Metal card

Abstract

The utility model discloses a metal card, and aims to solve the problem that a metal base material shields signals of a built-in electronic tag. The metal card comprises: a metal card base, one side surface of which is provided with an accommodating groove; an anti-interference layer; the electronic tag comprises a chip module and an antenna coil; and a non-metal card base. The anti-interference electronic tag is structurally characterized in that the anti-interference layer, the electronic tag and the non-metal card base are sequentially stacked and accommodated in the accommodating groove. Wherein the anti-interference layer is key-arranged between the bottom of the accommodating groove and the electronic tag and is used for directly isolating interference generated by the metal base material below the anti-interference layer. And all the layers are firmly fixed in the accommodating groove in a bonding manner and are mutually connected into a whole. According to the utility model, the functional parts are ingeniously integrated in the preset groove of the metal card base, so that the structure is compact, the read-write performance of the electronic tag in a metal environment is effectively ensured, and meanwhile, a foundation is provided for realizing the smoothness and stability of the whole card.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to IC card technical field, more particularly, relate to a metal card. BACKGROUND

[0002] Metal card is loved by users with its unique texture and durability, and the realization of non-contact communication function by integrated electronic tag has become a common demand of modern card. However, metal has shielding characteristics for radio frequency signals, and directly placing the electronic tag on the metal substrate will make it unable to work normally.

[0003] In order to realize non-contact communication on the metal card, a common method is to combine the metal substrate, anti-interference material (such as wave-absorbing sheet), electronic tag and protective layer and other components together through simple lamination. For example, the anti-interference layer and the electronic tag are stacked on the surface of the metal substrate in turn, and then the protective layer is covered.

[0004] However, this pure lamination structure has obvious problems: first, the thickness of each functional layer is added, which can easily lead to the total thickness of the final card exceeding the standard limit, affecting use and carrying; second, the electronic tag and the anti-interference layer and other components are only stacked on the surface or sandwiched between layers, lacking effective physical positioning and protection, and are easily damaged by external force or displaced between layers during use, affecting the durability and reliability of the card; finally, this structure also cannot guarantee the flatness of the card surface, especially the functional component area, which may affect the appearance and feel.

[0005] Therefore, a more optimized structure design is needed, which can properly accommodate and protect the electronic tag and the anti-interference layer in the metal card base, solve the signal shielding problem, and also ensure the standard thickness, surface flatness and structural stability of the card. SUMMARY

[0006] The utility model aims at overcoming the defects of prior art, and provides a metal card which is simple in structure, can effectively prevent potential interference from the lower metal substrate and the upper covering layer, keeps the card flat and beautiful, is easy to manufacture and convenient to use.

[0007] The utility model provides a metal card, which comprises: a metal card base, a receiving groove is formed on one side surface of the metal card base; an anti-interference layer; an electronic tag, which comprises a chip module and an antenna coil; and a non-metal card base; wherein the anti-interference layer, the electronic tag and the non-metal card base are sequentially laminated in the receiving groove, the anti-interference layer is arranged between the bottom of the receiving groove and the electronic tag; the anti-interference layer, the electronic tag and the non-metal card base are fixed in the receiving groove by adhesion and are fixed to each other.

[0008] It can be seen that, in the technical scheme of the utility model, the anti-interference layer, the electronic tag and the non-metallic card base (as a protective and covering layer) are embedded into the accommodating groove in a specific order and fixed by pre-machining the accommodating groove on one side of the conventional metal card base. This structure integrates all functional components in the recessed area of the metal card base: the anti-interference layer is directly attached to the bottom of the accommodating groove, adjacent to the metal base material, and can most effectively absorb and isolate electromagnetic interference from the metal card base; the electronic tag is placed on the anti-interference layer, and its antenna can work normally; the outermost non-metallic card base not only protects the internal elements, but also provides a non-metallic outer surface. The entire functional module is embedded in the accommodating groove, making the card structure compact and the appearance flat.

[0009] Optionally, the non-metallic card base is made of electrically insulating material which is substantially radio frequency transparent to the working frequency of the electronic tag.

