Card-shaped data carrier with light element

Abstract

A card-shaped, multilayer data carrier (10) is proposed, comprising a circumferential edge (50) formed by the side edges (21, 31, 41) of the layers, an upper and a lower cover layer (20, 40), and a functional layer (30) arranged between them. The functional layer (30) has a luminescent area (32) and a light source (60), wherein the luminescent area (32) contains fluorescent pigments (34) that can be excited by UV light. The light source (60) emits UV light, which strikes the pigments (34) and is converted by them into longer-wavelength visible light. The luminescent area (32) forms at least part of the side edge (31) of the functional layer (30) and is part of the circumferential edge (50) of the data carrier (10). When the light source (60) is activated, an active luminescent element in the form of a luminescent strip formed by the side edge (31) is created on the edge (50). The light strip forms a self-illuminating safety element.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multilayer card-shaped data carrier with a light source that illuminates side edges of the data carrier in an electromagnetic field.

[0002] Card-shaped data storage devices, such as chip cards, are widely used as identification documents or payment cards. A chip card has a card body and an embedded, tamper-evident integrated circuit. The integrated circuit provides applications, such as for carrying out payment transactions, and is used to store data. The card body is typically provided with visual information and serves as a carrier for security features. The security features can typically only be produced with special tools and expertise. They prove the authenticity of the data storage device and the information stored on it.

[0003] DE 102014015277 A1 discloses a card-shaped data carrier with a light source arranged within the data carrier body, which, when switched on, makes a graphic security element formed on a surface of the data carrier visible. Within the data carrier body, the light source acts on a light-converting region impregnated with a fluorescent dye, which converts incident light into longer-wavelength secondary light and emits it into an immediately adjacent transparent region. The graphic element is formed on the upper side of the transparent region. When light irradiates the transparent region, it becomes visible.

[0004] WO 2007 / 020051 A1 discloses a card-shaped data carrier with a graphic element formed on the surface and a light source arranged in the card body. The card body comprises a plastic material in which a fluorescent dye is embedded. When irradiated by the light source, dye particles are excited to fluoresce and emit secondary light with a longer wavelength than the incident light. The secondary light is guided within the card body to the graphic element to illuminate it.

[0005] The known solutions aim to create a security feature on the main surface of a data storage device and, in particular, allow the production of data storage device-specific features. However, they require complex manufacturing steps and thus increased production costs.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a card-like data carrier which has a brilliant luminous element and can be produced cost-effectively in large quantities.

[0007] The problem is solved by a data carrier having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims.

[0008] A data carrier according to the invention has the advantage that the luminous area required to form the luminous element can be realized with just one layer. The data carrier can therefore be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0009] The layer forming the luminous region is preferably full-surface. In an advantageous embodiment, a full-surface layer has the further advantage that, in addition to lateral, surface luminous effects, they can be created simultaneously, without the need for a separate light source and partially fluorescent regions.

[0010] If necessary, for example, if expensive pigments are to be used, the illuminated area can also be partially implemented. Preferably, an interior area is implemented without pigments. This also allows for an intensification of the secondary luminous output.

[0011] A card-shaped data carrier according to the invention is characterized by a luminous element in the form of a clearly visible luminous side strip of variable thickness. This provides particularly uniform illumination, which, due to diffusion, neither reveals the position of the light source nor allows conclusions to be drawn about the design of the data carrier.

[0012] The luminous side stripe is a security feature that proves the originality and integrity of the data carrier.

[0013] During use, the data carrier according to the invention provides feedback confirming its functionality. Advantageously, a user can check its functionality even without actively using it.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 the basic structure of a card-shaped data carrier in a schematic perspective view, Fig. 2 a structure of a card-shaped data carrier in a schematic sectional view, Fig. 3 a variant of a structure of a card-shaped data carrier in a schematic sectional view, Fig. 4 shows a further variant of a structure of a card-shaped data carrier in a schematic sectional view, Fig. 5 a circuit design of a card-shaped data carrier in a schematic plan view. Description

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the basic structure of a card-shaped data carrier 10. Only the elements relevant to the invention are shown, all other elements are omitted.

