US-12626084-B2 - Thermo-sensitive payment card

US12626084B2US 12626084 B2US12626084 B2US 12626084B2US-12626084-B2

Abstract

Technology is described for providing and using a thermo-sensitive payment card. An example payment card comprises a card substrate and a personalization layer overlaying the card substrate. The personalization layer includes a first region and a second region surrounding the first region. The first region includes an account number associated with an account of a user, and the account of the user is maintained by a payment service system that issues the payment card. At least one of the first region or the second region comprises a thermochromic ink such that application of heat to the first region or the second region having the thermochromic ink causes a change in color of the personalization layer so as to reveal the account number.

Inventors

Kyle Fletcher
Ashutosh Dhodapkar

Assignees

BLOCK, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231121

Claims (20)

1 . A payment card comprising: a hardware chip embedded in a card substrate; a biometric element embedded in the card substrate; a heating element embedded in the card substrate; the card substrate, wherein a surface of the card substrate comprises at least one thermochromic ink at a region of the card substrate, wherein a different color of the at least one thermochromic ink presents at the region responsive to changes in temperature initiated by the heating element in response to use of the biometric element of the payment card; and a graphical display, wherein the graphical display included in the payment card comprises an LCD display for displaying different information at different times that is associated with at least one of the payment card or a user account.
2 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermochromic ink visibly obfuscates a balance of the payment card without a change in temperature to present the different color of the region.
3 . The payment card of claim 2 , wherein the change in temperature is responsive to a user touching the payment card.
4 . The payment card of claim 2 , wherein the change in temperature is responsive to a user touching the region of the card substrate.
5 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermochromic ink has a substantially identical color at room temperature as at least one other region of the card substrate.
6 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the hardware chip embedded in the card substrate is a near field communication (NFC) chip.
7 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is configured to cause a temperature of the payment card to change responsive to a signal.
8 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein a change in temperature to present the different color of the region reveals additional information to the information displayed by the graphical display.
9 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the information displayed by the graphical display is presented for capture by an optical scanner.
10 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the different information comprises a QR code or a bar code and at least one of an account number, an expiration date, or a card verification value.
11 . The payment card of claim 1 , wherein the different color of the at least one thermochromic ink presents at the region responsive to changes in ambient temperature of a physical location of the payment card, and wherein a color of the at least one thermochromic ink is used to confirm the physical location of the payment card during a transaction using the payment card.
12 . A payment card comprising: a hardware chip embedded in a card substrate; a biometric element embedded in the card substrate; a heating element embedded in the card substrate; the card substrate, wherein a surface of the card substrate comprises at least one thermochromic ink at a region of the card substrate, wherein a different color of the at least one thermochromic ink presents at the region responsive to changes in temperature initiated by the heating element in response to use of the biometric element of the payment card; and a graphical display comprising an LCD display that is controllable to display different information associated with at least one of the payment card or a user account at different times.
13 . The payment card of claim 12 , wherein the at least one thermochromic ink visibly obfuscates an expiration date or a card verification value (CVV) without a change in temperature to present the different color of the region.
14 . The payment card of claim 13 , wherein the change in temperature is responsive to a user touching the payment card.
15 . The payment card of claim 13 , wherein the change in temperature is responsive to a user touching the region of the card substrate.
16 . A payment card comprising: a card substrate, wherein a surface of the card substrate comprises at least one thermochromic ink at a region of the card substrate, wherein a different color of the at least one thermochromic ink presents at the region responsive to changes in temperature initiated by a heating element in response to use of a biometric element of the payment card, and wherein a change in temperature to present the different color of the region reveals information associated with the payment card or with a user account; a hardware chip embedded in the card substrate; the biometric element embedded in the card substrate; the heating element embedded in the card substrate; and a graphical display comprising an LCD display, wherein the graphical display, included in the payment card with the card substrate having the surface comprising the at least one thermochromic ink, is configured for displaying additional information associated with at least one of the payment card or the user account.
17 . The payment card of claim 16 , wherein the information includes at least one of a notification of one or more issues related to the payment card or a reminder to take one or more timely actions.
18 . The payment card of claim 17 , wherein the one or more issues include at least one of a credit issue or a security issue.
19 . The payment card of claim 16 , wherein the information includes a message.
20 . The payment card of claim 19 , wherein the message includes at least one of: one or more letters; one or more numbers; a trademark; a logo; information related to an account balance; or information related to a recent transaction.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/840,438, filed on Jun. 14, 2022, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/367,041, filed on Jul. 2, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,416,727, issued Aug. 16, 2022. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD People are becoming increasingly dependent on payment cards (e.g., credit cards, debit cards) to make purchases and other transactions. A good payment card is convenient and secure. Basic security features of a payment card include a unique account number, signature panel, expiration date, magnetic stripe, security code, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present technology will become apparent by reference to specific implementations illustrated in the appended drawings. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that these drawings only show some examples of the present technology and would not limit the scope of the present technology to these examples. Furthermore, the skilled artisan will appreciate the principles of the present technology as described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a payment service network according to one example as described herein; FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile device and payment application according to one example as described herein; FIG. 3A is a graphic representation of a thermo-sensitive payment card at room temperature, in accordance with certain examples; FIGS. 3B-3E are graphic representations of a payment card upon application of heat, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a payment card, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of using a payment card, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of front and back sides of a payment card, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the payment card of FIG. 6 placed in a packaging container, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 8A includes a series of images illustrating a packing assembly for a payment card, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 8B includes a series of images illustrating the packing assembly of FIG. 8A and a mailer, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 9A includes top, bottom, front, section, and side views of a holding tray for a payment card, in accordance with certain examples; FIG. 9B includes an image of a packing box for a payment card, in accordance with certain examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Various examples of the present technology are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the present technology. Basic security features of a payment card can include a unique account number, signature panel, expiration date, magnetic stripe, security code, etc. Some payment cards also include a user photo or use a virtual card number or a temporary purchase number as additional security features. Despite all these security features, however, use of a payment card is still not entirely secure, with exposure of the account number printed on the payment card being one of the greatest security vulnerabilities. There is a need for improved methods for providing and using a payment card. In one example, a payment card comprises a card substrate and a personalization layer overlaying the card substrate. The personalization layer comprises at least a first region and a second region. The first region includes an account number associated with an account of a user, and the account of the user is maintained by a payment service system that issues the payment card. At least one of the first region or the second region includes a thermochromic ink. The thermochromic ink is an ink that changes color when a temperature increases or decreases. When heat is applied to the first region or the second region of the payment card having the thermochromic ink (e.g., when the user touches the first or second region), a color of the thermochromic ink in the first and/or second region may change. As a result, the account number can be revealed. In some examples, the first region and the second region are substantially identical in color at room temperature such that the account number included in the first region is invisible at room temperature. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the payment card includes a heating element coupled to a near field communication (NFC) chip embedded in the payment card. The heating element can cause a temperature of the payment card to change in respons