JPH09220888A - Credit card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize also the use of a credit card as the transmitting medium of visible information. SOLUTION: This card has a magnetic stripe 2, for example, as an information recording part having a region for recording at least credit member information and an information displaying part 3, in which a magnetic recording system reversible displaying element containing magnetic field inductive magnetic powder in microcapsules as a reversible displaying element reversibly allowing to display and erase visible information or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a credit card, and more particularly to a credit card that also includes an information display unit capable of repeatedly recording and erasing visible information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Credit cards having a magnetic stripe as an information recording means have been widely used. In addition, recently, a credit card having an IC chip or the like in addition to the magnetic stripe has appeared in view of the amount of information recorded and the function.

[0003]

By the way, a credit company provides various services in addition to providing a basic service of distributing credit cards to its members and giving the convenience of product purchase by credit. However, under the present circumstances, these various services are performed by notifying the desired information by mail each time. For example, information on events, planned products, etc. is mailed together with the usage statement to be mailed every month, or mailed each time to notify, and it is not possible to provide detailed services. In addition, a point service that credit companies and credit affiliated stores can give points according to the amount of purchases and number of purchases of products by using credits and redeem points for products We guide you by filling in points etc. Therefore, the member cannot know the current accumulated points unless the information of the usage statement is used, and the accumulated points increasing each time credit is used can be known only on a monthly basis. As described above, the means of transmitting information about entertainments, planned products, and point services to members is by mail, but CAT (Credit authorization for credit reference when using credit).
terminal) or POS (Point Of S)
ales) It is also possible to print cumulative points and guidance messages etc. on the usage statement (customer copy) issued at each approval terminal (customer copy) and communicate it to the member. In order to always be able to check, it is necessary to always keep or carry the usage statement in a familiar place, which is troublesome.

[0004]

Therefore, the credit card of the present invention has a reversible display element which has an information recording section having at least an area for recording credit member information and which can reversibly display and erase visible information. It is configured to have the information display unit used. The reversible display element is a magnetic recording type reversible display element in which magnetic powder sensitive to a magnetic field is contained in microcapsules. The information recording unit is a magnetic stripe, an IC memory, or both.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The credit card of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a credit card of the present invention. The credit card 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a magnetic stripe 2 as an information recording portion on the front surface side of a base material 1 and a reversible display element of a magnetic recording type reversible magnetic field sensitive magnetic powder contained in microcapsules. An information display section 3 using a display element (hereinafter, also referred to as a reversible display element of a magnetic microcapsule) and the like. Further, it also has an embossed character portion 4 on which a name, an ID number, etc. are embossed. This embossed character portion is provided as needed. In the case of FIG. 1, the information recording unit is only the magnetic stripe, but the information recording unit may be another information recording unit such as an IC memory, or both the magnetic stripe and the IC memory may be used. good. Figure 3 shows the magnetic stripe 2 and IC
Another embodiment of the credit card of the present invention, which includes an IC chip 5 having a memory as an information recording unit, will be described.

First, as the base material 1 of the credit card 10, various plastics such as polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate may be used, or a conventionally known material such as metal or cardboard in a plate or sheet form. Generally, the thickness is about 0.5 to 2.0 mm from the viewpoint of strength and the like, and the size is not particularly limited, but it is usually 54 mm in length and 86 m in width.
The size is m or the like.

The magnetic stripe 2 is an information recording portion having a conventionally known magnetic recording layer formed by transfer printing or the like, and a predetermined area of the magnetic stripe is a credit such as a membership number for identifying the owner of a credit card. At least member information is recorded. Normally, one magnetic stripe has a plurality of tracks, but any one track is open to the credit member information. Further, the IC chip 5 is an information recording unit that has an IC memory and performs electronic reading and writing, and the credit member information may be recorded in this portion instead of in the magnetic stripe.