[0016] The card-shaped data carrier 10, hereinafter also simply referred to as the data carrier, can, in practical embodiments, take the form of a chip card, such as those commonly used in payment cards. The design of a chip card, hereinafter also simply referred to as a card, will be used as the basis for the following description. However, the invention is not limited to chip cards in their typical forms. It is equally suitable for data carriers of other dimensions or for small-format, flat security elements for other applications, for example, for RFID tokens, USB tokens, or mass storage cards.

[0017] The body of the chip card 10 corresponds in its basic type to a flat cuboid with two large main surfaces and comparatively small side surfaces. It consists of at least three layers: an upper and a lower cover layer 20, 40, and a functional layer 30 arranged between them. The layers 20, 30, 40 are each closed by circumferential side edges 21, 31, 41, which together form the side surfaces of the body.

[0018] When designed as a chip card, the card-shaped data carrier 10 typically has a height H of 750 to 850 µm, wherein the cover layers 20, 40 typically have thicknesses of 30 to 150 µm, preferably 50 to 100 µm, and the functional layer 30 has a thickness d of 200 to 600 µm, preferably 350 to 450 µm.

[0019] Typically, all layers 20, 30, and 40 are based on the same plastic, for example, polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and are bonded together by lamination. Suitable lamination temperatures are between 150°C and 210°C for PC, between 105°C and 160°C for PVC, and between 80°C and 125°C for PET.

[0020] An outer side of a cover layer 20 forms the first main surface as the top side 22 of the chip card, and the outer side of the opposite cover layer 40 forms the second main surface as the bottom side 42. The terms top side and bottom side serve only for linguistic differentiation; they have no technical meaning. The side surfaces of the chip card 10 together form a circumferential edge side 50, which is formed by the sequence of side edges 21, 31, 41 of the superimposed individual layers. The circumferential edge side 50 thus has a strip-shaped layer structure corresponding to the layers 20, 30, 40 ending in the circumferential edge side 50. Typically, the layer structure is not perceptible to an observer due to the low thickness of the layers 20, 30, 40. The corners between the side surfaces are usually rounded.

[0021] The functional layer 30 can, as in Fig. 1, it can be designed as a single layer. In practice, it usually consists of several layers, as shown in the Fig. 2 to 4. Likewise, the cover layers 20, 40, as shown in Fig. 1, consist of one layer or can be multi-layered.

[0022] The cover layers 20, 40 are in the basic structure according to Fig. 1 are opaque and have a UV-blocking effect. In modifications, the cover layers 20, 40 may have transparent or semi-transparent portions 23, 43 through which the functional layer 30 becomes visible to an observer.

[0023] In a practical embodiment, the cover layers 20, 40 are made of polycarbonate PET or PVC; other plastics commonly used for the production of chip cards can also be used.

[0024] The functional layer 30 is also advantageously made of polycarbonate or PVC; other plastics commonly used for the production of chip cards can also be used.

[0025] Preferably, the cover layers 20, 40 and the functional layer 30 of a card 10 are each based on the same plastics, e.g. on PC.

[0026] The cover layers 20, 40 generally carry security features (not shown) towards their outer sides 22, 42 and are provided with individual visual information (also not shown) in order to assign the card to a specific person or object.

[0027] In the embodiment of the Fig. 1 an inner region 33 and a luminous region 32 which surrounds the inner region 33 on all sides and extends to the side edge 31 of the functional layer 30, so that the side edge 31 of the functional layer 30 is part of the circumferential edge side 50.

[0028] A light source 60 is arranged in the functional layer 30. The light source 60 is located entirely within the body of the card 10. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1, the light source 60 is placed in the interior 33. The light source 60 generates UV (ultraviolet) light, which is radiated in all directions, as in Fig. 1 is indicated by wavy arrows. The UV light emitted to the cover layers 20 and 40 is absorbed by them and is therefore invisible.

[0029] The luminous area 32 consists of a transparent plastic mixed with fluorescent pigments 34. Typically, the fluorescent pigments 34 have their own color and thus impart a color cast to the functional layer 30. The fluorescent pigments 34 are excited upon irradiation with short-wave UV light and subsequently emit longer-wave light in all directions. The pigments 34 thereby produce an active luminous effect in the luminous area 32, visible to an external observer, in the form of longer-wave light in the visible range, as shown in Fig. 1 indicated by arrows.

