[001] The present invention relates to the domain of payment card based
transactions, and more particularly to a device that enables storing and handling of a
plurality of chip based payment cards within a single housing, and which housing is
configured to enable one or more of the chip based payment cards to interface with card
reader systems without prior removal from the housing.
10
Background of the invention
[002] Payment cards (e.g. credit cards and debit cards) are now widely accepted as
instruments for effecting electronic payment transactions.
15
[003] Figure 1 illustrates a system environment 100 for implementing a point-ofsale (POS) terminal-based payment transaction using a payment card. In system
environment 100, payment card 102 interfaces with POS terminal 104, and a payment
transaction is initiated based on payment card information retrieved by POS terminal 104
20 from payment card 102 over a communication interface provided within payment card
102. As discussed briefly above, the communication interface within payment card 102
may comprise any of a magnetic stripe, a smartchip, and a contactless chip.
[004] The payment card information retrieved by POS terminal 104 from payment
25 card 102 may include at least a payment card number. POS terminal 104 transmits the
payment card number, a payee account identifier, and a payment amount through
network 106 to an acquirer network 108 (i.e. a data network maintained by an acquirer
institution with which the payee account is maintained). Acquirer network 108 in turn
transmits the payment instruction to issuer network 110 (i.e. a data network maintained
30 by an issuer institution which has issued payment card 102 to the corresponding payor)
through payment network 112 (i.e. a data network maintained by an intermediary
between the payee’s acquirer and the payor’s issuer - for example, Mastercard® or
Visa®). Subject to successful authorization of the payment card 102, the requested
3
payment is authorized and the payment amount is transferred from a payment account
associated with payment card 102 to the payee account. Confirmation of successful
transaction completion may thereafter be transmitted back to POS terminal 104.
5 [005] Initially, the default interface capability for payment cards consisted of a
magnetic stripe that stored payment card information, and which required to be swiped
through a magnetic card reader integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable
the POS terminal to read payment card information.
10 [006] Subsequent versions of payment cards have additionally incorporated a
microprocessor chip or smartchip that is configured to interact with a POS terminal when
the contacts of the smartchip are physically interfaced with a smartchip reader that is
integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read
payment card information stored within the smartchip or on a memory within the
15 payment card.
[007] More recently, payment cards have also incorporated a radio frequency
antenna or a wireless communication chip, which, responds to detection of
electromagnetic waves of an appropriate radio frequency (for example, electromagnetic
20 waves generated by a POS terminal) by wirelessly transmitting payment card
information to the POS terminal. The integration of wireless communication capability
within payment cards is intended to add convenience and speed to payment transactions
for the reason that detection of a payment card through a wireless chip within the
payment card, and transfer of information from the contactless chip to a wireless
25 transceiver in the POS terminal is invariably faster than in case of information transfer
through magnetic stripe or microchip based technologies.
[008] Figures 2 and 3 respectively illustrate front and rear views of a payment card
200 that implements all three of the transaction technologies described above. Payment
30 card 200 comprises a plastic substrate having card information printed thereon (for
example, the card holder’s name, validity period, issuer name, payment institution name
and a card verification value or card verification code). Payment card 200 additionally
includes (i) a microprocessor chip or smartchip 202 that is configured to encode and
4
store all or part of the printed card information, along with additional information, and
that is configured to interact with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal through a smartchip
reader integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read
payment card information stored within the smartchip, (ii) a contactless device or
5 contactless chip 204 that is that is configured to interact with a point-of-sale (POS)
terminal contactlessly and to transmit to a contactless signal receiver integrated into or
coupled with a POS terminal, payment card information corresponding to the payment
card, and (iii) a magnetic stripe 206 disposed on a surface of the substrate – which
encodes and stores all or part of the printed card information, along with additional
10 information, and which can be swiped through a magnetic card reader integrated into or
coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read payment card
information stored on magnetic stripe 206.
[009] Chip-based payment card transactions and contactless payment card
15 transactions are increasingly replacing magnetic stripe-based payment card
transactions, since the new technologies provide a better customer experience, and
additionally are more secure.
[0010] With the increasing availability of payment cards, it has however been found
20 that most individuals have a plurality of payment cards (from two to several such
payment cards) – all of which are used by such individuals at one time or another.
Carrying a large number of payment cards is a cumbersome and space consuming task.
Further the process of locating and extracting a desired payment card from a wallet or
bag is time consuming and often confusing for a card holder. Additionally, the large
25 number of payment cards held by a single individual contributes to an increase in the use
of plastics – which is also avoidable.
[0011] There is accordingly a need for a solution for enabling a cardholder to
conveniently carry a plurality of payment cards, to select between the plurality of
30 payment cards for presenting a particular card for a payment transaction, and for
reducing the environmental impact of having a plurality of payment cards by reducing
the amount of plastic typically associated with having a plurality of individual payment
cards.
5
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
5 [0012] Figure 1 illustrates a system environment for implementing a POS terminalbased payment transaction using a payment card.
[0013] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate front and rear views of a conventional payment card.
10 [0014] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate an exemplary configuration for an embodiment of
a chip-based payment card tile in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0015] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate exemplary configurations for a device configured
to house a plurality of chip-based payment card tiles in accordance with the teachings of
15 the present invention.
[0016] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary configuration for a non-functional
placeholder card tile in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
20 [0017] Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the device of the present
invention, having a plurality of non-functional placeholder card tiles disposed therein.
[0018] Figures 8A to 8D illustrate insertion of a chip-based payment card tile into the
device of the present invention, and manipulation of the location of said chip-based
25 payment card tile within the device.
