess of substrate  210 , for example, by an adhesive and/or as a result of a bonding process (e.g., using localized heat and pressure to fuse the component module substrate to substrate  210 ). 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  shows assembly units  300 ,  340  and  380  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Assembly unit  300  shows a portion of reel-to-reel tape  310  including sprocket holes  320  and an integrated circuit (IC) chip  330  (e.g., an EMV chip). 
         [0050]    Assembly unit  340  shows a cross-section of a component module  350 . Component module  350  may include, for example, a portion of reel-to-reel tape  330  including a printed circuit board (PCB)  360  and IC chip  330 . PCB  360  may extend outside the footprint of IC chip  330 . According to some example embodiments, IC chip  330  is fixed to a surface of PCB  360 . According to at least one example embodiment IC chip  330  may extend through PCB  360  such that a surface of PCB  360  and a surface of IC chip  330  are contiguous or roughly contiguous. 
         [0051]    Assembly unit  385  shows a personalized financial card body  385 . Card body  385  includes a recessed region  390 . Recessed region  390  includes deep recessed region  395 . A depth into card body  385  of deep recessed region  395  is greater than a depth of portions of recessed region  390  outside of deep recessed region  395 . The depth of deep recessed region  395  may correspond to, for example, a thickness of PCB  360  and IC chip  330 , and/or deep recessed region  395  may be a through-device via extending through card body  385 . A depth of portions of recessed region  390  outside of deep recessed region  395  may correspond to, for example, a thickness of PCB  360 . 
         [0052]    According to some example embodiments, a thickness of PCB  360  is greater than a depth of portions of recessed region  390  outside of deep recessed region  395  by an amount of thickness lost during a bonding process used to bond component module  350  to card body  385 . According to some example embodiments, a thickness of PCB  360  is less than a depth of portions of recessed region  390  outside of deep recessed region  395  by an amount of thickness contributed by an adhesive used to bond component module  350  to card body  385 . According to at least one example embodiment, a thickness of PCB  360  is about the same as a depth of portions of recessed region  390  outside of deep recessed region  395 . 
         [0053]    Component module  350  may be positioned in recessed region  390  such that a surface of IC chip  370  is contiguous with the depicted surface of card body  385  after assembly and/or a surface of IC chip  370  may be contiguous with the opposite side of card body  385  (not shown). According to at least one example embodiment, IC chip  370  includes contact pads on both major surfaces and contact pads are exposed on both sides of card body  385 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  shows assembly units  400 ,  420 ,  430   440  and  470  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  shows component modules constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  FIG. 5  shows example component modules  500  and  550 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , component module  500  may include, for example, substrate  505 , manual input device  510 , manual input device  515 , manual input device  520 , manual input device  525 , manual input device  530 , manual input device  535  and/or display  545 . 
         [0057]    Substrate  505  may include, for example, organic, materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. For example, substrate  505  may be a polymer substrate (e.g., PVC, PVCA, PET, PETE and/or the like), a metal substrate (e.g., titanium), a carbon substrate, a composite substrate (e.g., FR-4) and/or a ceramic substrate. Substrate  505  may be flexible, partially flexible, or rigid. Substrate  505  may be transparent, partially transparent or opaque. Substrate  505  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting components of component module  500  to one or more external devices. According to some example embodiments, substrate  505  may be biodegradable. According to some example embodiments, substrate  505  may be a feed substrate, for example, a substrate compatible with reel-to-reel device. 
         [0058]    Manual input devices  510 ,  515 ,  520 ,  525  and  530  may be, for example, mechanical buttons, sensors (e.g., capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, infrared sensors, surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, and/or inductive sensors), an accelerometer, a piezoelectric switch, gyroscopic, a pair of contacts or combinations thereof. 
         [0059]    Manual input device  535  (shown in plan view within the dashed rectangle) may include, for example, one or more contacts (e.g., bridge contacts) connected to a circuit. The circuit may be completed by an object (e.g., a finger and/or a stylus) bridging the contacts, for example, electrically connecting the contacts to activate manual input device  535  (e.g., register an input). 
