Abstract:
A multi-card chip. A method for configuring the multi-chip card according to an embodiment includes: selecting a sub-card comprising an integrated circuit chip from a plurality of sub-cards on the multi-chip card; and displacing the selected sub-card from an inactive position on the multi-chip card to an active position on the multi-chip card.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to cards comprising embedded integrated circuits, for example bank credit and debit cards. More particularly, it relates to such cards containing a plurality of integrated circuits. 
     RELATED ART 
     It is well known to provide an electronic identification card comprising an embedded integrated circuit (known as a chip) containing digitally encoded information. This is colloquially known as a chip card or smart card. Most commonly, this will be of the contact variety in which flat conductive contacts on one face of the card provide an electronic interface to the integrated circuit. Many hundreds of millions of such cards are in use worldwide. The major use for these cards is as credit or debit cards issued to account holders by banks and other financial institutions. Other uses include personal identification cards, health entitlement cards, store loyalty cards, stored value cards (electronic purses), information storage cards, and the like. The majority of chip cards conform to international standard ISO/IEC 7816 which specifies aspects of the card such as the positioning of the integrated circuit and contacts, the layout of the contacts, and their functions. The majority are the same size as the previous generation of credit and debit cards and the like in which information is encoded solely on a magnetic stripe. These cards are covered by international standard ISO/IEC 7810, ID-1 format, which specifies dimensions of 85.60 mm (85.60×10 −3  m) long by 53.98 mm (53.98×10 −3  m) wide. In addition, international standard ISO/IEC 7813 further specifies the thickness as 0.76 mm (0.76×10 −3  m). 
     As the use of chip cards increases, so also does the number of cards which a user must carry. Various solutions have been proposed to allow a single card to perform multiple functions. 
     United States patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,055 discloses a system which enables a user to carry one credit card instead of many. The information pertaining to each credit card account, such as the name of the account, the number of the account, and its expiration date, are encoded on the card, by magnetic means, with a semiconductor memory device, or using any other means of recording data. The invention also includes a microprocessor-based system which accepts the card, determines whether the credit card account selected for use by the owner of the card is valid, and prints a credit card invoice. The single card can thus be used in place of a large number of different credit cards. 
     United States patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,453 discloses integration of multiple application programs on one chip card, whereby the application programs stored on it do not have access to each other, which is achieved through a separation and de-coupling of the individual programs from one another. 
     United States patent no. U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,952 discloses a selectable multi-purpose card comprising a plurality of features stored in a memory storage device operatively mounted on the card. The plurality of features allows the card to function as multiple cards, and a selection device mounted on the card enables a user to select any of the plurality of card features in a single step. 
     France patent no. FR 2627880 discloses a smart card comprising several integrated circuit chips placed with their contacts for access to locations corresponding to a normalized position of the card. Each integrated circuit corresponds to a clearly defined function of the card and the choice of the function to be implemented is determined by the direction of orientation of the card when introduced into a card reader. 
     WIPO International published patent application no. WO 98/14916 also discloses a smart card comprising up to four integrated circuit chips placed with their contacts for access by a card reader depending on the orientation of the card. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It would be advantageous to provide a card having multiple functions on one card but not requiring any modifications to the reading system. It would also be advantageous to provide a card having multiple functions, these being selectable by the user, and allowing more than four separate integrated circuits on a single card. It would further also be advantageous to allow flexibility as to which integrated circuits are mounted on a single card. 
     Accordingly, viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides a multi-chip card comprising a plurality of sub-cards. At least one of the plurality of sub-cards comprises an integrated circuit chip, and the integrated circuit chip comprises electrical contacts. At least one of the plurality of sub-cards is operable for moving to occupy an active position of the card. 
     The present invention provides a multi-chip card operable for inserting into a chip card reader. The electrical contacts of the integrated circuit chip at the active position are operable for communicating with the reader by electrical contacts in the reader. 
     The present invention provides a multi-chip card further comprising a card body. The card body comprises a plurality of edges along the periphery of the card, and a cutaway portion suitably spaced from one of the plurality of edges of the card body. The cutaway portion comprises a plurality of edges suitably arranged substantially parallel to or at right angles to the one of the plurality of card body edges, and the cutaway portion extends at least part way through the thickness of the card body. 
