DE102016004448A1 - Location information of a coil - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a chip card comprising a card body with a coil, wherein a position information is provided which describes the position of a coil within a chip card body. The present invention is further directed to a corresponding method for producing such a chip card together with a computer program, with control commands, which cause the proposed method.

Description

The present invention relates to a chip card comprising a card body with a coil, wherein a position information is provided which describes the position of a coil within a chip card body. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for producing such a chip card together with a computer program, with control commands, which cause the proposed method.

Are known chip cards, which have several components. So-called smart cards have a chip module and a coil. Such a coil is used for data communication, which is why the coil can also be referred to as an antenna coil. Furthermore, such a coil is typically suitable for supplying a built-in integrated circuit or a memory with electrical energy. For producing such a chip card, various methods are known, which provide that the coil is introduced into a card body or applied to a layer. This can be done for example by introducing the coil as Silberleitpaste. Further, according to conventional methods, it is possible to manufacture the smart card according to a film coating, wherein films are superimposed and then laminated together. This is typically done by separating the individual chip cards from the layer sheets.

According to the prior art, a separate production of a coil and a chip card body is typically carried out, which are joined together in a subsequent step. According to conventional methods, it is only by means of X-rays, ie X-ray, or cold light, that a position of the coil within a chip card can be detected. For coils made of aluminum, the X-ray can not be used. For mass testing during production both methods are not suitable. Thus, it often happens that the wrong inlays are installed, the inlays are out of tolerance, the inlays are installed upside down or the like.

This leads to faulty productions, since continuous process support without complex equipment, for example X-Ray or cold light, with image recognition and processing, is not possible.

There is therefore a need to propose a device or a method which permit quality management in such a way that it is possible to read from chip cards during or after a production process as to whether the coil is correctly installed in the chip card. Thus, even during the production process, a faulty installation of the coil could be detected and the production process can be changed accordingly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method or a corresponding chip card, which enable the reading of a position information of a coil within a chip card with simple technical means. It is a further object of the present invention to propose a corresponding computer program which initiates the method according to the invention.

This object is achieved by a chip card and a corresponding method for producing the chip card having the features of the independent claims. In the dependent claims advantageous refinements and developments of the invention are given.

Accordingly, a chip card is proposed, comprising a card body and a coil, wherein at least one outer edge of the card body has a position information of the coil.

The present invention is directed to a card-shaped data carrier, in particular a chip card or a smart card. This chip card has a card body with a coil, as they are already known. In this case, however, it is particularly advantageous for the chip card to have readable information which describes at which position the coil is located within the card body. This is done according to the invention by means of an optically readable feature, which provides a position information on an outer edge of the card body. A smart card typically has a longitudinal edge and a narrow edge. The outer edge, according to one aspect of the present invention, is the edge that gives the smart card a spatial depth. If chip cards are produced on the basis of laminated sheets, the outer edge of a chip card is formed only when the chip card is punched out of the sheets. Thus, the outer edge of the smart card may also be referred to as the side of the smart card.

