GB2543789A

GB2543789A - Smart card

Info

Publication number: GB2543789A
Application number: GB1519023.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Ward Dominic; Arthur Senior Kenneth
Original assignee: Johnson Electric SA
Current assignee: Johnson Electric SA
Priority date: 2015-10-28
Filing date: 2015-10-28
Publication date: 2017-05-03
Also published as: GB201519023D0

Abstract

A smart card (ISO7810, ISO7816), 110, comprises a body, 122, and a module, 114, mounted on the body. The module contains a circuit substrate, 118, a card reader contact element (e.g. a chip), 116, an integrated circuit, 120, and an antenna (aerial), 142. The antenna operates at the radio frequency (RF). The antenna and contact element are at least in part spaced apart from one another on the circuit substrate. The module further includes a module overlay, 140. The module overlay and the smart card may contain complementary printed graphics. The circuit substrate may be non-quadrilateral. The module overlay may cover/hide the antenna. The module overlay may contain an anti-tampering barrier whereby removal of the overlay disables the smart card. The module overlay may contain a precious metal coating (such as gold, silver or platinum leaf).

Description

Smart Card

The present invention relates to a smart card and in particular to a smart card having contactless functionality, which has an enhanced visual appeal without impacting the overall function of the smart card. The invention further relates to a method of concealing an antenna of a smart card module having a circuit substrate of a smart card.

Smart cards are widely used for a variety of applications, and in particular are used as bank cards, such as credit or debit cards, to authorise financial transactions for a user. Such cards are often coloured over the entire smart card body, aside from card-reader contacts, for aesthetic appeal, to reflect branding of the card-issuing company, or a combination thereof, for instance.

To install a card-reader contact element within a smart card, thereby enabling contact-based communication with a card reader, it is necessary to cut or form an opening into the smart card body in order to allow a reader or point of sales device to access the card-reader contact element. The installation of the card-reader contact element is generally performed by forming a smart card module which includes or is connected to the integrated circuit chip for the smart card, which can be embedded as a whole into the smart card body.

With the advent of contactless payment technology, it has become necessary to incorporate an antenna onto this smart card module, in electrical communication with the integrated circuit chip, to permit radio-frequency identification (RFID) of the smart card by the card reader. However, to improve the wireless communication, it is preferred that an extended circuit substrate be utilised to accommodate an extended antenna on the smart card module.

The provision of an extended circuit substrate may be problematic; either the smart card module must be installed prior to assembly of the smart card body, which would require restructuring of the standard means by which smart cards are presently assembled, or the opening in the smart card body must be enlarged to allow embedding of the extended smart card module, diminishing the visual appeal of the smart card.

Additionally, if the antenna of the smart card module is exposed and/or visible, then this potentially exposes the smart card to the possibility of being more easily illegally accessed, allowing illicit tampering to occur, which may have adverse effects on the overall security of the smart card.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a smart card which obviates or substantially limits the above-mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a smart card comprising a smart card body and a smart card module mounted on the smart card body, the smart card module having a circuit substrate; a card-reader contact element on one side of the circuit substrate for connection to a smart card reader; an integrated circuit connection element in electrical communication with the card-reader contact element and to which an integrated circuit chip is mountable; and an antenna on the circuit substrate and which is connected to the integrated circuit connection element for receiving radio-frequency signals from the smart card reader to energise the integrated circuit, the antenna being positioned on the circuit substrate so as to be at least in part spaced from the card-reader contact element; and a module overlay which is associated with at least part of the circuit substrate to alter an appearance of the smart card.

By providing a module overlay which is able to alter the appearance of the smart card as a whole, it is possible to retain a smart card module having a circuit substrate in the card, without creating an otherwise unattractive or ungainly smart card appearance.

Preferably, the module overlay may be formed on a light-transmissible portion of a front overlay of the smart card body.

Advantageously, providing a module overlay on a front overlay of the smart card body may simplify manufacture of the smart card, allowing the overlay to be formed separately of the smart card module.

Preferably, the module overlay comprises a printed graphic thereon which is visible from a front of the smart card.

