ES2360955T3 - METHOD FOR REDUCING THE ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) OF INSULATING DRIVERS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic card (100) comprising: a non-conductive plastic vehicle and a holographic magnetic strip (120), in the non-conductive plastic vehicle, in which the holographic magnetic strip (120) comprises a magnetic layer, a layer embossed with a holographic pattern embossed in its interior to provide a holographic image, and a conductive layer (110) of a reflective metal in the holographic pattern and conforming thereto to enhance the visibility of the holographic image; wherein the conductive layer (110) comprises a plurality of sections (140) electrically isolated from each other by the recesses (130) to distort a conduction path for the triboelectric charges so that a triboelectric charge accumulated in one of the Sections do not combine with a triboelectric charge accumulated in another section when the card slides through or is inserted into a magnetic reader.

Description

Background of the invention

Electrostatic discharge can be accumulated or maintained in an insulator by many methods. A common method is through the triboelectric generation of the charge by moving two different materials in contact with each other. As shown in Figure 1, the opposite charges (Positive + and Negative - charges) can accumulate in each material depending on their ability to donate or capture electrons and are released due to the frictional forces generated during the movement of a material against the other. The charge that accumulates on any material is called static charge (does not move) or electrostatic charge. This remains on the material for some period of time depending on the environment with which the material is in contact during the period of load maintenance. If the insulator that holds the charge comes into contact with a conductive material, the stored electrostatic charge can induce a load on the conductor that can be discharged by the conductor and eventually driven to ground.

The process of discharging the stored electrical charge is called electrostatic discharge (ESD). When an insulator carries or contains a metallic conductor, the electrical charge stored in the insulator induces an equal and opposite charge on the conductor. Induced loads and / or charges directly deposited on the conductor can be conducted through the conductor into another body or to ground. If the charged insulator, which contains the conductor, is introduced inside or passed near an electronic device, these induced loads on the conductor can be transferred inside or to the electronic device and cause the interruption of the functions of the electronic device or nearby electronic devices .

Electrostatic discharge in an electronic device can occur in a variety of ways, for example, when a compact disc (CDI) is inserted into a computer, and a key is inserted into an electronic lock, or a plastic card containing a component driver in a Point of Sale Terminal (POS). The amount of interruptions (ie functional interruptions) caused by the ESD within the electronic device depends on how the electrical energy of such ESD is handled by the electronic device. In many cases, the manufacturer or the electronic device takes the potential ESD into consideration and designs the electronic device so that the ESD will not actually or potentially interrupt the operation of the electronic device. However, there are electronic devices that require a direct introduction of an insulator that carries a conductive component directly into the device (such as a CD) as part of the functionality of the device. In many cases, the ESD can find its trajectory within the sensitive components of the electronic device. Manufacturers use the special circuit design and grounding techniques to direct the ESD's energy away from the sensitive components of the electronic device. However, certain electronic devices on the market are not properly designed to effectively deal with ESD and have low tolerance to ESD. If the ESD power is not channeled properly, then it may interrupt the operation of the electronic device.

Therefore, the present invention proceeds after the desire to eliminate or reduce the amount of ESD energy that an insulator carrying a conductive component can discharge to an electronic device, minimizing

or thus avoiding any operational or functional interruption of the electronic device.

Document D1 (JP-A-63-308740) discloses an optical card comprising a transparent conductive layer designed to prevent the generation of a static charge on the surface of a magnetic card that can lead to the accumulation of dust on the surface of the card.

Summary of the invention

One method of the present invention is to eliminate or reduce the amount of electrostatic charge transported or stored in a conductive component of an insulating device that interferes with electronic devices, people or objects.