[0019] Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary configuration for the device of the present
invention, having a plurality of chip-based payment card tiles disposed therein.
30 [0020] Figure 10 illustrates a configuration for a conventional payment card having
contactless communication / transaction capabilities.
6
[0021] Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an embodiment where the device of the present
invention w is configured to provide payment card tiles housed within said device with
contactless transaction capabilities.
5 Summary
[0022] The present invention provides a device that enables storing and handling of
a plurality of microchip-based payment cards within a single housing, and which housing
is configured to enable one or more of the microchip-based payment cards to interface
10 with card reader systems without prior removal from the housing.
[0023] The invention comprises a device for enabling storage and transaction related
operations of a plurality of microprocessor chip-based payment card tiles, each payment
card tile comprising a substrate having a front payment card tile surface and a rear
15 payment card tile surface and a payment card microprocessor chip disposed on one of
said front payment card tile surface and rear payment card tile surface. The device
comprises a housing comprising a front housing surface, a rear housing surface, and one
or more sidewalls connecting external peripheries of the front housing surface and the
rear housing surface, such that the front housing surface, the rear housing surface and
20 the one or more sidewalls define an interior region within said housing. The housing
includes at least one opening provided on an external periphery of said housing, wherein
said opening is sized to enable one or more payment card tiles to be inserted into or
removed from the interior region of the housing. At least one of the front housing surface
and the rear housing surface has a plurality of surface openings provided therein,
25 wherein each surface opening is sized such that (i) a size, surface area or external
perimeter of the surface opening is greater than or equal to a size, surface area or external
perimeter of the microprocessor chip(s) disposed on the payment card tile(s), and (ii) the
size, surface area or external perimeter of the surface opening is less than a size, surface
area or external perimeter of the payment card tile(s). The interior region of the housing
30 may be sized to permit movement of each payment card tile disposed within the interior
region of the housing from a first position where the microprocessor chip disposed on
such payment card tile is fully visible from outside the housing through a first surface
opening, to a second position where the microprocessor chip disposed on such payment
card tile is visible from outside the housing through a second surface opening.
7
[0024] In an embodiment of the device, the housing is sized to enable insertion into
or interfacing with a payment card reader that is configured for interfacing with a
microprocessor chip based payment card.
5
[0025] One of the first surface opening and the second surface opening may be
positioned at a location on housing that is accessible by a payment card reader for
interfacing with a payment card microprocessor chip when said housing is inserted into
or interfaced with said payment card reader.
10
[0026] In an embodiment of the device, one or more interior surfaces of the housing
have a plurality of guide rails defined thereon, said guide rails defining one or more
channels within the interior region, within which channels payment card tiles disposed
within the interior region of the housing are moveable. In a further embodiment, one or
15 more of the plurality of guide rails includes a groove dimensioned to accommodate a
payment card tile edge. The one or more of the plurality of guide rails may be integrated
with the one or more sidewalls.
[0027] In an embodiment of the device, the housing has an external thickness of 0.76
20 mm. In a further embodiment of the device, the housing has at least one of a length of
85.60 mm and a width of 53.98 mm.
[0028] A thickness of the interior region of the housing may be (i) equal to or greater
than a thickness of any of the plurality of payment card tiles, and / or less than twice the
25 thickness of any of the plurality of payment card tiles.
[0029] Each surface opening within the device provides a first opening on the front
housing surface and an aligned second opening on the rear housing surface.
30 [0030] In an embodiment of the device, said interior region is configured to
additionally house one or more non-functional placeholder tiles that are sized and shaped
substantially identical to any of the plurality of payment card tiles.
[0031] The housing may include a coil circuit having a plurality of contacts for
35 connecting with a microprocessor chip disposed on a payment card tile, and wherein
8
connecting said contacts with said microprocessor chip completes the coil circuit and
enables said coil circuit to operate as a receiving or transmitting antenna. In an
embodiment, the contacts of the coil circuit are configured such that positioning a
payment card tile at a predefined position within the interior region connects a
5 microprocessor chip disposed on said payment card tile with said contacts and completes
the coil circuit. In a further embodiment, the contacts of the coil circuit are moveable
contacts configured for selective connection or disconnection with a microprocessor chip
disposed on a payment card tile positioned within the interior region of the housing.
10 [0032] In a device embodiment, the selective connection or disconnection of the
contacts of the coil circuit with the microprocessor chip disposed on a payment card tile
positioned within the interior region of the housing is implemented through operation of
one or more of a button, slider or actuator.
15 Detailed Description
[0033] The invention relates to the domain of payment card-based transactions. More
particularly, the invention provides a device that enables storing and handling of a
plurality of microchip-based payment cards within a single housing, and which housing
20 is configured to enable one or more of the microchip-based payment cards to interface
with card reader systems without prior removal from the housing.
[0034] In an embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a housing that
enables one or more (and preferably a plurality of) payment card tiles to be removably
25 housed therewithin. Each payment card tile comprises a plastic substrate having a
payment card chip (for example a smartchip or microprocessor-based chip or EMV chip
(i.e. a Europay-Mastercard-Visa chip)) disposed on an outer surface of said payment card
tile. The housing is configured to enable payment card chips that are disposed on each of
one or more payment card tiles located within the housing to interface with a payment
30 card reader, without necessitating removal of such payment card tile from the housing.
[0035] In a particular embodiment, the housing is configured such that each of the one
or more payment card tiles within the housing are moveable or slidable within the
housing – such that each payment card tile can be moved from a first position within the
9
housing where the payment card chip on said payment card tile cannot interface with a
payment card reader, to a second position within the housing wherein the payment card
chip on said payment card tile is enabled to interface with a payment card reader.