The circuit substrate may be formed so as to be non-quadrilateral. In doing so, this may beneficially allow for a bespoke circuit substrate which integrates in a synergistic manner with an appearance of the module overlay, particularly if the module overlay is branded or contains a logo, for instance.

In one preferable embodiment, there may further comprise a light-transmissible portion of a front overlay of the smart card body which at least in part extends over the module overlay. The module overlay may be formed on a front surface of the circuit substrate.

The provision of a portion of the front overlay, through which the smart card module overlay is visible, provides a physical barrier to damage of the smart card module overlay, which also provides a more contiguous appearance of the whole smart card following installation of the smart card module.

In one alternative embodiment, the circuit substrate may be at least in part light-transmissible, in which case the module overlay may be formed on the smart card body behind the smart card module so as to be visible through the light-transmissible circuit substrate. Alternatively, the module overlay may be formed on a rear of the smart card module so as to be visible through the light-transmissible circuit substrate.

By providing a light-transmissible module overlay, it is possible to utilise the circuit substrate, smart card body circuit substrate, and/or rear printed layer of the smart card to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the smart card; a designer can apply different designs, graphics and/or logos to any and/or all of these components, allowing for more intricate designs of smart card to be manufactured.

In another optional embodiment, the module overlay may be formed separately to the smart card module and the smart card body, in which case the smart card body may include a front overlay, the module overlay being flush or substantially flush with the front overlay.

By ensuring that the first and module overlays lie flush or substantially flush with one another at an outermost major surface of the smart card, it becomes more difficult to disassemble the smart card, increasing the overall security of the smart card for a user.

The module overlay can be positioned so as to at least in part cover an antenna on the smart card module, and the said module overlay can then also be used to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the smart card.

By providing the module overlay in an arrangement so as to hide the antenna, the position of the antenna can be obfuscated, limiting the ability of a third party to compromise the security of the smart card, for instance, via hacking or other illegal, typically physical, access means.

Preferably, the antenna may at least in part define a portion of the module overlay. In doing so, the aesthetic appearance of the antenna may be incorporated into the module overlay, which may be beneficial from an advertisement, prestige or branding perspective.

The module overlay may provide an anti-tamper barrier, potentially by being affixed whereby removal disables the smart card module.

Preferably, the module overlay is attached or mounted to the smart card module by an adhesive or other securing means which causes damage to the smart card module if the module overlay is removed, thereby again preventing or limiting a possibility of illegal physical access to the components of the smart card module.

The module overlay may lie adjacent to the card-reader contact element. Additionally or alternatively, the smart card body may include a smart card module receiving opening in which the smart card module is receivable.

Improving access to the card-reader contact element in spite of the presence of the module overlay ensures that the contact functionality of the smart card is not inhibited.

Preferably, the smart card body may include a printed layer having a graphic thereon. The module overlay may then comprise a printed layer having a complementary second graphic thereon so as to match or substantially match the first said graphic when installed. Alternatively, the module overlay may comprise a printed layer having a non-complementary graphic thereon which is different to the first said graphic when installed.

It is possible to provide a printed graphic on the module overlay to improve the aesthetic appearance of the smart card. This may be achieved by forming a continuous graphic across the entirety of the smart card which includes the graphic on the module overlay, or could be used to present a secondary design with a different aesthetic appeal to a user.

Optionally, the module overlay may at least in part include a precious metal coating. A precious metal coating, such as a gold, silver or platinum leaf, or similarly resilient and/or expensive precious metal, can be used to enhance the overall prestige of the smart card, significantly enhancing the visual appeal of the smart card.

Preferably, the antenna and card-reader contact element may be offset from one another on the circuit substrate.

By providing a physical offset between the antenna and card-reader contact element, interference between the two components is minimised, ensuring that both contact and contactless functionality of the smart card operate to optimum capacity. Additionally, the antenna can be provided so as to have a tortuous or serpentine path across the surface of the circuit substrate, which may advantageously limit a third party’s ability to illegally, typically physically, access the smart card.

