Card blank with functionality for entering digital information on a touch-sensitive screen

Abstract

The present invention relates to a card blank (1) suitable for producing a card (10) or a value or security document, which card blank comprises a card body (2) made of at least one plastic and having a surface. The card blank (1) is characterized in that the surface of the card body (2) is coated with an electrically conductive material (9) in a corner region (5, 6, 7, 8) of the card blank (1), and the card blank (1) is designed to input digital information onto a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device, in particular to generate a digital signature, by means of the corner region (8) coated with the electrically conductive material (9). Furthermore, the invention comprises a card produced from the card blank (1) according to the invention, in particular an identity card, chip card, bank card, credit card, customer card or gift card.

Description

[0001] The present application relates to a card blank suitable for producing a personalized card or a value or security document having a functionality for entering digital information, in particular for generating a digital signature, on a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device, as well as to a personalized card produced from such a card blank.

[0002] With the advancing digitalization, digital information has become increasingly important. Digital information is already being entered in many applications and everyday situations, for example, digital signatures are being created. Often, styluses are used for this purpose. These styluses are designed for entering information via a touch-sensitive screen, such as a touchscreen or touchpad. Such styluses are already available in a wide variety of designs, some even with additional functions, such as a writing instrument with a stylus function.

[0003] In principle, various input technologies can be used to enter information, which depend, among other things, on the type of touch-sensitive screen. For example, purely pressure-sensitive screens can be used in smartphones or navigation systems, among others. These use sensors to measure the strength of a touch and pass this on as information. Such pressure-sensitive screens do not usually place any special demands on the tip of the respective stylus. In addition, touch-sensitive screens are also very frequently used. These use electrical capacitance to determine the position of an electrically conductive object, in particular a human finger or an electrically conductive stylus, on the surface of the screen. The best known applications for this include smartphones, tablets andThe tablet computer and the notebook, where the function of the computer mouse is replaced by touch with a finger. Compared to the human finger, the use of a stylus has the advantage that touching a touch-sensitive screen with the stylus is more hygienic and, due to the stylus's smaller tip compared to a finger, generally more precise.

[0004] However, using a stylus to enter information on touch-sensitive screens does have some disadvantages. For example, if the stylus is passed from person to person or from customer to customer to sign a digital signature, and is therefore touched by many different people in quick succession to sign the digital signature, this is not very hygienic and could result in the transmission of pathogens, among other things. To make the use of the stylus more hygienic, the stylus can be disinfected after each use, for example. However, this represents a significant time and, in most cases, financial outlay.Furthermore, situations may arise where a signature or digital signature is required, or where a touchscreen is to be used to enter information, but a stylus is not available. Furthermore, depending on the model, styluses or touch pens can be quite expensive. If the stylus breaks, either a repair, possibly a replacement of the stylus tip, or even the purchase of a new stylus is necessary, which, apart from the associated costs, creates waste.

[0005] Against this background, at least one object of the present invention is to provide an alternative device, improved over a previously described input pen or touch pen, as an input means for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen, which at least reduces, in particular eliminates, the aforementioned disadvantages and can also be implemented in a cost-effective and user-friendly manner. In particular, one object of the present invention is to create an input means that is more hygienic than a input pen.

[0006] The solution of the invention is represented by a subject matter having the features of the respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the further features of the respective subclaims.

[0007] Accordingly, the solution according to the invention relates to a card blank suitable for producing a card or a value or security document. The card blank comprises a card body made of at least one plastic and having a surface. The card blank is characterized in that the card body is provided with an electrically conductive material in a corner region of the card blank, in particular the surface of the card body is coated with an electrically conductive material in a corner region of the card blank, and the card blank is designed to input digital information onto a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device by means of the corner region provided with the electrically conductive material.

[0008] The card blank is suitable for the production of a wide variety of cards, particularly personalized cards, or various security or value documents, and is therefore very flexible in its application. In particular, the card blank can be used to produce essentially any transaction card for conducting transactions in which monetary units or other value data are transferred between the cardholder and at least one transaction partner or service provider, or are presented to the service provider for verification of the respective claims. For example, the card blank can be used to produce identification cards, such as identity cards, driver's licenses and membership cards, bank cards, credit cards, health insurance cards, customer cards, fuel cards, and gift cards.The card blank is made of at least one plastic, in particular polycarbonate or PVC, and can optionally also contain metallic and / or organic components.