5 [0036] In a specific embodiment, the housing may be configured such that when one
payment card tile is positioned within the housing such that the payment card chip on
said payment card tile is capable of interfacing with a payment card reader, payment card
chips on the remaining payment card tiles positioned within the housing are prevented
from simultaneously interfacing with the payment card reader. In one embodiment, the
10 housing enables establishing a contact based interface between the microprocessor chip
on a payment card tile positioned within the housing and a payment card reader. In
another embodiment, the housing enables a contactless or wireless interface between the
microprocessor chip on a payment card tile within the housing and a payment card
reader having wireless communication capabilities.
15
[0037] These and other embodiments are described in more detail below.
[0038] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate an embodiment of a payment card tile 400 of a
type that may be implemented for the purposes of the present invention. It would be
20 understood for the purposes of the present invention that each payment card tile 400 is
a microprocessor chip based payment card having a miniaturized or reduced form when
compared with the standardized dimensions for a payment card (which per the ISO/IEC
7816-ID1 standard are required to be 85.60 mm (length) x 53.98 mm (width) x 0.76 mm
(thickness)). As with any payment card, each payment card tile 400 (i) may be issued by
25 an issuer bank and /or issuer institution, (ii) may be associated with a particular payment
network, and (iii) may have one or more of a unique payment account number,
cardholder identity information, validity period and / or card verification values (e.g. CVV
value or CVV2 value) associated therewith. Each payment card tile 400 may additionally
have a microprocessor chip integrated thereon – for enabling the payment card tile to
30 interface with a payment card reader through said microprocessor chip. Payment card
tile 400 is configured such that when the microprocessor chip disposed thereon
interfaces with a payment card reader having contact-based or contactless chip interface
10
capabilities, said microprocessor chip enables implementation of a payment transaction
in the same manner as the microprocessor chip on a conventionally sized payment card.
[0039] Payment card tile 400 comprises a substrate 408 defining mutually opposite
5 front surface 404 and rear surface 406.
[0040] Substrate 408 may be formed in any number of ways. In particular
embodiments, substrate 408 may comprise a plastic or composite substrate comprising
a plurality of layers that are integrated or affixed together to form a rigid payment card
10 tile. In an embodiment, substrate 408 may be formed of one or more inner layers of a
polymeric material to provide the transaction card with thickness and bulk, and one or
more outer layers comprising polymeric materials that protect the inner layers and
which further add rigidity. In certain embodiments, substrate 408 may comprise inner
layers of polyvinylchloride (PVC) and / or polypropylene (PP), and / or outer layers of
15 polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
[0041] The payment card tile 400 has disposed on its front surface 404, payment card
microprocessor chip 402. Payment card microprocessor chip 402 may be printed onto,
deposited onto, or otherwise affixed or integrated onto front surface 404. Payment card
20 tile 400 is accordingly required to be sized and dimensioned so as to enable payment card
microprocessor chip 402 (including both of the microprocessor chip as well as its
electrical contacts) to be entirely contained within the perimeter or boundary of front
surface 404 of payment card tile 400. In an embodiment, payment card tile 400 is sized
to accommodate wholly within front surface 404, a microprocessor chip that is sized,
25 dimensioned and / or configured according to the ISO/IEC 7816 standards (including the
ISO/IEC 7816-1 standard and / or ISO/IEC 7816-2 standard).
[0042] In a particular embodiment, substrate 408 of payment card tile 400 is
dimensioned such that a distance between any point on an outer boundary of payment
30 card microprocessor chip 402 and the nearest point on the outer perimeter or boundary
of front surface 404 is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm. In a preferred embodiment, payment
card 400 and / or substrate 408 may be formed in a substantially rectangular or
substantially square configuration, and may optionally have one or more beveled or
rounded corners. Payment card tile 400 may in an embodiment have a size that is
11
significantly reduced in comparison with the standard length and width dimensions of a
conventional payment card (for example an ATM (automated teller machine) card, debit
card or credit card) as prescribed under the ISO/IEC 7810–ID1 standard i.e. having a
length less than 85.60 mm (and preferably less than 28.54 mm) and a width less than
5 53.98 mm (and preferably less than 18 mm). In an embodiment, the thickness of payment
card tile 400 may be less than or equal to 0.76 mm (inclusive of the combined thickness
of substrate 404 and payment card chip 402.
[0043] Rear surface 406 of payment card tile 400 may have printed matter comprising
10 one or more words, symbols, numbers or images printed, embossed, debossed or
otherwise provided thereon. In some embodiments, the printed matter on rear surface
406 is sufficient to enable identification of one or more of a payment card account
number, payment card network, payment card issuer, cardholder identity, expiry date
and / or card verification value (CVV) corresponding to payment card tile 400. In specific
15 embodiments, the printed matter may be applied to payment card tile 400 using intaglio
or embossing or debossing techniques or may comprise information in braille, to enable
individuals with vision defects to be able to decipher the printed matter.
[0044] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate exemplary configurations for a device configured
20 to house a plurality of microprocessor chip-based payment card tiles in accordance with
the teachings of the present invention.
[0045] The device as shown in Figures 5A and 5B comprises a housing 500 that is
sized and dimensioned to match the dimensions of a conventional payment card. In an
25 embodiment, housing 500 is dimensioned according to standardized specifications for a
payment card as set out in the ISO/IEC 7816-ID1 standard. In a particular embodiment,
housing 500 has a length that is substantially 85.60 mm, width that is substantially 53.98
mm and thickness that is 0.76 mm.
