Smart card provided with a module comprising a transparent window

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable object (1) comprising a body (2) formed by a stack of different layers of material composed of at least one opaque layer (3) and at least one transparent layer (4), the portable object being provided with a window (7) made of a transparent or translucent material visible from both sides of the portable object (1), characterised in that the window (7) forms an integral part of a separate module (10) intended to be transferred into and fixed in a cavity (8) formed in the body (2).

Description

Smart card equipped with a module containing a transparent window

[0001] The invention relates to portable objects incorporating a security feature such as a transparent window, including, but not limited to, portable objects in the form of smart cards or certain identification documents such as passports. These may include, in particular, portable objects equipped with a microelectronic module that operates via contact, contactless, or a combination of contact and contactless operation with an external reader. However, the invention also relates to portable objects lacking a microelectronic chip, provided they include a transparent or translucent window.

[0002] By way of non-limiting example and simplification of the exposition, the invention will be described in the context of its application to portable objects of the type of security documents, such as smart cards or passport data pages, without limiting the scope of the invention to this type of portable object or to this form factor, the invention being applicable to other portable objects or to other form factors. State of the art

[0003] A recurring problem with security documents such as passports or smart cards is fraud and counterfeiting. These documents generally have a body made up of stacked layers of plastic, some opaque and coated with printed markings and characters, and others transparent to ambient light. These documents have proven relatively easy to counterfeit. To make counterfeiting more difficult, manufacturers have attempted to insert a security feature in the form of a transparent window into the body of these documents. Two known methods exist for this purpose.

[0004] One method involves perforating the opaque layer of the card body or passport data page to create an opening, then inserting a transparent piece of the same size as the opening to create a transparent window of the same thickness as the product. This method is very complex to implement industrially due to the extremely tight tolerances that must exist between the opening in the card body and the inserted transparent piece.

[0005] A second method involves creating openings in the opaque layers of the body, then allowing the material from the transparent layers adjacent to the opaque layers to flow into these openings during lamination, thus creating transparent windows within the product body. While these windows do make the illicit reproduction of such documents somewhat more difficult, they also present new manufacturing challenges, particularly in terms of quality and production yield. Indeed, the flow of transparent material into the windows frequently results in unacceptable visual defects, such as unevenness or the formation of bubbles within the transparent windows. Furthermore, this method requires handling extremely thin layers of material, on the order of 30 μm, which are very difficult to process industrially.

[0006] We know from document WO 2024 / 231817 A1 of such a portable object whose body is directly equipped with transparent windows, which poses problems of layer creep and defects in the quality of the windows.

[0007] In summary, known methods of creating transparent windows directly in the body of security documents or similar portable objects are complex to implement industrially. Purpose of the invention

[0008] The general aim of the invention is therefore to propose a new structure for a portable object, in particular a new structure for a smart card, passport or equivalent, which is free from the above disadvantages, and in particular a structure provided with a transparent window of good mechanical and visual quality, and which is easy to produce with high manufacturing output and low cost.

[0009] Another objective of the invention is to provide a portable object with a transparent window that allows for the integration of a security feature, for example, a level 1 or level 2 security feature, along the path of light passing through the product's transparent window. A level 1 security feature is understood to be one directly visible to the naked eye, while a level 2 security feature is detectable using very simple equipment, such as a simple lamp, whereas detecting a level 3 security feature would require sophisticated electronic equipment.

[0010] A possible security feature could include a feature that remains invisible under normal circumstances, and becomes visible in the transparent window under specific observation conditions, only on demand, for example during checks carried out by a law enforcement officer.

[0011] Another objective of the invention is to propose a document or smart card structure that remains compatible with classic and proven manufacturing processes, consisting of manufacturing a module, electronic or not, and then transferring the module into a cavity made in the body of the portable object.

[0012] In principle, the invention involves no longer attempting to create a transparent window directly within the product body, but rather constructing a separate module equipped with a transparent or translucent window, and then transferring this module, along with its window, into a cavity within the product body, for example, within the body of a smart card or a passport data page. To ensure the continuity of the window's transparency in the final product, the cavity in the body will be created through the opaque layer(s) and must open into a layer of transparent material. The module to be transferred and fixed within the cavity of the product body can be of several types: it may comprise an opaque or translucent substrate with a window fitted with a transparent cap or a transparent disc. The module may or may not be equipped with electronic components and metallic contacts fixed to the substrate.The module with its transparent window can constitute a security element on its own, or be associated with an additional specific security element, such as a logo, a hologram, a light-reactive transparent layer, or a pattern cut or engraved through the components opposite the cap or transparent disc of the module.