         [0060]    According to some example embodiments, a conductivity of a bridging object sufficient to activate manual input device  535  may be greater than a conductivity of a finger, or less than or equal to (≦) the conductivity of a finger. Manual input device  535  may, for example, be activated by a finger and not activated by a highly conductive object (e.g., metal). Manual input device  535  may not, for example, be activated by a finger and may be activated by a highly conductive object. 
         [0061]    Manual input device  535  may be connected to a detection circuit (not shown), for example, an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or a processor. The detection circuit may determine the conductivity of an object bridging a plurality of the contacts by, for example, detecting a magnitude of a current in the circuit upon bridging and/or detecting a voltage difference between contacts. Manual input device  535  may be connected to a detection circuit that detects a single type of bridging object (e.g., a finger), or discriminates between two or more bridging objects (e.g., a finger, a pen, a plastic card, a metal key, a cell phone case, coins and/or clothing). According some example embodiments, manual input device may include three or more contacts to detect conductivity with greater precision. According to some example embodiments, contacts of manual input device  535  may be spaced apart a distance, for example, a finger length distance or a card length distance. False activations may be decreased and/or prevented. 
         [0062]    Each of manual input devices  510 - 535  may include the same type of sensor or each may include a different type of sensor from every other one of manual input devices  510 - 535 . According to example embodiments, any combination of types of sensors is contemplated. For example, two or more manual input devices may be capacitive touch sensors, and one or more manual input devices may be inductive touch sensors. According to some example embodiments, one or more of manual input devices  510 - 535  may be activated by a user&#39;s finger, and different devices of manual input devices  510 - 535  may be activated by a conductive object (e.g., a metal tipped stylus) and not activated by a user&#39;s finger. 
         [0063]    Display  545  may be a static or dynamic display. For example, display  545  may be an electrophoretic display (e.g., e-ink), an LCD display, an LED display, a hybrid display, a photograph, a hologram and/or the like. Display  545  may be a haptic display, a contact responsive display (e.g., touch responsive) and/or a light responsive display. 
         [0064]    Substrate  505 , manual input devices  510 - 535 , and display  545  may be arranged in component module  500  in correspondence to features of a partially formed device (not shown). For example, the partially formed device may include one or more spaces for substrate  505 , manual input devices  510 - 535  and display  545 . Substrate  505 , manual input devices  510 - 535 , and display  545  may be arranged to fit into the spaces of the partially formed device such that substrate  505 , manual input devices  510 - 535  and display  545  complete the partially formed device or complete a portion of the partially formed device. 
         [0065]    Substrate  505 , manual input devices  510 - 535  and/or display  545  may, for example, complete or partially complete one or more surfaces of the partially formed device, before or after further processing operations. For example, material may be placed over a portion or all of component module  500  to complete the partially formed device, such as one or more layers of protective material or graphics material. A protective layer on manual input devices  510 - 535  may be contiguous, may include openings exposing manual input devices  510 - 535 , may be conductive, may be partially conductive and/or may be variably conductive. 
         [0066]    According to some example embodiments, substrate  505  may be transparent and complete a surface of the partially formed device, or a portion of the surface of the partially formed device, such that display  545  and/or one or more of manual input devices  510 - 535  are visible through substrate  505 . According to some example embodiments, display  545  and/or one or more of manual input devices  510 - 535  may be embedded in substrate  505 , such that a surface of substrate  505 , a surface of display  545  and/or a surface of one or more of manual input devices  510 - 535  complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device. 
         [0067]    According to some example embodiments, the one or more spaces of the partially formed device may be a single recessed region of varying depth corresponding to thicknesses of substrate  505 , manual input devices  510 - 535  and/or display  545 . According to some example embodiments, at least a part of the recessed portion may include one or more through-device vias, and for example, display  545  and/or one or more of manual input devices  510 - 535  may pass through the partially formed device. A surface of substrate  505  may complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device through which component module  500  is inserted, and a surface of display  545  and/or one or more of manual input devices  510 - 535  may complete or partially complete a surface of the device other than the insertion surface. 
