Ceramic Transaction Card Body for Durability and RF Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional transaction cards made from thermoplastic materials are prone to degradation due to environmental factors and lack durability, while metal cards face issues like electrostatic discharge and interference with radio frequency radiation.

Innovation Solution

A transaction card with a monolithic ceramic body, including pockets for components like magnetic stripes and microchips, and a substrate layer with ceramic coatings to enhance durability and prevent counterfeiting, while avoiding the drawbacks of metal cards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional thermoplastic materials (PVC, PET) are used for transaction cards, then manufacturing is easy and cost is low, but durability is poor and environmental resistance is weak

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite material structures where a ceramic layer is applied over a substrate layer (PVC, PET, or metal). This combines the durability and environmental resistance of ceramic with the ease of manufacturing and flexibility of thermoplastic substrates, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If metal materials are used for premium transaction cards, then durability is enhanced and premium feel is achieved, but electrostatic discharge occurs and radio frequency interference is caused

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidelectrostatic discharge and radio frequency interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful properties (electrostatic discharge and radio frequency interference) by removing the metal component entirely and replacing it with non-metallic ceramic and substrate materials, while retaining the durability and premium feel through the ceramic surface layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameters from conductive metal to non-conductive ceramic and substrate materials, fundamentally altering the electrical properties to eliminate electrostatic discharge and radio frequency interference while maintaining mechanical durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional plastic cards are used, then manufacturing is simple, but resistance to environmental degradation (sunlight, moisture) is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental degradation resistanceVSAvoidcard structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing environmental protection specifically where needed - the ceramic layer is applied to the surface layers that are exposed to environmental factors (sunlight, moisture), while the substrate layer provides structural support. This localized approach protects against degradation without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3822861A1Ceramic-containing and ceramic composite transaction cards
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 COMPOSECURE LLC
  • EP3822861A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3822861A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3822861A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A transaction card includes a monolithic ceramic card body having one or more pockets, and at least one of a magnetic stripe, a barcode, and a laser signature portion. The one or more pockets may be configured to receive at least one of the magnetic stripe, the barcode, a contact chip module, a contactless chip module, a dual interface chip module, a booster antenna, a hologram or commercial indicia. A transaction card may also include a substrate layer having a first side and a second side. A first ceramic layer is connected to the first side of the substrate layer.