Hidden magnetic stripe card and method therefor

Abstract

The personalized media includes at least a core layer, a magnetic stripe on the core layer, and an opaque silk screening layer over the magnetic stripe that conceals the magnetic stripe from view, the silk screening layer including iron tetroxide in combination with ink. In some embodiments, the iron tetroxide is provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to cards having a magnetic stripe, such as bank cards, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to cards having a magnetic stripe where the magnetic stripe is hidden from view. [Background technology]

[0002] A magnetic stripe (or mag stripe) is a dark strip of magnetic material commonly found on bank cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, transit cards, and membership cards. Magnetic stripe cards are also used for access control, as card keys, and on ID cards. There are two main types: high-coercivity (HiCo) and low-coercivity (LoCo).

[0003] High-coercivity magnetic strips are more difficult to erase and are more suitable for cards that are frequently used or require a long lifespan. Low-coercivity magnetic strips require less magnetic energy for recording, reducing their cost. Gift cards, loyalty cards, donation cards, and membership cards typically utilize LoCo magnetic strips. Magnetic stripe card readers can read either type of magnetic stripe. Including a magnetic stripe on a card but hiding it from view involves additional materials and processing. Covering the card with an additional layer of material can cause the card to attenuate the signal to the point where information cannot be read from or encoded onto the card. Furthermore, covering the card with such additional material can prevent the card from meeting certain international standards, such as ISO.

[0004] Magnetic stripe cards are typically small, usually credit-card-sized pieces of plastic or paper material that contain data stored on a ferromagnetic strip that can be read using a magnetic stripe reader. They are typically used for bank cards, retailer loyalty cards, gift cards, hotel key cards, staff access cards, parking tickets, and train tickets. For many identity cards, the security of all information on the card, whether digitally recorded or the card's physical characteristics, is paramount. Security is sometimes tied to some characteristic that reveals whether the media has been physically tampered with. One mechanism for thwarting attempts to tamper with identity cards is lamination. By securing the physical media in a laminate, a layer that cannot be peeled off without destroying the media's physical integrity helps protect the media's security integrity. Another way to provide some additional security is to conceal the magnetic stripe. Concealing the magnetic stripe can also improve the visual aspect of the card by providing more surface area for customer artwork. Using existing overprinting techniques to conceal the magnetic stripe from view presents several problems since the overprinting makes encoding and even reading the magnetic stripe difficult as suggested above.

[0005] Conventionally, to create an electronic document with a hidden magnetic stripe, the magnetic stripe (usually black) is applied to the back of the card, and then a masking layer is applied over the magnetic stripe to hide its color. There is a contrast between the black color of the magnetic stripe and the color of the substrate. For this reason, the masking layer often corresponds to, for example, a gray layer, for example, by a layer produced by printing a silver ink.

[0006] Document DE 102006 023084 A1 describes a document, such as a credit card, having a magnetic layer on one of its surfaces and a reflective, non-conductive layer placed on top of the magnetic layer. However, decoration is generally applied to the document surface.

[0007] Additionally, the decoration often includes a generally white base layer onto which a pattern or illustration is applied.

[0008] The magnetic tape is then visible not only under the masking layer but also under the decoration. However, the more the magnetic tape is covered, the more the response quality of the magnetic tape is attenuated.

[0009] One possibility to remedy this drawback is to use a magnetic tape with a higher amplitude, which can be obtained, for example, by a specific physical structure. Usually, to adequately mask such a magnetic tape, it is preferable to apply at least one masking layer with a total thickness of at least 4 μm.

[0010] With such reinforced magnetic tape, all layers applied from above (i.e., masking layer and decorative layer) then generally represent a thickness of approximately 7 μm to 12 μm. However, even with reinforced magnetic tape, it is very difficult to obtain a product whose magnetic tape efficiency meets the requirements of the ISO standard.

[0011] Therefore, the effect of magnetic tape in an electronic document depends not only on the amplitude of the magnetic tape, but also on the thickness of the various layers that coat the magnetic tape.

[0012] In this context, the aim of the present embodiments is to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawbacks while also providing other advantages.