     The present invention provides a multi-chip card in which a sub-card comprises a front face comprising electrical contacts. The sub-card further comprises edges which are operable for being slideably engageable with an edge of the card cutaway portion and an edge of an adjacent sub-card. 
     The present invention provides a multi-chip card in which sub-cards are slideably engageable by respective complementing protruding and recessed edge profiles of sub-cards and the card cutaway portion. 
     The present invention provides a multi-chip card in which the slideable engagement is by a tongue and groove mechanism. 
     The present invention provides a multi-chip card in which the card body comprises a section extending between the cutaway portion and a card body edge, the section operable for removing, so that a sub-card may be removed or added. 
     Viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a multi-chip card. The method comprises providing a card body which comprises a plurality of edges along the periphery of the card, and a cutaway portion suitably spaced from one of the plurality of edges of the card body. The cutaway portion comprises a plurality of edges suitably arranged parallel to or at right angles to the one of the plurality of card body edges, and the cutaway portion extends at least part way through the thickness of the card body. A plurality of sub-cards is also provided. At least one of the plurality of sub-cards comprises an integrated circuit chip, the integrated circuit chip comprising electrical contacts, and further comprises edges which are operable for being slideably engageable with an edge of the card cutaway portion and an edge of an adjacent sub-card. A plurality of sub-cards is inserted into the cutaway portion 
     The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a multi-chip card which further comprises providing a card body comprising a section extending between the cutaway portion and a card body edge. The section is operable for removing, so that a sub-card may be removed or added. 
     The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a multi-chip card comprising one or more of the processes of cutting, stamping, laminating, or moulding. 
     Viewed from a third aspect, the invention provides a method of using a multi-chip card, comprising providing a plurality of sub-cards. At least one of the plurality of sub-cards comprises an integrated circuit chip, and the integrated circuit chip comprises electrical contacts, and the at least one of the plurality of sub-cards is operable for moving to occupy an active position of the card. The card is inserted into a chip card reader so that the electrical contacts of the integrated circuit chip at the active position are operable for communicating with the reader by electrical contacts in the reader. The integrated circuit chip at the active position may then be addressed by the card reader. 
     The present invention provides a method of using a multi-chip card in which the at least one of the plurality of sub-cards comprises a discrete function relative to a second of the plurality of sub-cards. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1   a  illustrates an arrangement of a smart card comprising a single embedded integrated circuit, according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates an arrangement of a smart card comprising multiple integrated circuits, as disclosed in the prior art. 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates a plan view of the front face of a multi-chip card according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrates the constituent parts of a multi-chip card, a card frame with a cutaway central section and a single sub-card suitable for use therein, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2   c  to  2   f  illustrate operation of a multi-chip card according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   a  illustrates a plan view of the electrical contact bearing face of an individual integrated circuit containing sub-card, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   b  illustrates a perspective view of an individual integrated circuit containing sub-card, showing the electrical contact bearing face according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an individual integrated circuit containing sub-card, as viewed from its edge or shortest dimension, taken along the section B-B shown in  FIG. 3   a , according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4   a  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multi-chip card according to embodiments of the present invention, as viewed from its edge or shortest dimension, taken along the section A-A shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIG. 4   b  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multi-chip card according to additional embodiments of the present invention, as viewed from its edge or shortest dimension, taken along the section A-A shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIG. 5   a  illustrates a perspective view of an individual integrated circuit containing sub-card, showing the electrical contact bearing face according to additional embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5   b  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an individual integrated circuit containing sub-card, as viewed from its edge or shortest dimension, taken along the section B-B shown in  FIG. 3   a , according to additional embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5   c  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multi-chip card according to additional embodiments of the present invention, as viewed from its edge or shortest dimension, taken along the section A-A shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIGS. 6   a  to  6   d  illustrate the replacement of an individual integrated circuit containing sub-card by a different integrated circuit containing sub-card, according to further embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates further embodiments of the present invention in which the central cutaway section is not rectangular in shape, but rather L-shaped as viewed from the front face of the multi-chip card of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates a chip card as well known in the prior art. The term chip card is used herein for cards comprising integrated circuits. The terms smart card and integrated circuit card are among other terms that have also been used in the prior art. Card body  110  is of standard dimensions, for example as specified by ISO/IEC standards. Card body  110  is formed of a suitable material, usually a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), although other materials such as paper-based substrates may be used. The term front face is used herein to describe a major face of the card comprising electrical contacts. On the front face the card are electrical contacts  120  of an electrically conductive metal such as gold or aluminium. The contacts  120  provide an interface to an embedded integrated circuit (or chip) within the card body. The position of the contacts  120  is specified by ISO/IEC standards. When the card is inserted into a card reader (not shown) further electrical contacts in the card reader mechanism make electrical contact with the contacts  120  on the card to provide addressable access to the information stored in the card chip. 
