FR2788359A1 - Computer chip credit card and method of graphic (text or image) personalizing of the card - Google Patents

Abstract

Card has a plastic support (10) with set zone (11,12) including display system (111,121) connected to chip (2) by network of conductors (21,22,211,221). Display is modified by data transmitted from chip (2). Display (111,121) contains JOCABSON electronic ink (RTM), of polarized black and white micro-particles encapsulated in micro-shells. Polarization of ink is modified by chip (2) via network of conductors (21,22). The card has a plastic support (10) on which is placed a micro-module 0 or chip (2) which has at least a microprocessor (200), a programmed memory (23), data and an input/output interface (24). The card support (10) includes a set zone (11,12) including a display system (111,121) connected to the chip (2) by a network of conductors (21,22,211,221). The display can be modified by data transmitted from the chip (2). The display (111,121) contains a JOCABSON electronic ink (RTM), formed from polarized black and white micro-particles encapsulated in micro-shells. the polarity of these micro-particles can be modified by weak currents. The polarization of the ink is modified by the chip (2) via at least the network of conductors (21,22) which form a mesh (211,221) of conductors which at each intersection is deposited a polarizable micro-particle. Each particle in the mesh (211,221) is affected by an address memorized in the chip (2).

Description

Chip card and method of graphic personalization of chip cards La

  The present invention relates to a smart card and a method of

  graphic personalization of smart cards.

  It is known in the prior art that smart cards consist of a plastic support, on which is inserted, or inserted, an integrated circuit of microprocessor type called chip. This microprocessor is capable of processing a certain number of operations according to its programming. The card holder generally comprises a certain number of graphic elements, for example, relating to the owner of the card. However, these graphic elements are permanent. Indeed, it is, for example, an impression or a deformation, for example by a boss,

from the card holder.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a smart card allowing simplified graphic personalization and authorizing the display of information likely to

to vary.

  This object is achieved by the fact that the smart card consists of a plastic support on which is inserted an electronic micromodule, or chip, comprising at least a microprocessor, a program and data memory, and an input interface. / output, characterized in that the card support comprises at least one determined area comprising display means connected to the micromodule by a frame of conductors, and the display of which can be modified by means of information transmitted by

the micromodule.

  According to another particularity, the display means consist of an electronic ink consisting in particular of microparticles polarizable in black or in white and encapsulated in microcells, the polarity of the microparticles being modifiable by means of a current of low amperage , the polarization of the ink being modified by the micromodule by means of at least one frame of conductors forming a mesh of

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  conductors at the intersection of each of which is deposited a

polarizable microparticle.

  According to another particularity, each particle of the mesh is affected

  an address stored in the micromodule.

  According to another particular feature, the display of a given graphic element is effected by means of a low amperage current supplied

  on the addressing conductors of the determined particle.

  According to another particular feature, access to the frame of conductors of the micromodule is preceded by an authentication procedure included in the

io programming of the micromodule.

  A second object of the invention is to propose a method of graphic personalization of simple smart cards and allowing the establishment, on the support of the card, of modifiable graphic personalization elements. This second object is achieved by the fact that the method of graphic personalization of a smart card comprising a plastic support on which is inserted a micromodule comprising at least one frame of conductors, comprises; - a step of producing a frame of conductors on at least one determined area and connecting this frame to the micromodule, - a step of applying, on at least the determined area of the surface of the support, an electronic ink consisting in particular of microparticles polarizable in black or white, and encapsulated in microcells, - a step of selective polarization of the microparticles of electronic ink by means of information transmitted by the micromodule to each frame of conductors of each determined area associated, to form the desired graphic personalization on each determined area, the information consisting of low amperage currents sent to

  determined conductors of each frame of conductors.

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  According to another particular feature, the polarization step is repeated by modifying the content of the information transmitted to obtain a new

  graphic customization of one or more specific zones.

  According to another particular feature, all or part of the information transmitted by the micromodule is subject to an authentication procedure

  included in the programming of the micromodule.