[0013] The invention therefore relates to a portable object comprising a body formed by stacking different layers of material, each composed of at least one opaque layer and at least one transparent layer, and provided with a window made of transparent or translucent material visible from both sides of the portable object. The object is characterized in that said window is an integral part of a separate module designed to be carried and fixed in a cavity formed within said body. This structure makes it possible to produce portable objects with a window free of visual defects such as bubbles.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the lower face of the opaque layer of the body is located opposite the upper face of the transparent layer.

[0015] According to one embodiment, said body cavity comprises a first zone of depth P1 less than the thickness of the opaque layer of the body and a second zone of depth P2 greater than P1 and greater than or equal to the thickness of said opaque layer of the body, and said module window extends into the first and second zones of the body cavity so as to be visible on each face of the wearable object.

[0016] According to one embodiment, said module comprises a substrate having an upper face aligned with the upper face of the opaque layer of the body, and a lower face fixed in the first area of ​​the body cavity by means of an adhesive.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the transparent or translucent window of the module is fixed to the bottom of the second zone of the cavity by means of a transparent or translucent adhesive.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the depth P2 of the second zone of the cavity corresponds to the thickness of the body, so that the cavity passes through the body and the thickness of the window of the module corresponds to the thickness of the wearable object.

[0019] According to one embodiment, said module substrate is made of an opaque material and said window is a simple window without a security feature and made in the form of a plug made of transparent or translucent material inserted into an opening in the substrate, said plug extending between the upper face of the opaque layer of the body and the bottom of the second zone of the body cavity.

[0020] According to one embodiment, said module substrate is made of a transparent or translucent material without an opening, and said window is a simple window without a security feature and made in the form of a disc of transparent or translucent material fixed to the underside of the substrate and extending to the bottom of the second zone of the body cavity.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the module comprises a complex window incorporating a semi-transparent security motif disposed on or within the window of the module. In this case, the module substrate may contain a metallic area, and the security motif then consists of a pattern cut out of said metallic area and located opposite the transparent cap or transparent disc of the module.

[0022] The module may be electronic or non-electronic. In the case of an electronic module, its substrate has a microelectronic chip on its underside connected to electrical contacts integrated into the metallic area and located on the upper surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the microelectronic chip may be connected to the terminals of an antenna located on the underside of the substrate or on the body of the wearable device, or the chip may be inductively coupled to the antenna.

[0023] According to the embodiment, the safety feature consists of an electroluminescent type adhesive under ultraviolet light for fixing the transparent cap or transparent disc to the bottom of the second zone of the body cavity.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the security feature is provided by the use of a hologram located in the module window or on the body of the wearable object and opposite the module window.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the safety feature may consist of certain elements or areas of the opaque layer remaining after machining the cavity, forming a visually contrasting zone with the transparent layer of the body. Several embodiments of the safety feature may coexist within the transparent window of the module.

[0026] In one embodiment, the opaque layer of the body is a white layer of polycarbonate, PET, or PVC, and the transparent layer of the body is made of transparent polycarbonate, PET, or PVC. The opaque layer of the body can advantageously be a metallic layer, allowing, for example, the creation of a smart card with a metallic body whose module has a transparent or translucent window.

[0027] According to one embodiment, said body of the wearable object constitutes a smart card or security document body, and said module is an electronic smart card or security document module, provided with a dielectric substrate and a microelectronic chip fixed to the underside of the module substrate.

[0028] The invention also relates to a method for making a portable object as defined above, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting of: assembling a body composed of at least one lower layer of transparent material and at least one upper layer of opaque material; creating in the opaque layer of the body a cavity extending to the lower layer of transparent material; placing a layer of adhesive in an area of ​​said cavity; cutting a substrate and assembling a transparent window in the form of a transparent plug inserted into an opening of the substrate or a transparent disc fixed to the substrate to make a module; transferring said module with its window into said cavity; heating and pressing the module into the cavity.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the process further comprises steps consisting of: assembling on the module a metal plate having a security pattern cut by laser or by engraving in the metal plate; during heating and pressing of the module in the cavity, causing the material of the transparent cap or transparent disc to flow into the security pattern of the module.