         [0068]    According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  505  may be a detachable substrate used to insert display  545  and manual input devices  510 - 535  into the one or more spaces. According to some example embodiments, circuits external to component module  500  may be directly connected to display  545  and manual input devices  510 - 535  and/or may be connected via substrate  505 . Substrate  105  may be, for example, a circuit board connecting components of component module  500  to each other and/or to external circuits (e.g., external devices and/or one or more circuit boards external to component module  500 ). 
         [0069]    Component module  550  may include, for example, substrate  560 , manual input device  570 , manual input device  573 , manual input device  575 , manual input device  578 , manual input device  580 , manual input device  585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and/or display  595 . 
         [0070]    Substrate  560  may include, for example, organic, materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. For example, substrate  560  may be a polymer substrate (e.g., PVC, PVCA, PET, PETE and/or the like), a metal substrate (e.g., titanium), a carbon substrate, a composite substrate (e.g., FR-4) and/or a ceramic substrate. Substrate  560  may be flexible, partially flexible, or rigid. Substrate  560  may be transparent, partially transparent or opaque. Substrate  560  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) connecting components of component module  550  to one or more external devices. According to some example embodiments, substrate  560  may be biodegradable. 
         [0071]    According to some example embodiments, substrate  560  may be a feed substrate, for example, a substrate compatible with reel-to-reel device. 
         [0072]    Manual input devices  570 - 585  may be, for example, mechanical buttons, sensors (e.g., capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, infrared sensors, surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, and/or inductive sensors), an accelerometer, a piezoelectric switch, gyroscopic, a pair of contacts or combinations thereof. 
         [0073]    Contacts  590  and  593  may be, for example, one or more contacts connected to a circuit. The circuit may be completed by an object (e.g., a finger and/or a stylus) bridging the contacts, for example, electrically connecting the contacts to activate manual input device  535  (e.g., to register an input). 
         [0074]    According to some example embodiments, manual input device  535  may be activated by an object in proximity to or touching one or more of contacts  590  and  593  in a capacitive sensing mode. For example, contacts  590  and  593  may together or individually act as a plate of a capacitive element including an object external to component module  550 . As another example, contacts  590  and  593  may individually act as different plates of different capacitive elements including an object external to component module  550 . 
         [0075]    The external object may form a second plate and/or dielectric of the capacitive element. For example, a detection circuit (not shown) including contact  590  may detect a capacitance change when an external object is in proximity and separated from contact  590  (e.g., separated by air). As another example, contact  593  may be covered by an insulating protective layer and a detection circuit (not shown) including contact  593  may detect a capacitive change when an external object is in proximity to or contacts the insulating protective layer. As yet another example, contacts  590  and  593  may be covered by an insulating protective layer and a detection circuit (not shown) including contacts  590  and  593  may detect a capacitive change at each of contacts  590  and  593  when an external object contacts the insulating protective layer. 
         [0076]    According to some example embodiments, an activation may occur when a capacitance change is detected with respect to either or both of contacts  590  and  593 . According to some example embodiments, an activation may only occur when a capacitance change is detected with respect to only one of contacts  590  and  593 . According to some example embodiments, an activation may only occur when a capacitance change is detected with respect to both of contacts  590  and  593 . 
         [0077]    Persons of ordinary skill will appreciate that a fewer or greater number of contacts may be included. For example, an array of contacts may be included and an activation may only occur when a detection circuit detects a capacitance change associated with a specific set of contacts within the array (e.g., at the same time, in sequence and/or repetitively). According to at least one example embodiment, an activation may occur upon detection of a change in capacitance associated with a single contact of an array. 
         [0078]    According to some example embodiments, a conductivity of a bridging object sufficient to activate a circuit (not shown) connected to contacts  590  and  593  may be greater than a conductivity of a finger, or less than or equal to (≦) the conductivity of a finger. The circuit may, for example, be activated by a finger and not activated by a highly conductive object (e.g., metal). The circuit, for example, may not be activated by a finger and may be activated by a highly conductive object. 
