Payment Instrument with Auxiliary Chips for Immediate Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing process of acquiring or replacing payment instruments like debit, credit, or gift cards is inefficient due to a wait period during which customers do not possess the card, leading to customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue.

Innovation Solution

A 3D printer integrated with an ATM is used to print and activate payment instruments, utilizing supplementary chips and near-field communication (NFC) sensors to verify the placement of these chips within the card, allowing for immediate activation and support of financial transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a customer places an electronic or in-person request for a payment instrument to be fabricated at a remote location and delivered by mail, then the payment instrument can be securely produced and delivered, but the customer experiences a wait period during which they do not possess the card, leading to customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure production and deliveryVSAvoidwait period

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the payment instrument into multiple functional components: a primary chip for basic transactions and auxiliary chips for enhanced security and authentication. This segmentation allows the card to be printed locally and activated securely through distributed authentication, eliminating the need for centralized fabrication while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables customers to print their own payment instruments using locally available 3D printers. The self-service mechanism allows customers to obtain payment instruments immediately without waiting for remote fabrication and mail delivery, while the auxiliary chips provide self-contained authentication capabilities that ensure security without requiring centralized processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If a 3D printer is used to print a payment instrument with auxiliary chips, then the customer can obtain the card immediately without waiting, but new security challenges arise that require verification of chip placement and authentication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewait periodVSAvoidchip placement verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ATM incorporates sensors that detect the presence and placement of auxiliary chips in the payment instrument. This feedback mechanism verifies that the chips are correctly positioned before activation, ensuring security without requiring complex manual verification processes. The system automatically confirms proper chip placement through sensor detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual or complex mechanical verification of chip placement with sensor-based detection systems. The ATM uses sensors to automatically detect and verify the presence and position of auxiliary chips, substituting complex mechanical verification processes with simpler, more reliable electronic detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If auxiliary chips are positioned inside the payment card for authentication, then secure activation at an ATM is enabled, but the card reader requires multiple sensors positioned on different walls to detect NFC signals from each chip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidsensor positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary chips are designed to communicate using the universal NFC protocol, allowing them to be detected by standard NFC sensors in the ATM. This universality enables multiple chips to be authenticated using the same communication protocol, simplifying the sensor requirements compared to if each chip required specialized detection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary chips are positioned within the thickness of the payment instrument, nesting multiple functional elements within the same physical object. This nesting allows the card to contain multiple chips that can be detected by sensors positioned on different walls of the card reader, with each sensor detecting signals from chips at different positions within the card's thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This solution enables customers to quickly obtain and activate payment instruments, reducing wait times and associated dissatisfaction, while ensuring secure and efficient transaction processing.

Implementation Method 1

Each of the first, second and third sensors may be configured to detect near-field communication ('NFC') protocol signals and to register a strength of the NFC signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-field communication (NFC): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11521197B2Payment instrument including primary and auxiliary chips

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 BANK OF AMERICA CORP

AI summary

Apparatus and methods for a payment instrument are provided. The apparatus may include a primary chip positioned on an outer face of the payment instrument and a power source. The apparatus may include a first supplementary chip, a second supplementary chip, and a third supplementary chip. Each of the first, second and third supplementary chips may be positioned within a thickness of the payment instrument and configured to draw power from the power source.