Another object of the present invention is to fragment the conductive component or components of an insulating device such that the amount of electrostatic charges stored and the conduction of the electrostatic charge stored in the conductive component is blocked or greatly reduced from downloading on an electronic device or any other download path.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the resistance of the conductive layer (or metal) on the non-conductive vehicle is increased by interrupting the conductivity path. Physical interruptions are introduced into the conductive layer by removing portions of the conductive layer or by the selective application of a conductive layer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a non-conductive vehicle comprises a conductive component that is fragmented into a plurality of sections to interrupt the driving path of the conductive component. Each section is isolated from other sections in order to maximize an accumulated charge in the section from the combination with the accumulated charge in another section, thus minimizing any electrostatic charge potential. Alternatively, each section is isolated from the other sections in such a way that with the accumulated charge in the section it may not be combined with the accumulated load in another section, thus minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge of the driver component of the vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of reducing electrostatic discharge from a conductive load in a non-conductive vehicle comprises the steps of fragmenting the conductive layer into a plurality of sections to interrupt the conduction path of the layer. conductive; and isolating each section from other sections such that a charge accumulated in one section may not be combined with the charge accumulated in another section, thereby minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge of the vehicle's driver component. Alternatively, each section is isolated from the other sections in order to minimize a charge accumulated in one section from the combination with the charge accumulated in another section, thus minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of reducing electrostatic discharge from a conductive layer in a non-conductive vehicle comprises the steps of forming a fragmented conductive layer comprising a plurality of sections to interrupt the conduction path of the conductive layer; and isolating each section from the other sections such that a charge accumulated in one section may not be combined with the charge accumulated in another section, thereby minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge of the metal component of the vehicle. Alternatively, each section that is isolated from the other sections in order to minimize a charge accumulated in another section from the combination with the charge accumulated in another section, thus minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a metallized article is divided into a plurality of actions to interrupt the conduction path of the metallized article. Each section is isolated from the other sections in order to minimize that a charge accumulated in one section is combined with the charge accumulated in another section, thereby minimizing any potential electrostatic discharge. Preferably, the metallized article comprises a non-conductive reinforcing support, which is an integral part of the metallized article.

Various other objects and advantages and features of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly emphasized in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The following is a detailed description, given by way of example, and which is not intended to limit the present invention only thereto, will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the triboelectric charges generated in an exemplary conductive layer in a non-conductive vehicle, such as a metallic / conductive magnetic strip on a PVC card, when the card slides into the reader;

Figures 2A-B are schematic diagrams of the holographic magnetic strip on a substrate, such as a non-conductive / insulating PVC card, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary electrostatic discharge from the exemplary conductive layer in a non-conductive vehicle to an electronic device;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a non-exemplary generation of additional triboelectric charges in an exemplary conductive layer in a non-conductive vehicle from the human finger holding the card;

Figures 5A-B are schematic diagrams illustrating the exemplary conductive layer by dividing into sections according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6A-B are schematic diagrams illustrating the process of dividing the exemplary conductive layer into sections according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the reduction or elimination of electrostatic discharge from the exemplary conductive layer by dividing the exemplary conductive layer into two examples of reduced metal sections (the linear pattern on the left and the dotted pattern on the right) of according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the exemplary conductive layer divided into two sections according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 9A-B are schematic diagrams showing the demetalization process for dividing the conductive layer into sections according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 10 is a diagram showing a linear demetalization of a metallized film according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 is a diagram showing a demetalization of the magnified dotted pattern of a metallized film according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Y

Figures 12-13 are diagrams of an exemplary paper or plastic bill with metallic holographic thread (or ribbon) and a metallic holographic patch.

Detailed description of the achievements

There are many examples of insulating devices that carry conductive components that can be charged and then downloaded to an electronic device. The inventive method can be applied to reduce or eliminate ESD from a conductive component 110 in an insulator 100. Referring now to Figure 1, the inventive method is described by applying to a polyvinyl chloride (insulating) plastic card (PVC) ) 100 with a magnetic strip coated with a metal conductor (metal component) 110 to reduce or eliminate ESD from a metal component 110 in an insulator 100. A PVC plastic card 100 carrying a metallized magnetic strip ( "Mag stripe") 110 is inserted into a magnetic stripe card reader 200, such as a point of sale (POS) terminal 200, in which the ESD 300 of the metallized magnetic strip 110 in the POS terminal 200 can interrupt the operation of the POS terminal 200. The following descriptions describe how a conductor or conductive layer 110 in a non-conductive vehicle 100 can maintain the charge that can interrupt electr devices Sonic 200 and charged driver 110 and non-driver vehicle 100 are inserted or placed in contact with an electronic device 200.

100 plastic cards, such as credit cards, ATM cards, corporate cards, transit cards, phone cards, purchase cards, gift cards and debit cards, are typically made of PVC plastic, which They can be triboelectric. The triboelectric property of PVC produces an electric charge when rubbed against another plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Magnetic stripe readers (MSR) 210 on POS 200 terminals are often made of ABS plastic. When the PVC card 100 slides on the MSR 210, a triboelectric charge can develop between the ABS and the PVC card 100. The PVC card 100 is left with a positive or negative charge and the MSR body is left with a positive or negative charge equal and opposite. An example of such an accumulation of the triboelectric charges from the frictional force of the sliding of the card 100 is shown in Figure 1, in which the negative triboelectric charges accumulated in the ABS plastic of the magnetic sliding area of the MSR 210. The electric field lines 215 generated by the triboelectric charges in the magnetic slip area of the MSR 210 induce a positive charge on the upper edge of the metallized magnetic strip 110 and an opposite negative charge on the lower edge of the metallized magnetic strip 110.

