Multi-chip Card with Sliding Sub-cards for Function Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart cards can only accommodate a limited number of integrated circuits and require orientation changes to access different functions, limiting their versatility and functionality without modifying the reading system.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chip card design featuring a card body with a cutaway portion and slideable sub-cards, allowing multiple integrated circuit chips to be mounted and easily swapped, enabling more than four separate functions on a single card without requiring changes to the card reader.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple integrated circuits are embedded on a single card, then the card's functionality and versatility are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card is divided into multiple independent sub-cards, each containing a single integrated circuit with specific functionality. These sub-cards can be independently manufactured, tested, and replaced. The card body provides a common platform with contact areas that can interface with any of the sub-cards, allowing the system to maintain modularity while supporting multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The card body is designed with universal contact areas and mounting structures that can accommodate different types of sub-cards with various integrated circuits. This universal design allows a single card body to support multiple functions by simply changing the sub-card, without requiring different card bodies for different functionalities.
2Ease of manufacture
If the card uses a fixed layout of integrated circuits, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the adaptability to different functions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The card transitions from a fixed layout to a dynamic configuration where sub-cards can be moved, swapped, and repositioned on the card body. The card body includes movable mounting structures and contact areas that can adapt to different sub-card positions. This dynamic design allows the same physical card to serve different functions by changing which sub-card is active, while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process for each individual sub-card.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the card reader system is modified to support multiple integrated circuits, then the card's versatility is improved, but the cost and complexity of the reading system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The card itself provides the adaptability and function selection capability through its modular sub-card design. The card body and sub-cards work together to present different functional interfaces to the card reader without requiring the reader to have complex switching or configuration capabilities. The card 'services' the versatility function internally, keeping the reader simple.
4Adaptability or versatility
If more than four integrated circuits are placed on a card, then the card's versatility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the card into separate sub-cards with distinct functions, the system can accommodate more than four integrated circuits while maintaining operational simplicity. Each sub-card represents a discrete functional unit that can be independently selected and replaced, making the card easier to operate despite having multiple functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-card chip. A method for configuring the multi-chip card according to an embodiment includes: selecting a sub-card comprising an integrated circuit chip from a plurality of sub-cards on the multi-chip card; and displacing the selected sub-card from an inactive position on the multi-chip card to an active position on the multi-chip card.