[0013] All of the subject matter discussed in the Background Section is not necessarily prior art, and should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its discussion in the Background Section. Accordingly, any recognition of a problem in the prior art discussed in the Background Section or associated with such subject matter should not be treated as prior art unless expressly stated to be prior art. Rather, the discussion of any subject matter in the Background Section should be treated as part of the inventors' approach to a particular problem, which may itself be inventive. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In some embodiments, the personalized media includes a core layer, a magnetic stripe on the core layer, and an opaque silk screening layer over the magnetic stripe that conceals the magnetic stripe from view, wherein the silk screening layer includes iron tetroxide.

[0015] In some embodiments, the personalized media further includes an overlay layer on the core layer, and the magnetic stripe is directly on the overlay layer.

[0016] In some embodiments, the magnetic stripe has a higher remanent magnetization than a standard magnetic stripe.

[0017] In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer comprises a silver solvent ink and a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide. In some embodiments, the personalized media further comprises a graphic printed on the opaque silk screening layer. In some embodiments, the personalized media further comprises a varnish layer on the printed graphic and the magnetic stripe. The varnish layer protects the printed graphic. In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer on the magnetic stripe is less than 10 micrometers (μm).

[0018] In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer comprises a combination of silver and white inks combined with iron tetroxide in the form of a paste or powder having a low granulometry. In some embodiments, the iron tetroxide enables the personalized media to comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6) after final lamination of the personalized media.

[0019] In some embodiments, a personal media having a hidden magnetic stripe includes a core layer, an overlay layer on the core layer, a magnetic strip on the overlay layer, where the core layer, the overlay layer, and the magnetic strip are subjected to a first lamination process to form a first laminate element, and an opaque silk screening layer on the first laminate element that conceals the magnetic stripe from view, where the silk screening layer includes iron tetroxide.

[0020] In some embodiments, the magnetic stripe is of a type having high coercivity. In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer comprises a silver solvent ink and a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide, the iron tetroxide being provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

[0021] In some embodiments, the personalized media further includes a graphic printed on the opaque silk screening layer. In some embodiments, the personalized media further includes a varnish layer on the printed graphic and the magnetic stripe. In some embodiments, the personalized media further includes at least a front overlay layer, and the first lamination element and the front overlay layer are subjected to a second lamination process to form the personalized media.

[0022] In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer over the magnetic strip is less than 10 micrometers (μm). In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer comprises a combination of silver and white ink combined with iron tetroxide in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution. In some embodiments, the iron tetroxide enables the personalized media to comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6) after a second lamination process to form the personalized media.

[0023] In some embodiments, a method for forming personalized media with a hidden magnetic stripe includes laminating together a core layer, an overlay layer on the core layer, and a magnetic strip on the overlay layer to form a first laminate element; combining iron tetroxide with ink to form an opaque silk screening layer; overprinting the opaque silk screening layer on the first laminate element to conceal the magnetic stripe from view; printing a design on the first laminate element; overprinting varnish on the magnetic strip, the opaque silk screening layer, and the design; and laminating together at least a front core and a front overlay and the first laminate element.

[0024] In some embodiments, the magnetic strip is of a type having a high coercivity, and the opaque silk screening layer comprises a silver solvent ink and a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide, the iron tetroxide being provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

[0025] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, in which like labels refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. The sizes and relative positions of elements within the drawings are not necessarily to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements have been selected, enlarged, and positioned to improve the readability of the drawings. The particular shapes of the elements as depicted have been selected for ease of recognition within the drawings. One or more embodiments are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art bank card including a visible magnetic stripe; FIG. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 is a side view of a bank card according to a first embodiment after lamination. [Figure 2B] 2B is an exploded view of the bank card of FIG. 2A with silk screening according to an embodiment. [Figure 2C] 2C is an exploded view of the bank card of FIG. 2B with additional graphic printing according to an embodiment. [Figure 2D] 2D is an exploded view of the banking card of FIG. 2C with an additional overprint of varnish according to an embodiment. [Figure 2E] 2E is an exploded view of the bank card of FIG. 2D, further including the steps of providing a front core, a front overlay and an inlay, and further providing a second laminate, according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. Also, in these cases, well-known structures may be omitted or described in less detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0028] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a prior art bank card 50 that allows some level of personalization of the card's physical appearance after issuance, for example, by a customer. Such a card 50 may have, for example, the following layers: A transparent overlay layer 59 with a visible magnetic strip 58 . an offset printed backing layer 57 made of plastic and which may contain additives and inks; a plastic core 55 with an antenna made of aluminum or copper; offset printed front surface 53 made of plastic and containing additives and inks; transparent overlay layer 51; hologram 54; Contactless chip 52; Signature Column 56.