[0010] It can be seen that the material selection of the non-metallic card base is optimized and limited: it is required to be made of electrically insulating material which is substantially radio frequency transparent to the working frequency of the electronic tag (such as 13.56MHz high frequency or 860-960MHz ultra-high frequency). Here, "substantially radio frequency transparent" means that the energy loss caused by the absorption, reflection and scattering of electromagnetic waves of the electronic tag working frequency band by the non-metallic card base material layer and its possible surface treatment layer is low enough so as not to significantly reduce the effective reading distance of the electronic tag or interfere with the normal communication performance between it and the reader. Generally, this means that the layer should not contain conductive metal components (such as free metal powder, metal particles in conductive ink), or its structure, thickness and selected non-conductive material (even with a metallic luster appearance) have a sufficiently small dielectric loss tangent value at this frequency band, and the overall signal attenuation is within an acceptable range (for example, the signal strength attenuation is less than a certain threshold, such as 1-2dB, compared to the case without the layer). It is ensured that potential interference from above the card is minimized.

[0011] Optionally, the material of the non-metallic card base is selected from at least one of polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate or modified polyester.

[0012] Optionally, the anti-interference layer is a wave-absorbing material layer containing ferrite material.

[0013] Optionally, the anti-interference layer is a flexible ferrite sheet.

[0014] Optionally, the electronic tag is a passive radio frequency identification tag or a near field communication tag.

[0015] Optionally, a communication mark is provided on the other side of the non-metallic card base away from the electronic tag.

[0016] Optionally, the depth of the accommodating groove is greater than or equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the anti-interference layer, the electronic tag and the non-metallic card base.

[0017] Optionally, the outer surface of the non-metallic card base is flush with the surface of the metal card base around the opening of the accommodating groove.

[0018] Therefore, this makes the card on the side of the embedded functional module still maintain high flatness, without obvious protrusions or depressions, improves the appearance and feel of the card, and also meets the thickness requirement of the standard card.

[0019] Optionally, the material of the metal card base is selected from at least one of stainless steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy or copper alloy

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0022] Figure 1 is a metal card structure diagram of the present application.

[0023] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the metal card structure of the present application.

[0024] Reference signs: 1, metal card base; 11, accommodating groove; 2, anti-interference layer; 3, electronic tag; 4, non-metallic card base; 41, communication identification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and numerical values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments are not limiting to the scope of the present application unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0026] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way limiting to the scope of the present application and its applications or uses.

[0027] Techniques, methods, and devices known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art can not be discussed in detail herein. However, where appropriate, techniques, methods, and devices should be considered as part of the description of the present application.

[0028] In all of the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not limiting. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments can have different values.

[0029] It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters refer to like items throughout the drawings, and once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be discussed further in subsequent drawings.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides a metal tag card with an outer dimension conforming to the ISO / IEC 7810 standard (about 85.6 mm x 54 mm) and a target total thickness of about 0.8 mm.

[0032] The metal card includes:

[0033] Metal card base 1: SUS304 stainless steel plate with a thickness of 0.7 mm is selected. A CNC numerical control milling device is used to process a rectangular receiving groove 11 on one side (defined as the back) of the stainless steel plate, with a size of about 50 mm x 35 mm and a depth precisely controlled to 0.45 mm to ensure that the subsequent embedded layer can be completely accommodated and the outer surface is flush with the metal card base surface at the opening of the receiving groove. The front surface (unslotted surface) of the metal card base 1 can be subjected to wire drawing treatment.

[0034] Anti-interference layer 2: flexible ferrite wave-absorbing sheet with a thickness of 0.15 mm is selected, with a magnetic permeability greater than 20 at 13.56 MHz. It is cut to a size slightly smaller than the bottom surface of the receiving groove 11 (e.g., 49 mm x 34 mm), and has a self-adhesive backing. The anti-interference layer 2 is adhered and fixed to the bottom of the receiving groove 11.