The electrical charge developed on the card 100, as it moves through the MSR 210, can reach voltages in excess of 1,000 to 3,000 volts above the 14.3 square inches (9226 mm2) of the surface area (front and rear surface area of the card) of the plastic card with standard ISO specification. This has been shown to have a total charge on the card 100 of up to 2-3 nano-coulomb which results in a capacitance of 1-3 picofarads on the PVC card 100. The PVC card 100 and the metallic magnetic strip 110 act as a capacitor and can discharge that stored charge to a current with low impedance discharged to ground when an opportunity is given. Such an opportunity may occur when the metallized magnetic strip 110 of the PVC card 100 finds the magnetic metal reading head 220 in the MSR 210 as shown in Figure 1.

The metal reading head 220 consists of a metal housing and a metal core that can capture the magnetic flux that emanates from the encoded magnetic strip 110 and that can convert that captured magnetic flux into electrical pulses. When the time that varies the magnetic flux of the magnetic strip 110 reaches the reading coil of the metal core of the reading head 220, the changes in the magnetic flux are converted into electrical signals by the reading bovine, which can be decoded by microcircuits in solid state in the reading circuits of the MSR 210 or mother circuit of the POS terminal 200.

If the metal reading head 220 finds an electrically charged PVC card 100, the electrical charges in the metallized magnetic strip 110 of the card 100 can be discharged from the metallized magnetic strip 110 in the metal reading head 220 of the POS terminal 200. This may interrupt the POS Terminal 200 function and the POS 200 terminal has low ESD tolerance. The electrical charges can then find their path to ground or to various electronic components, such as solid-state microcircuits, of the POS terminal 200. The conduction of the electrical charge stored outside the conductive layer or

The metallized magnetic strip 110 is a function of the resistivity of the conductive layer or the magnetic strip 110 of the PVC card 100. The electrical charge in the metallized magnetic strip 110 will generally flow out of the metallized magnetic strip 110 and into of the reading head 220. The triboelectric loads generated and stored in the card 100 as the card 100 slides along the ABS of the MSR 210 can be discharged into the magnetic reading head 220 of the MSR 210 when the magnetic strip 110 it comes into contact with the metal reading head 220 of the POS terminal 200. The MSR 210 and the electronic decoding circuits in the POS terminals 200 are typically designed to deal with such discharge of electrical charges generated by the triboelectric movement of the 100 card through MSR 200 and stored on card 100. However, certain POS 200 terminals on the market are not designed suitably to deal effectively with the ESD (ie, they have low tolerance to the ESD) of the metallized magnetic strip 110. Accordingly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the insulator 100 carries a discontinuous metal component 110 ( or metal component 110 with physical interruptions inside) to reduce the accumulation of electrical charges inside, thereby reducing any potential ESD. That is, for example, the PVC card 100 has a discontinuous metallic layer on the magnetic strip 110 for

15 fit into existing POS terminals 200 with low ESD tolerance. Therefore, the present invention proceeds after the desire to eliminate or reduce the amount of ESD that a non-conductive insulator or vehicle 100 carrying a metal or conductor component 110 can discharge into an electronic device 200 by dividing the conductive component 110 into multiple sections This minimizes or advantageously prevents the operational or functional interruption of the electronic device 200 due to the ESD.

An example of a magnetic strip coated with metal or metallized 110 on PVC cards 100 is a holographic magnetic strip 120, as shown in Figure 2A. A cross-sectional view of the entire exemplary holographic band 120 is shown in Figure 2B. The holographic magnetic strip 220 comprises a conductive metal position (eg, aluminum, copper, aluminum / chrome alloys deposited by vacuum, etc.) which

25 avoids the reflective condition necessary to observe the holographic image on the holographic magnetic strip 120. The metallic portion of the magnetic strip 110 typically has resistance values ranging from 50 ohm to several thousands of ohm. The resistance of the metallic portion of the magnetic strip 110 is typically low enough to provide a path for the triboelectric charges on the card 100 to be discharged through the magnetic read head 220 and into the electronic devices or the ground path of the terminal of POS 200, as shown in Figure 3.