A typical chip card has four outer edges, each of which is suitable for providing the position information according to the invention. The use of the outer edge as a carrier medium of the positional information is particularly suitable because it is thus possible to introduce the position information into a film, for example an inlay film, or into a layer of the card which is laminated with other layers. Thus, after a singulation of the chip card from a laminated sheet, the marked area of the layer carrying the position information becomes visible. Here is it is possible that not all location information is visible. If, for example, a bar is introduced as a position information in a layer of the chip card, only one point on the outer edge of the chip card can be recognized after a singulation of the chip cards. For example, if a triangle is introduced as a position information in a layer, it is possible that after the separation, for example, only the points of the two legs, for example, an isosceles triangle, are each recognizable. Thus, the outer edge of the card body has only a visible part of the position information.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the attitude information provides an indication of an outside dimension of the spool, a coil type, a spool orientation, and / or a distance of the spool from the outside edge. This has the advantage that, for example, an outer dimension of the coil is not covered by further layers, but that this outer dimension can be seen by means of dimensional points on the outer edge of the chip card. Based on the outer dimension of the coil can also be closed on a coil type. For example, there are half-size coils and full-size coils, which differ in their spatial extent on the chip card. Thus, it can be decided with the dimension information of the coil, whether a coil is only in the upper half of the chip card and thus there is a half-size coil or if the coil extends over the entire chip card and thus there is a full-size coil , It is also possible to determine a coil orientation by means of the position information, such that it is detected how around the coil is installed in the chip card. Furthermore, it is possible to determine by means of the position information also how far the distance of the coil to the outer edge of the chip card. So that the coil is not damaged, this should have a minimum distance from the outer edge of the chip card, which according to the invention can also be detected.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the position information is applied and / or introduced onto a coil inlay. This has the advantage that a coil inlay or an inlay foil, as they are already conventionally known, can be adapted according to the invention, such that the positional information is applied to the inlay foil. Thus, existing production processes can essentially continue unchanged. It is only necessary to attach the position information on a layer of the chip card.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the position information comprises at least one point, a dash and / or an isosceles triangle. This has the advantage that various geometric shapes are available and depending on what information is to be coded exactly the appropriate means can be selected. For example, the position information is introduced as a line in a layer of the chip card, which has a point after separating or separating at the outer edge. The skilled person is hereby known further geometric shapes, which can also be used for coding a position information use. Possible here would be in particular a circle or any shadowy figure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the position information is introduced by means of a color imprint, a laser or a manual marking. This has the advantage that the position information can be incorporated into a layer with a simple technical effort. A manual marking is here for example marking by means of a pen. Furthermore, a so-called extruder can be used, which punched out a recess or a cavity, which is then filled with colored material or powder. Furthermore, a powder or material can be used, which connects in a lamination process with the surrounding material. Thus, it is possible to produce the positional information by means of individual marking methods or a combination of several marking methods. These production methods typically relate to known films or layers of the chip card, which is adapted according to the invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the attitude information is presented as an isosceles triangle whose apex points to a coil edge. This has the advantage that the geometric properties of an isosceles triangle can be exploited in such a way that further information regarding the position of the coil can be coded with simple technical means. If the isosceles triangle is punctured by means of punching when the chip cards are singulated, then two marking points are located on the outside edge, which each indicate one limb of the isosceles triangle. Now, if the individual angles of the isosceles triangle are known, it can be determined exactly where the tip of the isosceles triangle is arranged on the chip card. Thus, the apex of the isosceles triangle serves as a pointer to the outer edge of the coil.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the two legs each generate a mark on the outer edge of the card body. This has the advantage that thus conclusions on the position of the isosceles triangle, so the position information can be drawn from the mark on the outer edge of the card. Furthermore, such a triangle is to be introduced into the chip card by simple technical means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the two markers provide an indication of a horizontal and vertical position of the coil with respect to the card body as well as a distance of the coil to the outer edge of the card body. This has the advantage that due to the apex of the isosceles triangle the horizontal position of the coil can be identified and due to the midpoint between the two markings the vertical orientation of the coil relative to the chip card can be determined. The horizontal orientation here is the orientation along the longitudinal edge, ie the longer edge of the chip card and the vertical orientation describes the orientation in the shorter length of the chip card, ie the narrow edge of the chip card. For example, a line can be drawn through the center of the two markings orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, ie parallel to the narrow edge of the chip card, which represents a vertical outer boundary of the coil. Furthermore, a line can be drawn parallel to the longitudinal axis through the apex of the triangle, which corresponds to a horizontal boundary of the coil.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least two marker pairs provide an indication of a location of the coil relative to the card body. This has the advantage that at a desired position of the coil with respect to the card body both spacer pairs have the same distance. If the coil lies obliquely in the card body, then two different distances of the spacer pairs result. Thus, further conclusions can be drawn on the positional position of the coil within the card body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the location information provides additional information by means of color coding. This has the advantage that certain colors can be assigned a certain semantic meaning and the position information can assume at least one of these colors. Thus, for example, in the isosceles triangle, the first leg can be configured in a first color and the second leg in a second color. Thus, for example, it can be said that a red position information provides an indication of a half-size coil. Since the location information may be in the form of a plurality of geometric shapes, each shape or part of the shape may be encoded in a different color. This results in an individual color pattern with a large selection of permutations, each permutation standing for a certain additional information. Thus, for example, manufacturer information or physical properties of the coil can be coded.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the position information is dependent on a reading device. This has the advantage that the position information can be configured such that, for example, an optical reading device can easily read out this position information. It is important to remember which sensors are operated by the reader. Thus, when choosing the specific embodiment of the position information on particularly high-resolution or particularly low-resolution sensors and their reaction time can be turned off. For example, smaller configurations of the position information are suitable for high-resolution, fast sensors. By contrast, low-resolution optical sensors require a larger configuration of the position information.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the position information is present in a non-visible spectral range. This has the advantage that the position information can be introduced, for example, with a color or a material which (s) is not visible to the human eye. Thus, the position information can be provided without affecting the visual appearance of the smart card. Particularly suitable for this are colors which are visible, for example in the infrared range by a corresponding sensor. In this case, further devices may be necessary which, for example, excite the position information in such a way that it provides a certain amount of radiation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one outer edge is colored. This has the advantage that, for example, the contrast between the position information and the surrounding outer edge can be increased. Furthermore, the optical appearance is thus freely adaptable.