Optionally, the antenna may be provided on one side of the circuit substrate, or alternatively, may be provided on both sides of the circuit substrate. The antenna may be a coil, and/or may comprise a low electrical-resistance material. A variety of antenna configurations are possible, which may result in different efficiencies for contactless functionality. Additionally, the antenna may be provided so as to also have an aesthetic appeal beyond its standard functional use.

The antenna may be formed so as to match or substantially match a shape of the circuit substrate. Furthermore, the circuit substrate may be formed as an extended circuit substrate which has an area which is greater than that of the card-reader contact element.

Traditional smart cards have quadrilateral or substantially quadrilateral smart card receiving portions, and therefore a limited number of smart card module and smart card designs are receivable therein. The present invention allows the designer of the smart card a much greater variety of options when designing the appearance of the smart card, due to the presence of the module overlay allowing for a different design to be incorporated.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a smart card module unit for a smart card, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the smart card module unit comprising a circuit substrate; a card-reader contact element on one side of the circuit substrate for connection to a smart card reader; an integrated circuit connection element in electrical communication with the card-reader contact element and to which an integrated circuit chip is mountable; an antenna on the circuit substrate and which is connected to the integrated circuit connection element for receiving radio-frequency signals from the smart card reader to energise the integrated circuit, the antenna being positioned on the circuit so as to be at least in part spaced from the card-reader contact element; and a module overlay which is associated with at least part of the circuit substrate.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of concealing at least part of an antenna of a smart card module having a circuit substrate of a smart card, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the step of: providing a module overlay on the smart card module which overlies at least part of the antenna on the circuit substrate.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preventing or limiting unauthorised access to a smart card module of a smart card, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of providing a module overlay on a circuit substrate of the smart card module, the module overlay being affixed to cause disablement of the smart card module on at least in part removal.

The security of a smart card which has contactless functionality can be improved by hiding the position of the antenna on the smart card module to be installed. The overlay can be used to do this, providing a physical and visual barrier to interference with the antenna.

Furthermore, by resiliently attaching the overlay, thereby forming a barrier, removal preferably causes damage to the antenna and/or other componentry of the smart card module, thus disabling the module and preventing or limiting unauthorised access.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective representation of one embodiment of a layered smart card, as known in the art;

Figure 2a shows a representation of a first embodiment of a smart card in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2b shows a longitudinal cross-sectional representation through line A-A of the smart card of Figure 2a;

Figure 2c shows a longitudinal cross-sectional representation through line A-A of the smart card of Figure 2a, wherein the smart card has a different internal configuration;

Figure 3a shows a representation of a second embodiment of a smart card in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 3b shows a longitudinal cross-sectional representation through line B-B of the smart card of Figure 3a;

Figure 4a shows a representation of a third embodiment of a smart card in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 4b shows a longitudinal cross-sectional representation through line C-C of the smart card of Figure 4a;

Figure 4c shows a longitudinal cross-sectional representation through line C-C of the smart card of Figure 4a, wherein the smart card has a different internal configuration;

Figure 5a shows a representation of a fourth embodiment of a smart card in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, with the second overlay removed;

Figure 5b shows a representation of the second overlay of the smart card of Figure 5a;

Figure 5c shows a representation of the assembled smart card of Figure 5a including the second overlay of Figure 5b; and

Figure 5d shows a longitudinal cross-sectional representation through line D-D of the smart card of Figure 5c.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a generic assembly of a smart card, indicated globally at 10, as known in the field. A smart card 10 as illustrated would typically be used to assist a user with financial transactions, typically being used as a credit or debit banking card.

The smart card 10 comprises a layered smart card body 12 into which is embedded a smart card module 14 having at least a card-reader contact element 16 with which the smart card module 14 can interact with a smart card reader. Typically, the smart card module 14 would be mounted to a circuit substrate 18, commonly but not exclusively formed from a plastics material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is of comparable dimensions to the card-reader contact element 16, and an integrated circuit chip 20 would be mounted to a reverse side of the circuit substrate 18 at an integrated circuit connection element, so as to be in electrical communication with the card-reader contact element 16.

The card-reader contact element 16 is formed in accordance with ISO Regulations 7810 and 7816, having a plurality of card-reader contact pads, six in the depicted embodiment, which are able to make physical contact with the smart card reader in use. Other card-reader contact element arrangements are known, often utilising different numbers or configurations of contact pads. For example, eight contact pads are possible.

