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EP-4049179-B1 - METAL CARD WITH BIOMETRIC FEATURES

EP4049179B1EP 4049179 B1EP4049179 B1EP 4049179B1EP-4049179-B1

Inventors

  • LOWE, ADAM

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20201022

Claims (20)

  1. A metal transaction card comprising: at least one metal layer (500, 580, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1102); a biometric sensor (10, 1030); one or more payment interface components (30) configured to interface with a card reader; a secure element configured to exchange information with the card reader pursuant to processing a financial transaction; at least one logic component connected to the biometric sensor (10, 1030) and configured to compare information detected by the biometric sensor (10, 1030) to stored information and to enable processing of the financial transaction only upon a detected match between the detected and stored information; and wherein the biometric sensor (10, 1030) is not visible from an outer surface of the card.
  2. The metal transaction card of claim 1, wherein one or more the biometric sensor (10, 1030), the one or more payment interface components (30), the secure element, and the at least one logic component are disposed on an inlay (640, 740, 940, 960, 1124).
  3. The metal transaction card of claim 2, further comprising at least one non-metal layer (500, 520, 560, 580, 600, 680) disposed between a first surface of the inlay layer (640, 740, 940, 960, 1124) and the metal layer (500, 580, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1102).
  4. The metal transaction card of claims 2 or 3, further comprising at least one other layer assembled on a second surface of the inlay layer ( 640, 740, 940, 960, 1124).
  5. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the one or more payment interface components (30) comprises a set of physical contacts configured to interface with a card reader and accessible from a surface of the card.
  6. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the one or more payment interface components (30) comprises one or more antennae (50, 500) configured for contactless communication with a card reader.
  7. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the one or more antennae (50, 500) is configured for contactless communication with a card reader in the nature of short-range wireless interconnection.
  8. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the one or more payment interface components (30) comprises a dual interface chip comprising a set of physical contacts configured to interface with a card reader and accessible from a surface of the card, one or more antennae (50, 500) configured for contactless communication with a card reader, and the secure element in a single integrated payment module.
  9. The transaction card of claim 5, wherein the at least one logic component further comprises the secure element connected to the set of physical contacts.
  10. The transaction card of claim 9, wherein the at least one logic component comprises the secure element, a microprocessor configured to compare information detected by the biometric sensor (10, 1030) to stored information, computer memory for storing the stored information, and one or more antennae (50, 500) configured for contactless communication with a card reader in a single integrated secure processing module.
  11. The transaction card of any one of the foregoing claims, further comprising at least one opening (12, 32, 660, 812, 832, 1110, 1112) in the metal layer (500, 580, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1102).
  12. The transaction card of claim 11, wherein the one or more payment interface components (30) configured to interface with a card reader comprises contacts accessible through the at least one opening (12, 32, 660, 812, 832, 1110, 1112).
  13. The transaction card of claims 11 or 12, wherein the biometric sensor (10, 1030) is accessible through the at least one opening (12, 32, 660, 812, 832, 1110, 1112).
  14. The transaction card of any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the biometric sensor (10, 1030) is a fingerprint sensor.
  15. The transaction card of any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the biometric sensor (10, 1030) comprises an image capture device.
  16. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor (10, 1030) is configured to detect a change in reflected radiation corresponding to biometric user information.
  17. The transaction card of claim 16, wherein the biometric sensor (10, 1030) is an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
  18. The transaction card of claim 1, further comprising visible indicia on an outer surface of the card aligned with the biometric sensor (10, 1030) to signify a lateral location of the sensor relative to a periphery of the card.
  19. A method for making a transaction card of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one metal layer (500, 580, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1102); (b) providing an inlay layer ( 640, 740, 940, 960, 1124) comprising a biometric sensor (10, 1030), one or more payment interface components (30) configured to interface with a card reader; a secure element configured to exchange information with the card reader pursuant to processing a financial transaction; and at least one logic component connected to the biometric sensor (10, 1030) and configured to compare information detected by the biometric sensor (10, 1030) to stored information and to enable processing of the financial transaction only upon a detected match between the detected and stored information; (c) assembling the card with the biometric sensor (10, 1030) and the one or more payment interface components (30) in communication with the inlay and configured to obtain transaction information and biometric information originating from a location on or above the metal layer (500, 580, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1102).