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates a multi-chip card according to prior art as disclosed by France patent no. FR 2627880 and International published application no. WO 98/14916. In this prior art, a single chip card may contain up to four integrated circuits and associated contacts. The contacts are positioned so as to provide access to a different integrated circuit depending on how the card is orientated. Card  130  has contacts  140   a  and  140   b  on the front face of the card, diagonally opposite each other. Contacts  140   a  are presented to a card reader when the card is inserted orientated in a conventional manner. Rotating the card through 180 degrees presents contacts  140   b  to the reader. Turning the card over reveals two contacts  140   c  and  140   d  on the reverse of the card. These may be inserted into a card reader in a manner similar to those on the front face. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a multi-chip chip card  200  as viewed from the front face of the card according to embodiments of the present invention. Card body  210  of card  200  has dimensions in accordance with those of known chip cards, for example in accordance with ISO/IEC standards for ISO/IEC 7810, ID-1 format. The two major edge dimensions of the card will hereinafter be termed length for the longer and width for the shorter, and the third much smaller edge dimension will be termed thickness and will hereinafter be referred to as the card edge. Electrical contacts  240   a  are in the same position relative to card body  210  as are contacts  120  on known chip card  110  of the prior art of  FIG. 1   a . This position will hereinafter be termed the active position of the card. Insertion of the multi-chip card  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 2   a  into a card reader will cause card reader contacts to make contact with contacts  240   a  and so enable the card reader to address the contents of the integrated circuit associated with contacts  240   a  at this active position. 
     Multi-chip card  200  comprises card body  210  which, viewed from the front face, comprises a cutaway portion  220  spaced from each length and width edge of card body  210  and surrounded by the card body  210 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , cutaway portion  220  is rectangular in shape with length and width edges parallel with, respectively, length and width edges of card body  210 . In embodiments, cutaway portion  220  comprises the full thickness of card body  210 . Card  200  comprises in addition a plurality of individual smaller cards, or sub-cards,  230   a  to  230   g . Sub-cards  230   a  to  230   g  are substantially identical to each other and rectangular in shape as viewed from the front face of card  200 . Each sub-card  230   a  to  230   g  comprises an embedded integrated circuit chip comprising contacts on at least the face visible when viewed from the front face of card  200 . A generic sub-card  230  is illustrated in  FIG. 2   b  comprising electrical contacts  240 . In  FIG. 2   a , sub-card  230   a  comprises contacts  240   a  in the active position to be read by a card reader on insertion therein of card  200 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2   a , each sub-card  230   a  to  230   g  is independently moveable with respect to each other and to card body  210 . Each sub-card  230   a  to  230   g  is in a slideably engageable relationship with adjacent sub-cards and with the edges of cutaway portion  220  of card body  210 . Each sub-card  230   a  to  230   g  is therefore retained securely within cutaway portion  220 . Each sub-card  230   a  to  230   g  is operable for movement within cutaway portion  220  along two axes of movement parallel to respectively length and width of card  200 . Cutaway portion  220  is of length and width dimensions corresponding to an integer multiple of, respectively, the length and width of each sub-card  230   a  to  230   g . It will be apparent that in embodiments the number of sub-cards which may be accommodated within cutaway portion  220  of card body  210  is the product of multiplying the sub-card width multiple (y) by the sub-card length multiple (x), minus one (xy−1) to leave a space to allow sub-cards to be moved around. As shown in  FIG. 2   a , cutaway portion  220  is two sub-card widths by four sub-card lengths in size. The number of sub-cards of generic form  230 , for example sub-cards  230   a  to  230   g , which may be accommodated within cutaway portion  220  and allow movement of individual sub-cards is therefore xy−1, or (2×4)−1, i.e. seven (7) sub-cards. In  FIG. 2   a  therefore, seven (7) sub-cards  230   a  to  230   g  are individually moveable. From the position illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , sub-cards  230   d  and  230   g  are adjacent to space  250 . Either sub-card  230   d  or sub-card  230   g  may be moved to occupy space  250 . 