The smart card body 12 comprises a smart card body substrate 22 which provides the structural support for the smart card 10 and to which the smart card module 14 can be embedded. On one side of the smart card body substrate 22 is positioned a front printed layer 24, over which is applied a protective, light-transmissible front overlay 26. On the reverse, nominally rear, side of the smart card body substrate 22 is positioned a rear printed layer 28, over which is applied a protective, light-transmissible rear overlay 30.

Each of the front and rear printed layers 24, 28 will typically have a graphic design applied thereto, generally with aesthetically-pleasing colouration and branding, which is then visible to a user through the front and rear overlays 26, 30. The layers 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are generally formed from plastics materials, which may be the same or different between the layers 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, typically being selected from the group of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), PET or polycarbonate (PC), which are then laminated together in a large press.

Through the front printed layer 24 and front overlay 26 is cut, typically via a milling process, a smart card module receiving portion 32, sized so as to allow the smart card module 14 to be inserted therethrough, with a corresponding smart card module receptacle 34 being partially cut into the smart card body substrate 22. To assemble the smart card 10, the smart card module 14 is inserted into the smart card module receptacle 34 and embedded into the smart card body substrate 22.

If the smart card 10 is designed to have contactless functionality, then there may be an RFID antenna embedded or otherwise mounted on the smart card body substrate 22, being electrically communicable with the integrated circuit chip 20, and thereby enabling contactless activation of the integrated circuit chip 20.

The hereafter described embodiments of the invention include smart cards having such contactless functionality. Identical or similar features of the above-described smart card 10 will be referred to using identical or similar reference numerals, and further detailed description will be omitted for brevity.

The first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the smart card being indicated globally at 110. The smart card 110 has a layered smart card body 112 having a graphic 136 thereon, or similarly patterned, coloured or textured surface; this can be seen in Figure 2b which is a pictorial representation of a cross-section through the line A-A shown in Figure 2a.

As illustrated, the smart card module receiving portion 132 of the smart card 110 is shaped so as to match or substantially match a shape of the extended circuit substrate 118. The smart card module 114 can then be installed into the recessed opening formed by the smart card module receiving portion 132, and secured in place. The layered structure of the smart card body 112 is best illustrated in Figure 2b.

In this embodiment, the, preferably extended, circuit substrate 118 is formed so as to include a logo 138 formed thereon, which thereby acts as a smart card module overlay 140, altering the overall appearance of the smart card 110. A standard circuit substrate 18, as shown in Figure 1, is typically formed such that the card reader contact element 16 occupies the vast majority of the available surface area of one side of the circuit substrate 18, usually with only a very small trim or overhang of exposed circuit substrate 18 around the outside of the card-reader contact element 16. Herein and throughout, the term ‘extended’ in relation to the circuit substrate 118 refers to a circuit substrate which has a surface area considerably greater than that of the card-reader contact element 116, preferably at or at least one and a half times the surface area of the card-reader contact element 116, and more preferably equal to or in excess of twice the surface area.

Once the smart card module 114 is installed, the front overlay 126 of the smart card 110 can be affixed to the smart card body substrate 122. In the present embodiment, there is provided an overlap portion 141 of the front overlay 126, which at least in part overlaps the smart card module overlay 140, and helps to retain the smart card module 114 in position.

After the front overlay 126 has been installed, the card-reader contact element 116 will be flush or substantially flush with the front overlay 126 of the smart card 110 extending over the front printed layer 124 of the smart card body 112. This allows the card-reader contact element 116 to make contact with a card-reader in use.

An antenna 142 is formed on the smart card module 114 to permit contactless connection with a card-reader. The antenna 142 may be formed as an extended coil, to thereby improve the contactless functionality of the antenna 142, and is here formed on the rear of the circuit substrate 118 of the smart card module 114. Antennae may, of course, be formed on the front of the circuit substrate 118, on both sides of the circuit substrate 118, or be formed so as to be on a separate circuit substrate in electrical communication with an integrated circuit chip 120 of the smart card 110. Ideally, the antenna 142 will be formed from a low electrical-resistance material, such as graphene.