30 [0046] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, housing 500 comprises a
substantially rectangular payment card shaped housing having a front surface 502, an
opposite rear surface 504 and sidewalls 506 that join the external peripheries of front
surface 502 and rear surface 504 to each other. As shown in the exploded view in Figure
5B, front surface 502, rear surface 504 and sidewalls 506 together define an interior
12
region or interior chamber within housing 500, which interior region or interior chamber
can be used to house one or more payment card tiles 400.
[0047] Sidewall 506 includes an opening 510 into the interior region or interior
5 chamber, which opening 510 may be used to insert one or more payment card tiles 400
(or placeholder tiles 600 that are discussed subsequently) into housing 500 and likewise
to remove one or more payment card tiles 400 (or placeholder tiles 600 that are
discussed subsequently) from housing 500. In an embodiment, opening 500 may be sized
to enable a payment card tile 400 (or a placeholder tile 600 that is discussed
10 subsequently) to be inserted into or removed from housing 500. While not shown in
Figures 5A or 5B, housing 500 may additionally include a lock, a gate, a clamp, a latch or
other access control device that can be used to selectively open and close opening 510 –
so that payment card tile(s) 400 and/or any other tiles that are within housing 500 are
not accidentally or inadvertently allowed to exit housing 500 through opening 510. While
15 the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures show opening 510 as being
provided on sidewalls 506, it would be understood that said opening could alternatively
be provided anywhere on an external periphery of housing 500, including on one of front
surface 502 and rear surface 504 of housing 500.
20 [0048] Additionally, as shown in Figure 5A, housing 500 may be provided with a
plurality of openings (or windows) 5081, 5082, 5083 up to 508n on one or both of front
surface 502 and rear surface 504. In an embodiment, the openings or windows may only
be provided on front surface 502 or only on rear surface 504. However, in the
embodiment illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, each of the plurality of openings 5081 to
25 508n respectively provide openings on each of front surface 502 and rear surface 504 of
housing 500. Reference to Figure 5B illustrates this further, wherein each opening 5081,
5082, 5083 up to 508n is formed by a first opening 5081’, 5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’ on
first surface 502, and a corresponding second opening 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’
– wherein each first opening on first surface 502 and its corresponding second opening
30 on second surface 504 are positioned such that when front surface 502, rear surface 504
and sidewalls 506 are integrated to form housing 500, each first opening and
corresponding second opening are respectively aligned with each other and thereby form
an opening or window that connects both front surface 502 and rear surface 504.
13
[0049] Each first opening 5081’, 5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’ on first surface 502, and
corresponding second opening 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’ is sized to have a size,
surface area or external perimeter that is equal to or larger than a size, surface area or
5 external perimeter of payment card microprocessor chip 402 of payment card tile 400.
Additionally, each first opening 5081’, 5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’ on first surface 502, and
corresponding second opening 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’ is sized to have a size,
surface area or external perimeter that is smaller than a size, surface area or external
perimeter of payment card tile 400 or of a front surface of payment card tile 400. As a
10 result, when a payment card tile 400 is positioned at an opening 5081, 5082, 5083 up to
508n of housing 500, microprocessor chip 402 can be substantially aligned with and fully
visible and accessible from outside of housing 500 through one of the first or second
openings 5081’, 5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’, or 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’.
Simultaneously, due to the size, surface area or external perimeter of payment card tile
15 400 (or of a front surface of payment card tile 400) being larger than a corresponding
size, surface area or external perimeter of said first and second openings 5081’, 5082’,
5083’ up to 508n’, or 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’ the payment card tile 400 cannot
fall out of or be removed from housing 500 through said first or second openings 5081’,
5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’, or 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’.
20
[0050] In an embodiment, one or more of the openings or windows (i.e. any of
openings or windows 5081, 5082, 5083 up to 508n, or 5081’, 5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’,
or 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’) provided on front surface 502 and / or rear surface
504 of housing 500 may be sized to enable application of force through said opening or
25 window (by means of a user’s fingers or any other appropriate implement), to a surface
or edge of a payment card tile and thereby advance, move or slide the payment card tile
along a length or width of housing 500 in the direction of the applied force.
[0051] In an embodiment of housing 500 where each first opening 5081’ to 508n’ on
30 first surface 502 is aligned with a corresponding second opening 5081’’ to 508n’’ on
second surface 504 (so as to form an opening or window 5081 to 508n that connects both
front surface 502 and rear surface 504) and where a payment card tile 400 is
substantially aligned with any opening or window 5081 to 508n thus formed - (i)
14
microprocessor chip 402 of the payment card tile 400 will be aligned with and accessible
from a first opening (5081’ to 508n’) on first surface 502, and (ii) the printed matter on
rear surface 406 of the payment card tile 400 will be simultaneously aligned with and
viewable from a second opening (5081’’ to 508n’’) on second surface 504. It will be
5 understood that by virtue of being able to view printed matter on a rear surface 406 of
payment card tile 400 through openings on second surface 504, a user may identify the
current location of a desired payment card tile 400 within housing 500 and may take
steps to move the payment card tile 400 to a desired location within housing 500 (for
example, to opening or window 508x – so that the payment card tile 400 can interface
10 with a payment card reader if housing 500 is swiped at or inserted into said payment
card reader).
