Microcircuit Card Removal via Segmented Carrier and Frangible Edges
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microcircuit cards, particularly in ID-000 format, are difficult to handle and remove from carrier cards due to their small size and secure bounding, which complicates their detachment and can lead to handling errors and uneven edges during removal.
Innovation Solution
A microcircuit card design with releasable connections, such as frangible lines of weakness along the edges, allows for easy detachment from a carrier card by applying a twisting force, using a milling tool with a mask to create precise cuts and gaps that prevent burrs and ensure accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the ID-000 card is bounded on all four sides by the carrier card to provide secure support, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier card is segmented into a first card body and a second card body that are separable from each other. The microcircuit card is initially bounded by the first card body for stable support, but the second card body can be removed to enable easy extraction of the microcircuit card. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both secure bounding during storage and easy removal when needed.
2Ease of manufacture
If the ID-000 card is made small to reduce material cost and printing area, then the manufacturing cost is improved, but the ease of handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The small ID-000 microcircuit card is nested within the larger ID-1 format carrier card. The carrier card provides a larger, easier-to-handle form factor for user interaction, while the microcircuit card itself remains small for cost-effective manufacturing. The nested structure allows the small card to benefit from the handling advantages of the larger carrier card.
3Ease of operation
If the microcircuit card is precut into the carrier card body to enable easy removal, then the ease of removal is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of precutting the microcircuit card from the carrier card body (which would require high cutting precision), the design segments the carrier card into two separable parts. The microcircuit card remains intact and precisely positioned within the first card body, while the second card body is designed to be easily separated. This approach maintains manufacturing precision requirements at acceptable levels while still enabling easy removal.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
A microcircuit card (2) and held within a carrier card (3), generally shown as (1), is bounded on all edges except one edge (10a) which is free. The free edge (10a) is substantially in alignment with an edge (7) of a carrier card (3). The microcircuit card and carrier card are held together by connections (12), which can be broken to release the microcircuit card (20) so it can be used independently of the carrier card. The position of the microcircuit card allows it to be easily and cleanly removed from the carrier card.