Smartcard with coupling frame and method of increasing activation distance of a transponder chip module

摘要

A conductive coupling frame (CF) having two ends, forming an open loop, disposed surrounding and closely adjacent a transponder chip module (TCM), and substantially coplanar with an antenna structure (AS, LES) in the transponder chip module (TCM). A metal card body (MCB) having a slit (S) extending from a module opening (MO) to a periphery of the card body to function as a coupling frame (CF). The coupling frame (CF) may be thick enough to be non-transparent to RF at frequencies of interest. A switch may be provided to connect ends of the coupling frame (CF) across the slit (S). The transponder chip module (TCM) may comprise a laser-etched antenna structure (LES) and a non-perforated contact pad (CP) arrangement.

主权项

1. Smartcard (SC) comprising:
a metal layer (ML); and an opening (MO) in the metal layer for receiving a transponder chip module (TCM); characterized by: a slit (S) extending into the metal layer, from the opening to a periphery of the metal layer, whereby the metal layer comprises an open-loop coupling frame (CF) having two ends.