[0052] The thickness of the interior region or interior chamber within housing 500 is
necessarily less than the external thickness of housing 500. In an embodiment, the
15 thickness of the interior region or interior chamber is less than 0.76 mm. In another
embodiment, the thickness of the interior region or interior chamber of housing 500 may
be equal to or more than the thickness of payment card tile 400, but less than twice the
thickness of payment card tile 400. The thickness of the interior region or interior
chamber of housing 500 may be selected such that when a payment card tile 400 is
20 inserted into the interior region or interior chamber, such that each of front surface 404
and rear surface 406 of payment card tile 400 faces or abuts one of front surface 502 and
rear surface 504 of housing 500, said payment card tile 400 is movable or slidable within
said interior region or interior chamber along either the length or width of the interior
region or interior chamber of housing 500.
25
[0053] The thickness of the interior region or interior chamber of housing 500 may
be selected to ensure one or more of (i) a payment card tile 400 inserted into the interior
region or interior chamber is held in position by an interference fit between front surface
502 and rear surface 504 of housing 500, (ii) the payment card tile 400 can be readily
30 moved or slid from one position within the interior region or interior chamber to another
position within the interior region or interior chamber by application of force to the
payment card tile in the direction of desired movement, through one or more openings
or windows (i.e. any of openings or windows 5081, 5082, 5083 up to 508n, or 5081’,
15
5082’, 5083’ up to 508n’, or 5081’’, 5082’’, 5083’’ up to 508n’’) and / or (iii) that any two
payment card tiles 400 that are simultaneously housed within housing 500 cannot
partially or wholly overlap each other. In an embodiment all of the above may be achieved
by ensuring that the thickness of interior chamber of housing 500 is not less than equal
5 to the thickness of a payment card tile 400 and is not equal to or more than twice the
thickness of the payment card tile 400.
[0054] In a particular embodiment, housing 500 may include opening or window
508x that is specifically positioned on an external surface (i.e. front surface 502 or rear
10 surface 506) of housing 500 at the position specified for location of a payment
microprocessor chip within a conventionally sized payment card. In other words, the
position of said opening or window 508x on a surface 502 and / or 504 of housing 500 is
the same position that is specified in the applicable ISO/IEC 7816 standard which defines
the size and position of a microprocessor chip that is disposed within payment card 500
15 (for example, ISO/IEC 7816-1 and / or ISO/IEC 7816-2).
[0055] In an embodiment of housing 500 illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, the location
of window 508x is highlighted by a marker or indicator 512 – which indicates to a user
that if a payment card tile 400 is positioned within housing 500 such that the
20 microprocessor chip 402 of said payment card tile 400 is substantially aligned with and
accessible through window 508x, the microprocessor chip 402 would be located at the
same position relative to housing 500 as is necessary for a microprocessor chip disposed
within a conventional payment card. Accordingly, when a payment card tile 400 is
positioned within housing 500 such that microprocessor chip 402 is substantially aligned
25 with and accessible through window 508x, interfacing housing 500 with a payment card
reader that is configured for contact based interfacing with conventionally sized
microprocessor chip based payment cards would result in microprocessor chip 402 being
able to successfully interface with the payment card reader for the purposes of enabling
a payment card transaction.
30
[0056] In a particular embodiment shown in Figure 5B, the interior surfaces of one or
both of front surface 502 and rear surface 504 may have a plurality of guide rails 5141,
5142, 5143, 5144, 5145, 5146, 5147, 5148, 5149, 5150, 5151 formed thereon or affixed
16
thereto, wherein said guide rails 5141 to 5151 define a plurality of channels formed along
the length and width of the interior region or interior chamber of housing 500 such that
a payment card tile 400 inserted into the interior region or interior chamber of housing
500 through opening 510 in sidewall 506 can only move within said plurality of defined
5 channels and is prevented from moving outside of such channels or from crossing the
guide rails 5141 to 5151. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5B, one or more payment
card tiles 400 can be moved within the channels defined by guide rails 5141 to 5151
within the interior region or interior chamber of housing 500 along paths that are
indicated (in Figure 5B) by dotted lines. It will be noted from the dotted lines in Figure
10 5B that one of the defined channels may permit a payment card tile 400 to be inserted
into and extracted from the interior chamber 500 from opening 510 within sidewall 506
of housing 500. In a particular embodiment, one or more of the guide rails 5141, 5142,
5143, 5144 and 5151 that are adjacent to the sidewall 506 may be integrated into, affixed
to or form part of sidewalls 506.
15
[0057] In an embodiment (not shown), the plurality of guide rails may include
grooves wherein said grooves are configured and sized to accommodate an edge of any
payment card tile 400 - such that when a payment card tile 400 is positioned in any
channel defined by any two guide rails 5141 to 5151 within the interior region or interior
20 chamber of housing 500, one pair of opposite edges of the payment card tile 400 are
seated within grooves formed in said two guide rails that define the channel. Seating
opposite edges of payment card tile 400 within grooves formed in a pair of guide rails has
been found to facilitate sliding or moving of a payment card tile 400 along the channel
defined by said guide rails, when force is applied to the payment card tile from an opening
25 or window on a surface of housing 500.
[0058] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary configuration for an embodiment of
a non-functional placeholder card tile 600 in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
30
[0059] It would be understood for the purposes of the present invention that each
placeholder tile 600 is a non-functional tile having the same size and shape as payment
card tile 400. Each placeholder tile 600 may comprise a tile formed of plastic or composite
17
materials and does not have a payment card microprocessor chip disposed thereon. As a
result, a placeholder tile 600 cannot interface with a payment card reader even if any
surface of the placeholder tile 600 is brought in contact with or otherwise interfaced with
a payment card reader.