[0035] Electronic tag 3: contains an NTAG213 chip and an etched copper antenna coil. The total thickness of the electronic tag 3 is about 0.1 mm, and its size is smaller than the surface area of the anti-interference layer 2 (e.g., 45 mm x 30 mm). The electronic tag 3 is adhered to the surface of the anti-interference layer 2 by its self-adhesive backing, ensuring that the antenna coil is completely within the effective area of the anti-interference layer 2.

[0036] Non-metallic card base 4: white PVC sheet with a thickness of 0.2 mm is selected. The material itself has good radio frequency penetration at 13.56 MHz frequency (i.e. the dielectric constant and loss tangent value are low at this frequency). In order to achieve the metal-silver-like wire drawing effect, physical wire drawing texture is formed on the outer surface by mold pressing, and then protective varnish and text pattern are screen printed thereon. The inks used are all non-conductive types (for example, silver ink based on non-metallic pigment is used), which ensure that the whole is substantially transparent to the radio frequency signal. A layer of hot melt adhesive film is coated on the inner side.

[0037] Communication identification 41: a standard NFC induction identification is printed on the exposed surface of the non-metallic card base 4 in the appropriate position (such as the lower right corner) by screen printing or UV printing.

[0038] Assembly and fixation: the above components are assembled in the order of metal card base 1, anti-interference layer 2, electronic tag 3, and non-metallic card base 4 in the accommodation groove 11. Then, the whole assembly is placed in a laminating equipment to perform hot pressing lamination under the set temperature (such as 140°C) and pressure. After the hot melt adhesive is melted and then solidified, the non-metallic card base 4 is firmly bonded to the electronic tag 3, and the whole embedded module is fixed in the accommodation groove 11.

[0039] In this embodiment, the total thickness of the anti-interference layer 2, the electronic tag 3, and the non-metallic card base 4 is 0.15 mm + 0.1 mm + 0.2 mm = 0.45 mm, which is exactly equal to the depth of the accommodation groove 11. Therefore, after the lamination is completed, the outer surface of the non-metallic card base 4 is in the same plane as the surface of the metal card base 1 at the opening of the accommodation groove 11, forming a flat card back. The card back presents a metal-silver-like wire drawing effect with an NFC identification.

[0040] In some embodiments, the total thickness of the anti-interference layer 2, the electronic tag 3, and the non-metallic card base 4 is slightly less than the depth of the accommodation groove 11. This setting can make the non-metallic card base 4 be protected by the side wall of the accommodation groove 11, preventing the non-metallic card base 4 from delamination due to physical contact.

[0041] In use, the back of the card (the surface where the non-metallic card base is located, with the NFC induction identification) is close to the NFC reader and writer, and non-contact communication can be achieved. The anti-interference layer 2 effectively isolates the interference of the stainless steel substrate 1, and the radio frequency transparent non-metallic card base 4 and its metal-silver-like processing method avoid interference with the signal above.

[0042] Example 2

[0043] This embodiment is similar to Example 1, except that:

[0044] Metallic card base 1: titanium alloy material with a thickness of 0.8 mm is used, and the depth of the accommodation groove 11 is 0.5 mm.

[0045] Anti-interference layer 2: thickness of 0.2mm.

[0046] Electronic tag 3: RFID tag in compliance with ISO 15693 standard, thickness of 0.1mm.

[0047] Non-metallic card base 4: transparent PETG sheet with thickness of 0.2mm. The substrate has good radio frequency penetration. By reverse printing a layer of special ink using non-conductive pearl gold effect pigment (for example, pigment based on synthetic mica coated titanium dioxide and iron oxide) on its inner surface (towards the side of the electronic tag), a metallic gold color sandblasted effect is presented when viewed from the outside, maintaining overall substantial radio frequency transparency. The inner side is bonded using room temperature cured epoxy resin adhesive.

[0048] Communication identifier 41: in the designated area of the exposed surface of the non-metallic card base 4 (i.e. the smooth outer surface of the PETG), a general radio frequency symbol is printed as a communication identifier.