[0030] The luminous area 32 forms at least a part of the side edge 31 of the functional layer 30 and is part of the peripheral edge 50 of the card. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1, the side edge 31 of the functional layer 30 is completely formed by the luminous area 32, so that the luminous area 32 runs around the entire edge side 50.

[0031] The pigments 34 are incorporated into the plastic material forming the luminous region 32 at a concentration of 0.1 to 20%. The pigments 34 can, for example, be selected such that, when excited by UV light in the range of 350 to 450 nm, they emit visible orange light with a wavelength in the range of 600 nm.

[0032] In another embodiment, the pigments 34 can be selected such that, for example, when excited with UV light in the range of 300 to 400 nm, they emit visible green light with a wavelength of 550 nm.

[0033] By using other pigments 34 in conjunction with a light source 60 matched to the wavelength of the emitted UV light, additional colors and color gradations are possible. It is also possible to introduce different pigments 34 into the luminous area 32, which emit secondary light of different colors. In this way, sections with different light colors can be formed on the peripheral edge 50. Color combinations and variations between colors can also be realized in the same way.

[0034] The wavelength of the light source 60 is matched to the pigments 34 in the functional layer 30 so that they are maximally stimulated. Typically, the generated UV light has a wavelength of 280 to 450 nm, preferably 365 to 415 nm.

[0035] The light source 60 is expediently an LED with a height of less than 600 µm, preferably less than 400 µm; the base area of ​​the light source 60 is expediently less than 10 mm 2 However, larger versions are also possible. For example, it could be an ATS2012UV LED from Kingbright. The light source 60 is pressed into the functional layer 30 during lamination, or rather, enclosed by it. Optionally, a small recess for the light source 60 can be made in the functional layer 30 to prevent significant forces from being applied to it.

[0036] The inner region 33 consists of a plastic that is permeable to UV light and contains no components that attenuate the intensity of the UV light, ie, in particular, no excitable pigments 34. The formation of the inner region 33 ensures that the light output is concentrated in the edge region of a card 10, leading to pigment excitation and thus to light emission. The formation of an inner region 33 is suitable when expensive pigments 34 are to be used.

[0037] The formation of an inner area 33 is optional. In some design variants, the inner area 33 may also be omitted, as shown in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 indicated.

[0038] The light source 60 is useful as in Fig. 1, is placed centrally, at the intersection of the central axes, in the body of the chip card 10, in order to create a uniform illumination of the edges 31. However, the light source 60 can also be arranged eccentrically.

[0039] Likewise, instead of a single light source 60, multiple light sources 60n can be provided, distributed throughout the card body. For example, two or three LEDs 60n can be arranged in a line, or four in a rectangle, or five in a rectangle around a central LED. Electronically, the LEDs are preferably connected in series.

[0040] The arrangement of multiple individual light sources 60n allows the individual light sources 60n to be placed closer to the corners of the card surface, thereby achieving a greater illumination effect. However, this also requires greater electrical power, which is then no longer available for card communication.

[0041] In one embodiment, individual light sources 60n can emit UV light at different wavelengths. Appropriately matched pigments 34 can be provided in the luminous area 32, emitting secondary light at different wavelengths and correspondingly different colors. This allows areas with different light colors and color combinations to be realized on the surrounding edge 50.

[0042] The light source 60 is advantageously arranged as shown in Fig. 5, is supplied with energy by its own antenna coil 61. The antenna coil 61 is expediently mounted together with the light source 60 on a Fig. 1 not shown carrier layer, which is part of the functional layer 30 or is arranged directly adjacent to the functional layer 30.

[0043] In order to supply the light source 60 with power and thereby switch it on, the card 10 is brought into an electromagnetic field provided by an external device (not shown), for example a payment terminal.

[0044] Furthermore, in the functional layer 30, as in Fig. 5, an integrated circuit (IC) 35 and, as a rule, a coil arrangement 36 connected thereto for supplying energy to the IC 35 and for carrying out a contactless data exchange with a counterpart device.