The electrostatic charges stored in the insulator or card 100 and the metallic magnetic strip 110, which can result in the ESD in the reading head 200, can come from various sources. The friction action of the card 100 against the surfaces of the magnetic stripe reader 210 can generate the triboelectric charges 35. Typically, the main area of the magnetic stripe reader 210 comprises ABS plastic, as shown in Figure 1. The human body is another source of triboelectric charges. The human body can generate the triboelectric charges from various friction forces, such as when walking, removing the card from the wallet, etc. An example of such triboelectric charges from the human body are shown in Figure 4, in which the human finger 300 is positively charged by frictional forces generated by the movement of the body as it moves through, for example. , a mosqueta, and as you hold the card 100 during the slide. The electric field of the positive charges of the finger induces more negative and positive charges in the metallized magnetic strip 110, thereby increasing or decreasing the charge separation in the metallized magnetic strip 110. Additionally, electrostatic charges can be left behind the area of magnetic slip of terminal 200 from the scan of the previous card. In addition, the charges

Piezoelectric of a newly laminated PVC card 100, which are generally trapped charges, can induce free charges within the metal magnetic strip 110.

All sources of electrical charges (Positive or Negative) can result in the discharge of electrostatic charges in an electrical or electronic device 200, such as a POS terminal 200. Electrostatic discharge of the metallized magnetic strip 110 in a metal component of the magnetic reading head 220 provides a conduction path for such ESD (ie, electric current) in various electrical circuits of the POS terminal 200. This may temporarily disable the POS terminal 200 that has low tolerance to the ESD, requiring the terminal reset 200 or worse, electrical circuits inside the terminal may short circuit resulting in terminal failures.

55 The electrical charge can be stored in the metal or conductive layer 110 due to the capacitance of the conductive layer 110 and the insulating or non-conductive layer 100. The capacitance is defined as the amount of charge that can be stored in a capacitor during a given tension. The capacitance (C) is a measure of the amount of charge (q) stored in each plate for a given power or voltage differential (V) that appears between the plates:

C = q / V

A capacitor value refers directly to the area of the plate or surface that holds the load. The greater the area of the plate, the greater the load can be placed on said area, thus increasing the capacitance.

image 1

in which A is the area of the capacitor, d is the separation of the two metallic components of the capacitor and  is the dielectric constant of any material between the metallic components.

The energy stored in a capacitor is related to the dimension of the capacitance or the square of the load

(Q) stored in the capacitor.

image 1

When the capacitors are linked in series, the overall capacitance is reduced and the total voltage is divided by the number of capacitors. The total capacitance and load storage capacity of the two capacitors linked in series is less than the capacitance and charge storage capacity of the individual capacitor. That is, capacitance and capacitor load storage capacity can be reduced

15 connecting the capacitor in series with another capacitor.

image 1

If all capacitors are of equal size C then Ceg is = C / n

Accordingly, for example, the present invention uses this characteristic of a capacitor to reduce the load stored in the conductive component 110 of an insulator 100, thereby reducing the energy stored 25 in the conductive component 110. This advantageously reduces the amount of charge and energy discharged into an electronic device 200 when the insulator 100 comprising the conductive component 110 is inserted or comes into contact with the electronic device 200 such that the charge (capacitance) stored in the conductive component 110 is discharged to ground or to an electronic device 200. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the overall capacitance of the conductive component 110 can be reduced by dividing the conductive component 110 into many smaller and approximately equal sized sections to provide a discontinuous conductive component. The sections function essentially as multiple capacitors linked in series (for example, n equal sized capacitors), thus reducing the overall capacitance of the conductive component 110. The effective capacitance of the conductive component 110 divided into n equal parts linked in series is C / n, in which C is the capacitance of the component

The original continuous conductor 110. This advantageously reduces the overall load and energy stored in the conductive component 110 by the factor of n, thereby greatly reducing the likelihood that the ESD of the conductive component 110 of the insulator 100 will damage the component electronic or electronic device 200.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the capacitance of the metallized layer 110 (for example, a holographic magnetic strip 120) is reduced by dividing the metallized layer 110 into many pieces (or many capacitors). That is, the metallized layer 110 is divided into many smaller and approximately equal sized capacitors linked in series (for example, equal sized capacitors), thereby reducing the overall capacitance of the metallized layer 110. Since the capacitance

45 effective of the metallic layer 110 is now reduced by a factor of n, this advantageously reduces the overall load and energy stored in the metallic layer 110 by a factor of n as well, thereby reducing the ESD level of the metallized layer 110. Accordingly, by reducing the level of electrostatic charges stored in metallized layer 110, the present invention enables the insulator 100 comprising the metallized layer 110 to be used in any electronic device 200, even the electronic device 200 has low ESD tolerance.

Additionally, since the area of each metallized section is reduced, the capacitance of each unconnected metallic portion is significantly less than the total capacitance of the metallized layer, thereby decreasing the charge storage capacity of the metallized layer 110.