An alternative embodiment of the smart card 110’ is illustrated in Figure 2c. Identical or similar reference numerals are used to refer to identical or similar components to that of Figure 2b. In this embodiment, the smart card overlay 140’ may be printed onto a rear of the front overlay 126’, so as to be visible therethrough.

The visibility of the logo 138 of the smart card overlay 140, 140’ in each of the embodiments described above serves to enhance the visual appeal and prestige of the smart card 110, 110’ as a whole. A second embodiment of the smart card is shown in Figures 3a and 3b, and indicated globally as 210; again, Figure 3b shows as cross-section through line B-B illustrated in Figure 3 a.

The smart card module 214 is again secured in position at or adjacent to the front printed layer 224 of the smart card 210. However, there is no overlap portion provided of the front overlay 226, whilst still permitting the card-reader contact element 216, being in contact with an integrated circuit chip 220, to lie flush or substantially flush with the front overlay 226.

However, in this embodiment of smart card 210, there is printed, etched or otherwise applied directly onto the smart card substrate 222 of the smart card module 214 an indicia graphic, such as a smart card issuer logo 244. As such, the smart card module receiving portion 232 is cut so as to match or substantially match a perimeter of the smart card module 214, which in turn is the shape of the smart card issuer logo 244. This may be different to a primary graphic 236 printed onto the front printed layer 224 of the smart card 210. This allows the overall appearance of the smart card 210 to be consistent across the whole of the front surface, despite the need to include a larger than standard smart card module receiving portion 232.

In this instance, the smart card module overlay 240, that is, the printed smart card issuer logo 244, is printed behind the smart card module 214, and is therefore only visible if the circuit substrate 218 of the smart card module 214 is at least in part light-transmissible.

The antenna 242 shown in Figures 3a and 3b here formed so as to be shaped to match the perimeter of the smart card module receiving portion 232, again improving the overall appearance of the smart card 210.

As a means of improving the visual appeal of the smart card 210, in particular from the perspective of user prestige, it may be possible to coat the circuit substrate 218 at least in part from a visually appealing material, such as a precious metal, for example being gold leaf. A precious metal coating could feasibly be applied to the circuit substrate 218 for this purpose, such as, but not limited to, gold, silver, platinum, osmium, iridium, palladium, rhenium and ruthenium, or alloys thereof. In such an instance, the precious metal coating could act as the smart card module overlay 240. A third embodiment of a smart card is illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, and indicated globally as 310. Figure 4c shows the cross-section through line C-C in Figure 4a.

The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment in many regards; the smart card module 314 is inserted into the smart card body substrate 322 via the smart card module receiving portion 332 such that the card-reader contact element 316, in communication with an integrated circuit chip 320, lies flush or substantially flush with the front overlay 326 of the smart card body 312, on an opposite side to the rear printed layer 328 and rear overlay 330. Again, there is a graphic portion, here a complementary secondary graphic 346 which matches or substantially matches a primary graphic 336 which is printed, etched or otherwise applied directly onto the front printed layer 324.

However, the difference in this embodiment is that the complementary secondary graphic 346 is formed on a front facing surface 348 of the extended circuit substrate 318, and may be positioned so as to obscure or occlude the position of the antenna 342 thereunder. This serves to mitigate the risk of the smart card 310 being hacked or otherwise illegally accessed by illicit tampering with the antenna 342. As an alternative, the antenna 342 could be formed so as to be visible, and thereby at least part of the antenna 342 could define at least a portion of the module overlay 340. This may beneficially enhance the aesthetic appearance of the smart card 310, allowing the antenna to, for example, be shaped so as to complement branding of the smart card 310.

Furthermore, the complementary secondary graphic 346 is formed so as to be match or substantially match the primary graphic 336 on the front printed layer 324 of the smart card body 312, for visual effect, though it will be apparent that a similar non-complementary graphic, as described above with reference to the second embodiment, could be provided.