[0045] The Fig. The chip card 10 shown schematically in Figure 1 operates as follows. When the chip card 10 is placed in the electromagnetic field, for example, of a reader of a payment terminal, the light source 60 is supplied with energy via the coil 61. This light source then emits UV light, which strikes the fluorescent pigments 34 in the luminous area 32 and excites them. The fluorescent pigments 34 then, in turn, emit longer-wave secondary light in the range visible to the human eye, for example, orange, green, or white light, causing the edge 50 to illuminate in the area formed by the side edge 31 of the functional layer 30. A laterally acting luminous element in the form of a luminous strip formed by the side edge 31 is created on the edge 50.

[0046] The luminous strip forms a self-illuminating security element. Its illumination indicates the connection to a contactless field and the readiness of the chip card 10. Furthermore, it forms a security feature whose presence proves the authenticity of the chip card 10.

[0047] In one embodiment, the illumination of the illuminated area 32 can be used to provide informative feedback to a user of a card 10. The power supply of the light source 60 is controlled to switch on and off, creating a flashing effect on the peripheral edge 50. The flashing frequency can, for example, signal the status of a completed transaction. For example, two flashes can indicate success, and three flashes can indicate failure.

[0048] Fig. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a data carrier 10 with a basic structure as shown in Fig. 1, in a variant embodiment. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, mediator layers 71, 72 are provided between functional layer 30 and cover layers 20, 40 on both sides of functional layer 30, resulting in a total structure comprising five layers. One function of the mediator layers is to shield against secondary light in order to minimize unwanted luminous effects on outer surfaces 22 and 42.

[0049] The Fig. 2 lower mediator layer 71 also serves as a carrier for the light source 60. The other electronic components of the card 10 are expediently arranged on the mediator layer 71, ie in particular the antenna coil 61 of the light source 60 and the IC 35 with its antenna coil 36.

[0050] In a practical embodiment, the functional layer 30 consists of recycled PET. This does not bond well with other plastics commonly used in card production, such as PC, PVC, or PET. For technical reasons, however, the cover layers 20, 40 often consist of PC, PVC, or PET in order to enable the formation of high-quality security features. In such a constellation with a functional layer 30 made of recycled PET and cover layers 20, 40 made of PC, PVC, or PET, the mediator layers 71, 72 have the function of creating a permanent bond between the functional layer 30 and the cover layers 20, 40. The mediator layers 71, 72 consist of a mixture of PET, PVC, or PC and recycled PET. In the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 2, the intermediary layers 70, 71 can be opaque or milky. However, they can also be transparent or semi-transparent.

[0051] Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of another variant of a card-shaped data carrier with additional design options. Unlike the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the functional layer 30 in the embodiment variant according to Fig. 3 does not have an inner region 33, but consists of a continuous homogeneous layer in which the light source 60 is arranged.

[0052] Instead of a single light source 60, as in Fig. 1, a plurality of light sources 60n are also provided. For example, in a functional layer 30, two or, as in Fig. 3, three light sources 60 may be placed. A larger number of light sources 60n is also possible.

[0053] As in the example according to Fig. 2, the structure of the data carrier 10 contains two mediator layers 71, 72. The mediator layer 71 carries the light sources 60n.

[0054] With a larger number of light sources 60n, these can be constructed smaller, whereby the thickness H of the functional layer 30 can be kept smaller. Furthermore, a more uniform illumination results.

[0055] Optionally, as in Fig. 3, one or more recesses 23, 43 may be provided in the cover layers 20, 40, which provide a view of the underlying luminous area 32. The recesses 23, 43 may have any geometric shape. For example, they may form outlines of objects or alphanumeric characters. The intermediate layers 71, 72 facing the recesses 23, 43 are transparent or semi-transparent.

[0056] When the pigments 34 are excited, they also emit corresponding visible secondary light through the recesses 23, 43, as indicated by arrows, causing the recesses 23, 43 to appear as surface luminous effects. To achieve such surface luminous effects, no modification of the functional layer 30 is required.

[0057] Fig. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a data carrier. The functional layer 30 consists of two full-surface, directly adjacent sub-functional layers 30a, 30b, each of which is designed entirely as luminous areas 32 and is equipped with different pigments 34. The lower sub-functional layer 30b in the illustration serves here as a carrier for the only light source 60 in the exemplary embodiment. The light source 60 acts on both sub-functional layers 30a, 30b. By suitable selection of the pigments 34, it is possible to configure the functional layers 30a, 30b such that they each emit light with different wavelengths, i.e., in different colors, as secondary light, as in Fig. 4 are indicated by different arrows. For example, one sub-functional layer can emit orange light and the other green.