The information display unit 3, which is a feature of the present invention, is a unit that can repeatedly display and display visible information such as characters and figures. In the credit card of the present invention, a reversible display element is used for this information display unit. Reversible display element means heat,
It is a display element capable of reversibly rewriting visible information with external energy such as an electric field and a magnetic field. Specifically, for example, a reversible display element of magnetic recording type is used. This reversible display device of the magnetic recording type uses magnetic microcapsules in which magnetic powder that is sensitive to a magnetic field is suspended in a liquid in a microcapsule, and the display content is rewritten by applying a magnetic field from the outside. be able to. As a reversible display element of a magnetic microcapsule, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
The one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. -16578 can be used. Examples of the reversible display element other than the magnetic recording method include, for example, a reversible display element of a heat sensitive recording method capable of reversibly changing to a transparent state and a cloudy state by heating and cooling, and a reversible display by an electric field and heating. A reversible display element of an electric / thermal recording type that can be used is mentioned. Specifically, the heat-sensitive recording type has a polymer / fatty acid composite film in which a fatty acid is dispersed in a polymer matrix, and the electric / heat recording type has a liquid crystal dispersed in a polymer matrix. / Polymer composite film, etc.

Comparing the performance of these various reversible display elements, a reversible display element of the heat-sensitive recording type by heating and cooling is
The display may be erased due to heat in the usage environment such as when the credit card is carried or stored. In this respect, the reversible display element using the magnetic microcapsules is excellent in reliability because of the recording method by the magnetic field that is not applied in the normal state. Further, the electric / thermal recording type reversible display element is also excellent in reliability in this respect, because electricity (electric field) that is not applied in a normal use state is used for either one of erasing and printing. Therefore, a thermal recording method or other type is used for applications in which the display may be accidentally erased, and an electrical / thermal recording method or magnetic microcapsule is used for applications requiring reliable display. Moreover, it is desirable to selectively use the reversible display element depending on the application. In the following description, it is assumed that a reversible display element of magnetic microcapsules is used.

The information display section rewrites and displays the visible information by the reversible display element. However, even in the conventional credit card, the signature field filled in by the member himself / herself with a writing instrument can be rewritten if an appropriate writing instrument is used. However, the signature field is a display unit for fixed and irreversible display information called a signature, and is different from the information display unit capable of reversibly displaying the present invention.

The information display unit 3 displays information about events for members, planned products, points, and the like as necessary when credits are used and transmits the information to members in a timely manner. By the way, in the display example of Fig. 3, the information display section 3 displays "overseas exclusive card 5 days issuance speed" to notify the overseas exclusive card service provided by the credit company to increase the number of users of the exclusive card. Is intended. In addition, in the credit card illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic stripe 2 is provided above the front surface of the card.
However, the information display section 3 is provided below the front side surface so as not to interfere with the magnetic stripe. The position where the information display unit 3 is provided is not limited to the same surface as the magnetic stripe or the connection terminal of the IC chip, of course, and may be any place as long as the function of the card is not hindered. For example, the magnetic stripe may be provided on the front surface of the card, and the information display portion may be provided on a part or the entire back surface of the card. The information display section may be provided at two or more places. Further, the shape and size of the information display portion may be determined in consideration of the display capacity, the design of the card, the allowable space, etc., and may be a shape other than the rectangular shape shown in the drawing.

A magnetic recording type reversible display element, which is one of the reversible display elements used in the information display section 3, has magnetic microcapsules dispersed in a resin to form a display layer.
The display layer is formed on the base material of the card by some method to form an information display section. Here, the magnetic recording type reversible display element disclosed in JP-A-5-16578 will be outlined. Magnetic powder of magnetic microcapsules includes iron, nickel, iron-nickel alloy, aluminum-
Coal alloy, samarium-cobalt alloy, or other metal powder or alloy powder, etc., with a flaky particle size of about 3 to 15 μm,
Usually, a magnetic powder having a holding power of 500 [Oe] or more is used. Then, by filling this magnetic powder in a microcapsule together with a liquid and suspending the liquid in the liquid, the reflected light from the aligned magnetic powder changes in response to the direction of the magnetic field applied from the outside, and a reversible display element is obtained. This is a mechanism in which visible information can be displayed by changing the reflection density of. That is, when a horizontal magnetic field is applied from the outside, the magnetic powder is oriented horizontally, and the incident light from the outside is reflected by the magnetic powder to see the color exhibited by the magnetic powder,
When a vertical magnetic field is applied from the outside, the magnetic powder is vertically oriented, and the incident light from the outside passes through the magnetic microcapsules, not the magnetic powder, and the color of the lower layer can be seen.