The object is likewise achieved by a method for producing a chip card with position information comprising the steps of providing a coil inlay and laminating the coil inlay with further layers. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that the coil inlay has a position information of a coil, such that after a punching out of the chip card, an outer edge of a card body has the position information. Thus, conventional chip card production processes can continue to be performed and only need to be adjusted so that the position information of the reel on the Chip card or are introduced into the chip card body. In particular, the method is suitable for producing the chip card described. Thus, the inventive method is suitable to realize all the structural features of the chip card according to the invention. Thus, corresponding method steps according to the described structural features of the chip card are provided.

The object is further solved by a computer program with instructions which cause the method to be carried out. Furthermore, the computer program is suitable for reading out the corresponding chip card.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the present description of embodiments according to the invention and further alternative embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, which show:

1 FIG. 4: a section of a half-size arc with registration marks as a starting point for the smart card according to the present invention; FIG.

2 a section of a coil inlay with additional information marks or a position information on the geometric outer dimensions according to one aspect of the present invention;

3 the outer edge of the chip card with position information of the coil according to one aspect of the present invention; and

4 A smart card having location information which is presented as an isosceles triangle, according to an aspect of the present invention.

1 shows a conventional sheet with laminated layers, which has markings, so-called registration crosses or passport marks, which indicate where the outer edges of the respective chip cards are for dicing. It can be seen here that no information is provided as to how the coil is arranged inside the chip card body. In particular, it is in the present 1 around a schematic drawing, wherein in reality the actual position of the coil within the chip body is not apparent. This is the case because according to conventional methods, the coil is superimposed by further covering layers. It is also typically not possible to screen the chip card in such a way that the position of the coil becomes apparent. In addition, the markings are applied independently of the physical layout of the smart card. Thus, the registration marks can also be wrong, so that the chip cards are separated at the wrong position in the arc. It is thus advantageous to provide a smart card which provides the position information of a coil as it actually exists.

2 shows the chip card according to the invention with the corresponding position information. The location information may be referred to as additional brands, which in the present 2 are indicated by arrows. As on the right edge of the 2 is recognizable, these marks or this position information can not only indicate the position of a single coil, but these can also refer to several coils for the time being. Such a position information or the markers are typically only visible according to the invention when the cards are separated.

