MXPA00005530A - Smart card provided with guarantee label - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a smart card (10) comprising an electronic module provided with an electric and/or electromagnetic communication interface consisting of electric contacts (12) and/or an antenna (22). The invention is characterised in that it comprises at least a guarantee label (14) glued on one of its surfaces and capable of being unstuck with adhesive failure, said label being capable of preventing said interface (12, 22) from communicating externally. The label is further capable of revealing that it has been repositioned after being unstuck.

Description

CARD WITH SILICON CHIP PROVIDED WITH WARRANTY LABEL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the integrated circuit (s) cards (s) called cards with ch ± p provided with a non-use guarantee device. Numerous cards with a silicon chip are used as means of payment, and are charged with a frequent credit consisting of a sum of money or a certain number of consumer units such as, for example, minimum telephone communication rates. These cards with chip are sold in commerce, and it is necessary to guarantee to the buyer that the card he buys is "virgin", that is to say that he has never been used, and that his consumption credit is maximum, that is, that corresponds to the nominal value of the card. Currently, this is obtained by packing the chip cards in a plastic film that is generally transparent and sealed. This guarantee is not very effective for chip cards that work without contact, ie in which the interchange interface with the payment or perception devices is an antenna integrated in the card.

On the other hand, the unpacking of the chip card is often difficult because the plastic protection and warranty wrap does not break easily. In addition, these wrappers are a waste that is often thrown away by the buyer at the time he uses his chip card for the first time. On the other hand, the price of the plastic wrap, and especially its placement, entail a not insignificant cost. It has already been proposed to provide a guarantee label constituted by a deposit of material that masks the interface of the card with chip (antenna or electrical contacts) and that can be eliminated by scraping. This scraping operation is not always easy or very fast. On the other hand, as this label is applied on the electronic module of the chip card, scraping has the risk of damaging the module, that is, the active part of the chip card. Finally, residues of scraping may remain that may impede the functioning of the chip card reader-receivers. The problem in the base of the invention is to provide a non-use guarantee device for a chip card that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks. For this purpose, the invention relates to a chip card (10) comprising an electronic module provided with an electrical and / or electromagnetic communication interface, consisting of electrical contacts and / or an antenna. It is distinguished because it comprises at least one guarantee label adhered on one of its surfaces and removable with an adhesive break, the label can prevent the interface from communicating with the outside. This tag is easy to place on the chip card automatically or manually, and its resale price is small. Adhesion with the possibility of adhesive rupture allows the tag to be easily started at once, without the possibility of degradation of the chip card, in particular of its active part. The label is of reduced dimensions and, if it is thrown away, it constitutes a waste much less annoying than the plastic wrappings, and it is degradable more quickly. Finally, this label does not leave traces on the chip card that had the risk of hindering the operation of the readers. According to another characteristic, the label can reveal its repositioning after its detachment. For this purpose, repositioning indicator means described infra can be provided. Thus, any attempt to defraud is discouraged and the buyer is guaranteed against prior use of the card. The label can prevent communication in different ways, depending on the communication technique used. According to one embodiment, in the case of an electrical communication, the label may comprise an insulating film that prevents an electrical communication. This film extends at least partially over the contact interface. According to another embodiment, in the case of an electromagnetic communication, even electrical, the tag may comprise on its lower face a short-circuit element that short-circuits the interface. According to another embodiment, in the case of an interface comprising an antenna, the label comprises a metallic film that forms a screen to an electromagnetic coumnication with the outside. According to another embodiment, always in the case of an interface comprising an antenna, the tag may itself comprise an antenna circuit capable of disturbing or deviating an electromagnetic communication with the outside. In the case of the short circuit and of an internal antenna, the card can comprise elements of connection of the antenna with the short circuit element. The joining elements can be formed by metallized wells. In the case of an interface with internal antenna and with contacts, certain contact zones of the interface can be used to connect the short circuit element to the internal antenna. The indicator means of repositioning the label can be made in different ways. According to different embodiments, the label may comprise one or several previous cut (s) that cause its destruction during its detachment. The label can also be made in a material that changes its appearance under the action of mechanical stress. In another case, the label can also be able to deform plastically with the detachment. It can also comprise information about its external face difficult to reproduce, such as a hologram.

