Color Changing Payment Card RFID Status Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often are unaware of their proximity to the spending limit on payment cards, leading to potential overspending.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a credit or debit card includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, a power source, and color-producing components that change color based on an electric current controlled by the RFID device, triggered by specific radio frequency signals from a mobile device, indicating the card's account status through colors like green, yellow, and red.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a payment card displays spending limit information, then user awareness of account status is improved, but the card design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-changing components that display different colors (e.g., green, yellow, red) to indicate different account status levels. This visual indication system provides immediate feedback to users about their spending proximity to limits without requiring complex displays or interfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between information visibility and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electronic display systems with color-producing components that can be integrated into the card structure. This substitution uses optical properties rather than complex mechanical or digital display mechanisms, maintaining card simplicity while providing visual information feedback
2Ease of operation
If the card includes multiple components for color indication, then the visual feedback capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (RFID device, power source, switching components, and color-producing components) into a single integrated card structure. This merging approach allows all components to be manufactured and assembled together as one unit, simplifying the manufacturing process despite the multiple functions required for visual feedback
3Measurement precision
If the card uses radio frequency signals to control color display, then the account status indication accuracy is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic radio frequency signals to trigger color changes only when needed (i.e., when account status changes or when queried by a mobile device). This periodic activation rather than continuous operation reduces energy consumption while maintaining precise account status indication when required
Solution Approach 2:
The card's RFID component automatically detects and responds to radio frequency signals from mobile devices, enabling the card to self-activate the color display function without requiring external power sources or continuous energy input. The card uses the energy from the received RF signals itself to power the display components
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
Provides a visual indication on the card of the account status, helping users manage their spending limits effectively and avoid overspending by displaying different colors corresponding to the balance relative to the limit.
Implementation Method 1
receiving, by a radio frequency identification component on the credit card, a radio frequency signal from a mobile electronic device
Implementation Method 2
producing a color in the one or more connected wires or foil strips, the color being dependent on an electrical resistance of each of the connected wires or foil strips
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving, on an electronic payment device, a radio frequency signal from a mobile electronic device. The radio frequency signal is used to control an activation of an electric current to one or more color producing components on the electronic payment device. The electric current is transmitted to the one or more color producing components. The one or more color producing components display a color when the electric current is transmitted to the color producing components.