One possibility of additional markers are dashes that are applied to the coil inlay. These mark the outer dimensions. These marks can be printed, lasered, applied with a colored pencil / ballpoint pen, introduced into the carrier material with an extruder, punched out and then filled with a colored material.

3 shows a layer model of a smart card with the position information according to the invention. In an alternative embodiment it is also possible to use the layer model according to FIG 3 to consider as stacked chip cards, which each have a position information at the outer edge. If different bows are laminated into a single sheet and the card is punched out, color information is available at the outer edges. The individual brands shown can be quickly recognized via the outer edges of the chip cards, even if many chip cards are arranged side by side. The marker itself, however, is very small and does not stand out on a single card.

If the card edge is additionally colored, the customer of the card does not see this mark. In addition, an IR color can be used as the marker color. This is not visible with a human eye without aids. The brand or the position information can be easily recognized by optical recognition systems. In this example, the coils are partially offset from the map. Map 1 and 2 from the left in the present 3 are particularly noticeable here.

Instead of strokes, even isosceles triangles can be used.

4 shows such isosceles triangles as a representation of the attitude information. The tip of the triangle points to the spool edge. The horizontal and vertical position can now be determined via the two intersection points. The advantage of the isosceles triangles is that the distance between the points AA 'and BB', respectively, gives the distance from the edge of the card to the coil. If the coil inlay is at an angle to the map, the distances between the two routes A and B are different. In addition, this method can be used to determine the complete coil geometry from a cutting edge.

It is also possible to make the inlay as well as the coil type visible to the outside with the help of such markers. In this case, an additional mark can be applied to one side. It can be determined by the number of strokes or different color selection of the strokes, whether it is a symmetrical or asymmetrical coil or whether it is a coil with three or four turns.

The color coding can be used directly with the triangles, since with three colors and four lines already various permutations and a large coil variation can be coded. In addition, you can specify that, for example, A always takes black, and B 'always requires a color that is not black. Thus, a sheet is detected immediately when it is rotated by 180 °, which corresponds to a typical error pattern in an IDC card.

With the method according to the invention, the coil position can be reliably and mechanically recognized in a card. In addition, the coil type as well as the orientation can be determined in order to be able to recognize faulty inlays more quickly.

Thus, a smart card is proposed, which makes it possible to make a location information of the coil within the smart card with simple means readable. In particular, it is possible to continue the production process with only simple adjustments in a known form. For this purpose, the method according to the invention is particularly advantageous because known components continue to be used and typically only one layer has to be printed or marked in such a way that the position information is visible.

Claims (15)

Chip card having a card body with a coil, characterized in that at least one outer edge of the card body has a position information of the coil. Chip card according to claim 1, characterized in that the position information provides an indication of an outer dimension of the coil, a coil type, a coil orientation and / or a distance of the coil to the outer edge. Chip card according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the position information is applied to a coil inlay and / or introduced. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position information has at least one point, a dash and / or an isosceles triangle. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position information by means of printing, by means of lasers, manually introduced by means of an extruder, punched out and then filled with a colored material and / or colored material, which in a lamination process with the connecting material is made. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position information is present as an isosceles triangle whose tip points to a coil edge. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two legs each produce a mark on the outer edge of the card body. Chip card according to claim 7, characterized in that the two markings provide an indication of a horizontal and vertical position of the coil relative to the card body and to a distance of the coil to the outer edge of the card body. Chip card according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that at least two pairs of marks provide an indication of a position of the coil with respect to the card body. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position information by means of a color coding provides additional information. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one outer edge is colored. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an embodiment of the position information is carried out in dependence of a reading device. Chip card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Location information is present in a non-visible spectral range. A method for producing a smart card with positional information, comprising: - providing a coil inlay; and laminating the coil inlay with further layers, characterized in that the coil inlay has a positional information of a coil, such that after a punching out of the chipcard, an outer edge of a card body has the position information. Computer program with instructions which cause the method according to claim 14 to be carried out.

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