[0029] In this configuration, typically nothing is done to obscure the magnetic stripe 58 from view. If an overcoat or silkscreen is applied over the magnetic stripe 58, the typical overcoat or silkscreen will render the magnetic stripe ineffective for encoding or decoding.

[0030] To create a "hidden magnetic stripe" or invisible or non-visible magnetic stripe product that continues to function effectively according to embodiments, the magnetic stripe may be coated with some specially formulated ink to conceal it before lamination. An appropriate amount or thickness of ink is needed to cover the magnetic stripe without excessively attenuating the magnetic effect that enables the magnetic stripe's read and write capabilities. Furthermore, to enable writing / reading and protection of the magnetic stripe while complying with ISO requirements (ISO 7811-6), it is ideal to coat the magnetic stripe with a minimal ink layer thickness over the magnetic stripe. To achieve this goal, in some embodiments, a high-coercivity magnetic stripe "HiCo" (2750 Oe), which is encoded with a stronger remanence, may be used instead of a standard magnetic stripe. In some embodiments, a very opaque ink with a minimal thickness may be used over the magnetic stripe to enable encoding of the magnetic stripe with the same magnetic field. In some embodiments, after printing, the final product may be protected with a (minimal) varnish. The main problem with coating magnetic stripes with silkscreen inks and other layers is that the magnetic stripe loses its remanent magnetization due to overprinting, making the magnetic stripe difficult to encode (or decode).

[0031] To solve or at least mitigate this problem, a novel formulation of silkscreen ink (to conceal the magnetic stripe) is used in accordance with an embodiment by adding some "paste / powder" of low particle size distribution iron tetroxide (Fe3O4) that provides additional magnetic and conductive capabilities. Adding these particles essentially creates a relay between the magnetic stripe and the head encoder (or head decoder) that encodes the magnetic stripe and reads it. In such a manner, the magnetic stripe can be hidden or invisible and still comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6).

[0032] Due to the very low thickness of silkscreen ink on top of the magnetic stripe (typically <10 μm), such a configuration should not result in any loss of magnetic performance after final lamination.

[0033] 2A through 2E illustrate various steps or stages in forming personalized media according to an embodiment.

[0034] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2A through 2E, personalized media 200 includes a core layer 102, a magnetic stripe 106 on the core layer 102, and an opaque silk screening layer 108 over the magnetic stripe 106 that obscures the magnetic stripe 106 from view (as shown in Figure 2A), where the silk screening layer 108 includes iron tetroxide.

[0035] 2A and 2B, personalized media 200 further includes an overlay layer 104 on core layer 102, with magnetic stripe 106 directly on overlay layer 104. The core layer may be made of plastic, such as PVC.

[0036] In some embodiments, the magnetic stripe 106 has a higher remanence than a standard magnetic stripe.

[0037] In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer 108 comprises a silver solvent ink and a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2C , the personalized media further comprises a printed design 109 on the opaque silk screening layer 108. In some embodiments, the personalized media 200 further comprises a varnish layer 110 on the printed design 109 and the magnetic stripe 106. In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer 108 on the magnetic stripe 106 is less than 10 micrometers (μm).

[0038] In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer 108 includes a combination of silver and white inks combined with iron tetroxide in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution. In some embodiments, the iron tetroxide enables the personalized media 200 to comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6) after final lamination of the personalized media.

[0039] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 2D and 2E, a personal media 200 having a hidden magnetic stripe includes a core layer 102, an overlay layer 104 on the core layer 102, a magnetic stripe 106 on the overlay layer 104, where the core layer 102, the overlay layer 104, and the magnetic stripe 106 are subjected to a first lamination process to form a first lamination element 107, and an opaque silk screening layer 108 on the first lamination element 107 that conceals the magnetic stripe 106 from view, where the silk screening layer 108 comprises iron tetroxide.