[0009] The present invention thus offers an alternative to a stylus or touch pen for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen, e.g., on a touchscreen or touchpad, and in particular for generating a digital signature. This alternative option takes advantage of the everyday use of various cards carried on the person, as most people always carry at least one of the following cards, such as identity cards, driver's licenses, bank cards and / or credit cards, health insurance cards, customer cards, and membership cards. All of these cards are each manufactured from a card blank, which is then further processed according to the specific application and, for example, equipped with electronic components, circuits, memory devices, and provided with information such as personalization data.

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides a card blank which, in addition to its respective actual card-specific function, is additionally equipped with a functionality for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen. To ensure this, the card blank has an electrically conductive material in at least one of its corner regions, expediently a layer of an electrically conductive material, expediently a coating with an electrically conductive material on the surface of the card body underlying the card blank. A corner region is to be understood in the context of the invention in particular as a region of the card blank which is formed around a corner of the card blank, wherein a corner is essentially defined by two converging edges or surfaces forming an angle to one another.By providing the card body, in particular by coating it with an electrically conductive material in at least one corner region of the card blank, the card blank is configured to input digital information onto a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device, such as a touchscreen or touchpad. If the corner region of the card blank coated with an electrically conductive material, or of the card produced from the card blank, comes into contact, in particular touch contact, with a touch-sensitive screen, this contact can be registered by the touch-sensitive screen and evaluated depending on the functional principle of the touch-sensitive screen, for example, with regard to the position of the contact and, if applicable, the contact pressure applied.

[0011] For example, if the touchscreen is a resistive touchscreen that detects the physical pressure exerted on the screen, the contact pressure of any corner area of ​​the card blank or of the card produced from the card blank on the touchscreen can be determined using corresponding sensors built into the screen. The position of the pressure point is typically detected by detecting voltage changes resulting from a current flow.These voltage changes are caused by the fact that a first conductive layer of the touch-sensitive screen, which is coated with stretchable polyester, is pressed against a rigid second conductive layer of the touch-sensitive screen as a result of the applied pressure. A DC voltage is applied alternately to the first and second conductive layers, and the respective voltages are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen based on resistive touch detection, it is not necessary for the corner area of ​​the card blank used for input to also comprise an electrically conductive material.Accordingly, in this case, in addition to the corner area of ​​the card blank provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular the coated corner area, any other of the four corner areas of the card blank can in principle be used to enter information on a resistive touchscreen. For example, the card blank according to the invention or the card produced from the card blank can be used in conjunction with a resistive touchscreen for parcel acceptance.

[0012] Touch-sensitive screens, so-called capacitive touchscreens, which are based on capacitive touch detection, are also frequently used. If the corner region of the card blank according to the invention, which is provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated, or of the card made from this material comes into contact, in particular touch contact, with the touch-sensitive screen, an electrical field emanates from this electrically conductive material of the card, which causes a local change in the electrostatic field of the touch-sensitive screen and leads to a measurable change in the capacitance. Since the capacitances at intersection points of electrodes of the screen, which are constructed in a two-layer coordinate network of rows and columns, are constantly measured and thus also changes in the capacitance, e.g.By detecting the touch signals generated on the screen by the card's electrically conductive material, the touch signals can be localized in a time-dependent manner and translated into a movement on the screen. Accordingly, for inputting information on a touch-sensitive screen based on capacitive touch detection, at least the corner area of ​​the card blank used for input must be made of an electrically conductive material, preferably a surface coating with an electrically conductive material.

[0013] The card blank according to the invention can thus in principle be used both for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen based on resistive touch detection and for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen based on capacitive touch detection.

