Card body and light guide for portable data carrier, and portable data carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to a card body (2) for a portable data carrier (1), comprising a light guide holder (3) for holding a light guide (4), the light guide holder (3) being arranged so as to be accessible from outside the card body (2) in order to manually insert and / or remove the light guide (4) into and / or from the card body (2); the invention also relates to a light guide (4) which is designed to be manually insertable into and / or removable from the light guide receptacle (3) of the respective card body (2); the invention also relates to a portable data carrier (1) comprising a respective card body (2) and / or a respective light guide body (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to portable data carriers that can be personalized through a light guide housed therein. In particular, this invention relates to a card body for a portable data carrier having a light guide housing for accommodating a light guide; a light guide for a portable data carrier; and a portable data carrier. Background Technology

[0002] Portable data carriers are known in the prior art, for example, for cashless payments for goods or services, personal identification, and / or access to internet-based applications. Accordingly, card-like data carriers exist, such as chip cards, payment cards (like credit or debit cards), and identity cards or ID cards. Such data carriers typically include electronic circuitry with electronic components (like a chip) that can be accessed to read data and, based on this, enable the legitimate owner of the data carrier to perform specific actions and / or obtain authorization. Furthermore, portable data carriers may contain optical elements that serve both decorative and security purposes.

[0003] For example, EP 4 109 337 A1 describes a transaction card comprising at least one metal layer having one or more openings. A light guide is disposed beneath the metal layer. The light guide has a light outlet and a light inlet. The light outlet is positioned to allow light to pass through one or more openings in the metal layer. At least one LED is positioned as a light inlet to guide light into the light guide.

[0004] DE 10 2014 015277 A1 relates to a data carrier having a light source and a graphic element, wherein the appearance of the graphic element can be changed by a light source disposed within the data carrier according to the on / off state of the light source. The data carrier includes a light guide that can be illuminated by the light source, wherein the light guide includes a transparent portion. Below the transparent portion of the light guide, at least in the region of the graphic element, a surface is provided that is visible when the light source is off.

[0005] The drawbacks of existing portable data carriers may lie in the complexity and high cost of incorporating optical elements during their manufacturing process. Furthermore, the optical effects achievable through these elements are limited. The personalization of these optical elements may also be severely limited or nonexistent. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a portable data carrier with optical elements that is as simple to manufacture and as inexpensive as possible. In particular, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention can be viewed as improving the design possibilities of optical elements for portable data carriers. Furthermore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention can also be viewed as enabling the most free possible personalization of portable data carriers with optical elements.

[0007] The aforementioned technical problem is solved by the following technical solution according to the present invention.

[0008] The preferred embodiments and advantages described for the card body, light guide, and / or portable data carrier according to the invention are correspondingly applicable to the methods for manufacturing the card body, light guide, and / or portable data carrier according to the invention. Specific components of the card body, light guide, and / or portable data carrier according to the invention can be formed or disposed through corresponding method steps. Other features of the invention are derived from the accompanying drawings and descriptions.

[0009] A card body for a portable data carrier is provided herein, having a light guide receiver for accommodating a light guide, wherein the light guide receiver is arranged to be accessible from outside the card body for manually inserting and / or removing the light guide from the card body.

[0010] A light guide for a portable data carrier is provided herein, wherein the light guide is designed to be manually inserted into and / or manually removed from a light guide receiver of a corresponding card.

[0011] A portable data carrier is provided herein, which includes a corresponding card body and a corresponding light guide.

[0012] Specifically, a kit may be provided comprising at least one card body and at least one light guide. By providing the card body and light guide separately, its manufacture can be designed to be simple and economical. Furthermore, the use of the light guide as an optical element allows for a great deal of freedom in designing achievable optical effects. The light guide can be designed with a high degree of personalization. Users or enthusiasts can personalize portable data carriers with light guides designed according to their own preferences and may apply or replace these light guides themselves.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the card body, the light guide receiver is designed to be accessible via at least one engaging groove formed on the card body. This engaging groove allows manual and / or simple tool-assisted engagement with the light guide for insertion into or removal from the light guide receiver. This contributes to further improving the operability and personalization of the portable data carrier and its contained light guide.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the card body, the light guide housing can be configured to be connected to a light source disposed within the card body via at least one light guide channel. The light source can be designed according to specific requirements to illuminate the light guide from a fixed position. This allows for highly personalized and attractive lighting effects.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the card body, the light guide receiving portion is open along the longitudinal and / or transverse directions of the card body to allow the light guide to be laterally inserted into and / or pushed out from the light guide receiving portion. Therefore, the light guide can be pushed into or pushed out of the light guide receiving portion. This helps to further improve the operability and personalization of the portable data carrier and its contained light guide.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the card body, at least one undercut region and / or shape-fitting element is arranged in the light guide receiving portion, which enables the light guide to be securely held in the light guide receiving portion without loss. For example, the light guide can be pushed behind the undercut region and / or shape-fitting element to achieve locking. This helps to establish a shape-fitting connection between the card body and the light guide in the simplest and most reliable manner possible.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the light guide, the light guide may include at least one engagement element for form-fitting engagement with the light guide. The engagement element can be manually and / or with the aid of simple tools attached to the light guide for insertion into or removal from a light guide housing. This contributes to further improving the operability and personalization of portable data carriers and their contained light guides.

