Contactless Metal Card Assembly to Prevent COM Chip Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing contactless metal cards face issues with chip damage and detachment due to physical contact during manufacturing, leading to durability problems and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A contactless-type metal card design that assembles the COM chip module in the final process, using a laminated structure with a metal body, rear and front sheets, and a pocket-milled part to couple the COM chip module, eliminating physical contact and reducing the risk of defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If physical contact connection method is used between combi COB and coil antenna, then manufacturing process is simpler, but durability and resistance to external stress deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoiddurability against external stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the physical contact connection between the coil antenna and COB, replacing it with a contactless coupling method. The coil antenna is positioned in close proximity to the COB without direct physical contact, eliminating the harmful mechanical connection while maintaining electromagnetic coupling for signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If coil antenna is designed for contactless COM, then durability is improved, but RF stability becomes harder to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidRF stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific localized structure where the coil antenna is positioned in close proximity to the COB. This localized arrangement ensures stable RF coupling while maintaining the overall contactless design, addressing the RF stability challenge through precise spatial configuration rather than changing the fundamental contactless principle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If punching to card size is performed at sheet level after final assembly, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but chip damage and antenna contact detachment occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidchip integrity and contact durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the coil antenna and COB in close proximity before the punching process. This preliminary configuration ensures that the contactless coupling is established before any mechanical stress from punching, preventing chip damage and contact detachment while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design completely prevents chip damage during manufacturing, enhances durability against external stress, and reduces manufacturing costs by utilizing existing equipment, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of contactless payment cards.

Implementation Method 1

an antenna 100 for transmitting/receiving information to/from an outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an opening part 230 insert molded-processed with synthetic resin so as to receive a portion of the COB 30 and the antenna 100

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

a rear sheet 300 manufactured into a shape corresponding to the metal body 200 so as to be lamination-coupled to a rear surface of the metal body 200; and a front sheet 400 corresponding to the rear sheet 300 and lamination-coupled to a front surface of the metal body 200

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4685694A2Contactless-type metal card and manufacturing method therefor
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 N ABLE CO LTD
  • EP4685694A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4685694A2 patent drawingFigure 2~3B
  • EP4685694A2 patent drawingFigure 3C~4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a metal card for implementing RF capability by applying a COM chip module, the metal card comprising: an antenna for transmitting/receiving information to/from the outside; a metal body for providing a space, an opening part, and a slit part, the space being for receiving the antenna, the opening part being insert molding-processed using a synthetic resin so as to receive a portion of a COM chip module, and the slit part being formed starting from the opening part and up to the end of the metal card; a rear sheet manufactured into a shape corresponding to the metal body so as to be lamination-coupled to the rear surface of the metal body; and a front sheet corresponding to the rear sheet and lamination-coupled to the front surface of the metal body, wherein the metal body, the rear sheet, and the front sheet are each coupled by being laminated, and after chamfered, a pocket-milled part is formed in the front sheet so as to correspond to the shape of the COM chip module, and the COM chip module is coupled to the pocket-milled part.