Transaction Card Audio Circuit Pitch Transformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stored-value cards, such as gift cards, lack innovative features to enhance user engagement and encourage repeat purchases, relying primarily on monetary value and static design.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an audio circuit with transformative capabilities, allowing users to record, play, and alter audio files, including changing pitch, speed, and tone, within the card, along with a machine-readable account identifier for transaction purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stored-value cards use only monetary value and static design, then the card structure remains simple, but user engagement and appeal are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The transaction card integrates multiple functions including stored-value monetary balance, audio recording capability, audio playback capability, and pitch transformation functionality. The audio circuit enables the card to record, play, and transform audio files, while the processor manages these diverse functions. This multi-functionality significantly increases user engagement and appeal without requiring separate devices, effectively resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the card includes audio recording and playback capabilities, then user engagement increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the audio recording, playback, and pitch transformation functions into a single integrated audio circuit that is part of the transaction card. The audio circuit includes a microphone for recording, a speaker for playback, and processing capabilities for pitch transformation. By merging these functions into one circuit rather than using separate components, the design achieves enhanced audio functionality while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the card transforms audio pitch, then entertainment value increases, but the technical complexity of audio processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pitch transformation functionality works by changing parameters of the audio signal, specifically the frequency or pitch of recorded audio files. The audio circuit processes the recorded audio and transforms it to different pitches before playback. This parameter-based approach enables entertaining audio transformations while maintaining relatively simple technical implementation, as it involves modifying signal characteristics rather than complex audio synthesis or generation.
Data Source
AI summary
A transaction card includes an audio circuit, a housing, a switch, and an account identifier. The audio circuit is configured to capture an audio file and to transform a pitch of the audio file. The audio circuit includes a speaker configured to play the captured audio file as transformed by the audio circuit with a different pitch than the pitch originally captured for the audio file. The housing substantially encloses the audio circuit. The switch is movable by a bearer of the transaction card external to the housing. When the bearer interacts with the switch, the audio circuit is activated to transform the pitch of the audio file to the different pitch. The account identifier is fixedly coupled to the housing, and the account identifier links the transaction card to an account or record, wherein the account identifier is machine readable.