[0014] In particular, according to a further development, the card blank according to the invention can be designed to generate a digital signature as an input of digital information, in that the corner region of the card blank provided with, in particular coated, the electrically conductive material brings about capacitive touch detection when touching a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device. As described above, a touch signal is generated on the touch-sensitive screen by touching the corner region of the card blank provided with, in particular coated, the electrically conductive material, and is capacitively detected by the touch-sensitive screen, from which a position determination of the contact point can be carried out, in particular a time-dependent determination. Thus, the card blank according to the invention or a card produced therefrom is designed, among other things, to generate digital signatures.

[0015] In addition, the card blank according to the invention is also particularly designed to generate a digital signature as a digital information input. The corner area of ​​the card blank provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated, or another corner area of ​​the card blank not provided or coated accordingly, triggers resistive touch detection upon touching a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device. The pressure signal generated as a result of the touch is resistively detected by the touch-sensitive screen and localized over time.

[0016] In a further development, it is provided that the corner region of the card blank provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated, is designed as a rounded corner, in particular such that the card body has a front side and a back side arranged parallel to the front side, wherein the front side and the back side each have a rounded edge in the corner region of the card blank provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated. By designing this corner region as a rounded corner, scratches on the touch-sensitive screen can be prevented when entering information, in particular during digital signing.It goes without saying that the radius of curvature of the rounded corner, which corresponds to the radius of curvature of the respective rounded edges, must not be too large so that the contact area with the touch-sensitive screen is not too large.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, the card blank according to the invention can be designed in particular such that the corner region of the card blank, provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated, extends at least along a region of a side surface of the card blank that is defined by a rounded corner. This means that this corner region extends over a partial region of the side surface that borders the front and back of the card blank and runs perpendicular to the front and back in the circumferential direction of the card blank. This partial region of the side surface has a curvature defined by a rounded corner and is therefore curved.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively, it can further be provided that the card body of the card blank according to the invention has a predetermined thickness, wherein the predetermined thickness corresponds in particular to a thickness specified in accordance with the ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810. For a large number of possible applications of a card produced from the card blank according to the invention, it can be expedient for the thickness of the card blank to essentially correspond to the requirements of the international standard ISO 7810, as they exist at the date of filing of the present application, and specifically to the ID-1 format regulated therein. The international standard ISO 7810 defines four formats for identification documents, namely the formats ID-1, ID-2, ID-3 and ID-4. The ID-1 format is used, among other things, forBank cards, credit cards, debit cards, driver's licenses, or identity cards, but is also commonly used for customer cards, membership cards, gift cards, etc. According to the version valid at the time of filing this application, the ID-1 format specifies, among other parameters, a thickness of 0.76 mm (±0.08 mm).

[0019] Additionally or alternatively, the card body may have rounded corners, particularly in each of its corner areas. These rounded corners may optionally be formed with a radius corresponding to the ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810, whereby the ISO 7810 standard valid at the time of the filing date of this application shall be used. According to the ID-1 format defined therein, rounded corners are defined with a radius, or curvature, of 3.175 mm.

[0020] The card blank may optionally also have a card body which, in particular with regard to its size, is designed in accordance with any of the four formats ID-1, ID-2, ID-3 and ID-4 defined in the international standard ISO 7810.

[0021] According to a further development of the card blank according to the invention, the card body can have at least one recess for embedding an electronic component, in particular an IC chip, and / or at least one recess with an electronic component already embedded therein. This enables the card blank according to the invention to be used to produce a chip card. For example, a chip card can be produced from the card blank that is designed according to the extended international standard ISO 7816, based on the international standard ISO 7810, which defines identity cards with contactless chips and contact-based chips in the ID-1 format.

[0022] In a further development of the card blank according to the invention, the electrically conductive material with which the card body is provided in at least one corner region of the card blank, expediently the surface of the card body is coated in at least one corner region of the card blank, can be selected from at least one material from a group of materials comprising a metal, a metal oxide, an organometallic compound, an electrically conductive plastic, in particular an electrically conductive elastomer, or an electrically conductive foam. When selecting the electrically conductive material, materials can be used, for example, which are used in the conductive pen tip of a touch pen. Depending on the intended use of the card blank, an electrically conductive material can be used for the integration, in particular the surface coating, with which, among other things,A transparent and / or thermally resistant layer, in particular a surface coating, can be produced in at least one corner region of the card blank. A coating with the electrically conductive material has a thickness in the sub-millimeter range, preferably in the single-digit to double-digit micrometer range.

