Laminated cards with manual input interfaces
A laminated card is provided with manual input interfaces. Such manual input interfaces may provide tactile feedback to a user. Laminated cards may be provided as payment cards, identification cards, medical cards, or any other type of card.
1. A method of fabricating a card, comprising:
providing a first layer of polymer;
providing a second layer of polymer:
providing a flexible circuit board between the first and second layers;
providing a material including at least one manual user interface between the first and second layers, the at least one manual user interface inside the material;
providing a soft laminate between the first and second layers, the material separating the laminate from the at least one manual user interface; and
hardening the laminate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape of the material is one of a cylindrical shape, a cubic shape and a rectangular prism shape.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is adhered to one of
the flexible circuit board, and
each of the first and second layers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the soft laminate is in liquid form.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material provides an enclosed cavity, and during the injecting a soft laminate, the soft laminate does not enter the enclosed cavity.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one manual user interface is at least one of a mechanical switch, a capacitive switch and a light switch.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one manual user interface is at least one of a dome switch, a piezoelectric switch, a capacitive touch sensor and a light sensor.
8. A method of fabricating a card, comprising:
providing a first layer of polymer;
providing a second layer of polymer:
providing a flexible circuit board between the first and second layers;
providing a plurality of blocking materials between the first and second layers;
providing a manual user interface between the first and second layers, and between the plurality of blocking materials; and
injecting a soft laminate between the first and second layers, the plurality of blocking materials separating the laminate from the manual user interface; and
hardening the laminate.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the blocking materials are adhered to at least one of the flexible circuit board, and each of the first and second layers.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the soft laminate is in liquid form.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the blocking materials, and the first and second layers, provide an enclosed cavity, and
during the injecting a soft laminate, the soft laminate does not enter the enclosed cavity.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the blocking materials, and the first and second layers, provide an enclosed cavity,
the at least one manual user interface is a plurality of manual user interfaces, and
the plurality of manual user interfaces includes at least a mechanical switch and a capacitive switch.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one manual user interface is at least one of a dome switch, a piezoelectric switch, a capacitive touch sensor and a light sensor.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the blocking materials are adhered to only one of the first and second layers.
15. A card, comprising:
a first layer;
a second layer on the first layer;
a flexible circuit board between the first and second layers;
a material including at least one manual user interface between the first and second layers, the at least one manual user interface inside the material;
a laminate between the first and second layers, the material separating the laminate from the at least one manual user interface; and
a first light sensor on the flexible circuit board.
16. The card of claim 15 , comprising:
a second light sensor on the flexible circuit board.
17. The card of claim 15 , wherein the first light sensor is electrically coupled to the flexible circuit board.
18. The card of claim 15 , wherein the first light sensor is one of surface mounted to the flexible circuit board, wire-bonded to the flexible circuit board and electrically coupled to the flexible circuit board in a flip-chip configuration.
19. The card of claim 15 , comprising:
a processor coupled to the first light sensor.
20. The card of claim 15 , comprising:
at least one light blocker adjacent to the first light sensor.