[0030] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description provided by way of example in the application of the invention to a smart card, and the accompanying drawings in which: A cross-sectional view of the layers of a portable object having a transparent window, made according to a prior art method. A cross-sectional view of a portable object having a transparent window, according to a first embodiment of the invention. A cross-sectional view of a portable object having a transparent window, according to a second embodiment of the invention. A cross-sectional view of a portable object having a transparent window, according to a third embodiment of the invention. A cross-sectional view of a portable object having a transparent window, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.Figure 1 represents a cross-sectional view of a portable object equipped with a transparent window, according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Figures 7 to 9 represent additional embodiments of a portable object equipped with a window and according to the invention. Detailed description

[0031] A cross-sectional view of the layers of a wearable object with a multilayered body and a transparent window manufactured according to a prior art process is shown. Specifically, this wearable object is a passport data page, comprising a central layer A of transparent material, flanked on both sides by layers B of transparent polycarbonate, typically 100 micrometers thick, each topped by a layer C of white (and therefore opaque) polycarbonate approximately 30 micrometers thick. The outer layers C of white polycarbonate have a through-hole F that opens onto the transparent polycarbonate layers B, so that the stacking of the product's layers locally creates a transparent window.But as described above, the hot lamination of the layers causes the material from the two transparent layers B to flow into the openings F of the opaque layers C, which creates a transparent window, with the visual defects already mentioned: lack of flatness, bubbles, etc.

[0032] To remedy these problems, the invention proposes a radically different approach as illustrated in figures 2 to 9, namely the creation of a transparent window 7 in a separate module 10, which is then transferred into a cavity 8 of the body 2, and said cavity opens into a transparent layer 4 of the product, so that the continuity of the transparency of the window 7 is ensured throughout the body 2.

[0033] Figure 1 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a wearable object 1 according to the invention. This wearable object 1 consists of a body 2 and a module 10 attached and fixed in a cavity 8 of the body 2. In this first embodiment, the module 10 consists of a substrate 11 and a transparent or translucent cap 7a integrated into an opening in the substrate 11. The cross-section of the cap 7a in the plane of the substrate 11 can be of any shape: round, square, or other, depending on the shape of the transparent window to be obtained. The substrate 11 has an upper surface 11a and a lower surface 11b. It is made of a material whose thickness depends on the intended application, for example, on the order of one hundred micrometers if the module is intended for a smart card or a passport. The material used for the substrate can be opaque to light, as in the case shown, or translucent.

[0034] The body 2 of the wearable object 1 consists of a stack of layers, namely at least one layer 3 of opaque material and one layer 4 of transparent material. Layers 3 and 4 can be made of polycarbonate (PC), PET, or PVC. However, the opaque layer could alternatively be made of metal, which is often useful for manufacturing high-end smart cards.

[0035] Body 2 has a cavity 8, obtained in particular by machining. Cavity 8 has two zones: a first zone 8a with a depth denoted P1, and a second zone 8b with a depth denoted P2, greater than P1. It should be noted that the depth P2 is at least equal to the thickness of the opaque layer 3, so that the cavity 8 of the body opens into the transparent layer 4, which is necessary to create a through-window 7 in the product, from an optical point of view. In a version not shown, the depth P2 of the cavity can be equal to the thickness of body 2, which means that the cavity 8 will be through-window, passing through both the opaque layer 3 and the transparent layer 4. Once module 10 and body 2 have been prepared, they are assembled by transferring module 10 into cavity 8.To fix the module in the cavity, an adhesive 12a is used, in particular a heat-activated adhesive, called "HOTMELT" (registered trademark) in Anglo-Saxon terminology, placed between the periphery of the lower face 11b of the substrate, and the bottom of the area 8a of the cavity 8. As shown in, in order to reinforce the mechanical cohesion of the product and in particular its resistance to delamination, it may be useful to optionally interpose an adhesive 12b between the lower face of the transparent cap 7A and the bottom of the area 8b of the cavity 8 of the body 2.

[0036] The result of assembling the body 2 and the module 10 is a wearable object 1 with a transparent window 7 incorporating the transparent cap 7a, the optional transparent adhesive 12b, and the area of ​​the transparent layer 4 located opposite the transparent cap 7a. Given its design, this window 7 has very good visual quality, notably being free of bubbles. It constitutes, in itself, a simple security feature of the wearable object against counterfeiting. This security can be further enhanced by integrating additional security features within the thickness of the window 7 to form a complex window. These additional security features can be located, in particular, within the material of the cap 7a, or within the adhesive 12b, as will be described later.