Since a conductor 110 in a non-conductive vehicle 110 can maintain a charge that can damage electronic devices 200 (especially electronic devices with low tolerance to electrostatic discharge), the conductive layer 110 of the present invention is constructed as a discontinuous conductive layer 110 to eliminate or greatly reduce electrostatic discharge, thereby minimizing or eliminating that any potential ESD damages the electronic device 200. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driver 110 in the non-driver vehicle 100 is divided into n sections of approximately equal or discontinuous areas that can be used to block or reduce the discharge of accumulated charges (ESD) from any or more of the n sections. It should be appreciated that the non-driver vehicle 100 may comprise a plurality of drivers 110, each of which can be divided into different numbers of sections of approximately equal or unequal areas. Each section can be a regular line, point, points (for example, satellites or corporate logos) or other forms of connection, etc.

Referring now to Figures 12 and 13, a plastic or paper bill 1200 comprising a metallic holographic thread or ribbon 1210 or a metallic holographic patch 1220 is used herein as an example to illustrate the inventive method of dividing the layer conductive 110 (i.e., metallic holographic wire 1210) in n sections. The metallic holographic wire 1210 or metallic holographic patch 220 (i.e., the conductive portion of the bill) in the non-conductive vehicle (e.g., the ticket 1200) is divided into n sections to block or reduce the accumulation of electrostatic charge on the bill 1200, which can be downloaded when 1200 bills are counted or processed by an electronic device. By dividing the conductive portion (i.e., metallic holographic wire 1210 or metallic holographic patch 1220) of the non-conductive vehicle (i.e., ticket 1200) into n sections, in which each section is isolated from the other sections, the load electrical transported by the conductive section (ie, the metallic holographic wire 1210 or the metallic holographic patch 1220) can be blocked from the discharge in an electrical device 200 when the conductive portion comes into contact with the electrical device 200. This can occur when the 1200 bills are not processed by sorting or counting machine.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the metallized magnetic strip 110 (or holographic magnetic strip 120) on the plastic card 100 is divided into n sections to block or reduce the accumulation of electrostatic charge on the plastic card 100, which can be discharged when the cards come into contact with the POS terminal 200. In the holographic magnetic strip 120, the hologram carried by the holographic magnetic strip 120 is typically made visible by a metallic aluminum layer within the holographic magnetic strip 120. By dividing the conductive portion (i.e., the metallic aluminum band of the holographic magnetic strip 120) of the non-conductive vehicle (i.e., the plastic card 100) into n sections, in which each section of the aluminum metallic layer is insulates from the other sections of the aluminum metallic layer, the electric discharge carried by each conductive section pu It can be blocked from unloading at the POS terminal 200 when the card 100 slides or is inserted into the POS terminal 200. Alternatively, the sections can be connected as long as each of the connected sections does not produce ESD events greater than those tolerated by the POS terminal. As mentioned herein, since the total capacitance of the conductive section is decreased by a factor of n and each conduction section has a lower capacitance, the accumulated load in each section is not sufficient to discharge (or the ESD is sufficiently low from each conduction section that is essentially harmless to the electronic device) when the card 100 comes into contact with the POS terminal 200.

Any known method can be used to divide the conductive portion (i.e., the metal layer) 110 of the non-conductive vehicle 100 without exceptions to block or reduce the ESD. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method of reducing electrostatic discharge comprises laser ablation or embossing lines in the metal or conductive layer 110 (for example, the metal aluminum layer (for example , copper, aluminum / chrome alloys, etc.) in the holographic magnetic strip 120 or in the metallic holographic wire 1210), such that the conductive layer 110 is divided into n equal sections of width x, for example, approximately 0 , 10 inches (2.5 mm).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a laser is used to remove the metal from the metal layer.

or conductive 110 in a non-conductive vehicle 100 by drawing a pattern, such as a vertical line, on the metal layer 110. For example, a reader is used to draw a vertical line pattern on the metal layer 110, the layer of metal of the metallic holographic wire 1210, the aluminum layer of the holographic magnetic strip 120 ° the metallic holographic patch 1220, as shown in Figure 5-8 and 10-11, thus dividing the metal layer into n equal sections 140 of width x.

To construct a holographic magnetic tape according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aluminum or other metal is added to the holographic tape by evaporating the metal, such as aluminum, copper, aluminum / chrome alloys, etc., on the polyester reinforcement with a release layer and an embossed layer already embossed on a band. The metallized (or aluminum) band is then passed in the front of a laser placed in the portion of the infrared or ultraviolet spectrum, which burns the metal (or aluminum) in a line or pattern pre-drawn by the laser beam or engraved of continuous style.

