Transparent Transaction Card With Selective LED Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transaction cards expose users' payment account information, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access and fraud due to visible data that can be easily copied or photographed, especially with the prevalence of high-resolution cameras in public locations.
Innovation Solution
A transaction card with a luminous layer and an LED light source that selectively illuminates sensitive information components, allowing users to reveal their account data only when needed, using a switch to activate the light source and refract light through the information for visibility, making the card appear transparent and secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sensitive information is printed or stamped on the card to facilitate payment, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to visible data that can be easily copied or photographed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the sensitive information in a luminous layer that is prepared in advance but remains invisible until activated. The information is pre-positioned on the card using printing, stamping, or other formation methods, but its visibility is controlled by a subsequent activation step using an external light source, thereby preparing the information for use while maintaining security until the moment of transaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optical properties to change the visibility state of the sensitive information. By using a luminous layer that refracts or absorbs light under normal conditions and becomes transparent or emissive when illuminated by a specific light source, the information transitions from an invisible state to a visible state, enabling selective disclosure of sensitive data.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the card uses a transparent luminous layer with embedded information, then security is improved by hiding data, but ease of operation is worsened because information is not visible when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external light source as an intermediary element that mediates between the secure hidden state and the visible state of the sensitive information. This light source, which can be provided by the cardholder device or an external device, activates the luminous layer to reveal the embedded information, thereby enabling visibility on demand without compromising the security of the hidden state.
3Illumination intensity
If the LED light source illuminates the entire card, then visibility is improved, but manufacturing precision is worsened due to difficulty in controlling selective illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring the LED light source and luminous layer such that illumination is concentrated on specific regions containing sensitive information rather than uniformly across the entire card. The light source can be positioned to target particular areas, and the luminous layer can be designed with varying optical properties in different regions, enabling selective illumination that improves visibility where needed while simplifying manufacturing control.
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 secures users' payment account information by rendering it invisible until actuated, preventing unauthorized capture and facilitating secure transactions, especially in low-light environments, while also providing external light sources for visibility as needed.
Implementation Method 1
an LED light source to selectively illuminate the sensitive information component such that the sensitive information component refracts light from the LED light source to reveal the sensitive information component
Data Source
AI summary
A transaction card is provided. The transaction card can include a luminous layer having a sensitive information component. The sensitive information component includes personal account data and can be selectively illuminated by a light source by refracting light emitted by the light source. A switch and power source are provided to selectively energize the light source.