[0023] The card body of the card blank can, for example, have a layered structure comprising one or more pre-punched layers made of at least plastic, and in particular one or more layers as a cover layer, protective layer, or labeling layer, which are laminated together. Furthermore, the one or more pre-punched layers made of at least plastic can each comprise recesses such that, when the individual layers are laminated together, the card body has at least one recess for receiving an electronic component and / or at least one recess in a corner region for receiving the electrically conductive material. The pre-punched layer(s) can, in particular, be constructed from at least one thermoplastic, for example, polycarbonate, and can optionally also contain metallic components.

[0024] The present invention further relates to a card, in particular an ID card, chip card, bank card, credit card, customer card, fuel card, or gift card, which is formed from a card blank according to one of the aforementioned embodiments. This card can, in particular, comprise personalization data. Furthermore, the card can comprise an electronic component, e.g., an integrated circuit such as a microchip or a memory device, accommodated in a recess of the card blank.

[0025] Further advantages, features, and possible applications of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments thereof and the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1a: perspective view of a card blank according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1b: perspective view of a card blank according to Fig. 1a produced card, Fig. 2: perspective view of a card blank according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3: Perspective view of a card blank according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a card blank 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention, which is generally suitable for the production of any card or any value or security document, for example for the production of an identity card, chip card, bank card, credit card, health insurance card, customer card, fuel card or gift card or other cards depending on the area of ​​application or intended use, and is thus very flexible in its use. The card blank 1 comprises a card body 2 made of at least one plastic, in particular polycarbonate or PVC, which can optionally also have metallic and / or organic components. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1a, the card body 2 is essentially rectangular or cuboid-shaped. Furthermore, the card blank 1, and correspondingly also the card body 2, has four corner regions 5, 6, 7, 8, all of which have rounded corners 11 or are formed in the form of rounded corners 11. However, embodiments of the card blank are also possible in which zero, one, two, or three of the four corner regions 5, 6, 7, 8 of the card blank each have a rounded corner.

[0027] In the embodiment of the Fig. 1a, the card blank 1 is designed with regard to its geometric dimensions according to the so-called ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810, specifically with the current version of this standard available on the filing date of the application. However, the card blank 1 can also have deviating geometric dimensions in other embodiments. The international standard ISO 7810 defines four formats for identification documents, namely the ID-1, ID-2, ID-3, and ID-4 formats. The ID-1 format is used for a variety of personalized cards. For example, it is used for bank cards, credit cards, debit cards, driver's licenses, identity cards, and health insurance cards, but is now used for most plastic cards in circulation, such as customer cards, membership cards, gift cards, etc.Due to the wide range of applications of the ID-1 format, it is therefore advantageous to provide a card body 2 corresponding to the ID-1 format for the card blank 1. Alternatively, it could also be advisable, for example, to design the card body 2 of the card blank 1 according to another format defined in the international standard ISO 7810, for example, the ID-2 format, or to select a format that does not comply with the international standard ISO 7810.

[0028] According to the embodiment of the Fig. 1a are the rounded corners 11 of the Fig. 1a, each of the card blanks 1 is formed, by way of example, with a radius R corresponding to the ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810, specifically with the current version of this standard available on the filing date of the application. Accordingly, the rounded corners 11 in Fig. 1a is designed, by way of example, with a radius, or radius of curvature, of 3.175 mm plus corresponding error tolerances. It goes without saying that the rounded corners of the card blank can also have a different radius of curvature in other embodiments and are not to be understood as limited to the value defined according to the ID-1 format.