5
[0060] In an embodiment, placeholder tile 600 comprises a substrate 606 having
mutually opposite front surface 602 and rear surface 604. Substrate 606 may be formed
in any number of ways. In particular embodiments, substrate 606 may comprise a plastic
or composite substrate comprising a plurality of layers that are integrated or affixed
10 together to form a rigid placeholder tile. In an embodiment, substrate 606 may be formed
of one or more inner layers of a polymeric material to provide the placeholder tile with
thickness and bulk, and one or more outer layers comprising polymeric materials that
protects the inner layers and which further add rigidity. In certain embodiments,
placeholder tile 600 may comprise inner layers of polyvinylchloride (PVC) and / or
15 polypropylene (PP), and / or outer layers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
[0061] In a preferred embodiment, placeholder tile 600 may be formed in a
substantially rectangular or substantially square configuration, and may optionally have
one or more beveled or rounded corners. Placeholder tile 600 may in an embodiment
20 have a size and shape that is identical substantially similar to the size and shape of
payment card tile 400. In an embodiment, placeholder tile 600 has a length less than
85.60 mm (and preferable less than 28.54 mm) and a width less than 53.98 mm (and
preferably less than 18 mm). In an embodiment, the thickness of placeholder tile 600 may
be less than or equal to 0.76 mm.
25
[0062] Rear surface 604 of placeholder tile 600 may have printed matter comprising
one or more words, symbols, numbers or images printed, embossed, debossed or
otherwise provided thereon. In some embodiments, the printed matter on rear surface
604 is sufficient to serve as a placeholder identifier that enable identification of the
30 placeholder tile 600 as a non-functional placeholder tile. In specific embodiments, the
printed matter may be applied to placeholder tile 600 using intaglio or embossing or
debossing techniques or may comprise information in braille, to enable individuals with
vision defects to be able to decipher the printed matter.
18
[0063] In an embodiment of housing 500 discussed above, where each first opening
5081’ to 508n’ on first surface 502 is aligned with a corresponding second opening 5081’’
to 508n’’ on second surface 504 (so as to form an opening or window 5081 to 508n that
5 connects both front surface 502 and rear surface 504) and where a placeholder tile 600
is substantially aligned with any opening or window 5081 to 508n thus formed - (i) front
surface 602 of the placeholder tile 600 will be aligned with and accessible from a first
opening (5081’ to 508n’) on first surface 502 of housing 500, and (ii) the printed matter
/ placeholder identifier on rear surface 604 of the placeholder tile 600 will be
10 simultaneously aligned with and viewable from a second opening (5081’’ to 508n’’) on
second surface 504. It will be understood that by virtue of being able to view the
placeholder identifier on a rear surface 604 of placeholder tile 600 through openings on
second surface 504, a user may identify the current location of a placeholder tile 600
within housing 500 and may take steps to move the placeholder tile 400 to a desired
15 location within housing 500 – for example to facilitate movement of a payment card tile
400 from a current location to a desired location within housing 500.
[0064] Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary configuration for the housing 500, having a
plurality of non-functional placeholder card tiles 600 disposed therein. As shown in
20 Figure 7, placeholder tiles 600 are positioned so as to be aligned with all but one of
openings or windows 5081 to 508n. By allowing at least one opening or window to
remain unoccupied, the housing 500 and the system of channels defined within the
interior chamber of housing 500 allows the position of individual tiles 400, 600 within
housing 500 to be manipulated by a series of individual movements, where a tile can be
25 moved from alignment with a current opening or window into alignment with an adjacent
unoccupied opening or window – such that the opening or window with which the tile
was previously aligned is now unoccupied and can be used for further movement of
adjacent or adjoining tiles. It would be understood that by virtue of this sliding
arrangement and keeping at least one opening or window unoccupied within housing
30 500, the location of a tile that is aligned with any one of the openings or windows can be
changed to any alignment with any other of the openings or windows – through a series
of moves, each comprising sliding one tile that is aligned with an opening or window, into
19
alignment with an adjacent and unoccupied opening or window, until the tile is
eventually aligned with the desired opening or window.
[0065] In certain embodiments, housing 500 may when originally supplied to a user,
5 be provided with placeholder tiles 600 positioned within all openings or windows 5081
to 508n (or within all but one of openings or windows 5081 to 508n). As and when a user
requires to store a payment card tile 400 within housing 500, one of the placeholder tiles
600 may be removed from housing 500 through opening 510 and the payment card tile
400 may be inserted into housing 500 through opening 510 and moved into alignment
10 with a vacant opening or window (any of 5081 to 508n) within housing 500.
[0066] Figures 8A to 8D illustrate the various stages involved in insertion of a
payment card tile 400 into housing 500, and manipulation of said payment card tile 400
to a position within housing 500 where said payment card tile 400 can interface with a
15 payment card reader when housing 500 is swiped with, inserted into or otherwise
brought in contact with the payment card reader.
[0067] Figure 8A illustrates housing 500 having placeholder tiles 600 positioned
within all but one of openings or windows 5081 to 508n. The only vacant opening within
20 housing 500 is opening 5083. As shown, payment card tile 400 requires to be inserted
into housing 500 – and to ensure that at least one opening or window (from among
openings or windows 5081 to 508n) remains vacant even after such insertion (so as to
ensure that the position of tiles within housing 500 can be manipulated or changed), at
least one placeholder tile 600 will require to be removed. Accordingly, as shown in
25 Figures 8A and 8B placeholder tile 600 that is located within opening 5083 is
incrementally moved out of housing 500 by first sliding it to the vacant opening 5082 and
then sliding it out of housing 500 through opening 510.
[0068] Thereafter, as shown in Figure 8C, payment card tile 400 is inserted into
30 housing 500 through opening 510 and positioned within vacant opening 5082 such that
payment card microprocessor chip 402 is visible or accessible through opening 5082.