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates the engaging arrangement according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown, a slideable engagement may be provided using a tongue and groove arrangement. When viewed from the front face of card  200 , each sub-card  230  comprises a tongue arrangement  260   a  on two adjacent edges and a groove arrangement  260   b  on the opposite two adjacent edges. In the illustrated embodiment, tongue  260   a  is along top and left edges of sub-card  230  and groove  260   b  is along right and bottom edges of sub-card  230 . Cutaway portion  220  of card body  210  comprises groove arrangement  270   a  corresponding to tongue  260   a  along two adjacent edges of cutaway portion  220 , and tongue arrangement  270   b  corresponding to groove  260   b  on the opposite two adjacent edges of cutaway portion  220 . In operation of card  200  therefore, tongues  260   a  of each sub-card  230  may mateably engage corresponding groove  270   a  of card body  210 , or groove  260   b  of an adjacent sub-card. 
       FIG. 2   a  and  FIGS. 2   c  to  2   f  illustrate the operation of embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 2   a , sub-card  230   a  is in the active position in which contacts  240   a  are read when card  200  is inserted into a card reader. Four sub-cards  230   a  to  230   d  occupy the top row of sub-cards in cutaway portion  220  of card body  210 . The lower row of sub-cards is occupied by sub-cards  230   e  to  230   g  and space  250 . This arrangement means that it is impossible for sub-cards on the top row to move in the length direction when the card is inserted into a reader. Likewise, sub-card  230   e  is directly below sub-card  230   a  and prevents movement of sub-card  230   a  in the width direction. Contacts  240   a  of sub-card  230   a  are therefore securely located in the active contact position. 
     Assume that a user of card  200  now desires to access the functions embodied by the integrated circuit chip of sub-card  230   b . The user must therefore move sub-cards  230   a  to  230   g  so as to position sub-card  230   b  in the active position. In  FIG. 2   c , the user moves sub-cards  230   e  to  230   g  to the right so that  230   g  occupies the space  250 , so that space  250  is now below sub-card  230   a . In  FIG. 2   d , the user moves sub-card  230   a  down into space  250 , which is now in the active position. In  FIG. 2   e , the user moves sub-cards  230   b  to  230   d  to the left into space  250 , so that space  250  is now at the right end of the top row. Sub-card  230   b  is now in the active position so that electrical contacts  240   b  may now be read when sub-card  200  is inserted into a card reader, and the functions of the integrated circuit of sub-card  230   b  accessed. Lastly, in  FIG. 2   f , the user moves sub-card  230   g  into space  250  on the top row, so that space  250  now occupies the bottom right space. The top row is full of sub-cards, and in this way, sub-card  230   b  is prevented from moving when card  200  is inserted into a card reader. 
       FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c  illustrate in more detail the construction of an individual sub-card  230  according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 3   a  is a plan view of a sub-card  230  viewed from its top major face. Sub-card  230  comprises an embedded integrated circuit chip comprising electrical contacts  240 . Contacts  240  are faced with an electrically conductive material such as an electrically conductive metal such as gold. Sub-card  230  comprises a protruding member such as tongue  260   a  along two adjacent edges of the sub-card. The opposite two edges comprise a recessed member such as groove  260   b  suitable for mateable and slideable engagement with a tongue of similar cross-sectional profile to tongue  260   a.    