[0029] Furthermore, the card body 2 of the card blank 1 can in particular have a predetermined thickness d. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1a, this predetermined thickness d corresponds, for example, to the thickness specified in the ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810. According to the current version of the international standard ISO 7810 available on the filing date of the application, the ID-1 format specifies, among other parameters, a thickness of 0.76 mm (±0.08 mm). It goes without saying that the predetermined thickness of the card blank can also assume a different value in other embodiments and is not to be understood as being limited to the value defined in the ID-1 format.

[0030] The card body 2 of the card blank 1 has a surface which is composed of the respective surfaces of the front side 3 and the back side 4 of the card body 2 as well as of the respective side surface 16 of the card body 2, which adjoins the front and back sides 3, 4 and runs perpendicular to them and in the circumferential direction of the card body 2. The card body 2 is further provided with an electrically conductive material 9 in a corner region 8 of the card blank 1, ie an electrically conductive material 9 is integrated into the card blank 1 in at least one corner region 8 of its four corner regions 5, 6, 7, 8. As in Fig. 1a illustrates an expedient embodiment, the surface of the card body 2 in the corner region 8 of the card blank 1 is coated with an electrically conductive material 9, i.e., the card blank 1 has a coating with an electrically conductive material 9 on the surface of the card body 2 in the corner region 8 of its four corner regions 5, 6, 7, 8. A corner region is to be understood in the context of the invention in particular as a region of the card blank that is formed around a corner, including a rounded corner, of the card blank, wherein a corner is essentially defined by two converging edges or surfaces forming an angle to one another. The corner region 8 of the card blank 1 provided with the electrically conductive material 9, in particular coated, extends according to Fig. 1a at least along a region of a side surface 16 of the card blank 1, this region being defined by the rounded corner 11 of the card blank 1. Furthermore, the corner region 8 of the card blank 1 extends according to Fig. 1a additionally along a respective limited surface area on the front side 3 and on the back side 4 (not visible) of the card blank 1, wherein this respective limited surface area directly borders on the area of ​​the side surface 16 provided with the electrically conductive material 9, in particular coated, and runs perpendicular to it. While the Fig. 1a provides a surface coating in only exactly one corner region 8 of the four corner regions 5, 6, 7, 8 of the card blank 1, in further embodiments a card blank can also be provided which has an integration of an electrically conductive material 9, in particular a surface coating, in more than one of the four corner regions of the card blank 1. Thus, Fig. 2 an exemplary second embodiment of a card blank 1' according to the invention, in which an integration, in particular surface coating, is provided in two corner regions 8' of the card blank 1'.

[0031] According to the Fig. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1a, the card blank 1 has, for example, a surface coated with a metal oxide in the corner region 8. In principle, however, any electrically conductive material can be used for integration, in particular for coating, a respective corner region of the card body. In particular, an electrically conductive material can be used that is selected from at least one material from a group of materials comprising a metal, a metal oxide, an organometallic compound, an electrically conductive plastic, in particular an electrically conductive elastomer, or an electrically conductive foam.

[0032] The Fig. The card blank 1 shown in Figure 1a is designed to input digital information on a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device, for example a touchscreen or touchpad, by means of the corner region 8 provided with the electrically conductive material 9, in particular a coated one. Thus, the card blank shown in Figure 1a has Fig. The card blank 1, outlined in Figure 1a, integrates the functionality of a stylus or touch pen. The card blank 1 therefore offers an alternative to a stylus or touch pen for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen, e.g., a touchscreen or touchpad, and in particular for generating a digital signature.

[0033] An advantage of the card blank 1 according to the invention can be seen in the frequent everyday use of various cards, each of which can be produced from the card blank according to the invention. Thus, most people today always carry at least one of the following cards, such as identity cards, school ID cards, student ID cards, driver's licenses, bank cards and / or credit cards, health insurance cards, customer cards, and membership cards, so that a card can usually always be kept handy or is readily available.The use of a dedicated card, in particular a personalized card, produced from the card blank 1 according to the invention for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen has, in addition to increased availability, the particular advantage of being significantly more hygienic than using a provided touch pen, which is used by many people at short intervals, for example, during customer payment transactions in stores. In addition to the hygienic aspect, the card blank according to the invention also provides the functionality of an input pen or touch pen in a cost-effective, user-friendly, and above all, very practical way.

