Contactless metal cards with fingerprint sensor and display
Smartcards (SC) having a metal layer (ML) or metal card body (MCB) and a module opening (MO) for a transponder chip module (TCM). A slit (S) or notch (N) in the metal card body may extend from a peripheral edge of a metal layer or card body, without extending to the module opening. A flexible circuit (FC) with one or two patch antennae (PA) or sense coils (SeC) connected to a coupling loop structure (CLS) with an antenna structure (AS) on the same substrate may be incorporated into the card body (CB). A fingerprint sensing module comprising an electrically-conductive metal bezel housed in the card may be electrically isolated from the metal layer or metal card body by the application of coatings (DLC) or anodizing (oxidizing) the respective metal surfaces. The cards may be contactless only, contact only, or dual-interface (contact and contactless).
1. A smartcard (SC) comprising:
one or more modules (TCM, DM, FS, FSM), each having a module antenna (MA); and
a metal layer (ML) or metal card body (MCB) having one or more module openings (MO) for accepting the one or more modules, and further having one or more slits (S) or notches (N) extending from a periphery of the layer towards an interior position of the metal layer;
wherein:
at least one of the slits or notches do not extend to the one or more module openings (MO); and
further comprising:
a coupling structure (CLS, CS) comprising (i) one or more antenna structures (AS, PA, SeC, AP) (PA) overlying or fitting into at least one of the slits or notches, and (ii) a coupling loop structure (CLS) overlying the module antenna (MA) of at least one of the modules.
2. The smartcard of claim 1 , wherein:
the coupling structure (CS) resides on a flexible circuit (FC).
3. The smartcard of claim 2 , further comprising:
a recess (R) formed in the metal layer (ML) around an area of the slit and module opening (MO).
4. The smartcard of claim 3 , wherein:
the flexible circuit fits into the recess.
5. The smartcard of claim 2 , further comprising:
a ferrite layer disposed between the flexible circuit (FC) and the metal layer (ML) to offset the effects of electromagnetic attenuation caused by the metal layer (ML).
6. The smartcard of claim 5 , wherein:
the ferrite layer is disposed on either the flexible circuit or on the metal layer.
7. The smartcard of claim 5 , wherein the rear plastic subassembly comprises:
a rear printed layer and a rear overlay layer.
8. The smartcard of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rear plastic subassembly joined, via an adhesive layer, to a rear side of the metal layer or metal card body.
9. The smartcard of claim 1 , further comprising:
a Secure Processing Module capable of performing energy harvesting; and
the antenna structures are connected with the secure processing module.
10. A smartcard (SC), comprising:
a metal layer (ML) or metal card body (MCB) having (i) a discontinuity in the form of a slit (S) or gap (G); and (ii) a sense coil (SeC) disposed at a location of the discontinuity;
wherein the sense coil captures surface currents at the edge or within the discontinuity to power at least one electronic component comprising at least one of a fingerprint sensor (FS) module and a transponder chip module (TCM).
11. The smartcard of claim 10 , wherein one of the modules is a fingerprint sensor, and further comprising:
a metal bezel for the fingerprint sensor;
wherein the metal bezel has a slit to enable it to function as a coupling frame to drive the fingerprint sensor.
12. The smartcard of claim 10 , wherein:
there are a plurality of discontinuities around the metal layer (ML) or metal card body (MCB); and
there are a corresponding plurality of sense coils located at each of the discontinuities to maximize the delivery of power to the electronic components by using a sense coil (SeC) at each discontinuity to capture current flows.
13. A smartcard (SC) comprising:
a metal card body (MCB) comprising one or more metal layers (ML); and
an electronic system capable of performing security authentication;
wherein the electronic system comprises:
a display screen;
a display driver control module for driving the display screen;
a microprocessor controller connected to the display driver control module; and
a communication module connected to and working with a dual interface chip module to perform the security authentication;
further comprising:
at least one antenna circuit for inductive coupling to power the electronic system;
wherein the least one flexible antenna circuit is coupled to at least one discontinuity in the metal card body.
14. The smartcard of claim 13 , wherein:
the metal card body functions as a ground plane.
15. A smartcard (SC) comprising:
a metal card body (MCB) comprising one or more metal layers (ML); and
an electronic system capable of performing security authentication;
wherein the electronic system comprises:
a display screen;
a display driver control module for driving the display screen;
a microprocessor controller connected to the display driver control module; and
a communication module connected to and working with a dual interface chip module to perform the security authentication;
wherein:
the metal card body has (i) a front metal face (metal layer) and (ii) a rear metal face (metal layer) separated from the front metal face by a dielectric layer of material.
16. The smartcard of claim 15 , wherein:
the front and rear metal faces each act as an electrode.
17. The smartcard of claim 15 , wherein:
the front and rear metal faces each act as a conductive chassis for power and data communication.