COIN OR MEDAL CONTAINING A DIGITAL CERTIFICATE

Abstract

The invention relates to a metallic device (100), of the medal or coin type, comprising an NFC (Near Field Communication) electronic tag element (110) housed in a cavity, encapsulated with resin and integrated into a ferrite complex (120) within said metallic device (100), and further comprising an aluminum layer (130) located beneath the ferrite complex (120). Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: COIN OR MEDAL CONTAINING A DIGITAL CERTIFICATE technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of medals and coins.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a medal or coin currency containing an NFC element that issues a digital certificate. Previous technique

[0003] A coin is defined today as a metallic object with two engraved sides and a specific edge. An engraved face value gives it legal tender status, whether it is a collector's coin or circulating currency. Medals, on the other hand, are composed entirely or partially of metal and do not have a face value, but only two engravings on the obverse and reverse, or sometimes on the edge. Beyond the engraved elements, these two types of products convey no other information, neither static nor dynamic.

[0004] The invention presented below introduces a notion of a smart coin / medal (“Smart Coin / Smart Medal”) which refers to a coin / medal which has various information stored in it, readable by means of a reader (e.g. smartphones, RFID-NFC terminals).

[0005] Today, the only technologies already used occasionally to make coins / medals smart are QR codes laser-engraved or applied to the coin during minting: • Royal Dutch Mint: world's first QR coded coin, 2011 • National Bank of Ukraine: The 30th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, 2021

[0006] This type of identification code, like barcodes, only allows for a single response and is very limited in terms of complexity: • A QR Code is a simple “key” and is therefore limited in the possibility of responding: it can only return a URL link, a short free text, a business card, a file (pdf, Word...), an application or an email. • It is also limited in terms of the quantity of response: it can only link to a single unique object. • In addition, the amount of information it can contain is dictated by its size; the larger it is, the more information it can contain, but at the expense of the space left for artistic expression. Description of the invention

[0007] The invention aims to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a solution enabling the provision of innovative and secure metallic products such as coins or medals with digital certificates via blockchain, creating for each serial number of a product a unique digital certificate of authenticity linked to that serial number, and preventing counterfeiting, protecting original products, enabling secure transfers, and introducing data enabling complex and dynamic digital exchange with the products.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a metallic device, of the medal or coin type, comprising an NFC (“Near Field Communication”) electronic tag element housed in a cavity, encapsulated with resin and integrated into a ferrite complex within said metallic device, and further comprising an aluminum layer located under the ferrite complex.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the ferrite complex has a thickness of 2xE, where E is between 80 and 120 pm.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the aluminum layer has a thickness between 30 and 60 pm.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, said cavity has a depth between 0.60 and 0.80 mm.

[0012] Advantageously, the resin is poured and then baked at a temperature between 65°C and 95°C for a period of between 45 and 75 minutes.

[0013] According to one embodiment, one or more layers of ink are applied to the resin.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the metallic device according to the present invention comprises a digital certificate integrated into said NFC electronic element.

[0015] According to one embodiment, said digital certificate is associated with a blockchain technology.

[0016] Advantageously, the metallic device according to the present invention is coupled to a mobile application installed on a smartphone-type device. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig.1] Fig.1 illustrates the device according to the invention, in one embodiment.

[0018] [Fig.2A] Fig.2A also represents the device according to the invention, in one embodiment.

[0019] [Fig.2B] The [Fig.2B] is a section AA of the [Fig.2A]. Detailed description

[0020] The objectives of the present invention are as follows: 1. To offer innovative and secure metallic products such as coins or medals, with digital certificates via blockchain. 2. Create a unique digital certificate of authenticity linked to each product serial number, 3. Prevent counterfeiting, protect original products, and enable secure transfers. 4. Introduce data enabling complex and dynamic digital exchange with products.

[0021] The technologies used so far allow the processing of this kind of data but in a unique and isolated way, that is to say that a QR Code would be needed for each piece of information / URL / document, which is technically impossible given the size of the products, and is of no interest.

[0022] The inventors of the present invention have therefore turned to the contactless technology of NFC tags readable directly with a smartphone or a specific terminal.

[0023] An NFC tag consists at a minimum of an electronic chip, antenna and support for these.