[0034] The interaction between the card blank 1 or any card produced from the card blank 1 and a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device takes place in such a way that the corner area 8 of the card blank 1, which is provided with the electrically conductive material 9 and is in particular coated, is Fig. 1a or a card manufactured from the card blank 1 is brought into contact, in particular touch contact, with the touch-sensitive screen. This contact is registered by the touch-sensitive screen and evaluated depending on the functional principle of the touch-sensitive screen, in particular with regard to the position of the contact.

[0035] In the case of a touch-sensitive screen based on capacitive touch detection, an electric field emanates from the corner region 8 of the card blank 1, which is provided with an electrically conductive material, in particular a coated one. This causes a local change in the electrostatic field of the touch-sensitive screen, thereby inducing a measurable change in capacitance. This change in capacitance is recorded over time, for example, using a microcontroller, so that the touch signals generated on the touch-sensitive screen by the coated corner region 8 can be localized over time and translated into a movement on the screen.When entering information on touch-sensitive screens based on the functional principle of capacitive touch detection, it is therefore essential that the corner region 8 of the card blank 1 used for input integrates an electrically conductive material 9, expediently having a surface coating with an electrically conductive material 9.

[0036] If, however, information is entered on a touch-sensitive screen based on resistive touch detection, the touch-sensitive screen detects, by means of corresponding sensors built into it, the contact pressure exerted on the screen by the corner region 8 of the card blank 1, which corner region is provided with, in particular coated, an electrically conductive material, or by the card produced from the card blank 1. Since resistive touch detection does not require the corner region of the card blank 1 used for input to have an electrically conductive material, in particular a surface coating with an electrically conductive material, any other corner region 5, 6, 7 of the card blank 1 can in principle be used for this purpose, regardless of whether it is provided with, in particular coated, an electrically conductive material 9 or not.Based on the recorded sensor signals, the respective position of the contact of a respective corner area 5, 6, 7, 8 of the card blank 1 on the screen can be determined by means of a corresponding control and evaluation unit.

[0037] The card blank 1 according to the invention can thus be used for entering information both on a touch-sensitive screen based on resistive touch detection and on a touch-sensitive screen based on capacitive touch detection.

[0038] The Fig. The card blank 1 shown in Figure 1 is thus designed to generate a digital signature as an input of digital information, in that the corner region 8 of the card blank 1, which is provided with the electrically conductive material 9 and in particular coated, effects capacitive touch detection by touching a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device. As previously described, this touch generates a touch signal on the touch-sensitive screen and is capacitively detected. Accordingly, a position determination of the contact point, in particular a time-dependent one, takes place, which reflects the movement of the corner region 8 of the card blank 1, which is provided with an electrically conductive material and in particular coated, or of the respective card produced from the card blank 1 on the screen, for example a signature.

[0039] The Fig. The corner region 8 of the card blank 1 shown in Figure 1a, which is provided with an electrically conductive material, in particular a coating, is designed, by way of example, as a rounded corner 11. This is to be understood in particular in such a way that the front side 3 and the back side 4 of the card blank 1, which is arranged parallel to the front side 3, each have a rounded edge 12 in the coated corner region 8 of the card blank 1. A corner region 8 designed in this way, which is provided with an electrically conductive material, in particular a coating, has the advantage that the introduction of scratches on the touch-sensitive screen when entering information, e.g., during digital signing, by means of the corner region 8 can be significantly reduced, if not completely avoided, due to its rounded shape.

[0040] As in Fig. As outlined in Figure 1a, the card body 2 of the card blank 1 can further comprise, for example, at least one recess 13 for embedding an electronic component, for example an IC chip. Depending on the intended purpose for which the card blank 1 is ultimately to be used, in an alternative embodiment it can also comprise more than one recess 13 for embedding an electronic component or no such recess. Furthermore, an electronic component can optionally already be embedded in the recess of the card blank. In this case, the card blank is thus provided with an electronic component already integrated in the card body 2 in order to further process it with regard to its specific intended use.Additionally or alternatively, in an embodiment not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity, such a recess can also be provided in a corner region for receiving or embedding the electrically conductive material, in which the electrically conductive material is subsequently received or embedded.