       FIG. 3   b  illustrates a perspective view of a sub-card  230  according to embodiments of the present invention. An embedded integrated circuit chip has electrical contacts  240  on the front major face of the sub-card. In  FIG. 3   b , tongue  260   a  is arranged so that its centre in the thickness direction is substantially coincident with the centre of thickness of sub-card  230 . Groove  260   b  is similarly shaped so as to be suitable for mateable and slideable engagement with an adjacent sub-card tongue  260   a . Tongues  260   a  and grooves  260   b  are similarly suitable for slideable engagement with groove  270   a  and tongue  270   b  of cutaway portion  220  of card body  210  (see  FIG. 2   b ). 
       FIG. 3   c  illustrates a cross section of sub-card  230  according to embodiments of the present invention, taken for example along the line B-B in  FIG. 3   a . Sub-card  230  has electrical contacts  240  on its top, or front major face. Contacts  240  connect to integrated circuit chip  310  embedded in sub-card  230 . Sub-card  230  has tongues  260   a  and corresponding grooves  260   b.    
       FIG. 4   a  illustrates a cross section  400  taken through a multi-chip card according to embodiments of the present invention, for example along the line A-A of card  200  of  FIG. 2   a . In  FIG. 4   a , card body  410  has cutaway portion  415  corresponding to cutaway portion  220  of  FIG. 2   a . Cutaway portion  415  is occupied by sub-cards  420   a  and  420   b , corresponding respectively to sub-cards  230   b  and  230   f  of  FIG. 2   a . In embodiments, each of sub-cards  420   a  and  420   b  comprises for example a sub-card as described with reference to  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c  above. Card body  410  comprises cutaway portion  415  occupied by sub-cards  420   a  and  420   b . Tongue of sub-card  420   a  mates slideably with groove of card body  410  at  450   a . Tongue of sub-card  420   b  mates slideably with groove of sub-card  420   a  at  450   b . Tongue of card body  410  mates with groove of sub-card  420   b  at  450   c.    
       FIG. 4   b  illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. In this further embodiment, cross section  425  is also taken through a position corresponding to line A-A illustrated on  FIG. 2   a . In this embodiment, however, card body  430  comprises cutaway portion  435  which does not extend through the whole thickness of card body  430 . In this embodiment, therefore, card body  430  extends over the whole of the bottom surface of cutaway portion  435 , thereby covering the whole area indicated by  225  on  FIG. 2   b . Sub-cards in this embodiment, for example  440   a  and  440   b , must therefore be thinner than sub-cards in previously described embodiments. Tongue of sub-card  440   a  mates slideably with groove of card body  430  at  460   a . Tongue of sub-card  440   b  mates slideably with groove of sub-card  440   a  at  460   b . Tongue of card body  430  mates with groove of sub-card  440   b  at  460   c.    
     One potential advantage of the arrangement of this embodiment is that sub-cards are supported over the whole of their back surfaces (the reverse of the major faces comprising electrical contacts). 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c . In this embodiment, the slideably engageable arrangement extends flush with the bottom surface of each sub-card. In  FIG. 5   a , a perspective view of sub-card  510  comprises electrical contacts  520  on top major face of sub-card  510 . Extension  530   a  and indented portion  530   b  perform the function of tongue and groove slideable mating of the previously described embodiments.  FIG. 5   b  illustrates a cross section corresponding to line B-B on  FIG. 3   a.    
     Integrated circuit chip  540  of sub-card  510  has contacts  520  on its top major face.  FIG. 5   c  is a cross section  500  through a multi chip card according to this embodiment, and corresponds to the line A-A in  FIG. 2   a . In  FIG. 5   c , card body  550  extends over the whole of the bottom of cutaway portion  525 . This is similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4   b.    
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 6   a  to  6   d . In this embodiment, the multi-chip card  600  in  FIG. 6   a  is provided with a facility to change the sub-cards loaded in cutaway portion  620  of card body  610 . In other respects, card  600  functions as described for multi-chip cards of one or another of the previously described embodiments. In  FIG. 6A , a user of card  600  desires to introduce a new sub-card  630   x  into the collection of sub-cards in multi-chip card  600 . Card body  610  of card  600  comprises removable section  660  which may have substantially the same thickness dimension as each individual sub-card  630   a  to  630   g  and  630   x . Removable section  660  also comprises a slideable mating arrangement as provided for individual sub-cards such as a tongue and groove arrangement as described with reference to previously described embodiments. 
