Credit card with chromogenic features
A credit card with an obscurable account identifier. The credit card further comprises a substrate defining a first surface with a chromogenic feature wherein the chromogenic feature is capable of changing from a first state and a second state based on an activating trigger. In the first state, the chromogenic feature appears with a first optical property that obscures the account identifier, and in the second state, the chromogenic feature appears with a second optical property that reveals the account identifier.
1. A transaction card comprising:
a first substrate comprising a chromogenic material with a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface;
a film covered on the first surface with a first optical property; and
an account identifier printed on the second surface with the first optical property;
wherein:
the chromogenic material is changeable from a first state to a second state based on an activating trigger,
in the first state, the chromogenic material exhibits the first optical property that obscures the account identifier, and
in the second state, the chromogenic material exhibits a second optical property that reveals the account identifier.
2. The transaction card of claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic material comprises at least one of thermochromic properties or photochromic properties.
3. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the trigger is exposure to human body heat.
4. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the trigger is exposure to sunlight.
5. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the trigger is exposure to light having a wavelength between about 0.29 μm and about 3.2 μm.
6. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the chromogenic material is changeable from the second state to the first state after removal of the trigger.
7. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the first optical property does not absorb visible light and the second optical property absorbs visible light.
8. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the first optical property absorbs visible light and the second optical property does not absorb visible light.
9. The transaction card of claim 2 , wherein the first optical property reflects visible light and the second optical property does not reflect visible light.
10. A method of providing a transaction card, the method comprising:
covering at least a portion of a first surface of a substrate with a film having a first optical property;
printing an account identifier, with an ink having the first optical property, on a portion of a second surface parallel to the first surface of the substrate; and
where the substrate comprises a chromogenic material wherein:
the chromogenic material is changeable from a first state to a second state based on an activating trigger,
in the first state, the chromogenic material exhibits the first optical property that obscures the account identifier, and
in the second state, the chromogenic material exhibits a second optical property that reveals the account identifier.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chromogenic material comprises at least one of thermochromic properties or photochromic properties.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trigger is exposure to human body heat.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trigger is exposure to sunlight.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trigger is exposure to light having a wavelength between about 0.29 μm and about 3.2 μm.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the chromogenic material is changeable from the second state to the first state after removal of the trigger.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first optical property does not absorb visible light and the second optical property absorbs visible light.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first optical property absorbs visible light and the second optical property does not absorb visible light.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first optical property reflects visible light and the second optical property does not reflect visible light.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the chromogenic material is cured under ultraviolet light.