[0041] Even if this is Fig. 1a, the card body of the card blank can, for example, have a layered structure comprising one or more pre-punched layers made of at least plastic, and optionally also one or more layers as a cover layer, protective layer, or labeling layer, which are laminated together. The one or more pre-punched layers made of at least plastic can furthermore each comprise recesses such that the card body, when the individual layers are laminated together, has at least one recess for receiving an electronic component and / or at least one recess in a corner region for receiving the electrically conductive material. The pre-punched layer or layers can, in particular, be constructed from at least one thermoplastic, for example, polycarbonate, and can optionally also contain metallic components.

[0042] Fig. 1b shows a perspective view of a card blank 1 according to Fig. 1a produced card 10, which in Fig. 1b is an example of a customer card. Of course, cards with various other purposes can also be made from card blank 1 according to Fig. 1a can be manufactured as described above. In the recess of the Fig. An electronic component 14 was inserted into the card blank 1 shown in Figure 1a during the manufacture of the card 10. This electronic component is, for example, an integrated circuit in the form of a microchip. Alternatively or additionally, however, one or more recesses for further electronic components, e.g., a memory device, may also be provided. Furthermore, the Fig. 1b that the card 10 in the example shown comprises two data fields 15, of which one data field 15 contains the name of the cardholder, here for example Max Mustermann, and the cardholder's customer number, here for example the customer number 1234567. The second data field 15 can, for example, contain a name of the company issuing the card 10, an expiration date of the card 10 or other information such as further personalization data, card-specific information, etc. The card 10 is thus advantageously equipped, in addition to its actual card-specific function, also with a functionality for entering information on a touch-sensitive screen in that the card 10 has a coating with an electrically conductive material 9 on the surface of a corner region of the card 10.

[0043] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a card blank 1' according to a second embodiment of the invention. The card blank 1' differs from the card blank 1 according to Fig. 1a essentially in that the surface of the card body 2 in two corner regions 8' of the four corner regions 5, 7, 8' of the card blank 1' is provided with an electrically conductive material 9', expediently coated, i.e. that the card blank 1' has two corner regions 8', each of which is provided with an electrically conductive material 9' on its surface, expediently coated. This can be particularly advantageous if the surface coating of a corner region of the card blank provided with an electrically conductive material 9' and expediently coated has been damaged, so that a second corner region provided with an electrically conductive material 9' and expediently coated is then available in order to be able to enter digital information on a touch-sensitive screen.In a further embodiment not shown, the card blank can also be designed such that the surface of the card body is provided, in particular coated, with an electrically conductive material in three corner regions or even in all four corner regions of the card blank. The respective sizes of the corner regions coated with an electrically conductive material can either be the same or differ from one another.

[0044] Furthermore, the card blank 1' of the Fig. 2 from the card blank 1 of the Fig. 1a in that the electrically conductive material 9' used for integration, in particular surface coating, in Fig. 2 is, for example, an electrically conductive plastic. In addition, the respective individual corner region 8' of the card blank 1' provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated, is Fig. 2 larger in area than the corresponding corner area 8 of the card blank 1 according to Fig. 1a. A respective corner region 8, 8' provided with an electrically conductive material 9' and suitably coated extends both in Fig. 1a as well as in Fig. 2 along a respective limited area on the front side 3 and on the back side of the card blank 1, 1' and further along a region of the side surface 16 of the card blank 1, 1', which directly borders on these respective limited areas on the front and back side and runs perpendicular to them in the circumferential direction of the card blank 1, 1'. A surface coating on the respective back side 4 of the card blank 1, 1' is due to the Fig. 1a and Fig. 2 selected perspective view is not recognizable. The Fig. The respective corner area 8' shown in Figure 2 extends in comparison to the Fig. 1a, over a larger area viewed in the circumferential direction, which extends beyond the curved or bent area of ​​the rounded corner.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a card blank 1'' according to a third embodiment of the invention. As in Fig. 1a, the card blank 1'' also has only one corner area 8'', which is provided with an electrically conductive material 9', which, in particular as shown, is coated on its surface with an electrically conductive material 9'. The electrically conductive material 9'' used for integration, in particular surface coating, is in Fig. 3 shows an example of an electrically conductive foam. Fig. 3 shown card blank 1'' differs from the card blank 1 according to Fig.1a essentially in that the appropriately coated area 8'' provided with the electrically conductive material 9'' extends only along an area of ​​the side surface 16 of the card blank 1'', which is defined by a rounded corner 11, but does not include surface areas on the front side 3 and / or the back side 4 of the card blank 1''.