In certain cases, the information may comprise an identification element. This information is specific to the chip card and allows detecting that the source label has been removed and replaced. Where appropriate, the information present on the label is capable of being correlated by an algorithm to information present on the card, or programmed in the electronic module. In another case, the information may be the extension of an information or a graphic motive present on the card, such as a printed security element. The reason may be a simple laser engraved mark on the label, on the card and / or on the module at the same time. Advantageously, the label comprises a non-adhered area. A grip zone is thus obtained, which allows the label to be grasped in order to detach it. This non-adhered area may be constituted by a grip tab. Other features and advantages of the invention will be highlighted from the description that follows, referring to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically represents, in a top view, a first embodiment of a chip card according to the invention; invention; - Figure 2 schematically represents, in a top view, a second embodiment of the invention, and - Figure 3 represents a third embodiment in the case of a chip card operating without contact. Figure 4 represents another embodiment of a label provided with security information; - Figures 5 and 6 respectively represent a module-shaped and logo-shaped label. It can be seen in Figure 1, a card with a chip 10 which is intended for example for the payment of services such as the telephone, or access to different municipal services. This chip card can also be an electronic coin holder. The chip card 10 comprises an electronic module in which, in particular, information is stored in relation to the credit amount of the services offered by the card. It also comprises a card body, of which a main surface 16 comprises generally graphic impressions. The electronic module comprises an exchange interface with the outside, which here is constituted by terminals or connection contacts 12 of which a part is seen in Figure 1. According to the invention, it was fixed on chip card 10, before of its commercialization, a label 14 that is fixed by adhesion, with the possibility of adhesive breakage, on the upper face of the card. This label 14 at least partially covers the interface of the module constituted by the electrical contacts 12. The label 14 can be made in the form of a polyimide film, paper or other material, and of an adhesive that allows to obtain an adhesive break of the label when it is removed. This adhesive is advantageously thermoactivatable, which facilitates its placement. The label 14 is removed in one piece, and leaves no traces on the chip card, in particular at the module level, which is at least partially masked by the label. The label 14 comprises a part 18 whose lower face turned towards the card 10 does not comprise adhesive, and thus is not adhered on the chip card 10. This non-adhered part constitutes a gripping tab 18, which allows the tag 14 to be grasped well. to tear it off in one fell swoop and completely.

The label 14 is advantageously made from a film reel, on which the adhesive is counter-glued. Labels of the desired size and shape are then cut to fix them on the module, for example by hot pressing. The adhesion parameters and the adhesive are defined to obtain good adhesion on the chip card 10, and in particular, on the module while guaranteeing an easy shrinkage of the label 14 while it is removed from it. The adhesion procedure can be automatic for the production of large quantities of cards, or manual for small quantities. This stage could eventually be carried out by a third party, if the latter needs to perform an intermediate transaction before the sale to the final customer. This step can, for example, be an electrical or graphic customization of the card. In Figure 2, the label 14 comprises an unattached tongue 18, projecting laterally from the outline of the chip card 10, to further facilitate peeling off the label. On the other hand, in Figure 2 the label 14 presents previous cuts 20, to obtain a rupture of the label when it is removed, which prevents replacing the label 14 after it has been detached. The label 14 can be made in a material that changes shape and / or color when subjected to mechanical stress. This embodiment makes it easy to detect any attempt at fraud. Advantageously, in order to detect any attempt to place another label on a module after having used the chip card, specific information can be set for the chip card on the label. This information may be of an advertising nature, a graphic design that integrates and prolongs the graphics of the card, a traceability information that reproduces information taken on the rest of the card. Thus, it is possible to provide printed security elements such as an engraving on intersecting lines, an inscription visible only with ultraviolet radiation or even microlines. The inscription can also be constituted by a hologram, which is a very safe element, as it is difficult to reproduce. In Figure 3, a card with chip that works without contact is represented, the interface is constituted by an antenna 22 integrated in the card.