[0018] According to one embodiment of a light guide, the light guide may include at least one light guiding element, a diffuser element, and / or an aperture element, and / or the light guide may be designed to work in conjunction with the light guiding element, diffuser element, and / or aperture element. The light guiding element, such as an optical fiber element, helps to directionally guide light from a light source to the visible external surface of the light guide. The diffuser element allows for the scattering of light emitted from the light source according to specific requirements or desired specifications. The aperture element allows for the generation of desired lighting effects, such as shadows and contours. This contributes to further enhancing the diversity and personalization of visual lighting effects.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the light guide, the light guide may include at least one security element and / or be designed to work in conjunction with the security element, wherein the at least one security element is configured to indicate the failure of the light guide when it is removed from the light guide housing. Therefore, the light guide can perform a security function. For example, the at least one security element may be arranged on the light guide, on the housing, and / or between the light guide and the fixed position. Thus, when the light guide is removed from the light guide housing, the at least one security element may be destroyed, damaged, or otherwise affected to indicate tampering or failure. This further enhances the security of portable data carriers. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the schematic drawings.

[0021] In the attached diagram:

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic top view of an embodiment of a portable data carrier is shown, the data carrier comprising a card body with a built-in light guide.

[0023] Figure 2 Show along Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portable data carrier with section line AA marked in the figure.

[0024] Figure 3 A schematic top view of another portable data carrier is shown, which includes a card body with a built-in light guide.

[0025] Figure 4 Show along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portable data carrier with section line BB marked in the figure.

[0026] Figure 5 A schematic top view of another portable data carrier is shown, which includes a card body with a built-in light guide.

[0027] Figure 6 Show along Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portable data carrier with section line CC marked in the figure.

[0028] Figure 7 Show along Figure 1 The schematic cross-sectional view of the light guide with light guiding elements above the light source, marked with section line AA.

[0029] Figure 8 Show along Figure 1 The schematic cross-sectional view of the light guide with aperture element above the light source, marked with section line AA.

[0030] Figure 9 Show along Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a light guide with a diffusion element above a light source, with section line AA marked in the middle.

[0031] Components that are identical or have the same function in the figure are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0032] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale. If the same reference numerals are used in different figures in the following description of the figures, they represent the same or similar elements. However, the same or similar elements may also be represented by different reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic top view of an embodiment of a portable data carrier 1 is shown. The data carrier includes a card body 2, which has a light guide receiving portion 3 and a light guide 4 housed therein. Furthermore, the portable data carrier 1 may include a data carrier module 5. The portable data carrier 1 extends along the longitudinal (X), lateral (Y), and vertical (Z) directions, which together constitute a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0034] The light guide housing 3 may include a housing area 30 and an illumination area 31 (see Figure 2 At least one light source 32 is provided, which can be arranged in the illumination area 31, for example in the form of one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which can be arranged and designed according to their respective requirements (see...). Figure 2 The light guide accommodating portion 3 may have an engaging groove 33 formed on its side, particularly the side of the accommodating area 30, which allows the light guide 4 housed in the light guide accommodating portion 3 to be laterally gripped in the longitudinal direction X and / or the transverse direction Y, by providing a lateral opening to the light guide accommodating portion 3.

[0035] The light guide 4 may include a substrate 40 having an image element 41 and a security element 42 (see [link to documentation]). Figure 5 The substrate 40 may have meshing elements 43 formed on its side (see...). Figure 4 The engaging element 43 may be formed in the form of a groove, notch and / or cutout on the corresponding side of the substrate 40 to achieve a form-fit engagement with the substrate 40, for example, enabling the transmission of force along the height direction Z and / or the opposite direction to the substrate 40 through the established form fit, thereby simplifying the insertion or removal of the light guide 4 into the light guide receiving portion.

