Rotating Multi-Chip Smart Card for Reader Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart cards typically have a single chip, limiting their ability to manage multiple accounts efficiently, requiring users to carry multiple cards and face challenges in alignment and battery life, leading to inefficient financial management and increased reliance on digital systems for categorization.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chip smart card with a rotating dial mechanism that allows users to select and align multiple micromodules with chip readers, incorporating indexing methods like physical, magnetic, and electrical, enabling real-time account selection and fraud protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single chip is used in a smart card, then the card structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to manage multiple accounts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The smart card is divided into multiple independent chip modules, each capable of managing separate accounts. The card body contains a card holder with multiple chip holders, allowing each chip to be independently positioned and engaged with the reader. This segmentation enables multiple accounts to be managed on a single card while maintaining relatively simple individual chip structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The card body and card holder are designed as universal structures that can accommodate and engage multiple different chip types. The rotating dial mechanism provides a universal interface for selecting among multiple chips, allowing the same card structure to manage various account types and functions through a single multi-functional design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple chips are placed on a card, then multiple accounts can be managed, but alignment with chip reader becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The card holder is designed to rotate about an axis, dynamically changing the position of chips relative to the reader. This rotation allows the user to align the correct chip with the reader's contact points. The dynamic positioning mechanism solves the alignment problem by enabling flexible repositioning of chips without requiring precise fixed positioning of all chips simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating dial acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the chip selection process. It provides tactile feedback through protrusions and recesses that guide proper alignment, and mechanically transfers the rotation motion to reposition the chips. This intermediary simplifies the alignment operation by providing a user-friendly interface rather than requiring direct manual manipulation of multiple chips.
3Ease of operation
If a rotating dial mechanism is added to select chips, then proper alignment can be obtained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating dial mechanism is merged with the card holder structure itself, rather than being a separate component. The dial is integrated into the card holder body, and the chip holders are positioned on the dial. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the alignment functionality. The mechanism combines selection, positioning, and engagement functions into a single integrated structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple chips are integrated into one card, then the need to carry multiple cards is eliminated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring all chips to be precisely positioned in fixed locations during manufacturing, the rotating mechanism allows chips to be positioned accurately only when needed. The card holder can be rotated to bring any chip into the precise engagement position with the reader. This dynamic approach reduces manufacturing precision requirements because not all chips need to be simultaneously aligned with high precision, only the active chip at any given time.
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple-chip smart card includes a card layer and a circular dial rotatably mounted within the card layer and a plurality of integrated circuits disposed on a surface of the dial such that rotation of the dial positions one integrated circuit for engagement with a chip reader.