Slide-out Gift Card with Sliding Component for POS Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stored value cards with audio/visual effects are not compatible with all point of sale (POS) systems due to their abnormal thickness, limiting their use with swipe readers and smart chip cards.
Innovation Solution
A stored value card device with a housing designed to resemble a typical credit card in dimensions, incorporating an electronic device for producing audio/visual messages, including a magnetic stripe and a convertible card component that slides out for machine-readable financial data, allowing compatibility with both barcode and swipe readers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the card device includes electronic components for audio/visual messages, then the card provides enhanced gift-giving experience, but the thickness exceeds 1/4" making it incompatible with swipe readers
Solution Approach 1:
The card device is divided into two functional segments: a thin card body (0.03-0.06 inches) for POS compatibility and a separate housing containing electronic components. The card component slides within the housing, allowing the system to function as both a thin compatible card and an enhanced gift card when inserted into the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The card component is nested within the housing structure. The housing contains the card component in a slot, with the card able to slide in and out. This nesting allows the electronic components to be contained while maintaining a thin profile when the card is inserted into POS readers.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the card has a thickness greater than 1/4" to contain electronic parts, then audio/visual messages can be produced, but swipe readers cannot access card information
Solution Approach 1:
The card component is designed to be movable, sliding within the housing slot. This dynamic configuration allows the card to be inserted into POS readers for transactions, while the housing remains outside the reader. The card moves between being contained in the housing and being presented to the reader.
Solution Approach 2:
The card component acts as an intermediary between the electronic message system and the POS reader. It carries the necessary magnetic stripe or chip information for transactions while being physically separated from the bulky electronic components during the swiping operation.
3Ease of operation
If the card maintains normal thickness of 0.30 mil, then compatibility with swipe readers is achieved, but electronic components for messages cannot be contained
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional flat card to a three-dimensional structure with a housing that extends perpendicular to the card face. This additional dimension provides the necessary volume to contain electronic components while keeping the card portion itself thin for reader compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A stored value card device has a housing comprising an upper shell and a lower shell. The card device is dimensioned similar to typical credit cards and contains a circuitry for producing an audio/visual message in an inner space formed between the upper and lower shells, which are shaped like opposing trays. The two shells join together through a simple complementary engagement. A card component slides out from the bottom of the lower shell, which has two-tiered structure for mounting the card component. An electronic message device is retained in the cubic space of the housing which includes a power supply, a processing device, an audio and/or video player, and a switch triggered by a push button on the upper shell, thereby the stored value card device provides two independent operations as an electronic message player and as a convertible card in a thin profile at the same time.