Card-Shaped Data Carrier With Integrated Light Source

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Solution Overview

Problem

Card-shaped data carriers, such as chip cards, face challenges in visually highlighting graphical elements effectively, especially under unfavorable lighting conditions, and in achieving a durable and attractive design.

Innovation Solution

A card-shaped data carrier with a light source integrated within the plastic card body, utilizing a light-collecting sheet that converts incident light into secondary light, which is then transferred to graphical elements, ensuring clear visibility and a high-quality appearance. The light source can be powered by an internal energy storage device or contactless energy transmission, and the card body can have varying optical properties to enhance brightness and contrast.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light source is integrated within the card body to illuminate graphical elements, then visual highlighting and visibility are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual highlighting of graphical elementVSAvoidstructure of card body

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is integrated within a cavity in the card body, nested within the overall card structure. The shaped body formed by plastic material is also nested within the card body, creating a compact integrated design that illuminates the graphical element without adding external components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A shaped body formed by plastic material acts as an intermediary between the light source and the graphical element. This shaped body converts incident light into secondary light and transfers it to the graphical element, enabling effective illumination while simplifying the overall structure compared to direct light source placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If fluorescent coloring agents are added to the card body to create light effects, then visual appeal and security features are improved, but manufacturing precision and material purity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight effect for security checksVSAvoiduniformity of fluorescent distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding fluorescent coloring agents throughout the entire card body, the invention applies the light-collecting plastic material with fluorescent properties locally to specific areas where graphical elements need highlighting. This localized application reduces manufacturing complexity and improves uniformity of fluorescent distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structure combining plastic material with fluorescent coloring agents to create a light-collecting sheet. This composite material integrates the light-collecting function and fluorescent properties in a single component, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining visual appeal and security features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If high-energy beams are used to personalize luminescent authenticity marks, then security and durability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and equipment requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthenticity mark durabilityVSAvoidpersonalization process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameters of the personalization process by using a laser beam with controlled energy levels to selectively modify the fluorescent properties of the light-collecting plastic material. This approach achieves durable authenticity marks while simplifying the manufacturing process compared to high-energy beam methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for clear visual highlighting of graphical elements even in poor lighting, providing a durable and aesthetically appealing card with high efficiency and contrast, ensuring the graphical elements remain visible and distinct.

Implementation Method 1

The card body has a plastic material for converting incident light into secondary light and for transferring the secondary light within the plastic material to the graphical element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

the light source is preferably formed as a light-emitting diode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS9579921B2Card-shaped data carrier

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT EPAYMENTS GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a card-shaped data carrier (1) comprising a card body (2) provided with a graphical element (6) displayed thereon. The card body (2) is made of a plastic material for converting irradiated light into secondary light and for retransmitting the secondary light within the plastic material to the graphical element (6) or to a portion of the graphical element (6). The inventive card-shaped data carrier (1) is characterized in that the card body (2) is provided with a light source (18) for irradiating light into a shaped body (12) formed by the plastic material.