[0036] In this example, the light guide 4 can be permanently or releasably placed in the light guide housing 3 of the bag formed in the card body 2. The light source 32 can be located below the bottom of the bag or on the bag wall. The bag ensures the position of the light guide 4 on the card body 2, thereby ensuring that light is guided from the light source 32 to the light guide 4. The external visible surface of the light guide 4 can be flush with the card body 2, protrude from the card body, and / or be recessed into the card body.

[0037] If the light guide 4 is a safety feature, for example, in a manner where the light guide has a safety element 42 and / or works in conjunction with it, then it should be deactivated when the light guide 4 is removed from the card body 2. It should be ensured that this safety feature cannot be reused in other card bodies. One way to achieve this is to provide a rated break position 50, which may be formed or mounted on the card body 2, the light guide 40, and / or the safety element 44 (see [link to card body 2]). Figure 5 Therefore, when the light guide 4 is removed from the light guide housing 3, the card body 2, the light guide 40 and / or the safety element 44 can break at the rated break position 50, making it unusable.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, the safety element 44 may be designed as an integrated seal that is visibly broken when the element is removed, thus indicating a failure of the safety feature. If the light guide 4 is a personalized element, it may be designed to be able to be removed and reinserted multiple times. The image element 41 and / or the safety element 42 may be 2D images (symbols, characters, logos, text) and 3D objects / holograms that can be illuminated by the light source 32.

[0039] Figure 2 Show along Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a portable data carrier with section line AA marked in the figure. Here, it can be seen that the light guide 4 is accommodated and held in the receiving area 30 of the light guide receiving portion 3, for example, by means of adhesion and / or locking to the side wall of the receiving area 30. Below the light guide 4, an illumination area 31 of the light guide receiving portion 3 is arranged, and a light source 32 is provided in this illumination area.

[0040] For example, the illumination area 31 can open in a funnel shape from the light source 32 toward the receiving area 30 as a light guide channel to achieve as planar as possible illumination of the light guide 4 toward the lower side of the light source 32. For this purpose, the illumination area 31 can be triangular, at least in cross-sectional view. For example, the illumination area 31 can be pyramidal, conical, and / or truncated conical.

[0041] Figure 3 A schematic top view of another portable data carrier 1 is shown, which includes a card body 2 having a light guide 4 housed therein. Figure 4 Show along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the portable data carrier 1, with section line BB marked in the figure. Here it is clearly visible that the height h of the containing area 30, measured along a direction substantially parallel to the height Z, is... 30 The height h, which can be smaller than that of the light guide 4, especially its substrate 40, is also basically parallel to the height direction Z and measured. 40 .

[0042] In this way, the light guide 4 can protrude upward from the light guide receiving portion 3 along the height direction Z. For example, this allows the engaging element 43 formed on the light guide 4 to be arranged outside the light guide receiving portion 3 for easy lateral access. Alternatively or additionally, the position of the engaging groove 33 on the light guide receiving portion 3 can be adapted to the position of the engaging element 43 on the light guide receiving portion 4, so that the engaging element 43 can be laterally accessed (or entered) through the engaging groove 33, for example, when the surface of the card body 2 pointing along the height direction Z is aligned with the surface of the light guide 4 pointing along the height direction Z, i.e., the height h of the receiving area 30. 30 The height h is approximately equal to the height of the light guide 4 substrate 40. 40 (See Figure 6 ).

[0043] Figure 5 A schematic top view of another portable data carrier 1 is shown, which includes a card body 2 with a built-in light guide 4. The light guide housing 3 is provided with a lateral opening 34 through which the light guide housing 4 can be pushed in or pushed out of the light guide housing 3. The portable data carrier 1 is also provided with a safety element 44, which can be arranged on the light guide housing 3 and / or the light guide 4.

[0044] Figure 6 Show along Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of the portable data carrier 1 with section line CC marked in the figure. An undercut region 35 may be formed in the light guide housing 3, particularly in the housing region 30. The undercut region 35 may cooperate with the outer contour 45 of the light guide 4 to prevent the light guide 4 from falling out of the light guide housing 3, at least in the height direction Z. For example, the projection of the outer contour 45 of the light guide 4 along the insertion or ejection direction may be designed to be complementary to the undercut region 35. In this example, the outer contour 45 gives the light guide 4 a trapezoidal cross-section that tapers along the height direction Z.