As shown in Figures 5-8, the placement of the line (or pattern) is established in such a way that the continuous metal layer (or aluminum, copper, aluminum / chrome alloys, etc.) 110 is broken. in small portions 140 separated by the laser cutting line without metal (or aluminum, copper, aluminum / chrome alloys, etc.) in the gap 130 between the metal sections 140 of the tape 110. The length x of these sections of metal 140 should be small enough so that the overall capacitance of each section 140 is low enough to allow or prevent the accumulation of electrical charges in each section 140, however with sufficient brightness.

If the charge q in a section 140 (q = C x V in which C is the capacitance of the section and V is the voltage produced by the charge in said section) is sufficiently low, then the electrostatic discharge in an electronic device 200 it is small enough that it does not affect the functionality of said electronic device 200. The maximum length and width (area) of any section 140 is limited by the maximum load that can be accumulated on the non-driver vehicle 100 (i.e., the card PVC 100) so that it can operate with an electronic device 200 that has low ESD tolerance. It should be noted that the maximum load is a function of the capacitance, triboelectric load, humidity and surface conditions of the non-driving vehicle

100

The laser engraved pattern may comprise vertical lines that are perpendicular to the length of the metal tape 100 as shown in Figure 5A or at an angle to the direction of the metal seat as shown in Figure 5B and 8. It should be appreciated that the distance of the laser engraved line or gap 130 between the sections of the conductive metal aluminum tape 110 should be wide enough to suppress the ability of the voltage-driven electric charges to jump into the hole 130 and continue driving down the metal tape 110 and into the electronic device 200 that comes into contact with the metal tape 110. Therefore, the dimension of the metal section 140 and the width of the gap 130 can be adjusted to suit To a particular design. For example, these two parameters can be adjusted to provide a holographic pattern with the smaller metal sections 140 (for example, at least about 0.10 inches (2.5 mm) in width) but with sufficient brightness to provide adequate observation of the hologram

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the metal sections or layer 110 are removed by chemically etching the metal sections (ie, aluminum, copper, aluminum / chrome alloys, etc.) that use an acid of etched or a caustic wash solution (ie, a demetalization process), as shown in Figure 6B, 8 and 9A-B. The areas of the metal tape 110 that are not removed are protected by a chemical resistant coating 150, Figure 5B, which can be printed on the metal tape 100 with a gravure cylinder or other applicable printing method. The gravure cylinder is etched in a pattern that has to be used to protect aluminum (i.e., metal) on the construction strip comprising the aluminum layer.

As shown in Figures 9A-9B, the demetalization process is used in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to generate a continuous conductive layer (i.e., holography metal layer) by selectively removing the metal (i.e., aluminum ) of the holographic layer in a specific pattern. A roll of the holographic engraved image is metallized with aluminum in step 900. A gravure cylinder (or other comparable printing method) prints the chemical resistant pattern (i.e., a dot or other resistant pattern of another geometric shape) in the rolled aluminum film to selectively protect and retain the aluminum sections in the caustic wash band at step 910. The gravure cylinder prints the chemical resistance in those areas of the aluminum film in which the aluminum should be maintained and not Print any chemical resistance in those areas where aluminum has to be removed. The roll of the aluminum film or strip printed with the chemical resistance pattern by the gravure cylinder is then passed through a chemical aluminum bath (for example, sodium hydroxide) or an acid wash that etches into the water strong aluminum in those areas where there is no chemical resistance and leaves the aluminum that is protected by chemical resistance in step 920.

The caustic chemical solution is washed from the demetallized band in step 930. The magnetic and other coatings are then applied to the demetalized band. An example of the linear demetalization of the aluminum film is shown in Figures 7 and 10 and an example of the dot pattern demetalization process is shown in Figures 7 and 11. The linear patterns shown in Figure 7 comprise lines or Parallel aluminum sections with a specific spacing and width. The dot pattern shown in Figure 7 comprises points of various shapes such as elliptical or circular shapes. The bright areas represent the aluminum islands or sections 1410 of the metal layer and the dark areas represent the holes 130, in which the aluminum has been removed by the caustic chemical bath after the aluminum islands have been protected by resistance selectively applied chemistry.

It should be appreciated that although the demetalization process described herein involves the use of caustic washing after the application of a caustic resistant mask, different known demetalization techniques and others can be used in the present invention to generate a conductive layer or surface. fragmented or discontinuous. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fragmented conductive layer can be generated using a demetalization process, which applies a etching agent directly to the metallized or conductive surface followed by rinsing with a wash solution. Alternatively, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fragmented conductive layer can be generated by applying a water soluble material to the non-metallic holographic surface, metallizing the holographic surface and treating the metallized holographic surface with a wash to dissolve the material. Water soluble and metal coating.