The concept of occluding the antenna whilst visually improving the smart card can be taken further, as illustrated in the fourth embodiment of the invention, indicated in Figures 5a to 5d globally as 410. Figure 5d shows the cross-section through line D-D in Figure 5c.

In this embodiment, there is provided a smart card module overlay 440 which is sized so as to match an area of the smart card module receiving portion 432, having a card-reader contact opening 450 formed therein. The smart card module overlay 440 can then be used to completely or partially occlude the smart card module 414.

Figure 5a shows the smart card body 412 without the smart card module overlay 440 having been applied over the smart card module 414. In this embodiment, the smart card 410 has a smart card module 414 having an antenna 442 which is relatively tortuous and visually unappealing. Such an antenna 442 arrangement is able to boost the performance of the contactless functionality of the smart card 410, though the user will not wish to see the antenna 442 for aesthetic and/or security reasons, either through the smart card module receiving portion 432 or through the rear of the smart card body 412, via the rear printed layer 428 and rear overlay 430.

The smart card module overlay 440 is shown in detail in Figure 5b; the smart card module overlay 440 is formed so as to appear to give the appearance of being contiguous with the front overlay 426. The overall impression is designed to minimise any difference between a graphic 436 on the printed layer 424 below the front overlay 426 and a complementary second graphic 444 on the smart card module overlay 440.

As the smart card module overlay 440 is opaque or substantially opaque, it provides a physical barrier to light, occluding the antenna 442 thereunder.

The card-reader contact opening 450 is formed in the smart card module overlay 440 to permit the card-reader contact element 416 to project therethrough once the smart card 410 is assembled such that the card-reader contact element 416 is in electrical communication with the integrated circuit chip 420. Once installed, an outermost surface 452 of the smart card module overlay 440 lies flush or substantially flush with an outermost surface 454 of the front overlay 426 of the smart card body 412, thereby enhancing the appearance of continuity across the smart card 410.

As illustrated in Figure 5c, the smart card module overlay 440 can be applied over the smart card module receiving portion 432 of the smart card 410, with the second graphic 444 matching or substantially matching the first said graphic 436 on the smart card body 412 to form a continuous visual appeal for the smart card 410 as a whole.

By obscuring the antenna 442 underneath, it is possible for the smart card module overlay 440 to form an additional barrier which increases the security of the smart card 410, preventing a third party from readily, typically physically, tampering with the antenna 442. This obfuscation can be readily seen in Figure 5d. Potentially, the smart card module overlay 440 may be affixed to the smart card module 414 which it is occluding using a method which will disable the smart card 410 if tampered with. For example, the smart card module overlay 440 could be affixed using a strong adhesive which would cause damage to the circuit on the smart card module 414 were the smart card module overlay 440 to be interfered with.

In all of the above embodiments and options, to further enhance security, the smart card module overlay is preferably bonded or secured by other suitable fastening means to at least part of the antenna and/or at least part of other components of the module. Attempted removal of the smart card module overlay will thus result in damage to the smart card module, disabling the smart card and thus preventing or limiting unauthorised access thereto. To further improve this said security feature, one or more parts of the smart card module may be frangible or formed with one or more weak points to simplify fracture or breakage of the smart card module during attempted removal of the smart card module overlay.

It will be appreciated that although the smart card module is designed here to have an extended circuit substrate, that is, so as to be significantly larger in area than the card-reader contact element, typically up to twice the area, the smart card module could be provided having a standard-sized circuit substrate, if desired.

It is therefore possible to provide a smart card having a smart card module embedded therein, the smart card module having an extended circuit substrate with an antenna thereon. The visual appearance of the smart card can then be altered by providing a first overlay on the smart card which defines a smart card module receiving portion therein, and a second overlay which is positionable over at least part of the embedded smart card module to at least in part cover the antenna.

Such an arrangement allows the manufacturer several means by which a visually appealing smart card can be produced despite the smart card having a sufficiently large smart card module receiving portion to accommodate an extended or oversized smart card module therein. As an additional benefit, the second overlay can be utilised as a means by which the antenna can be concealed, improving the security of the smart card.

The words ‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention herein described and defined.