[0040] In some embodiments, the magnetic stripe 106 is of a type having a high coercivity. In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer 108 includes a silver solvent ink and a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide, the iron tetroxide being provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

[0041] In some embodiments, personalized media 200 further includes a printed graphic 109 on opaque silk screening layer 108. In some embodiments, personalized media 200 further includes a varnish layer 110 on printed graphic 109 and magnetic stripe 106. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2E , personalized media 200 further includes at least a front overlay layer 124, and first laminate element 107 and front overlay layer 124 are subjected to a second lamination process 126 to form personalized media 200.

[0042] In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer 108 over the magnetic strip 106 is less than 10 micrometers (μm). In some embodiments, the opaque silk screening layer 108 comprises a combination of silver and white ink combined with iron tetroxide in the form of a paste or powder with a low particle size distribution. In some embodiments, the iron tetroxide enables the personalized media 200 to comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6) after the second lamination process 126 that forms the personalized media.

[0043] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 2E , a method of forming personalized media 200 having a hidden magnetic stripe includes laminating (107) together a core layer 102, an overlay layer 104 on the core layer 102, and a magnetic stripe 106 on the overlay layer 104 to form a first laminate element 107; combining iron tetroxide with ink to form an opaque silk screening layer 108; overprinting the opaque silk screening layer 108 on the first laminate element 107 to conceal the magnetic stripe 106 from view; printing a design on the first laminate element; overprinting varnish 110 on the magnetic stripe 106, the opaque silk screening layer 108, and the design 109; and laminating (126) at least a front core 120 and a front overlay 124 and the first laminate element 107 together. In some embodiments, a method of forming personalized media 200 having a hidden magnetic stripe includes laminating (126) a first laminate element 107 together with at least an inlay comprising an antenna 122, a front core 120, and a front overlay 124.

[0044] In some embodiments, the magnetic stripe 106 is of a type having a high coercivity, and the opaque silk screening layer 108 comprises a silver solvent ink and / or a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide, the iron tetroxide being provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

[0045] Absent any specific explanation associated with its express use in a particular context, when the terms "substantially" or "about" or "typically" in any grammatical form are used as modifiers within this disclosure and any appended claims (e.g., to modify structure, dimensions, measurement, or any other characteristic), it is understood that that characteristic may vary by up to 30 percent.

[0046] The terms "including" and "comprises," and their derivatives, are to be interpreted in an open, inclusive sense (e.g., "including, but not limited to") in all their syntactic contexts, without limitation. The term "or" is inclusive and / or. The expressions "associated with" and "associated with," and their derivatives, may be understood as meaning including, included in, interconnected with, containing, contained in, connected to or with, coupled to or with, communicable with, cooperate with, interleave with, juxtaposed with, adjacent to, associated with or with, having, having the quality of, or the like.

[0047] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout this specification and the claims that follow, the term "comprise" and variations thereof, such as "comprises" and "comprising," are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, e.g., "including but not limited to."

[0048] References throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" and variations thereof mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0049] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content and context clearly dictate otherwise. It should also be noted that the conjunctions "and" and "or" are generally used in their broadest sense to include "and / or," unless the content and context clearly dictate inclusiveness or exclusiveness, as the case may be. In addition, when listed herein as "and / or," the "and" and "or" configuration is intended to encompass embodiments including all of the associated items or ideas, as well as one or more other alternative embodiments that include less than all of the associated items or ideas.

[0050] In this disclosure, a conjunctive list utilizes a comma, also known as the Oxford comma, Harvard comma, serial comma, or other similar term, and such a list is intended to connect words, phrases, or sentences such that whatever follows the comma is also included in the list.

[0051] Where the context may require within this disclosure, singular forms shall mean plural forms and vice versa unless the context may indicate otherwise. All pronouns shall mean and include the person, entity, company, or business to which they are associated. Also, masculine forms shall mean feminine forms and vice versa.

