Removably securing small contactless payment card via removable accessory to electronic device
An apparatus includes a portable electronic device and an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture includes a first mechanism for securing the article of manufacture to the portable electronic device. The article of manufacture also includes a second mechanism for defining a slot. The second mechanism is coupled to the first mechanism. The slot is shaped and sized to receive and securely hold a contactless integrated (IC) identification card. The card in question has no more than half of the planar extent defined for a standard ID-1 identification card.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a portable electronic device; and
a protective case for the portable electronic device including:
a pouch for securing the protective case to the portable electronic device;
a mechanism, coupled to the protective case, for defining a slot, the slot shaped and sized to removably receive and securely hold a contactless integrated circuit (IC) identification card that has no more than half of a planar extent defined for a standard ID-1 identification card;
a ferrite shield layer having a planar extent slightly larger than a planar extent of the slot, the ferrite shield layer positioned in the protective case adjacent the slot and interposed between the portable electronic device and the contactless IC identification card to shield the contactless IC identification card from interference from components of the portable electronic device; and
a sliding shield mounted for movement, relative to the slot, between a first position to block signals from being received by and/or transmitted from the antenna of the contactless IC identification card located in the slot, and a second position to allow the antenna of the contactless IC identification card located in the slot to receive and/or transmit signals.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant or a portable music player.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sliding shield, when in the first position, is positioned to conceal symbols printed on the contactless IC identification card located in the slot; and said symbols are visible when the card is located in the slot and the sliding shield is in the second position.
4. A protective casing for a portable electronic device, the casing for entirely or partially surrounding a housing of the device, the casing including a pouch shaped and sized to receive the device, the casing further including a slot adjacent the pouch, the slot shaped and sized to removably hold a contactless integrated circuit (IC) identification card that has no more than half of a planar extent defined for a standard ID-1 identification card, a wall of said pouch containing a ferrite shield layer having a planar extent slightly larger than a planar extent of the slot and positioned adjacent said slot, said ferrite shield layer for shielding communications to said IC identification card from interference from components of said portable electronic device, and a sliding shield mounted for movement, relative to the slot, between a first position to block signals from being received by and/or transmitted from the antenna of the contactless IC identification card located in the slot, and a second position to allow the antenna of the contactless IC identification card located in the slot to receive and/or transmit signals.
5. The protective casing of claim 4 , wherein the sliding shield, when in the first position, is positioned to conceal symbols printed on the contactless IC identification card located in the slot; and said symbols are visible when the card is located in the slot and the sliding shield is in the second position.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a portable electronic device;
a card-shaped body;
an integrated circuit (IC) embedded in the card-shaped body;
an antenna embedded in the card-shaped body and coupled to the IC, the antenna for allowing the IC to receive interrogation signals;
a protective casing for the portable electronic device, the casing for entirely or partially surrounding a housing of the portable electronic device, the casing including a pouch shaped and sized to receive the device, the casing further including a slot adjacent the pouch for removably securing the card-shaped body to the portable electronic device;
a ferrite shield layer having a planar extent slightly larger than a planar extent of the slot and interposed between the antenna and the portable electronic device, the ferrite shield layer for shielding communications via the antenna from interference from components of said portable electronic device; and
a sliding shield mounted on the protective casing for movement, relative to the slot, between a first position to block signals from being received by and/or transmitted from the antenna in the card-shaped body located in the slot, and a second position to allow the antenna of the card-shaped body located in the slot to receive and/or transmit signals.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the card-shaped body is part of a contactless payment card.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant or a portable music player.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sliding shield conceals symbols printed on the card-shaped body when in the first position, and wherein the symbols on the card-shaped body are visible when the sliding shield is in the second position.