         [0079]    Contacts  590  and  593  may be connected to a detection circuit (not shown), for example, an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or a processor. The detection circuit may determine the conductivity of an object bridging two or more of the contacts by, for example, detecting a magnitude of a current in the circuit upon bridging and/or detecting a voltage difference between contacts. Contacts  590  and  593  may be connected to a detection circuit that detects a single type of bridging object (e.g., a finger), or discriminates between two or more bridging objects (e.g., a finger, a pen, a plastic card, a metal key, a cell phone case, coins and/or clothing). According some example embodiments, component module  550  may include three or more contacts. According to some example embodiments, contacts  590  and  593  (and any other contacts) may be spaced apart a distance, for example, a finger length distance, a card length distance and/or increments thereof. False activations may be decreased and/or prevented. 
         [0080]    Each of manual input devices  570 - 585  may include the same type of device or a different type of device from every other one of manual input devices  570 - 585 . According to example embodiments, any combination of types of devices is included. For example, two or more manual input devices may be capacitive touch sensors, and two or more manual input devices may be mechanical buttons. 
         [0081]    According to some example embodiments, one or more of manual input devices  570 - 585  may be activated by a user&#39;s finger, and different manual input devices of manual input devices  570 - 585  may be activated by a conductive object (e.g., a metal tipped stylus) and not activated by a user&#39;s finger. 
         [0082]    Display  595  may be a static or dynamic display. For example, display  595  may be an electrophoretic display (e.g., e-ink), an LCD display, an LED display, a hybrid display, a photograph, a hologram and/or the like. Display  595  may be a haptic display, a contact responsive display (e.g., touch responsive) and/or a light responsive display. 
         [0083]    Substrate  560 , manual input devices  570 - 585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and display  595  may be arranged in component module  550  in correspondence to features of a partially formed device (not shown). For example, the partially formed device may include one or more spaces for substrate  560 , manual input devices  570 - 585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and display  595 . Substrate  560 , manual input devices  570 - 585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and display  595  may be arranged to fit into the spaces of the partially formed device such that they complete the partially formed device or complete a portion of the partially formed device. 
         [0084]    Substrate  560 , manual input devices  570 - 585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and display  595  may, for example, complete or partially complete one or more surfaces of the partially formed device before or after further processing operations. For example, material may be placed over a portion or all of component module  550  to complete the partially formed device, such as one or more layers of protective material and/or graphics material. A protective layer on manual input devices  570 - 585 , and/or contacts  590  and  593 , may be contiguous, may include openings exposing one or more of manual input devices  570 - 585  and contacts  590  and  593 , may be conductive, may be partially conductive and/or may be variably conductive. 
         [0085]    According to some example embodiments, substrate  560  may be transparent and complete a surface of the partially formed device, or a portion of the surface of the partially formed device, such that display  595  is visible through substrate  560 . According to some example embodiments, manual input devices  570 - 585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and display  595  may be embedded in substrate  560  such that a surface of substrate  560 , surfaces of manual input devices  570 - 585 , surfaces of contacts  590  and  593 , and a surface of display  595  complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device. 
         [0086]    According to some example embodiments, the one or more spaces of the partially formed device may be a single recessed region of varying depth corresponding to thicknesses of substrate  560 , manual input devices  570 - 585 , contacts  590  and  593 , and/or display  595 . According to some example embodiments, at least a part of the recessed portion may include one or more through-device vias, and, for example, display  595  one or more of contacts  590  and  593 , and/or one or more of manual input devices  570 - 585  may pass through the partially formed device. A surface of substrate  560  may complete or partially complete a surface of the partially formed device through which component module  550  is inserted, and a surface of display  595 , one or more surfaces of contacts  590  and  593  and/or one or more of manual input devices  570 - 585  may complete or partially complete a surface of the device other than the insertion surface. 
         [0087]    According to at least one example embodiment, substrate  560  may be a detachable substrate used to insert display  595 , contacts  590  and  593 , and manual input devices  570 - 585 , into the one or more spaces. According to some example embodiments, circuits external to component module  550  may be directly connected to display  595 , contacts  590  and  593 , and manual input devices  570 - 585 , and/or may be connected via substrate  560 . Substrate  560  may be, for example, a circuit board connecting components of component module  550  to each other and/or to external circuits (e.g., external devices and/or a circuit board external to component module  550 ). 