The demetalization process of the present invention is used to generate an aluminum or other discontinuous metal layer such that the conductivity and capacitance of the metal layer is significantly changed. The energy of the ESD / charge stored in each insulated section 140 of the aluminum layer is much less than the metal layer continues. The separation of each section 140 (or an aluminum island) increases the electrical resistance, thus making it difficult for the charge accumulated in a section 130 to discharge to an electronic device

200.

The demetalization process should be carefully controlled so that there are no metal debris in the recess 130 between the metal sections 140. This may require sufficient application of caustic wash that etches the aluminum between the resistance patterns. Any metal material left in the recess 130 between the metal sections 140 can pass over the metal sections 140, thereby providing sufficient conductive paths to produce the ESD within an electronic device 200. However, if the Caustic washing is applied in an overly aggressive manner, it can break the area of metal protected by the resistance pattern and reduce the areas of aluminum (or metal sections 140) that have to be maintained. This will decrease the brightness and image quality of the holographic image.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method generates a discontinuous metal layer generating a pattern of demetalized (or selectively metallized) dots (eg, "Halftone Pattern") with a high enough point density to reconstruct the holographic image but not high enough to cause the mid-tone points to "connect" as shown in Figure 11. For example, the holographic image can be reconstructed without causing the mid-tone points to connect when the point density, that is, the percentage of covering the metal "points" in relation to the total area of the conductive component was greater than 50%. For certain applications, the density of points or cover may or should be greater than 70% to increase the brightness of the holographic image. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, mid-tone dot pattern techniques are used to generate a discontinuous metal layer with the highest density of points without connecting the dots.

The process of generating a discontinuous metal layer by selectively removing the metal sections of the metal layer from the holographic tape reduces or blocks the ESD to reach the sensitive components of the electronic device, such that the magnetic reading head, decreasing the capacitance, the amount of charge that can be stored in any one or more aluminum sections and increase the strength of the metal layer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a discontinuous metal layer 110 can be generated by selectively applying the discontinuous metal pattern on the non-conductive vehicle or the substrate 100. The discontinuous metal pattern may comprise discrete metal sections of limited areas for avoid minimizing the accumulation of cargo in a given area. Each section 140 is separated from an adjacent section by a sufficient range so that the load accumulated in one section 140 cannot pass through the gap 130 to another section 140.

The present invention generates a discontinuous metal layer 110 (i.e., small isolated areas of metal) of a non-conductive substrate 100 by selectively removing metals from a continuous metal layer in the non-conductive vehicle 100 or by selectively applying the metal in the vehicle non-conductive 100. Various metal removal, metal printing or deposition techniques can be used in the present invention to generate small areas of metal that are sufficiently isolated from each other (i.e., a discontinuous metal layer) for block the ESD on any electronic device 200, including those with low ESD tolerance.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the methods of metal removal and addition of metal in fixed patterns should satisfy two criteria: a) minimum charge build-up (i.e. minimum area of metal cladding consistent with the brightness of the image carried by the metal area) and b) prevent the metal sections 140 from being connected to each other so that the accumulated load in each section 140, by various methods, cannot be discharged in combination with the other metal sections 140 to generate an ESD of current or voltage detrimental to an electronic device 200.

It should be noted that the current path or charge migration of the discharge point is mediated by the presence of the embedded conductive layer 110, the electrical resistance is determined by the integrity of the metal layer 110. The resistance of the metal layer 110 depends of metal fragmentation. The electrical resistance of the metal layer 110 increases with the fragmentation of the metal (i.e. a discontinuous metal pattern) which reduces the propagation of the accumulated charge in the conductive layer 110. With reference now to Figures 1 and 4, in which the accumulated charges propagate from right to left across the width of the metallized band 110 along the main vertical (upper) edge of the card 100, the present invention can employ any mechanism that induces an interruption of this conduction path to prevent electrostatic discharge from occurring along any of the exposed edges of the magnetic strip or of the magnetic strip body.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strongly embossed diffrangent elements, strategically represented within the holographic image, are used with mechanical embossing, deformation and concomitant fragmentation of the holographic pre-metallized aluminum films for distort the metal layer 110 or the driving path. These intentional microscopic interruptions in the metal layer 110 effectively prevent the propagation of charge, thereby reducing or preventing electrostatic discharge from occurring along any of the exposed edges of the non-conductive vehicle 100.