This leaves one opening 5083 vacant within housing 500. As a result, the position of
payment card tile 400 can be incrementally manipulated or changed by a succession of
tile moves between the various openings or windows 5081 to 508n until payment card
20
tile 400 is finally in position at opening 508x (as shown in Figure 8D) so that payment
card microprocessor chip 402 is visible or accessible through opening 508x. Once
payment card microprocessor chip 402 is in position at opening 508x, said payment card
microprocessor chip 402 can interface with a payment card reader when housing 500 is
5 swiped with, inserted into or otherwise brought in contact with the payment card reader
– and can be used for implementation of an electronic payment transaction.
[0069] Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary configuration for the device wherein a
10 plurality of microprocessor chip-based payment card tiles 400 are disposed within
housing 500. As shown in the Figure 9, four instances of payment card tiles 400 are
located within housing 500, such that four payment card microprocessor chips 402 are
visible or accessible through the various openings or windows 5081 to 508n – and one of
said payment card microprocessor chips 402 is in position at opening 508x, so that said
15 payment card microprocessor chip 402 can interface with a payment card reader when
housing 500 is swiped with, inserted into or otherwise brought in contact with the
payment card reader – and can be used for implementation of an electronic payment
transaction. It will be noted that of the remaining openings or windows 5081 to 508n,
one remains vacant to enable movement of tiles within housing 500, while the remaining
20 have individual placeholder tiles 600 aligned therewith.
[0070] In addition to the above, the device of the present invention may be configured
so that housing 500 enables contactless transaction capabilities for one or more payment
card tiles that are located therewithin.
25
[0071] Figure 10 illustrates a configuration of a conventional payment card 200
having contactless transaction capabilities. As shown in Figure 10, the substrate of
payment card 200 is provided with a coil circuit 208 integrated into or embedded within
said substrate – and which connects through contact points 210, 210’ with payment card
30 microprocessor chip 202. The coil circuit 208 is typically laid out away from the center of
the payment card and towards the outer edges of the substrate. When connected to
microprocessor chip 202, the coil circuit 208 functions as a loop antenna – which enables
payment card microprocessor chip 202 to have (depending on whether microprocessor
chip 202 is powered or unpowered) active or passive wireless functionality. When a
21
current passes through the coil circuit 208 (either from a power source connected with
microprocessor chip 202 or as a result of induction arising from electromagnetic waves
incident on coil circuit 208), said coil circuit 208 functions as a loop antenna and can be
used to enable wireless communication functionality between microprocessor chip 202
5 and a payment card reader having wireless communication (for example radio frequency
ID (RFID) or near field communication (NFC)) capabilities and to enable implementation
of a wireless payment transaction involving payment card 200.
[0072] Figures 11 and 12 illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the
10 housing 500 is configured to provide contactless transaction capabilities for one or more
payment card tiles 400 that are located within said housing 500.
[0073] In the embodiment of housing 500 illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, said
housing 500 is provided with a coil circuit 514 that is integrated into or embedded within
15 one or more of the surfaces of housing 500 (for example one or both of front surface 502
and rear surface 504). Coil circuit 514 is provided with contact points 516, 516’ that are
positioned such that when a payment card tile 400 is located at a specific position within
housing 500, said contact points 516, 516’ are in contact with the payment card
microprocessor chip 402 within payment card tile 400 – thereby completing the coild
20 circuit. As a result of completion of the coil circuit when a payment card tile 400 is
positioned at a predefined location within housing 500, coil circuit 514 functions as a loop
antenna – which enables the payment card microprocessor chip 402 that is in contact
with coil circuit 514 to have (depending on whether payment card chip 402 is powered
or unpowered) active or passive wireless functionality. When a current passes through
25 the coil circuit 514 (either from a power source connected with payment card chip 402
or as a result of induction based on electromagnetic waves incident on coil circuit 514),
said coil circuit 514 enable wireless functionality between payment card microprocessor
chip 402 and a payment card reader having wireless communication (for example radio
frequency ID (RFID) or near field communication (NFC)) capabilities, and accordingly
30 enable implementation of a wireless payment transaction involving payment card tile
400.
22
[0074] It would be understood from the embodiment shown in Figure 11 and 12 that
the configuration of coil circuit 514 and contact points 516, 516’ may be such that a
payment card tile 400 and a corresponding payment card microprocessor chip 402 that
is disposed on or within said payment card tile 400 are required to be positioned at a
5 specific predefined location within housing 500 to complete the coil circuit and to enable
wireless functionality of the payment card microprocessor chip 402.
[0075] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, this predefined location is
opening or window 508x which may also be the location at which a payment card tile 400
10 is required to be positioned within the housing 500 to enable contact based payments
through said payment card tile 400 when the housing 500 is swiped, inserted into or
otherwise interfaced with a contact based payment card reader. However, it would be
understood that in other embodiments, a first location within housing 500 at which a
payment card tile 400 is required to be positioned for enabling contact based payment
15 transactions and a second location within housing 500 at which a payment card tile is
required to be positioned for enabling wireless payment transactions may both be
different locations. In the case where the first location and the second location are
respectively different locations, it would be understood that by simultaneously
positioning a first payment card tile 400 at the first location and a second payment card
20 tile 400 at the second location, the first payment card tile 400 may be enabled for contact
based payment transactions, while the second payment card tile 400 may be
simultaneously enabled for wireless based payment transactions.