         [0088]      FIG. 6  shows devices constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , device  600  may be, for example, an electronic card including substrate  603 , processor  605 , display  660 , displays  670  and/or a component module. The component module may include, for example, component module substrate  655 , manual input interface  610 , manual input interface  615 , manual input interface  620 , manual input interface  625 , manual input interface  630 , manual input interface  635 , bridge contact  640 , bridge contact  645  and/or display  650 . 
         [0089]    According to some example embodiments, component module substrate  655  may include one or more polymer layers and/or conductive traces. The conductive traces may connect various components of the component module to each other and/or to devices external to the component module (e.g., a battery and/or processor). According to some example embodiment, the conductive traces of the component module substrate may connect manual input interfaces  610 - 635 , bridge contacts  640  and  645 , and display  650  to, for example, one or more processors. The one or more processors may be included in the component module (not shown) and/or external to the component module (e.g., processor  605 ). One of manual input interfaces  610 - 635  may supply a signal to a processor. The processor may drive the display  650  to display a code in response to the signal. The code may be, for example, a code that changes with time (e.g., a dynamic card verification code (CVV)). 
         [0090]    Connections between components of the component module and devices external to the component module may be direct connections (e.g., wire bonding) and/or indirect connections (e.g., one or more circuit board). For example, component module substrate  655  and substrate  603  may be interconnected, flexible printed circuit boards, and components of the component module may be connected to devices external to the component module via the circuit boards. 
         [0091]    The component module substrate including manual input interfaces  610 - 635 , bridge contacts  640  and  645  and/or display  650  may be fixed within a recess of substrate  210  (not shown), for example, by an adhesive and/or as a result of a bonding process (e.g., using localized heat and pressure to fuse the component module to substrate  603 ). 
         [0092]    Manual input interfaces  610 - 635 , together with displays  670  (e.g., printing), may display the appearance of a symmetrical interface. For example, manual input interface  635  may appear as a half-circle button. Display  670  may be, for example, a printed image of a half circle (e.g., mirror image of a manual input interface). The combination of manual input interface  635  and display  670  may provide the appearance of a circular button. Manual input interface  635  may provide a button function while display  670  may provide a symmetrical appearance. 
         [0093]    Although the combination of manual input interface  635  and display  670  is described with respect to a circle, example embodiments may be any shape. For example, any shape generally composed of straight line segments, any shape including curves, with or without circular arcs, irregular shapes and/or any shape with curves, straight line segments or a combination thereof. According to some example embodiments, a manual input interface and a display may complete an image, symbol and/or the like. According to at least one example embodiment, display  670  and manual input interface  635  both provide a button function. 
         [0094]    According to at least one non-limiting example, substrate  603  may include one or more polymer layers with conductive traces, processor  605  may be an exposed IC chip (e.g., an EMV chip), displays  660  and  670  may be information printed or embossed on substrate  603 , display  650  may be an electrophoretic, bi-stable display, manual input interfaces  610 - 635  may be touch sensors with respect to unlocking functionality (e.g., used to input a personal identification number (PIN)), bridge contacts  640  and  645  may be a manual user interface (e.g., an ON/OFF button), and substrate  655  may be a component module substrate in portions of a recess of substrate  603  that do not include manual input interfaces  610 - 635 , bridge contacts  640  and  645  and/or display  650 . 
         [0095]    According to example embodiments, a component module may include any combination of elements. For example, a component module may include processor  605  (not shown). As another example, a component module may include display  660  (not shown). As yet another example, a component module may include every element of card  600  except for substrate  630  (not shown). 
         [0096]    Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various elements of different example embodiments may be combined in various ways. For example, a component module including multiple components may include any number and/or combination of components and/or types of components. As another example, 
         [0097]    Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, the present invention more generally involves dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of the present invention may be implemented in other ways than those described herein. All such modifications are within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6