As the liquid in the magnetic microcapsules, a liquid obtained by dissolving a thermoplastic resin in a mixed liquid of a polar liquid and a hydrophobic liquid is used. The polar liquid is an alcohol, a ketone, an ester, a carboxylic acid, an amino compound or the like having a polar group such as a hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group, for example, an ester such as an aromatic ester or a fatty acid ester, and Specific examples thereof include dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl sebacate and the like. The hydrophobic liquid is a low-volatile aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof, such as those commonly used for microcapsules of Norcabon copying paper. Also,
As the thermoplastic resin, for example, a vinyl resin such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetate, etc., an acrylic resin, ethyl cellulose, etc. are dissolved in the liquid in an amount of about 2 to 50 wt% to make the viscosity of the liquid in the microcapsules appropriate. Further, a colorant may be added to the liquid to improve the display contrast.

The magnetic microcapsules are formed by a conventionally known microencapsulation method, and the particle size of the magnetic microcapsules is usually 10 to 100 μm in volume average.
It is. Further, the binder resin which holds the magnetic microcapsules in a dispersed state and serves as the display layer protects the microcapsules from damage, and from the viewpoint of film-forming properties and adhesion, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, etc. The water-soluble resin is generally used.

Next, there is a method of providing a display layer in which magnetic microcapsules are dispersed in a resin on a base material of a card. A method of directly forming on the base material and another sheet such as polyethylene terephthalate as a support are used. After forming, this is cut into an appropriate size like a label and then attached to the base material of the card. Whichever method is used, the coating liquid or ink in which the magnetic microcapsules and the binder resin are dispersed and dissolved in an appropriate solvent is applied or printed to have a thickness of 5 to 20.
A display layer of about 0 μm is formed. If it is directly formed on the substrate, it is usually formed in a pattern, so it is performed by a printing method such as silk screen printing, and if it is indirectly formed on another support, the entire surface is formed. According to In either direct formation or indirect formation, a transparent protective layer is provided on the upper side (when it becomes a card) of the display layer composed of the magnetic microcapsules and the binder resin to increase the strength of the display layer, and on the lower side. A display layer can be improved by providing a colored layer such as black. Also, if the reversible display element is formed into a label and then indirectly provided on the base material of the card to form the information display portion, in order to prevent a step from being formed on the card surface by the thickness of the label, The material is provided with a recess corresponding to the thickness of the label,
By sticking the label so as to be embedded in the recess, a card having a flat surface without steps can be obtained.

[0016]

According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately display various information (for example, product advertisements, entertainment information, and cumulative purchase information up to the present, point service information, etc.) to credit card member customers. It is possible to provide detailed service to member customers. In the advertisement of products and the guide of entertainment, information can be notified in a timely manner each time a credit card is used, and in the point service information, points can be confirmed at any time by using a card carried with the user instead of the usage statement and receipt for each time. Further, if a reversible display element of magnetic microcapsules is used for display, the display is not erased even when left at high temperature, and the display reliability is excellent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of a credit card of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a display on the credit card of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing another embodiment of the credit card of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Base Material 2 Magnetic Stripe (Information Recording Section) 3 Information Display Section 4 Embossed Character Section 5 IC Chip (Information Recording Section) 10 Credit Card

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G11B 5/80 G06K 19/00 F

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A credit card having at least an information recording section provided with an area for recording credit member information, and an information display section using a reversible display element capable of reversibly displaying and erasing visible information. A credit card characterized by. 2. The credit card according to claim 1, wherein the reversible display element is a magnetic recording type reversible display element in which magnetic powders sensitive to a magnetic field are contained in microcapsules. 3. The credit card according to claim 1, wherein the information recording section is a magnetic stripe. 4. The credit card according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the information recording unit is an IC memory.