Claims

1. A smart card comprising a smart card body and a smart card module mounted on the smart card body, the smart card module having a circuit substrate; a card-reader contact element on one side of the circuit substrate for connection to a smart card reader; an integrated circuit connection element in electrical communication with the card-reader contact element and to which an integrated circuit chip is mountable; and an antenna on the circuit substrate and which is connected to the integrated circuit connection element for receiving radio-frequency signals from the smart card reader to energise the integrated circuit, the antenna being positioned on the circuit substrate so as to be at least in part spaced from the card-reader contact element; and a module overlay which is associated with at least part of the circuit substrate.

2. A smart card as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module overlay is formed on a light-transmissible portion of a front overlay of the smart card body.

3. A smart card as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the module overlay comprises a printed graphic thereon which is visible from a front of the smart card.

4. A smart card as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the circuit substrate is formed so as to be non-quadrilateral.

5. A smart card as claimed in claim 1, wherein a light-transmissible portion of a front overlay of the smart card body at least in part extends over the module overlay.

6. A smart card as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the module overlay s formed on a front surface of the circuit substrate.

7. A smart card as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit substrate is at least in part light-transmissible.

8. A smart card as claimed in claim 7, wherein the module overlay is formed on the smart card body behind the smart card module so as to be visible through the light-transmissible circuit substrate.

9. A smart card as claimed in claim 7, wherein the module overlay is formed on a rear of the smart card module so as to be visible through the light-transmissible circuit substrate.

10. A smart card as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module overlay is formed separately to the smart card module and the smart card body.

11. A smart card as claimed in claim 10, wherein the smart card body includes a front overlay, the module overlay being flush or substantially flush with the front overlay.

12. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the module overlay at least in part covers the antenna.

13. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna at least in part defines a portion of the module overlay.

14. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the module overlay provides an anti-tamper barrier.

15. A smart card as claimed in claim 14, wherein the module overlay is affixed whereby removal disables the smart card module.

16. A smart card as claimed in in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the module overlay lies adjacent to the card-reader contact element.

17. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smart card body includes a smart card module receiving opening in which the smart card module is receivable.

18. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smart card body includes a graphic thereon.

19. A smart card as claimed in claim 18, wherein the module overlay comprises a complementary second graphic thereon so as to match or substantially match the first said graphic when installed.

20. A smart card as claimed in claim 18, wherein the module overlay comprises a non-complementary graphic thereon which is different to the first said graphic when installed.

21. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the module overlay at least in part includes a precious metal coating.

22. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna and card-reader contact element are offset from one another on the extended circuit substrate.

23. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna is provided on one side of the circuit substrate.

24. A smart card as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the antenna is provided on both sides of the circuit substrate.

25. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna is a coil.

26. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna comprises a low electrical-resistance material.

27. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna is formed so as to match or substantially match a shape of the circuit substrate.

28. A smart card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit substrate is formed as an extended circuit substrate which has an area which is greater than that of the card-reader contact element.

29. A smart card substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 2a and 2b, Figures 2a and 2c, Figures 3a and 3b, Figures 4a and 4b, Figures 4a and 4c, or Figures 5a to 5d of the accompanying drawings.

30. A smart card module unit for a smart card as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, the smart card module unit comprising: a circuit substrate; a card-reader contact element on one side of the circuit substrate for connection to a smart card reader; an integrated circuit connection element in electrical communication with the card-reader contact element and to which an integrated circuit chip is mountable; an antenna on the circuit substrate and which is connected to the integrated circuit connection element for receiving radio-frequency signals from the smart card reader to energise the integrated circuit, the antenna being positioned on the circuit substrate so as to be at least in part spaced from the card-reader contact element; and a module overlay which is associated with at least part of the circuit substrate.

31. A method of preventing or limiting unauthorised access to a smart card module of a smart card as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, the method comprising the step of providing a module overlay on a circuit substrate of the smart card module, the module overlay being affixed to cause disablement of the smart card module on at least in part removal.

31. A method of concealing at least part of an antenna of a smart card module having a circuit substrate of a smart card as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, the method comprising the step of: providing a module overlay on the smart card module which overlies at least part of the antenna on the circuit substrate.