[0024] The NFC (Near Field Communication) system is a subset of RFID technology whose principle lies in passive communication via a magnetic field (13.56 MHz). This frequency is unrestricted in all countries and offers a good communication data rate. The technology is accessible and can be miniaturized. This communication is called "passive" because the NFC tag has no internal power source. In fact, it is the reader that provides the necessary energy (via the magnetic field) to the tag to power it and enable the sharing of the information contained in its chip.

[0025] Communication takes place via this field and allows the exchange of information over a short distance (< 10 cm) between the reader (smartphone or specific reader) and the NFC tag (credit card for example).

[0026] There are many NFC tag references on the market with different sizes, shapes and substrates, but none that meet the objectives of the present invention: • The first technical challenge lies in its miniaturization. Indeed, due to the final aesthetic requirements and the mastered striking techniques, it was desirable to have an NFC tag that was as small as possible (diameter less than 10 or 12 mm) and as thin as possible (less than 1 mm). • The second challenge was to make this NFC tag functional and readable within a metallic object (such as a coin or medal). Indeed, metal is conductive, and in the presence of a magnetic field, eddy currents are generated (due to variations in the surrounding field). This results in destructive interference that significantly reduces the

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[0033] The sensitivity and efficiency of the NFC antenna can be compromised, to the point of making communication between the tag and the reader impossible. The more metal there is around the tag, the more interference there will be, disrupting the tag's performance, leading to significant signal degradation and a reduction in reading distance, or even rendering it completely inoperable. The invention consists of: • The creation of a miniature, custom-designed, very thin NFC tag, specifically developed by the Applicant to enable its operation in a metallic environment such as a coin or medal. The NFC tag thus created is insulated by a specific multilayer metallic complex containing primarily ferrite and aluminum elements, designed to largely neutralize the eddy currents in the metallic object, which cause the degradation of the tag's antenna performance. • The tag is inserted deep into a cavity within the product, followed by tamper-evident encapsulation of the tag using a resin and pad printing process. This step ensures protection against removal and falsification. • The development of complex, secure, and anti-counterfeiting data via blockchain, uniquely linked to the physical product (certificate of authenticity and numbering, ownership certificates, content specifically designed for each linked project, etc.), easily readable with a smartphone equipped with NFC technology The present invention relates more particularly to a metallic device 100, of the medal or coin type, comprising an NFC (“Near Field Communication”) tag-type element 110 housed in a cavity, encapsulated with resin and integrated into a ferrite complex 120 within said metallic device 100, and further comprising an aluminum layer 130 located under the ferrite complex 120. In one embodiment, the ferrite complex 120 has a thickness of 2xE, where E is between 80 and 120 pm. In one embodiment, the aluminum layer 130 has a thickness between 30 and 60 µm. In one embodiment, said cavity has a depth between 0.60 and 0.80 mm. In one embodiment, the resin is poured and then baked at a temperature between 65°C and 95°C for a period of between 45 and 75 minutes. In a particular implementation mode, one or more layers of ink are applied to the resin.

[0034] In one embodiment, said metallic device 100 includes a digital certificate integrated into said NFC element 110.

[0035] In one embodiment, said digital certificate is associated with a blockchain technology.

[0036] In a particular embodiment, said metallic device 100 is coupled to a mobile application installed on a smartphone-type device.

[0037] The metallic composition of the Applicant's products (gold, silver, platinum, palladium, bronzes, and copper alloys, in particular), as mentioned previously, generates interference that degrades the effectiveness of the NFC tag. Indeed, without specific protection, the presence of the surrounding metallic mass around the cavity in which the tag is inserted renders it inert. Moreover, generally speaking, when this mass increases, as in the case of a large product, performance deteriorates, the response distance decreases, until it disappears completely, resulting in a complete lack of functionality.

[0038] In order to isolate the functional part of the tag from interference as much as possible, a sandwich complex with a thickness of 2xE of ferrite, where E is between 80 and 120 pm, precisely the size of the tag, was developed. This complex provides high magnetic permeability in a very localized area. In this way, the field lines are more concentrated locally within this complex, which minimizes the influence of the metal. A second advantage of this complex is that it increases the efficiency of antennas for small and thin tags, such as those of the invention. However, the result obtained was not entirely satisfactory.

