Transaction Card Tactile Elements Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transaction cards often require correct orientation for magnetic stripe or chip readers, which can be difficult for individuals with visual impairments and may lead to inefficient resource usage and prolonged transaction times, especially when multiple cards are stored together.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating tactile elements on the magnetic stripe that are raised relative to the surface, providing a design configuration to indicate the card's attribute, facilitating correct orientation and differentiation between cards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If transaction cards are stored together in a wallet or purse, then card storage capacity increases, but it becomes difficult for individuals with visual impairments to identify the correct card orientation and location of magnetic stripe or chip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of cards storedVSAvoidease of identifying card orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces tactile elements that protrude from the card surface, adding a third dimension (height) to the card design. This allows visually impaired individuals to identify card orientation and magnetic stripe location through touch, resolving the contradiction between storing multiple cards and ease of identifying card orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If individuals attempt to use transaction cards without tactile guidance, then card processing speed may be maintained, but computing resources and power resources are wasted due to multiple improper orientation attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoidcomputing and power resources wasted

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The tactile elements are pre-configured on the card surface to indicate the correct orientation and magnetic stripe location before the card is inserted into the reader. This preliminary guidance prevents multiple improper insertion attempts, reducing wasted computing and power resources while maintaining transaction processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If tactile elements are added to indicate card orientation, then ease of operation for visually impaired individuals improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of identifying magnetic stripe locationVSAvoidstructural complexity of card

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tactile elements are strategically placed only in specific locations where orientation guidance is needed (near the magnetic stripe and chip), rather than covering the entire card surface. This localized approach improves ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12093764B2Transaction card with tactile elements

Publication Date: 2024.09.17 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

In some implementations, a transaction card may include a card body, a magnetic stripe connected to the card body at a magnetic stripe region of the card body, and a tactile element at the magnetic stripe region of the card body.