[0045] In this example, the sidewall of the receiving area 30, formed on the card body 2, has an undercut. The light guide 4 has a beveled sidewall as its outer contour 45, the angle of which is the same as the undercut of the card body 2. Therefore, a form fit is formed upon insertion, preventing the light guide 4 from falling out of the card body 3. Specifically, a dovetail joint is formed in this example to achieve the form fit. Another exemplary way to achieve the form fit could be a T-slot.

[0046] Figure 7 Show along Figure 1The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a light guide 4 with a light guide element 46 above a light source 32, indicated by section line AA. The light guide element 46 may extend from the light guide 4 toward the lower side of the light source 32 to its upper side, for example, through the substrate 40 in a manner similar to an optical fiber. Light can be coupled into the light guide element 46 on the lower side of the substrate 40. On the upper side of or immediately below the light guide 4, the light guide element 46 may form light exit ports 47 for coupling the input light. These light exit ports may be arranged in a predetermined pattern to represent, for example, an image element 41 and / or a security element 42.

[0047] Figure 8 Show along Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a light guide 4 with aperture elements 48 above a light source 32, indicated by section line AA. An exit port 47, serving as an aperture opening, can be formed between the aperture elements 48. This exit port 47 can again represent, for example, an image element 41 and / or a safety element 42.

[0048] Figure 9 Show along Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a light guide 4 with diffuser elements 49 above the light source 32, as indicated by section line AA. These diffuser elements 49 may, for example, be formed on the underside of the light guide 4 facing the light source 32, located at the bottom of the substrate 40. In this example, the diffuser elements 49 are designed as prisms or angular geometries with their bottom surfaces facing the light source 32.

[0049] The light from light source 32 is refracted at diffuser element 49. This enables uniform light distribution in light guide 4. The shapes, depths, and refraction angles of the multiple diffuser elements 49 can vary. Furthermore, additional elements, such as color filters and diffusers for adjusting light effects, can be integrated.

[0050] List of reference numerals

[0051] 1 Portable data carrier

[0052] 2 card bodies

[0053] 3 Light guide housing

[0054] 4 light guides

[0055] 5 Data carrier module

[0056] 30-seat area

[0057] 31 lighting zones

[0058] 32 light sources

[0059] 33 meshing grooves

[0060] 34 Lateral openings

[0061] 35 Undercut Area

[0062] 40 matrix

[0063] 41 Image Elements

[0064] 42 safety elements

[0065] 43 meshing elements

[0066] 44 Safety Elements

[0067] 45 Outer Contour

[0068] 46 light guide elements

[0069] 47 light outlet

[0070] 48 aperture elements

[0071] 49 diffusion elements

[0072] 50 Rated fracture location

[0073] h 30 Height of the containment area

[0074] h 40 The height of the substrate

[0075] X Vertical

[0076] Y horizontal

[0077] Z-axis

Claims

1. A card body (2) for a portable data carrier (1), having a light guide receiving portion (3) for accommodating a light guide (4), characterized in that, The light guide receiving portion (3) is arranged to be accessible from the outside of the card body (2) so that the light guide (4) can be manually inserted into the card body (2) and / or removed from the card body (2).

2. The card body (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light guide housing (3) is designed to be accessible via at least one engaging groove (33) formed on the card body (2).

3. The card body (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The light guide housing (3) is connected to the light source (32) arranged in the card body (2) through at least one light guide channel.

4. The card body (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The light guide receiving portion (3) is open along the longitudinal (X) and / or transverse (Y) direction of the card body (2) so as to laterally insert the light guide (4) into the light guide receiving portion (3) and / or laterally push the light guide (4) out of the light guide receiving portion (3).

5. The card body (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one undercut region (35) and / or shape-fitting element are arranged in the light guide housing (3), through which the light guide (4) can be fixed in the light guide housing (3) without being lost.

6. A light guide (4) for a portable data carrier (1), characterized in that, The light guide (4) is designed to be manually inserted into and / or manually removed from the light guide housing (3) of the card body (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The light guide (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The light guide (4) includes at least one engagement element (43) for form-fitting engagement on the light guide (4).

8. The light guide (4) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The light guide (4) includes at least one light guide element (46), a diffuser element (49) and / or an aperture element (48), and / or the light guide (4) is designed to work in conjunction with the light guide element (46), the diffuser element (49) and / or the aperture element (48).

9. The light guide (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The light guide (4) includes at least one safety element (44) and / or is designed to work in conjunction with the safety element, wherein the at least one safety element (44) is configured to indicate the failure of the light guide when the light guide (4) is removed from the light guide housing (3).

10. A portable data carrier (1), characterized in that, It includes a card body (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a light guide (4) according to any one of claims 6 to 9.

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