[0052] When configured as described herein, each computing device or processor may be transformed from a general-purpose and non-specific computing device or processor into a combination device comprising dedicated and purpose-specific configured hardware and software that provides more than conventional functionality and solves specific technical problems with specific technical solutions. To the extent that numerous legal decisions recognize that any of the inventive steps described herein are incorporated into an abstract idea when configured as described herein, the ordered combination of elements and limitations is expressly presented to provide the requisite inventive step by transforming the abstract idea into a tangible, concrete practical application of the abstract idea.

[0053] The headings and abstracts of the disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the embodiments. The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified as necessary to employ concepts from various patents, applications, and publications to provide further embodiments.

Claims

1. A personalized medium, A core layer; a magnetic stripe on the core layer; A personalized medium comprising: an opaque silk screening layer over the magnetic stripe that conceals the magnetic stripe from view, the silk screening layer comprising iron tetroxide.

2. The personalized media of claim 1 further comprising an overlay layer on the core layer, the magnetic stripe being directly on the overlay layer.

3. 10. The personalized media of claim 1, wherein the magnetic stripe has a higher remanent magnetization than a standard magnetic stripe.

4. The personalized media of claim 1 , wherein the opaque silk screening layer comprises a silver solvent ink and / or a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide.

5. The personalized media of claim 1 further comprising a graphic printed on the opaque silk screening layer.

6. 6. The personalized media of claim 5, further comprising a layer of varnish over the printed graphics and magnetic stripe.

7. 10. The personalized media of claim 1, wherein the opaque silk screening layer over the magnetic strip is less than 10 micrometers ([mu]m).

8. 10. The personalized media of claim 1, wherein the opaque silk screening layer comprises a combination of silver and white inks combined with iron tetroxide in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

9. 10. The personalized media of claim 8, wherein the iron tetroxide enables the personalized media to comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6) after final lamination of the personalized media.

10. A personal medium having a hidden magnetic stripe, A core layer; an overlay layer on the core layer; a magnetic stripe on an overlay layer, wherein the core layer, the overlay layer, and the magnetic stripe are subjected to a first lamination process to form a first laminate element; an opaque silk screening layer on the first laminate element that conceals the magnetic stripe from view, the silk screening layer comprising iron tetroxide.

11. 11. The personalized media of claim 10, wherein the magnetic stripe has a higher remanent magnetization than a standard magnetic stripe.

12. 11. The personalized medium of claim 10, wherein the opaque silk screening layer comprises a silver solvent ink and / or a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide, the iron tetroxide being provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

13. 11. The personalized media of claim 10, further comprising a graphic printed onto the opaque silk screening layer.

14. 14. The personalized media of claim 13, further comprising a layer of varnish over the printed graphics and magnetic stripe.

15. 15. The personalized media of claim 14, further comprising at least a front overlay layer, wherein the first lamination element and the front overlay layer are subjected to a second lamination process to form the personalized media.

16. 11. The personalized media of claim 10, wherein the opaque silk screening layer over the magnetic stripe is less than 10 micrometers ([mu]m).

17. 11. The personalized media of claim 10, wherein the opaque silk screening layer comprises a combination of silver and white inks combined with iron tetroxide in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

18. 16. The personalized media of claim 15, wherein the iron tetroxide enables the personalized media to comply with ISO specifications (ISO 7811-6) after a second lamination process that forms the personalized media.

19. 1. A method of forming personalized media having a hidden magnetic stripe, comprising: laminating together a core layer, an overlay layer on the core layer, and a magnetic strip on the overlay layer to form a first laminate element; combining iron tetroxide with the ink to form an opaque silk screening layer; overprinting an opaque silk screening layer onto the first laminate element to conceal the magnetic stripe from view; printing a design onto the first laminate element; applying a varnish over the magnetic stripe, the opaque silk screening layer, and the graphic; laminating together at least the front core and the front overlay and the first laminate element; A method comprising:

20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the magnetic stripe is of a type having a high coercive force, and the opaque silk screening layer comprises a silver solvent ink and a white solvent ink combined with iron tetroxide, the iron tetroxide being provided in the form of a paste or powder having a low particle size distribution.

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