Colored smart card module
A colored smart card module having a light-transmissible substrate with first and second sides; a card-reader contact element formed on the first side of the substrate; and a colored ink layer printed on the second side of the substrate. The printed colored ink layer is then at least in part visible from the first side of the substrate around the card-reader contact element. A smart card including such a colored smart card module is also provided.
1. A colored smart card module comprising:
a light-transmissible substrate having opposite first and second sides;
a card-reader contact element formed on the first side of the substrate; a colored ink layer printed on the second side of the substrate; and
an integrated circuit connection element formed on the second side of the substrate,
wherein the colored ink layer is provided around and over the integrated circuit connection element, and at least in part visible from the first side of the substrate at or adjacent to the card-reader contact element.
2. The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the colored ink layer is positioned on the second side only where there is optical access to the second side from the first side.
3. The colored smart card module of claim 2 , wherein the card-reader contact element includes a plurality of contact pads separated by at least one contact pad void, said optical access from the first side being provided through the at least one contact pad void.
4. The colored smart card module of claim 2 , wherein said optical access from the first side is provided about a perimeter of the card-reader contact element.
5. The colored smart card module of claim 2 , wherein the card-reader contact element includes at least one locator void, said optical access from the first side is provided through the at least one locator void.
6. The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
7. The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.
8. The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is transparent.
9. The colored smart card module of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is translucent.
10. The colored smart card module of claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit chip,
wherein the integrated circuit connection element has a plurality of connection pads, and the integrated circuit chip is directly attached to the connection pads via adhesive.
11. A smart card comprising: a smart card body having an opening and a graphical design having one or more colors on a surface of the smart card body at an edge of the opening; and the colored smart card module of claim 1 , the colored ink layer matching or substantially matching the or each said color at the edge of the opening of the smart card body.
12. The smart card of claim 11 , wherein the colored ink layer of the colored smart card module is on a side thereof which is installed facing into the smart card body, the colored ink layer being colored to match a color of the smart card body at or adjacent to the opening.
13. The smart card of claim 12 , wherein the smart card module is installed in the smart card body such that the card-reader contact element is flush with the smart card body.
14. The smart card of claim 11 , wherein the smart card module is installed in the smart card body such that the card-reader contact element is flush with the smart card body.
15. The smart card of claim 11 , wherein the colored ink layer is positioned on the second side only where there is optical access to the second side from the first side.
16. The smart card of claim 15 , wherein the card-reader contact element includes a plurality of contact pads separated by at least one contact pad void, said optical access from the first side being provided through the at least one contact pad void.
17. The smart card of claim 11 , wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.
18. The smart card of claim 11 , wherein the substrate is transparent or translucent.