  According to another particular feature, the authentication procedure consists of a comparison by the micromodule of a first code stored on the micromodule and of a second code supplied by a user connected by a terminal to the card and wishing to transmit information from the terminal to at least one frame of conductors, the concordance of the two codes observed by the micromodule resulting in the validation of the transmission of information

  through the microprocessor to the frame.

  According to another particularity, the polarization steps are carried out either during the initial graphic personalization of the card, or during the subsequent use of the card by means of means making it possible to

  transmit the information, via the micromodule, to the conductor frames.

  According to another particularity, the personalization is carried out by the triggering of a specific program of the micromodule of the card which, after authentication of the user triggering the program, uses the data stored in the memory of the micromodule and representing personalization information to put it on the map to put the

  electrical signals corresponding to this data on the bus.

  According to another particularity, the personalization of certain graphic zones is only carried out when a specific application is triggered and under the control of the micromodule of the card which executes this specific application, the personalization of these zones being erased by a program of the micromodule at the latest at the end of the specific application.

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  Other features and advantages of the present invention

  will appear more clearly on reading the description below made in

  reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 represents a front view of a card integrating a micromodule (called chip card) obtained after application of the method according to the invention, - Figures 2A and 2B respectively represent a first and a second alternative embodiment of the diagram of the integrated circuit of the smart card. A smart card (1) of the prior art consists of a support (10) of plastic material, in which is inserted an integrated circuit comprising at least one micromodule (2), called by the skilled person "chip electronic "or" chip ". The support (10) of the card (1) is usually used, for example, as an advertising medium or else to print information relating to the owner of the card (1). Currently, this information is of a permanent nature, i.e. any change of this information

  involves changing the support (10) of the card (1).

  According to the invention, the support (10) of the card (1) comprises at least one determined zone (11, 12), comprising display means (121, 111) connected to the micromodule (2). These display means (121, 111) make it possible to represent graphic elements which can be modified via the

  micromodule (2). By graphic element, we mean text or an image.

  Each determined zone (11, 12) is connected to the micromodule, for example, by means of at least one conduction frame (21, 211, 22, 221). Each conduction frame (21, 22, 211, 221) makes it possible to transmit information to the display means (111, 121) to modify the graphic elements

  represented by these display means.

  According to the invention, the display means (111, 121) comprise, for example, an electronic ink developed by Joseph JOCABSON, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). This electronic ink is made up of black or white polarizable microparticles,

2788359

  and encapsulated in micrococcals. The bipolar state of the microparticles allows, via a low amperage current, to orient the polarizable microparticles to obtain a polarization creating a black or white color. This ink is used to cover each determined area (11, 12) and in particular, so that a microparticle is found at

  the intersection of two conductors (211, 221) forming the frame.

  When electronic ink is used, each frame (21, 22, 211, 221) of conductors comprises a first part (211, 221) consisting of a mesh of conductors forming a grid or a matrix, and a second part ( 21, 22) consisting of at least one bus (22) connecting the mesh of conductors (211, 221) to at least one parallel input port of the micromodule (2). The polarizable microparticles (121) of the electronic ink are located on each intersection of the mesh (211, 221) of conductors of the frame of conductors of the micromodule (2). Thus, by transmitting a current of low amperage over a plurality of determined intersections of the mesh (211, 221) of conductors, the microparticles (121) of the electronic ink located on the intersections supplied with the mesh (211, 221) of conductors , will orient themselves to define the desired color of the graphic element by polarizing for example in black. When the mesh (211, 221) of conductors is no longer electrically supplied, the microparticles (121) of the electronic ink maintain their polarization. In this way, the desired graphic element is displayed permanently until a new low amperage power supply is provided on a new plurality

  of intersections of the mesh (211, 221) of conductors.

  As described above, the mesh (211, 221) of conductors is connected to the micromodule. Thus the supply of low amperage current to the mesh (211, 221) takes place via the contacts (20) of a microprocessor described later. To supply the determined intersections of the mesh (211, 221) of conductors, an address is, for example, assigned to each conductor of the mesh (211, 221). Thus, the choice of intersections to supply is made by the choice of addresses

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  particulars designating one or more conductors of the mesh (211, 221).