     Removable section  660  is removed by sliding out in the direction as shown in  FIG. 6   a . A single sub-card  630   g  is also then removed by sliding through the channel left by the removal of section  660 .  FIG. 6   b  illustrates the insertion of replacement sub-card  630   x  by sliding along the channel into cutaway portion  620 . In  FIG. 6   c , removable section  660  is replaced by sliding into the channel to retain the inserted sub-cards.  FIG. 6   d  illustrates a cross section of card body  610  of card  600  taken along the line C-C shown in  FIG. 6   c . Removable section  660  has tongue at  665   a  mating with groove of channel in card body  610 . Likewise removable section  660  has groove at  665   b  mating with tongue of card body  610  channel. It will be apparent that although a tongue and groove arrangement covering the whole thickness of card body  610  has been described with reference to this embodiment as illustrated for example in  FIG. 4   a , any other suitable slideable mating engagement may be used, for example as described with reference to embodiments as illustrated in  FIG. 4   b  or in  FIG. 5   c . It will also be apparent that with the currently described embodiment there is no requirement to leave a space  650  in cutaway section  620  to allow sub-cards  630  to be moved. This is because removable section  660  may be removed followed by the removal of a convenient sub-card to create a space  650  for sub-card movement as required. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, multi-chip card  700  has card body  710  comprising cutaway section  720  which is L-shaped as viewed from the top major face of the card  700 . Sub-cards  730   a  to  730   f  are provided in cutaway section  720  with space  750  allowing sub-cards to be moved as in previously described embodiments. As illustrated, sub-card  730   a  is in the active position so that electrical contacts  740   a  of sub-card  730   a  may be contacted when card  700  is inserted into a card reader to allow the contents of the integrated circuit of sub-card  730   a  to be addressed. 
     In further embodiments, one or more sub-cards may comprise a construction different from that described for sub-card  230  illustrated in  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c . For example, in an embodiment, one or more of the sub-cards may comprises a non-contact integrated circuit chip addressed by means of, for example, short range wireless technology. In another embodiment, one or more of the sub-cards may comprise a dummy, or blank, sub-card which does not comprise an integrated circuit chip. The blank sub-card is provided to make up the number of sub-cards where the number of sub-cards comprising integrated circuit chips is lower than that required to occupy the card body cutaway portion in the embodiments previously described. 
     In further embodiments of the present invention, methods of manufacturing multi-chip cards of the previously described embodiments are provided. With reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , smart card body  210  of smart card  200  may be manufactured separately from each of the sub-cards  230   a  to  230   g . Card body  210  may be formed in a similar manner as is known in the art for the manufacture of currently available chip cards. In an embodiment, a substrate, for example a polyvinyl chloride or similar plastic sheet, is stamped or cut or otherwise formed from a sheet of the material. It is then covered with a layer front and back with the printed indicia required for the card description, followed by a layer of transparent overlay, and the whole assembly laminated using any suitable lamination technique as known in the prior art. In a further embodiment, card body  210  may be formed by moulding, for example by injection moulding. In this case, card body  210  may be formed from an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. In a further embodiment, card body  210  may be formed from a paper-based substrate, or other biodegradable material, for example by stamping or cutting from a sheet of the substrate material. In each case, the cutaway section edge profile  270   a ,  270   b , may be formed by any suitable technique, for example by cutting or during the moulding process, as appropriate. 
     In a further embodiment, a sub-card, such as sub-card  230 , may be manufactured by a technique similar to that used for the formation of known chip cards. The integrated circuit chip and its contacts may be manufactured using any of the techniques as known in the prior art for manufacturing known chip cards of the contact type. It is typically then embedded in a suitable material, such as an epoxy resin, to form a package. As for card body  210 , the body of the sub-card  230  may be manufactured in a manner similar to the method for making a conventional chip card body, as known in the art. The chip package is attached in a shaped recess in a sub-card body by gluing or other suitable attachment method. In like manner as for card body manufacture, the edge profile  260   a ,  260   b , of the sub-card  230  may be formed by any suitable technique, for example by cutting or during moulding, as appropriate. 
     It will be understand that the above description covers a number of embodiments which are described by way of example only, and are not intended to be limiting. It will be understood that other constructions, methods of use and methods of manufacture may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the attached claims.