[0046] In summary, the present invention relates to a card blank and a card produced from the card blank, which card incorporates an electrically conductive material in at least one corner region, expediently having a coating of an electrically conductive material on the surface in at least one corner region. As a result, the card blank and the card produced therefrom are designed to input digital information onto a touch-sensitive screen, in particular to generate a digital signature thereon, by bringing the corner region provided with the electrically conductive material, in particular coated, into contact, in particular touching contact, with the touch-sensitive screen. List of reference symbols 1, 1', 1'' card blank 2 card bodies 3 Front 4 Back 5, 6, 7 corner area 8, 8', 8'' corner area covered with electrically conductive material 9, 9', 9'' electrically conductive material 10 personalized cards 11 rounded corner 12 rounded edges 13 Recess 14 electronic component 15 Data field 16 side surface d Thickness of the card blank R radius

Claims

[1] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') suitable for the production of a card (10) or a valuable or security document, comprising a card body (2) made of at least one plastic and having a surface, characterized by , that the card body (2) is provided with an electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9'') in a corner region (5, 6, 7, 8, 8', 8'') of the card blank (1, 1', 1''), expediently the surface of the card body (2) is coated with an electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9'') in a corner region (5, 6, 7, 8, 8', 8'') of the card blank (1, 1', 1''), and the card blank (1, 1', 1'') is designed to input digital information onto a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device by means of the corner region (8, 8', 8'') provided with the electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9''). [2] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to claim 1, wherein the card blank (1, 1', 1'') is designed to generate a digital signature as input of digital information in that the corner region (8, 8', 8'') of the card blank (1, 1', 1'') provided with the electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9'') effects a capacitive touch detection by touching a touch-sensitive screen of an electronic device. [3] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the corner region (8, 8', 8'') of the card blank (1, 1', 1'') provided with the electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9'') is designed as a rounded corner (11), in particular such that the card body (2) has a front side (3) and a back side (4) arranged parallel to the front side (3), wherein the front side (3) and the back side (4) each have a rounded edge (12) in the corner region (8) of the card blank (1) provided with the electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9''). [4] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the corner region (8, 8', 8'') of the card blank (1, 1', 1'') provided with the electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9'') extends at least along a region of a side surface (16) of the card blank (1, 1', 1'') which is defined by a rounded corner (11). [5] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the card body (2) has rounded corners (11) in each of its corner regions (5, 6, 7, 8, 8', 8''), wherein the rounded corners (11) are each formed in particular with a radius (R) corresponding to the ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810. [6] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the card body (2) has a predetermined thickness (d), wherein the predetermined thickness (d) corresponds in particular to a thickness specified in accordance with the ID-1 format defined in the international standard ISO 7810. [7] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the card body (2) has at least one recess (13) for embedding an electronic component (14), in particular an IC module, and / or at least one recess (13) with an electronic component (14) already embedded therein, and / or at least one recess in a corner region for embedding an electrically conductive material, and / or at least one recess (13) with the electrically conductive material already embedded therein. [8] Card blank (1, 1', 1'') according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electrically conductive material (9, 9', 9'') is selected from at least one material from a group of materials comprising a metal, a metal oxide, an organometallic compound, an electrically conductive plastic, in particular an electrically conductive elastomer, or an electrically conductive foam. [9] Card (10), in particular identity card, chip card, bank card, credit card, customer card, fuel card or gift card, which is made from a card blank (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

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