Method of reducing electro-static discharge (ESD) from conductors on insulators
A non-conductive carrier having a conductive component comprising a plurality of sections to disrupt the conductive component's conductive path. Each section is isolated from other sections such that a charge accumulated in one section cannot combine with the charge accumulated in another section, thereby minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge from the carrier.
1. A plastic card comprising:
a plastic non-conductive carrier and
a holographic magnetic stripe on the plastic non-conductive carrier;
wherein the holographic magnetic stripe comprises a magnetic layer, an embossed layer with a holographic pattern embossed therein for providing a holographic image, and a conductive layer formed of a reflective metal on the holographic pattern and conforming thereto for enhancing visibility of the holographic image; and,
wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of conductive sections electrically isolated from one another by gaps for disrupting a conductive path for triboelectric charges so that a triboelectric charge accumulated in one section does not combine with a triboelectric charge accumulated in another section when the card is swiped through or inserted into a magnetic reader.
2. A plastic card of claim 1 , wherein areas of said conductive sections are limited by a predefined value of maximum charge that can be accumulated thereon.
3. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the conductive sections form a selectively metalized dot pattern.
4. A plastic card defined in claim 3 , wherein the conductive sections form a dot pattern having a dot density of greater than 50% and wherein dots within the dot pattern are not connected to one another and are electrically isolated from one another.
5. A plastic card defined in claim 3 , wherein said conductive sections form a dot pattern having a dot density of greater than 70%.
6. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the gaps are laser engraved lines.
7. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic stripe is a metalized magnetic stripe.
8. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the gaps are demetallized lines.
9. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the conductive sections form a demetallized pattern of separated dots.
10. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the conductive sections have approximately equal areas.
11. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the conductive sections have a width of at least approximately 0.10 inch.
12. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the gaps are formed by chemical etching.
13. A plastic card defined in claim 1 , wherein the conductive sections form a pattern of separated dots.
14. A holographic magnetic stripe for attaching to a plastic card, comprising:
a reflective hologram comprising: an embossed layer with a holographic pattern embossed therein for providing a holographic image, and a metallic coating on the holographic pattern and conforming thereto for enhancing visibility of the holographic image, and a magnetic coating supported by the reflective hologram,
wherein the metallic coating comprises a plurality of conductive sections electrically isolated from one another by gaps for disrupting a conductive path for triboelectric charges so that a triboelectric charge accumulated in one section does not combine with a triboelectric charge accumulated in another section when the plastic card with is swiped through or inserted into a magnetic reader.
15. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the conductive sections form a dot pattern having a dot density of greater than 50% and wherein dots within the dot pattern are not connected to one another and are electrically isolated from one another.
16. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the gaps are laser engraved lines.
17. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the conductive sections have approximately equal areas.
18. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the conductive sections have a width of at least approximately 0.10 inch.
19. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the gaps are formed by chemical etching of the metallic coating.
20. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the reflective hologram is releasably supported by a plastic web.
21. A holographic magnetic stripe defined in claim 14 , wherein the conductive sections form a pattern of separated dots.