The present invention has application in a non-conductive vehicle that has a conductive component that interferes with an electronic device, or human subject or object. Wherever a combination of a portion or conductive element is or in a non-conductive vehicle, the conductive element can potentially retain the charge and electrostatic discharge that has accumulated charge in an electronic device when the combination of vehicle and driver interferes with the device electronic. According to an embodiment of the present invention, fragmenting or dividing the conductive portion into smaller sections reduces the accumulated charge in each area and isolating these sections blocks any potential discharge of the accumulated charge in the electronic device. The following is an illustrative example of various applications of the present invention:

A metallized magnetic tape can itself transport a metal layer and a non-conductive vehicle such as a polyester reinforcement could develop the ESD when used in conjunction with a tape read / write device without having the metallized tape mounted or fixed to a secondary non-driver vehicle. When the metallized portion of the tape is divided by the processes described in this embodiment of the present invention it will prevent the accumulation and discharge of the ESD in any device, human or system when the metallized tape is used or handled in the non-reinforced tape. driver.

The metallic holographic thread 1210 or the holographic patch 1220 on the paper or plastic bills 1200 can carry a load that can potentially be unloaded into a bill acceptor. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the metal layer of holographic tape 1210 or holographic patch 1220 can be fragmented or divided into small isolated metal sections to reduce or eliminate any potential ESD in a bill acceptor as maintains the visual appearance of holographic tape 1210 or holographic patch 1220.

Holograms on plastic cards that are not part of the magnetic tape are typically used for the security and visual design of any of the payment cards. If the metal tape in the hologram has sufficient size and location, it can also accumulate a charge from the generation of triboelectric charge and potentially discharge to a POS terminal through the magnetic read head, a ground path, or the microcircuit reader According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the metal layer in the hologram can be fragmented or divided into sections to reduce or minimize any potential ESD in a POS terminal.

Metal batteries in plastic cards are used to provide power to RF-ID cards and screens. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the battery can be fragmented or divided into small metal sections to reduce or minimize any potential ESD in the reader.

Contact pads or smart cards are metallic and interfere (i.e. contact) with the reading circuits of the smart card reader. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the contact pads are fragmented or divided into small metal sections to minimize or reduce any potential ESD in the smart card reader while maintaining electrical contact with the pin connector older than communicates with the microcircuit on the card.

Additionally there are many other applications in which it may be advantageous to reduce or eliminate any potential ESD from one device to another device or to a person. For example, metal surgical instruments in an atmosphere with a high amount of oxygen can benefit from a metal surface over an insulator that has been divided into many smaller sections with low capacitance. A synchronized marker in a human heart can benefit from being enclosed in a metal housing that has a fragmented surface in small metal sections to reduce any potential damage from electromagnetic induction or ESD.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes such as substitutions and modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture and composition of matter, means, methods and steps described herein. As a person skilled in the art, he will easily realize from the description of the present invention, the processes, machines, manufacturing, compositions of materials, means, methods or stages, currently existing or to be developed later, which perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein can be used in accordance with the present

5 invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within its scope such processes, machines, manufacturing, compositions of matter, means, methods or steps.

Claims (11)

1. A plastic card (100) comprising: a non-conductive plastic vehicle and a holographic magnetic strip (120), in the non-conductive plastic vehicle, in which the holographic magnetic strip (120) comprises a magnetic layer, an embossed layer with an embossed holographic pattern inside to provide a holographic image, and a conductive layer (110) of a reflective metal in the holographic pattern and conforming thereto to enhance the visibility of the holographic image; wherein the conductive layer (110) comprises a plurality of sections (140) electrically isolated from each other by the holes (130) to distort a conduction path for the triboelectric charges so that a triboelectric charge accumulated in one of the sections does not combine with a triboelectric charge accumulated in another section when the Card slides through or is inserted into a magnetic reader.

2.

A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the holographic magnetic strip (120) is a metallized magnetic strip.

3.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the gaps (130) are demetallized lines.

Four.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the sections (140) form a pattern of demetalized points.

5.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the sections (140) form a pattern of selectively demetallized dots.

6.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the sections (140) form a dot pattern having a point density greater than 50%.

7.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the sections (140) form a dot pattern having a point density greater than 70%.

8.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the sections (140) have approximately equal areas.

9.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the sections (140) have a width of at least about 0.10 inches (2.5 mm).

A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the gaps (130) are formed by chemical etching.

eleven.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein the gaps (130) are laser engraved lines.

12.

 A plastic card defined in claim 1, wherein each of the sections (140) has an area limited by a predefined value.