[0039] A second improvement was applied to overcome the impact of the thickness of the metal in which the tag is embedded: the addition of an aluminum layer between 30 and 60 µm thick beneath the ferrite layer. This layer lowers the resonant frequency and brings it closer to the ideal frequency of 13.56 MHz, thus improving readability at short distances.

[0040] The device 100 according to the present invention is shown [Fig.1].

[0041] Figure 1 shows the device 100, comprising a face layer, a substrate and an antenna, the ferrite complex 120, and the aluminum layer 130 located under the ferrite complex 120.

[0042] Fig. 2A also represents the device according to the invention, in one embodiment.

[0043] [Fig.2B] is a section AA of [Fig.2A].

[0044] Figure 2B shows the NFC tag, the encapsulation resin and the finishing pad printing.

[0045] We describe below a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0046] To house this tag within the coin, a cavity between 0.60 and 0.80 mm deep was created in the metal piece during the striking process. The tag, having a strong adhesive layer, was then glued to the bottom of this cavity and subsequently encapsulated with resin, which was then cured at a temperature between 65°C and 95°C for 45 to 75 minutes. In this way, the tag is attached to the product and undergoes a security process to prevent removal and tampering through this encapsulation. The tag does not protrude, or only very slightly protrudes, from the upper surface of the product: its embedded height does not exceed the height of the rim (the edge of the struck coin in the case of a coin) and may protrude very slightly in the case of a medal, which does not necessarily have a rim. The aim is to insert the tag so that it is flush with the surface once mounted.The security is then reinforced by pad printing with several layers of specific colored ink applied to the resin, certifying the tag's factory integrity. This pad printing is then baked at a temperature between 105°C and 135°C for a period of 10 to 20 minutes.

[0047] A specific mobile application complements this invention. Indeed, any smartphone equipped with NFC technology is capable of reading the tamper-proof data (via the blockchain) embedded in the NFC tag using an application. This application is part of a broader ecosystem, complemented by a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform, serving as an administrative back office for the Applicant, which allows for the management of digital twin products with their blockchain alongside physical products.

[0048] The solution offered by the present invention is a unique solution in the world of numismatics, or even in that of connected objects, given the small size and performance of the component integrated in an exclusively metallic environment.

[0049] The invented tag is a unique solution because it has been miniaturized (diameter less than 10-12 mm) and is functional in a metallic environment thanks to its multi-layered insulating complex, thus allowing its integration into a collectible coin or medal. Furthermore, this technology is tamper-proof through sealing / encapsulation (bonding, resin curing, and pad printing for finishing) within the coin.

[0050] The possibilities for storing information and content related to the product are very large, even infinite, with the tag and blockchain serving as the key, and are accessible by any smartphone equipped with NFC technology and a specifically developed mobile application. The collectible coin / medal can thus provide access to: Digital certificate of authenticity linked to the serial number, tamper-proof via blockchain to counter any potential counterfeiting; Protected and tamper-proof membership certificate via blockchain (link to transfer in case of resale between individuals) with the possibility of transferring ownership during a sale between individuals via a secure portal / links; Specific or exclusive content (videos, articles, images, archives, contacts, price reductions, news...) accessible only by the owner of the collectible item / medal.

Claims

Claims

1. Metallic device (100), of the medal or coin type, characterized in that it comprises an NFC ("Near Field Communication") electronic element (110) of the tag type housed in a cavity, encapsulated with resin and integrated in a ferrite complex (120) within said metallic device (100), and that it further comprises a layer (130) of aluminum located under the ferrite complex (120).

2. A metallic device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ferrite complex (120) has a thickness of 2xE, where E is between 80 and 120 pm.

3. Metallic device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the layer (130) of aluminum has a thickness of between 30 and 60 μm.

4. A metallic device (100) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said cavity has a depth of between 0.60 and 0.80 mm.

5. Metallic device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resin is cast then baked at a temperature between 65°C and 95°C for a period between 45 and 75 minutes.

6. Metallic device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more layers of ink are applied to the resin.

7. Metallic device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a digital certificate integrated into said NFC electronic element (110).

8. Metallic device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that said digital certificate is associated with a blockchain technology.

9. Metallic device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is coupled to a mobile application installed on a smartphone type device.

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