Smart Card Colored Layer Camouflage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The visibility of electronic modules through card bodies in high-end smart cards is a marketing concern, as traditional light-colored Epoxy Mold Compounds (EMCs) are expensive and difficult to implement, and applying a personalization layer is not feasible due to security constraints.
Innovation Solution
A colored layer, identical in color to the card body, is applied between the electronic module and the card body's cavity, produced by printing an opaque ink, which reduces the visibility of the electronic module by camouflaging the protective resin's dark color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If light-colored EMC is used to make the electronic module invisible through the card, then the visibility problem is solved, but the production cost increases and the mold cleaning frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the coloring function from the EMC material itself and separates it into a distinct colored layer applied to the card body. This allows the card body to be colored to match the EMC without requiring expensive light-colored EMC materials, thereby solving the visibility problem while avoiding the high costs and mold cleaning issues associated with light-colored EMCs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a colored layer as an intermediary element between the card body and the electronic module. This colored layer acts as a visual mediator that camouflages the dark-colored EMC by matching the card body color, thereby hiding the electronic module without requiring changes to the EMC material itself or the mold
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a personalization layer is applied on the back of the card to hide the electronic module, then the visibility problem is solved, but the security constraint is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the colored layer locally to specific areas of the card body where visibility of the electronic module is a concern, rather than applying an opaque personalization layer across the entire back of the card. This localized approach maintains the transparency of the security layer while still achieving the camouflage effect in the necessary areas
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a colored layer is applied on the card body to camouflage the electronic module, then the visibility problem is solved, but the production process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the colored layer application step with the existing card body manufacturing process, integrating it into the lamination sequence between the card body and the electronic module. This integration allows the colored layer to be applied without significantly increasing production process complexity, as it becomes part of the standard assembly workflow
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
The solution effectively conceals the electronic module's presence through the card body while minimizing production time and costs by integrating the colored layer application into the encapsulation process, ensuring the module's invisibility without significant production disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
produced by printing an opaque ink, which reduces the visibility of the electronic module by camouflaging the protective resin's dark color
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a smart card comprising a card body (15) and an electronic module (1) placed within a recess (17) of the card body (15) and further comprising at least one coloured layer (13) placed between the electronic module (1) and the bottom of the recess (17) of the card body (15).