Data Carrier Flat Light Source Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable data carriers, such as chip cards and credit cards, require significant technical and financial resources to achieve a flat light source using light guides and optical diffusers, which are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light guide within the data carrier body to distribute light emitted by the light source uniformly across the surface, allowing for borderless illumination, and using a cover with passages for displaying symbols or images, with the light source and chip potentially powered via a contactless interface or independent antenna coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light guides and optical diffusers are used to achieve a planar light source, then uniform illumination across the data carrier surface is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source directly onto the data carrier substrate, eliminating the need for separate light guides and optical diffusers. The light-emitting diode is mounted directly on the circuit board within the data carrier, allowing light to emit uniformly across the surface without requiring complex light distribution components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the light source functionality directly into the data carrier structure by integrating the LED and its mounting infrastructure into the card body. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate light guide components and reduces overall system complexity while achieving planar light emission.
2Illumination intensity
If light guides and optical diffusers are used to achieve a planar light source, then uniform illumination across the data carrier surface is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive light guides and optical diffusers from the system by directly mounting the LED on the data carrier substrate. This extraction of unnecessary components significantly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the planar light source functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple, inexpensive LED component that can be directly mounted on the circuit board without requiring expensive optical components. This approach replaces costly light guides and diffusers with a straightforward, low-cost lighting solution.
3Device complexity
If point light sources like LEDs are used, then device complexity is reduced, but uniform planar illumination cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the LED to illuminate specific areas of the data carrier surface. The light emission is localized to where needed on the card, creating uniform illumination in those specific regions without requiring complex optical components to distribute light evenly across the entire surface.
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
Enables a planar light source with uniform illumination and enhanced security features, such as customizable luminous motifs and adjustable brightness, suitable for official documents, while reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide is arranged within the data carrier body to direct light emitted by the light source to areas of the data carrier where no light source is located
Implementation Method 2
The light source and the first chip are powered, for example, together via the contactless interface, which is preferably an antenna coil
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention discloses a portable data storage medium 2 having a contactless interface that is used for transmitting power and data between the data storage medium 2 and an external terminal, a first chip that is used for processing the data and that is supplied with power and data by the Contactless interface, wherein the data storage medium 2 comprises a body that is at least partially transparent at least on one surface, wherein the data storage medium 2 has a light source 6 that extends in two dimensions at least over a portion of the surface of the data storage medium 2 and emits light evenly or unevenly over the two-dimensional extent.