In this case, the label 14 may comprise a conductive element 24 on its underside. This element short-circuits at least a part of the spirals of the antenna, and returns to the unusable antenna as long as the label 14 is present. It is seen that the invention allows to obtain a guarantee label 14, which can be easily removed without creating significant waste. The chip card and, in particular, the module remain intact, and there is no production of material that could impede the operation of the readers. The invention allows, thanks to the embodiment of Figure 3, to prevent any operation of the antenna and, as a consequence of the chip card. In the case of a short circuit with the internal antenna, the card may comprise antenna joining elements that open to the outside, and which are in contact with the short-circuit element. The joining elements can be formed by metallized wells. In the case where the antenna is internal, the label may comprise a metal film that forms a screen to an electromagnetic communication with the outside. This screen may comprise an antenna circuit capable of disturbing or deviating an electromagnetic communication with the outside. A screen is arranged if necessary on each side of the card, and preferably covers the entire antenna. In the case of an internal antenna and contact interface, certain contact zones of the interface can be used to connect the short-circuit element to the internal antenna. In Figure 4, the label is partly adhered on the contacts, and partly on the printing surface. It comprises an unattached tongue. An information is preferably arranged on the label, particularly on the tongue. In the example, the information is represented by (ABC ...). It can correspond to an identifier, which can be used to trace the card. The information (ABC.) Can be reported on the card to indicate that the label is well the one that is associated with it. ~~ The card may also comprise one or more lines 24 which extend over the body of the card and extend over the label. Any attempt to put back in place of the label would then be detected by a misalignment of these lines. These lines can be made by engraving or crosslinking. The label can be engraved with laser after its adhesion, the engraving is dosed to also mark the surface layer of the module. It is also possible to provide an ink jet marking or thermal transfer. In Figure 5, the label has the form of the module that covers integrally. It comprises an area not adhered 18, particularly in the form of a nail, to facilitate detachment. This embodiment has the advantage of not masking the eventual printing present on the card. In Figure 6, the label has the shape of a logo. It can thus have a supplementary function that is to transport the logo for example from the manufacturer or from the distributor.

Claims (23)

1. CLAIMS 1. Chip card comprising an electronic module provided with an electrical and / or electromagnetic communication interface constituted by electrical contacts and / or an antenna, characterized in that it comprises at least one guarantee label adhered on one of its surfaces and removable with an adhesive break, the label comprises means to prevent the interface from communicating with the outside.
2. 2. Chip card according to claim 1, wherein the label comprising means can reveal its repositioning after its detachment.
3. 3. Chip card according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the label comprises an insulating film that prevents an electrical communication.
4. 4. Chip card according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the label comprises on its lower surface a short-circuit element that short-circuits the interface.
5. 5. Card with chip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface comprises an antenna, and in which the label comprises a metal film that forms a shield to an electromagnetic communication with the outside.
6. 6. Card with chip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface comprises an antenna, and wherein the tag comprises an antenna circuit capable of disturbing or deflecting an electromagnetic communication with the outside.
7. 7. Chip card according to claim 3, wherein the label extends at least partially over the interface.
8. 8. Card with chip according to claim 4, wherein the card comprises an internal antenna and elements for connecting the antenna with the short-circuit element.
9. 9. Chip card according to claim 8, in which the joining elements are formed by metallized wells.
10. 10. Chip card according to claim 8, wherein the interface is of the contact and antenna type, and wherein the connecting elements are connected to the short-circuit element via the contact interface.
11. 11. Chip card according to the preceding claims, wherein the label comprises a non-adhered grip tab.
12. 12. Chip card according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label comprises a previous cut that causes its destruction during its detachment.
13. 13. Chip card according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label is made of a material that changes its appearance under the action of mechanical stress.
14. 14. Card with chip according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label can deform plastically with the detachment.
15. 15. Chip card according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label comprises information about its lower face.
16. 16. Chip card according to claim 15, wherein the information comprises a hologram.
17. 17. Chip card according to claim 15, wherein the information comprises an identification element.
18. 18. Card with chip according to claim 15 or 17, wherein the information present on the label is capable of being correlated by an algorithm to an information present on the card, or programmed in the electronic module.
19. 19. Card with chip according to claims 15 to 18, wherein the information is the extension of an information or a graphic motive present on the card, such as a printed security element.
20. 20. Card with chip according to claim 19, wherein the label comprises a mark engraved with laser simultaneously on the label, on the card and / or on the module.
21. 21. Card with chip according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label is identical to the electronic module.
22. 22. Card with chip according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label is so that it recalls an element of advertising type of logo type. _
23. 23. Chip card according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the label comprises a thermoactivatable adhesive.