[0058] Fig. Figure 5 schematically shows a suitable circuit design of a card-shaped data carrier 10 in a plan view. An IC 35 is connected to an associated first antenna coil 36, which is suitably formed along the edges of the data carrier 10. The light source(s) 60, 60n are, if appropriate, as shown in Fig. 5, via a control circuit 62, to an independent second antenna coil 61, which is expediently formed separately in the interior space enclosed by the first antenna coil 36.

[0059] In variant designs, only a single common antenna coil 36 may be provided and the IC 35 also supplies the light source 62.

[0060] All components 35, 36, 60, 60n, 61 are expediently formed on a carrier layer. The carrier layer can, for example, be an intermediary layer 71, as in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, or a further separate layer arranged directly adjacent to the functional layer 30. Or, when using several partial functional layers 30a, 30b, as in Fig. 4, one of the partial functional layers 30b serves as a carrier layer.

[0061] Although the invention is described using various embodiments, the solution aspects are not limited to the respective embodiment but can rather be combined individually or in total with the solution aspects of the other embodiments.

[0062] While maintaining the basic idea of ​​obtaining a card-shaped data carrier 10 with a self-luminous security element acting laterally and, if desired, also upwardly, by providing the data carrier 10 with an internal UV light source 60 and a functional layer 30 with a luminous region 32 containing UV-excitable fluorescent pigments 34 which emit visible light when irradiated with UV light by the UV light source 60, the invention permits a number of further embodiments and modifications that are not described in detail. This applies, among other things, to the materials, components, and dimensions mentioned. For example, other plastics or mixtures of plastics, for example with paper, can be used for the functional layer 30. Likewise, the thicknesses and number of the layers 20, 30, 40 used can be varied within a wide range. List of reference symbols 10 Card-shaped data carrier 20 upper cover layer 21 Side edge 22 Top 23 Recess 30 functional layer 30a partial functional layer 30b Subfunctional layer 31 side edge 32 light areas 33 Interior 34 pigments 35 Integrated Circuit (IC) 36 Antenna coil IC 40 Lower surface layer 41 side edge 42 bottom 43 Recess 50 surrounding edge 60 light source 60n plurality of light sources 61 Antenna coil light source 62 Control circuit 71 Intermediary layer 72 Intermediary layer QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102014015277 A1

[0003] WO 2007 / 020051 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Card-shaped multi-layer data carrier (10) with a peripheral edge (50) formed by side edges (21, 31, 41) of the layers, an upper and a lower cover layer (20, 40) and a functional layer (30) arranged therebetween, which has a luminous area (32) and a light source (60), wherein the luminous area (32) contains fluorescent pigments (34) which can be excited by UV light, characterized by that the light source (60) emits UV light and the luminous area (32) forms at least part of the side edge (31) of the functional layer (30) and is part of the peripheral edge side (50). [2] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to claim 1, characterized by that the side edge (31) of the functional layer (30) is completely formed by the luminous area (32). [3] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the luminous area (32) forms a continuous layer covering the entire surface of the data carrier (10). [4] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light source (60) is arranged in the luminous area (32). [5] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the luminous area (32) is designed as a monofilm made of recycled PET. [6] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the luminous area (32) is in the form of a coextruded film made of recycled PET and polycarbonate, PET or PETG. [7] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the functional layer (30) consists of at least two adjacent partial functional layers (30a, 30b) which contain luminous areas (32) with different fluorescent pigments (34) which emit visible light with different wavelengths when excited with UV light. [8] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that an inner region (33) without fluorescent pigments (34) is formed in the luminous region (32) and the light source (60) is arranged therein. [9] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light source (60) has several individual light sources (60n). [10] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light source (60) is connected to an antenna coil (61) and supplied with energy via this. [11] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover layers (20, 40) are opaque. [12] Card-shaped multilayer data carrier according to claim 11, characterized by that a recess (23, 43) is formed in at least one cover layer (20, 40), through which the luminous area (32) is visible.

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