  The electrical supply is supplied for example to a device (not shown) such as, for example, a smart card reader or a Facet personalization coupler, connected in a known manner and shaped to deliver a low amperage electrical supply on mesh conductors (211 221) having a determined address. The addresses of the conductors of the mesh (211, 221) are chosen to form the chosen graphic element. The quality and the precision of the graphic element displayed on each zone (11, 12) determined depend on the fineness of the mesh (211, 221) of conductors. In the case of a contactless card, electrical energy

  is supplied by an electromagnetic field from the reader.

  In order to avoid any unauthorized modification of each graphic element of each determined area (11, 12), access to the frame of

  drivers is, for example, preceded by an authentication procedure.

  This authentication procedure consists, for example, in a comparison of a first code stored in the memory of the micromodule and a second code supplied by the user to the terminal connected by the contact pad (20) wishing to modify the graphic element of a given area (11, 12). The concordance of the two codes then validates access to the frame of conductors (21, 22) but also the modification of the graphic element. When a graphic element of a determined zone (11, 12) must no longer be modified, access to the conduction frame (21, 22) is prohibited, after modification, for example, by the destruction of a connection particular or by positioning a bit in the memory of the micromodule (2), thus prohibiting

  Access to the addresses of the conductors of the mesh (211, 221).

  FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively represent a first and a second variant embodiment of the diagram of the integrated circuit of the smart card. The first variant shown in FIG. 2A comprises the microprocessor (200) connected by a bus (26), on the one hand to a memory (23), for example of the EEPROM type, erasable and on which it is possible to

  rewrite, and on the other hand, a first interface (24) of parallel / serial type.

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  This first interface (24) is also connected to the contact pad (20).

  The contact pad is also connected to a second interface (25) of the serial / parallel type which is itself connected to the addressing bus (21, 22) of each frame of conductors (211, 221, fig. 1). This second interface (25) is also controlled by the microprocessor (200). In this first alternative embodiment, the microprocessor (200) used is similar to those

of the prior art.

  The second variant shown in FIG. 2B consists in replacing the second interface (25, FIG. 2A) by parallel ports (25.1, 25.2) integrated into a microprocessor (200 '). The addressing buses (21, 22) of the conductor frames (211, 221) are then connected to these parallel ports (25.1,

25.2).

  Thus, when a user wishes to carry out a graphic personalization of the card according to the invention, he must first connect the contact pad (20) with a terminal. Then, for example after an authentication step validated by the microprocessor (200), the user sends personalization data to the microprocessor through the conduction range of the first interface (25) and the bus (26). These data are then processed by the microprocessor (200) by a specific program and possibly, stored in the memory (23). Once the processing operation has been carried out by the microprocessor (200), the latter sends on the address buses (21, 22) the signals intended to carry out the graphic personalization corresponding to the personalization data sent by the user. These signals are sent either in the first variant, via the bus (26), the first interface (24), the conduction range (20) and the second interface (25), or in the second variant by l ''

  parallel ports (25.1, 25.2) of the microprocessor (200).

  Personalization can also be brought about by a specific application executed under the control of the microprocessor (200). In this case, the graphic personalization data are, for example previously stored in the memory (23) and transmitted to the bus

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  addressing (21, 22) only during the execution of the specific application.

  The graphic personalization of certain areas can for example be

  erased, for example at the latest at the end of the specific application.

  It will be understood that the use of the smart card and of the graphic personalization method according to the invention makes it possible to display on the support (10) of the card various information or graphic elements which

  may be of a lasting nature or not.