[0037] Lare represents a variant embodiment of the invention, in which the transparent cap 7a of the is replaced by a transparent disc 7b located under the lower face 11b of the substrate 11. In this case, the opening of the substrate does not need to be adjusted to the circumference of the disc 7b, which facilitates the fabrication of the module 10. But a security motif 13 can be positioned in the opening of the substrate 11, for example in the form of an engraving integrated into a metal plate 16. This metal plate 16 can notably be constituted by the terminal block of the contacts when the portable object 1 is a smart card in the standardized format according to ISO 7816. This metal plate 16 is then provided with a motif, either by laser engraving, by chemical etching or by mechanical drilling, to create a motif passing through the plate, such as the salamander motif 13 shown in.After transferring this module 10 into the cavity 8 of the body 2, ambient light from the transparent rear face of the body 2 will be able to pass through the disc 7b and the cutout in the metal plate 16 of the module, thus visually highlighting the security pattern 13.

[0038] Lare represents a similar embodiment to that of the, except that the module 10 used is a module provided with a microelectronic chip 15 fixed on the lower face 11b of the substrate 11. In particular, this embodiment uses a transparent cap 7a for the creation of the window 7. In this case, the substrate 11 is preferably opaque, or else it is coated on its upper face 11a with a metal plate 16 capable of hiding the microelectronic chip 15.

[0039] Lare represents a similar embodiment to that of the, using a transparent pad 7b for the realization of the window 7. However, in this variant, the substrate 11 used is transparent or translucent, coated with a metal plate 16, and the module 10 has on its lower face a microelectronic chip 15. The transparency or translucency of the window 7 is ensured by the superposition of the transparent or translucent substrate 11, the transparent pad 7b, and the transparent layer 4 located under the pad 7b or under the transparent adhesive 12b.

[0040] Lare represents a similar embodiment to that of the, except that the substrate 11 is opaque and has an opening in which is positioned a plate 16 provided with a semi-transparent security motif 13, such as for example a logo cut through the plate 16.

[0041] Lare represents a similar embodiment to that of the, except that the upper face 11b of the substrate 11 is covered with a metal plate 16 having a relatively large opening located above the transparent pad 7b and incorporating the security motif 13, this opening being filled by a transparent protective layer 17.

[0042] Lare represents an embodiment in which a module 10 is constructed, comprising a substrate 11 and a transparent cap 7a. The module 10 has on its upper face a metal plate 16 incorporating a semi-transparent engraved or cut security feature 13. The layers of the module 10 are laminated together before the module 10 is assembled into the body 2, so that the material of the cap 7a, for example transparent polycarbonate, flows into the spaces of the security feature. Unlike the embodiment of Lare, assembling and pressing the components of the module 10 before inserting it into the body 2 avoids the need to deposit a protective layer 17 on the module, thus simplifying its manufacturing process. During the lamination of the components 11, 13, and 16 of the module, the material of the transparent cap 7a flows into the spaces of the security feature 13, which increases the mechanical strength of the module 10.All that remains is to transfer module 10 into cavity 8 of the body.

[0043] In embodiment A, module 10 is constructed without laminating its layers, and the transparent cap 7a is only laminated during the product assembly phase, so that the creep of a portion of the transparent cap 7a occurs during the final product assembly. This allows for a simpler manufacturing process for the module than in embodiment B, but postpones the creep step of cap 7a to the step of inserting module 10 into the body. Advantages of the invention

[0044] Ultimately, the invention achieves the intended goals and provides a portable object, such as a smart card or electronic passport, equipped with a high-quality transparent window that is easy to reliably and repeatably produce. The separate construction of a module with a window eliminates visual defects such as bubbles or other imperfections in the module's window, as the module's window is free from creep.

[0045] In addition, the module can exhibit a wide variety of structures depending on the intended applications, including an opaque or translucent substrate, a substrate with or without a microelectronic chip, metallic contacts, or special security features such as cutouts, logos or holograms.

[0046] Furthermore, the structure of the smart card according to the invention allows the continued use of existing manufacturing processes and equipment, enabling the formation of card bodies consisting of a stack of layers of plastic or even metallic material and a cavity in which a module, which may be electronic or not, is placed and fixed.

