Registers – Records – Laminated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-01
2003-04-29
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
Laminated
C235S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554193
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to smart cards, and, more particularly, to smart cards in which the internal semiconductor devices may be removed or replaced by an authorized party.
Smart cards have been developed for a wide variety of uses. Smart cards typically include an integrated circuit with a memory element (ROM or RAM) and a control unit, such as a microprocessor or microcomputer. The structure of the integrated circuit is such that it is embedded in a portion of a plastic card having dimensions and physical characteristics of standard credit cards in widespread use. The embedded integrated circuit may include a plurality of terminals on an exterior surface of the card to permit the internal and external transfer of signals to and from the card. Such a smart card is commonly known as a contact smart card. The transfer of signals is accomplished by inserting the card into a compatible reader which provides electrical contacts to interconnect the integrated circuit in the card to a card information processing unit associated with the reader. The reader typically provides power for operating the card, and data is transferred to and from the card whenever it is inserted into the reader. Conversely, a contactless smart card includes an internal power supply and an antenna such that data may be transferred without having to make direct electrical contact the reader.
Since the memories in a smart card can be encoded to identify the card uniquely for a particular application, such a card may be utilized in a number of different application areas. When the sophisticated security features of such cards are employed, the cards may be used as access keys for computer systems, data bases, data networks, or for physical access control to hotel rooms, factories, offices, and the like. Smart cards are increasingly used to access automated bank terminals and permit transaction information to be updated each time a transaction is made so that the card uniquely tracks the authority of the user by information which is written into the memory of the integrated circuit embedded in the card.
Smart cards may also be utilized as small portable files, or records for different types of information, such as personal telephone directories, detailed medical profiles, insurance information, and the like. Smart cards are also useful for point-of-sale credit or debit operations, either in on-line or off-line systems, such as point-of-sale terminals in grocery stores, public telephones and the like.
Smart cards are typically more expensive than regular credit cards because of the integrated circuits embedded in the cards. The plastic material making up the body of a smart card tends to crack and wear out. Additionally, the information printed on the cards may become obsolete. In either situation, it becomes necessary to replace the card. As the integrated circuit is typically embedded in the card, the expensive integrated circuit has been discarded along with the worn-out or obsolete body. It is thus desirable to provide a smart card in which the expensive integrated circuit may be removed from the card body when the body is worn-out or obsolete.
For example, one such smart card having a removable integrated circuit is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,796. The smart card includes an integrated circuit which may be inserted or removed by simply rotating the integrated circuit into and out of the card. While the integrated circuit may be easily replaced or transferred to another card, there is no provision to prevent unauthorized access to the integrated circuit. Such unauthorized access may lead to tampering, theft, fraud or misuse.
Accordingly, there is a need for a smart card having an integrated circuit which may be removed or replaced by authorized personnel only. There is also a need for a smart card which provides an indication of tampering with the integrated circuit. Preferably, removal of the integrated circuit would be easy to implement while manufacture of such as smart card would be relatively inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets this need by providing a card having an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is mounted on a semiconductor chip assembly which is locked within the smart card. The semiconductor chip assembly is configured so that once it is locked in place, it may only be removed with a special tool. The special tool allows the locking mechanisms holding the semiconductor chip assembly within the smart card to be disengaged. Attempts to remove the semiconductor chip assembly without the special tool may result in damage to one or both of the semiconductor chip assembly and the smart card. The semiconductor chip assembly may be mounted through the side of the smart card or through one of the faces. A security label may be applied to the smart card and the semiconductor chip assembly to provide an indication of tampering with the semiconductor chip assembly.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a card comprises a card body and a semiconductor chip assembly. The card body includes a cut-out portion, a groove generally adjacent to a portion of the cut-out portion terminating in at least a first locking area and a first inlet notch extending through a top face to the groove. The semiconductor chip assembly includes a semiconductor device positioned thereon and a first engagement member corresponding to the first inlet notch. The semiconductor chip assembly is positioned within the cut-out portion of the card body with the first engagement member aligned with the first inlet notch. The semiconductor chip assembly is rotatable such that the first engagement member rotates within the groove and locks in place in the first locking area.
The first engagement member may comprise a first end portion of the semiconductor chip assembly or a first tab extending from the semiconductor chip assembly. The card body may comprise a second inlet notch and the semiconductor chip assembly may comprise a second engagement member corresponding to the second inlet notch. Preferably, the first and second inlet notches are positioned to only accept semiconductor chip assemblies having correspondingly positioned first and second engagement members. The first and second inlet notches may be shaped to only accept semiconductor chip assemblies having correspondingly shaped first and second engagement members. Preferably, the groove terminates in a second locking area such that the first engagement member locks in place in the first locking area and the second engagement member locks in place in the second locking area.
The groove preferably includes a first sloped portion forming a first shoulder in the first locking area. The groove may also be generally planar or comprised of a stepped structure. Preferably, the card body comprises a first laminate having the cut-out portion and the first inlet notch formed therethrough. The card body may further comprise a second laminate having the cut-out portion and a first area formed therethrough with the first area overlapping the first inlet notch and forming a portion of the groove. The card body may further comprise a third laminate having the cut-out portion and a second area formed therethrough with the second area overlapping a portion of the first area and forming another portion of the groove. The card body may further comprise a fourth laminate covering the third laminate and the cut-out portion. The first locking area may be formed in the second area of the third laminate or in the second laminate offset from the first area.
The card may further comprise a security label placed over a portion of the card body and a portion of the semiconductor chip assembly thereby providing an indication of tampering with the semiconductor chip assembly. Preferably, the security label extends across the top face and a bottom face of the card body. The security label may comprise a frangible layer or a holographic layer.
The card body has a thickness ranging from approximately 7 mils to appro
Fehrman R. David
Hileman Martin H.
Thaxton Daniel David
Wilkinson Patrick Fitzgerald
Frech Karl D.
Killworth, Gottman Hagan & Schaeff LLP
The Standard Register Company
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