[0076] By manipulating the position of one or more payment card tiles 400 within
25 housing 500, a particular payment card tile 400 may be connected with contacts 516, 516’
of coil circuit 514 and may accordingly be enabled for wireless functionality, while
moving said payment card tile 400 to a different position where it is not connected with
the contacts 516, 516’ of coil circuit 514 disables the wireless functionality of said
payment card tile 400.
30
[0077] It would be understood that other mechanisms for bringing contacts 516, 516’
of coil circuit 514 within housing 500 may also be implemented. In an embodiment,
contacts 516, 516’ may be moveable contacts which can be moved using one or more
23
buttons or sliders or any other actuator and may be selectively disconnected from a first
payment card tile 400 (or first payment card microprocessor chip 402) located at a first
position within housing 500 and connected with a second payment card tile 400 (or
second payment card microprocessor chip 402) located at a second position within
5 housing 500. It would be understood that the specific payment card tile 400 with a
payment card microprocessor chip 402 that is connected with contacts 516, 516’ of coil
circuit 514 is enabled for wireless transaction functionality while connected with coil
circuit 514 – and that wireless transaction functionality for that payment card tile 400 is
disabled once the a connection between the corresponding payment card microprocessor
10 chip 402 and coil circuit 514 is terminated.
[0078] Based on the above, it would be understood that the device of the present
invention provides a convenient and effective housing for enabling a cardholder to
conveniently carry a plurality of payment card tiles having a reduced size, and to select
15 between the plurality of payment card tiles for presenting a particular card for a payment
transaction, and for reducing the environmental impact of having a plurality of payment
cards by reducing the amount of plastic typically associated with individual payment
cards. The device of the present invention additionally enables a cardholder to perform
one or both of contact based or contactless payment card transactions based on one or
20 more payment card tiles held within the device housing, without having to partially or
wholly remove such payment card tile from the housing for the purposes of carrying out
the transaction.
[0079] While exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and
25 illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may
be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, the invention illustratively disclose
herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically
30 disclosed herein – and in a particular embodiment that is specifically contemplated, the
invention is intended to be practiced in the absence of any one or more element which
are not specifically disclosed herein.

We Claim:

1. A device for enabling storage and transaction related operations of a plurality
of microprocessor chip-based payment card tiles, each payment card tile comprising a
5 substrate having a front payment card tile surface and a rear payment card tile surface
and a payment card microprocessor chip disposed on one of said front payment card
tile surface and rear payment card tile surface, the device comprising:
a housing comprising:
10
a front housing surface;
a rear housing surface; and
15 one or more sidewalls connecting external peripheries of the front housing
surface and the rear housing surface, such that the front housing surface, the
rear housing surface and the one or more sidewalls define an interior region
within said housing;
20 wherein:
the housing includes at least one opening provided on an external periphery
of said housing, wherein said opening is sized to enable one or more payment card tiles
to be inserted into or removed from the interior region of the housing;
25
at least one of the front housing surface and the rear housing surface has a
plurality of surface openings provided therein, wherein:
each surface opening is sized such that:
30
a size, surface area or external perimeter of the surface opening is greater
than or equal to a size, surface area or external perimeter of the
microprocessor chip(s) disposed on the payment card tile(s); and
25
the size, surface area or external perimeter of the surface opening is less
than a size, surface area or external perimeter of the payment card tile(s);
5 and
the interior region of the housing is sized to permit:
movement of each payment card tile disposed within the interior region
10 of the housing from a first position where the microprocessor chip
disposed on such payment card tile is fully visible from outside the
housing through a first surface opening, to a second position where the
microprocessor chip disposed on such payment card tile is visible from
outside the housing through a second surface opening.
15
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is sized to enable
insertion into or interfacing with a payment card reader that is configured for
interfacing with a microprocessor chip based payment card.
20 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first surface opening and
the second surface opening is positioned at a location on housing that is accessible by a
payment card reader for interfacing with a payment card microprocessor chip when
said housing is inserted into or interfaced with said payment card reader.
25 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more interior surfaces of the
housing have a plurality of guide rails defined thereon, said guide rails defining one or
more channels within the interior region, within which channels payment card tiles
disposed within the interior region of the housing are moveable.
30 5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more of the plurality of
guide rails includes a groove dimensioned to accommodate a payment card tile edge.
26
6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more of the plurality of
guide rails are integrated with the one or more sidewalls.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has an external
5 thickness of 0.76 mm.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing has at least one of a
length of 85.60 mm and a width of 53.98 mm.
10 9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the interior region of
the housing is:
equal to or greater than a thickness of any of the plurality of payment card
tiles; and
15
less than twice the thickness of any of the plurality of payment card tiles.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each surface opening provides a first
opening on the front housing surface and an aligned second opening on the rear housing
20 surface.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interior region is configured to
additionally house one or more non-functional placeholder tiles that are sized and shaped
substantially identical to any of the plurality of payment card tiles.
25
12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a coil circuit
having a plurality of contacts for connecting with a microprocessor chip disposed on a
payment card tile, and wherein connecting said contacts with said microprocessor chip
completes the coil circuit and enables said coil circuit to operate as a receiving or
30 transmitting antenna.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the contacts of the coil circuit are
configured such that positioning a payment card tile at a predefined position within the
27
interior region connects a microprocessor chip disposed on said payment card tile with
said contacts and completes the coil circuit.
14. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the contacts of the coil circuit are
5 moveable contacts configured for selective connection or disconnection with a
microprocessor chip disposed on a payment card tile positioned within the interior
region of the housing.
15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the selective connection or
10 disconnection of the contacts of the coil circuit with the microprocessor chip disposed on
a payment card tile positioned within the interior region of the housing is implemented
through operation of one or more of a button, slider or actuator.