  20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: (d) providing at least one non-metal layer (500, 520, 560, 580, 600, 680); (e) providing at least one other layer; (f) disposing the at least one non-metal layer (500, 520, 560, 580, 600, 680) between a first surface of the inlay layer ( 640, 740, 940, 960, 1124) and the at least one metal layer (500, 580, 600, 700, 900, 1000, 1102) and disposing the at least one other layer on a second surface of the inlay layer ( 640, 740, 940, 960, 1124).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application No. 62/925,926, filed October 25, 2019, entitled METAL CARD WITH BIOMETRIC FEATURES. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Biometric sensors such as fingerprint detection devices are becoming ubiquitous in the field of security, including in connection with payment devices, such as mobile phones and transaction cards. For example, standard plastic credit cards with biometric sensors have been documented in a number of patent applications, including but not limited to U.S. Published Patent Application No. US20090145972A1 and US20180357457A1. Consumers increasingly have an interest in using premium transactions cards, such those made of metal, ceramic, or a combination thereof, which poses additional considerations for providing biometric features. US 2016/188916 A1 illustrates for example a programmable dynamic magnetic stripe card. The programmable dynamic magnetic stripe card includes a solenoid coil for generating a magnetic field and solenoid coil driver circuitry for driving the solenoid coil to generate a magnetic field. To improve the quality of the magnetic field generated, a biasing magnet is placed adjacent to the solenoid coil. US 2019/073578 A1 relates to a transaction card and a process of making the transaction card are described. The transaction card that includes a core having first and second faces, a core thickness therebetween, and an opening, and embedded electronics disposed in the opening. US 2019/286805 A1 concerns a secure and tamper resistant smart card configured to immutably store data and securely exchange at least a portion of the data via, for example, wireless networks and/or peer-to-peer networks. The smart card comprises a plurality of dedicated hardware circuit blocks electrically coupled via a bus interconnection, the plurality of dedicated hardware circuit blocks configured to authenticate users, verify trust amongst the smart card and external devices, and encrypt sensitive data for secure transmission. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is defined in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 depicts a portion of an exemplary printed circuit board (PCB) containing an inlay for use with a biometric card, shown from a front side of the PCB that would face a front of a finished card.FIG. 2A depicts an exemplary inlay for use in a biometric card shown from a back side that would face a back side of a finished card.FIG. 2B depicts the exemplary inlay of FIG. 2A with a first additional layer covering the inlay.FIG. 3 depicts a finished card with a biometric sensor window visible from the front of the card.FIG. 4 depicts a finished card with a biometric sensor located beneath a top surface layer of the card, with a graphic indicator showing the location of the sensor.FIG. 5 depicts a cross sectional view of an exemplary card assembly.FIG. 6 depicts a cross sectional view of another exemplary card assembly, having an inlay embedded in a recess in the metal card body.FIG. 7 depicts a cross sectional view of another exemplary card assembly, showing non-conductive fill surrounding the payment chip component and the biometric sensor in a card made by an exemplary process.FIG. 8 depicts a depicts a cross sectional view of another exemplary card assembly, showing non-conductive fill surrounding the payment chip component and the biometric sensor in a card made by another exemplary process.FIG. 9 depicts a cross sectional view of another exemplary card assembly, having one inlay embedded in a recess in the metal card body interfacing with another inlay having full-face dimensions.FIG. 10 depicts a cross sectional view of another exemplary card assembly, having no inlay, and wherein electric components are recessed directly into openings in the metal body and connected to one another via conductive traces inset into insulated grooves in the metal layer.FIGS. 11A-D depict cross sectional views of another exemplary card assembly in various steps in an exemplary assembly process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As depicted in FIGs. 1 and 2A, an exemplary biometric circuit 10 for use in a transaction card may comprise a biometric sensor 10, a logic circuit 20, and a payment interface component 30. The circuit is embedded on a substrate 40, which substrate may further include an antenna 50 and a plurality of traces 60 connecting the various components. Biometric sensor 10 may comprise, for example, a fingerprint sensor configured to detect a fingerprint on any finger or thumb of a human user. Exemplary fingerprint biometric sensors and related technology are well known in the art, including but not limited to sensors for detecting the ridges and valleys in the fingerprint based upon temperature, optical images, capacitance, electrical resistance, differential pressure, acoustic methods, and