  In addition, when using the card (1), it is possible to display variable information relating to the use of the card (1). As a non-limiting example, it is possible to display the balance of a bank account and / or the last transactions on an account, when the chip card (1) is used as a bank card. The modifications to the display of this information are carried out, as described above, by the card reader performing the operations resulting in a modification of the information. The smart card according to the invention therefore allows scalable graphic personalization. It is clear that other modifications within the reach of those skilled in the art

  are within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (12)

  1. Chip card consisting of a support (10) of plastic material on which is inserted a micromodule (2), or chip, comprising at least one microprocessor (200), a memory (23) program and data, and an interface (24) input / output characterized in that the support (10) of the card (1) comprises at least one determined zone (11, 12) comprising display means (111, 121) connected to the micromodule (2 ) by a frame (21, 22, 211, 221) of conductors, the display of which can be modified via   io of information transmitted by the micromodule (2).   2. Chip card according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (111, 121) consist of an electronic ink consisting in particular of microparticles polarizable in black or in white and encapsulated in micro-shells, the polarity microparticles being modifiable by means of a low amperage current, the polarization of the ink being modified by the micromodule (2) by means of at least one frame of conductors (21, 22) forming a mesh (211, 221) of conductors at the intersection of each of which is deposited a polarizable microparticle.   3. Chip card according to claim 2, characterized in that each particle of the mesh (211, 221) is assigned a stored address in the micromodule (2).   4. Chip card according to claim 3, characterized in that the display of a given graphic element is effected by means of a low amperage current supplied on the conductors of the mesh (211, 221)   addressing the determined particle.   5. Chip card according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that access to the frame (21, 22) of conductors of the micromodule (2) is preceded by an authentication procedure included in the programming of the micromodule (2). 2788359   6. A method of graphic personalization of a chip card (1) comprising a support (10) made of plastic material on which is inserted a micromodule (2) comprising at least one frame (21, 22) of conductors, characterized in that the method comprises: - a step of producing a frame (211, 221) of conductors on at least one determined area (11, 12), and of connecting this frame to the micromodule (2), - an application step on at least the determined zone (11, 12) of the surface of the support, of an electronic ink made up in particular of 0 microparticles (111, 121) polarizable in black or in white, and encapsulated in micro-shells, - a polarization step selective of the microparticles (111, 121) of the electronic ink by means of information transmitted by the micromodule (2) to each frame (211, 221) of conductors of each associated zone (11, 12) determined, to form on each zone (11, 12) determined the personalization desired graphic, the information being made up of low amperage currents sent on conductors   determined from each frame (211, 221) of conductors.   7. A method of graphic personalization of a smart card according to claim 6, characterized in that the polarization step is repeated by modifying the content of the information transmitted to obtain a new one.   graphic customization of one or more specific zones (11, 12).   8. A method of graphic personalization of a smart card according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that all or part of the information transmitted by the micromodule (2) is subject to a procedure   authentication included in the programming of the micromodule (2).   9. A method of graphic personalization of a smart card according to claim 8, characterized in that the authentication procedure consists of a comparison by the micromodule (2) of a first code stored on the micromodule (2) and d '' a second code supplied by a user, connected by a terminal to the card (1), wishing to transmit information from the terminal to at least one frame (21, 22) of conductors, the agreement of the two codes noted by the micromodule (2 ) results in the validation of the transmission of   information through the micromodule (2) to the frame (221, 211).   10. Method of graphic personalization of a smart card according to   One of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the polarization steps   are carried out either during the initial graphic personalization of the card, or during the subsequent use of the card by means of transmitting the information, via the micromodule (2), to the frames (21, 22) of conductors.   11. Method of graphic personalization of a smart card according to   one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it is carried out by the   triggering of a specific program of the micromodule (2) of the card (1) which, after identification of the user triggering the program, uses data stored in the memory of the micromodule (2), representative of the personalization information to be included on the card (1) to put   the electrical signals corresponding to this data on the bus.   12. Method of graphic personalization of a smart card according to   one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the personalization of   certain graphic zones are only performed when a specific application is triggered and under the control of the micromodule (2) of the card (1) which executes this specific application, the personalization of these zones being erased by a micromodule program ( 2) at the latest from the end of the the specific application.