[0049] Assembly and fixation: after coating with epoxy resin adhesive, the non-metallic card base 4 is pressed into the accommodation groove 11 and cured at room temperature or under appropriate heating conditions.

[0050] In this embodiment, the total thickness of the embedded layers is 0.2mm + 0.1mm + 0.2mm = 0.5mm, which is also equal to the depth of the accommodation groove 11, achieving surface flush. The non-metallic card base with a metallic visual effect makes the embedded area more integrated with the titanium alloy card base in appearance, while ensuring the RFID communication performance.

[0051] Working principle: the core working principle of the metal card is to use the anti-interference layer 2 placed at the bottom of the accommodation groove 11 of the metal card base 1 to overcome the shielding effect of the metal on the signal of the electronic tag 3. When the reader sends a radio frequency signal, the anti-interference layer 2 (usually a high magnetic permeability material) can effectively "guide" or "absorb" the magnetic field lines / electromagnetic wave energy close to the metal surface, reducing the eddy current loss and antenna detuning caused by the presence of metal, thereby ensuring that the antenna of the electronic tag 3 can effectively couple energy and exchange data with the reader. The electronic tag 3 and the non-metallic card base 4 which plays a protective role are stacked in turn on the anti-interference layer 2, and are all accommodated in the accommodation groove 11, achieving the goals of functional integration, effective shielding and compact and flat structure. In particular, by selecting a non-metallic card base material 4 that is transparent to radio frequency and using a non-interference metallic processing technology, secondary interference of the top cover on the electronic tag 3 is avoided.

[0052] In summary, the metal card provided by the utility model, through the innovation structure that the anti-interference layer, electronic tags and non-metal card base are embedded in the accommodating groove on the metal card base in turn, effectively solve the problem that metal interferes with radio frequency signal, and keep the card flat and beautiful and metal texture. Through the optimization limitation of non-metal covering layer material characteristics and the increase of communication mark, the radio frequency performance and user experience of the product are further improved. The scheme structure is relatively simple, the material selection is flexible, and industrial production is easy, and the scheme is suitable for manufacturing various intelligent cards which need to combine metal appearance and non-contact function.

[0053] The above only describes the preferred embodiments of the utility model, and is not used to limit the utility model, and any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the utility model should be included in the protection scope of the utility model.

[0054] Although some specific embodiments of the utility model have been described in detail through examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are only for illustration, and are not intended to limit the scope of the utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the utility model. The scope of the utility model is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A metal card characterized in that, The application relates to a metal card base (1) with a side surface provided with a containing groove (11), an anti-interference layer (2), an electronic tag (3) including a chip module and an antenna coil, and a non-metal card base (4). The anti-interference layer (2), the electronic tag (3) and the non-metal card base (4) are sequentially arranged in the containing groove (11), and the anti-interference layer (2) is arranged between the bottom of the containing groove (11) and the electronic tag (3). The anti-interference layer (2), the electronic tag (3) and the non-metal card base (4) are fixed in the containing groove (11) by adhesion and are mutually fixed by adhesion. The non-metal card base (4) is made of an electrically insulating material which is substantially radio frequency transparent to the working frequency of the electronic tag (3). The material of the non-metal card base (4) is polyvinyl chloride. The anti-interference layer (2) is a wave-absorbing material layer containing ferrite material. The anti-interference layer (2) is a flexible ferrite sheet.

2. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, The electronic tag (3) is a passive radio frequency identification tag or a near field communication tag.

3. The metal card of claim 2, wherein, A communication mark (41) is arranged on the other side surface of the non-metal card base (4) which is away from the electronic tag (3).

4. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, The depth of the containing groove (11) is greater than or equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the anti-interference layer (2), the electronic tag (3) and the non-metal card base (4).

5. The metal card of claim 4, wherein, The outer surface of the non-metal card base (4) is flush with the surface of the metal card base (1) around the opening of the containing groove (11).

6. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, The material of the metal card base (1) is stainless steel.

7. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, ​ 8. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, ​ 9. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, ​ 10. The metal card of claim 1, wherein, ​

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