Claims

Portable object (1) comprising on the one hand a body (2) formed by a stack of different layers of material composed of at least one opaque layer (3) and at least one transparent layer (4), and on the other hand a separate module (10) provided with a substrate (11) and intended to be carried and fixed in a cavity (8) provided in said body (2), characterized in that it comprises a window (7) of transparent or translucent material forming an integral part of said module (10) and visible on both sides of the portable object (1). Portable object according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower face (5) of the opaque layer (3) is located opposite the upper face (6) of the transparent layer (4). Wearable object (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said cavity (8) of the body (2) has a first zone (8a) of depth P1 less than the thickness of the opaque layer (3) of the body (2) and a second zone (8b) of depth P2 greater than P1, and in that said window (7) of the module (10) extends into the first and second zones (8a, 8b) of the cavity (8) of the body (2) so as to be visible on each face of the wearable object (1). Portable object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substrate (11) of the module (10) has an upper face (11a) aligned with the upper face (3a) of the opaque layer (3) of the body (2), and an lower face (11b) fixed in the first area (8a) of the cavity (8) of the body (2) by means of an adhesive (12a). Portable object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the window (7) made of transparent or translucent material is fixed to the bottom of the second zone (8b) of the cavity (8) by means of a transparent or translucent adhesive (12b). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the depth P2 of the second zone (8b) of the cavity (8) is equal to the thickness of the body (2), so that the cavity (8) passes through the body (2) and the thickness of the window (7) of the module (10) corresponds to the thickness of the portable object (1). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said substrate (11) of the module (10) is made of an opaque material and in that said window (7) is a simple window devoid of a security motif and made in the form of a plug (7a) made of transparent or translucent material inserted into an opening of the substrate (11) and extending between the upper face (3a) of the opaque layer (3) of the body (2) and the bottom of the second zone (8b) of the cavity (8) of the body (2). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said substrate (11) of the module (10) is made of a transparent or translucent material without an opening, and in that said window (7) is a simple window without a safety motif and made in the form of a disc (7b) of transparent or translucent material fixed on the underside (11b) of the substrate (11) and extending to the bottom of the second zone (8b) of the cavity (8) of the body (2). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said module (10) comprises a complex window incorporating a semi-transparent security pattern (13) disposed on the window (7) or in the window (7) of the module (10). Portable object (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the substrate (11) of the module (10) contains a metallic area (16) and in that said security pattern (13) is a pattern cut into said metallic area (16) and located opposite a transparent cap (7a) or a transparent disc (7b). Portable object (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said module (10) is an electronic module whose substrate (11) has on its lower face (11b) a microelectronic chip (15) connected to electrical contacts integrated into a metallic area (16) and located on the upper face (11a) of the substrate (11) and / or connected to the terminals of an antenna located on the lower face (11b) of the substrate (11) or on the body (2). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a safety motif (13) consisting of an ultraviolet electroluminescent type adhesive (12b) for fixing a transparent cap (7a) or a transparent disc (7b) to the bottom of the second zone (8b) of the cavity (8) of the body (2). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it includes a security motif (13) consisting of the use of a hologram located in the window (7) of the module (10) or on the body (2) opposite the window (7). Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the safety motif (13) can be a subsistence of elements of the opaque layer (3) after machining of the cavity (8), forming an area in visual contrast with the transparent layer (4) of the body (2). Portable object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opaque layer (3) of the body (2) is a white layer of polycarbonate, PET or PVC or a metallic layer, and in that the transparent layer (4) of the body (2) is of transparent polycarbonate, PET or PVC. Portable object (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said body (2) constitutes a smart card or security document body, and in that said module (10) is an electronic module of a smart card or security document, provided with a dielectric substrate (11) and a microelectronic chip (15) fixed on the underside (11b) of the substrate (11) of the module (10). A method for making a wearable object (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: Assembling a body (2) composed of at least one lower layer (4) of transparent material and at least one upper layer (3) of opaque material; Providing in the opaque layer (3) of the body (2) a cavity (8) extending to the lower layer (4) of transparent material; Disposing of a layer of adhesive (12b) in said cavity (8); Cutting a substrate (11) and assembling a transparent window (7) in the form of a transparent cap (7a) or a transparent disc (7b) to make a module (10); Transferring said module (10) provided with a window into said cavity (8); Heating and pressing the module (10) into the cavity (8). Method according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises steps consisting of: Assembling on the module (10) a metal plate (16) having a security pattern (13) cut by laser or by engraving in the metal plate (16); During heating and pressing of the module (10) in the cavity (8), causing the material of the transparent stopper (7a) or the transparent disc (7b) to flow into the security pattern (13) of the module (10).

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