Contactless SIM card carrier with detachable antenna and carrier therefore

Abstract

A contactless transaction card is detachably connectable to an antenna provided on a flexible film having an adhesive coating or other carrier surface. An integrated circuit chip on the contactless transaction card includes leads for establishing an electrical connection with the ends of the antenna. The contactless transaction card and detachable antenna may be provided on a carrier card with the adhesive film adhered onto the card and the contactless transaction card either die cut into the carrier card or frictionally held in a recessed holder formed in the carrier card surface. In a preferred embodiment, a cover for a mobile telephone includes a holder for a contactless transaction card. An antenna may be either adhered onto the cover by the user or may be permanently provided on the surface of the cover. The holder is configured so that when a contactless transaction card is inserted into the holder, the leads of the integrated circuit is facing the surface of the cover to enable electrical connection to be established between the contactless transaction card and the antenna.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A contactless transaction card assembly comprising: 
 a contactless transaction module including a module body and a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit provided on the module body; and    an antenna unit having an antenna operatively aligned and in electrical engagement with the integrated circuit for transmitting information to and from the integrated circuit via electromagnetic signals, and wherein the antenna unit is separable from and subsequently re-engageable with the integrated circuit by a user.    
     
     
         2 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the antenna unit includes a substrate upon which the antenna is supported, wherein the substrate and the antenna supported thereon are physically separable from the contactless transaction module.  
     
     
         3 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is one of a multilayer film, a flexible film laminate, or a single layer of a flexible film.  
     
     
         4 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is a filament or a wire made of a conductive material.  
     
     
         5 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is formed as a continuous line of printed conductive ink.  
     
     
         6 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is formed as a lithographically defined continuous strip of a conductive material deposited onto the antenna unit.  
     
     
         7 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the substrate is a support film having an adhesive applied on at least a portion of a surface of the film.  
     
     
         8 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive enables the support film to be adhered securely to and be cleanly removable from a carrier surface and the contactless transaction module a plurality of times.  
     
     
         9 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the module body is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.  
     
     
         10 . A contactless transaction card assembly comprising: 
 a contactless transaction module including a module body and a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit provided on the module body; and    an antenna unit having an antenna which is separate from the card and which transmits information to and from the integrated circuit via electromagnetic signals when the antenna is operatively aligned into electrical engagement with the integrated circuit.    
     
     
         11 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the antenna unit includes a support element upon which the antenna is provided, wherein the support element and the antenna provided thereon are physically separate from the contactless transaction module.  
     
     
         12 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the support element is one of a multilayer film, a flexible film laminate, or a single layer of a flexible film.  
     
     
         13 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the antenna is a filament or a wire made of a conductive material.  
     
     
         14 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the antenna is formed as a continuous line of printed conductive ink.  
     
     
         15 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the antenna is formed as a lithographically defined continuous strip of a conductive material deposited onto the antenna unit.  
     
     
         16 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the support element is a support film having an adhesive applied on at least a portion of a surface of the film.  
     
     
         17 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive enables the support film to be adhered securely to and be cleanly removable from a carrier surface and the contactless transaction module a plurality of times.  
     
     
         18 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the support element is a carrier device having a holder into which a contactless transaction module can be placed.  
     
     
         19 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the holder is configured such that when a contactless transaction module is placed therein, the integrated circuit becomes electrically engaged with the antenna to enable transmission of electromagnetic signals to and from the integrated circuit.  
     
     
         20 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the carrier device is a carrier card.  
     
     
         21 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the carrier device is a cover for a portable electronic device.  
     
     
         22 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the module body is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.  
     
     
         23 . A contactless transaction module consisting essentially of: 
 a card having an asymmetrical shape to for indicating a proper orientation when the card is inserted into a holder; and    an integrated circuit chip provided on the card and having leads for being placed into electrical engagement with an antenna, wherein the integrated circuit is capable of receiving and transmitting information stored in the chip via electromagnetic transmission.    
     
     
         24 . The contactless transaction module according to  claim 23 , wherein the asymmetrical shape includes a corner of the card being cut at an angle.  
     
     
         25 . The contactless transaction module according to  claim 23 , wherein the card is sized and shaped like a plug-in sized SIM card.  
     
     
         26 . A transmission device for transmitting information to and from a contactless transaction module, consisting essentially of: 
 an antenna for transmitting information in the form of electromagnetic signals between a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip and a transaction reader, the antenna having a defined set of contact points at which a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip can electrically engage the antenna; and    a support element on which the antenna is supported, the support element being configured to enable the antenna to become aligned with and electrically engaged with a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip for enabling the antenna to transmit information to and from the integrated circuit chip via electromagnetic signals.    
     
     
         27 . The transmission device according to  claim 26 , wherein the support element is one of a multilayer film, a flexible film laminate, or a single layer of a flexible film.  
     
     
         28 . The transmission device according to  claim 27 , wherein the support element has an adhesive backing, the adhesive enabling the film to be adhered securely to and cleanly removable from a support surface a plurality of times.  
     
     
         29 . A carrier for a contactless transaction card assembly, comprising: 
 a support device;    at least one holder for a contactless transaction card provided on a surface of the support device; and    an antenna for transmitting information in the form of electromagnetic signals between a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip on a contactless transaction card and a transaction reader, the antenna being mounted on the support device and having predetermined contact points which are located so as to become aligned with and electrically engaged with an integrated circuit chip of a contactless transaction card inserted into the holder.    
     
     
         30 . The carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a portable electronic and/or communication device.  
     
     
         31 . The carrier according to  claim 30 , wherein the support device is a cover which fits over the housing of a mobile telephone or a battery pack thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The carrier according to  claim 30 , wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a laptop or notebook computer.  
     
     
         33 . The carrier according to  claim 30 , wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a handheld or palmtop computer.  
     
     
         34 . The carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the support device is a carrier card.  
     
     
         35 . The carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the holder is configured to accommodate a contactless transaction card which is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.  
     
     
         36 . The carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, wherein one of the holders is located so that when a contactless transaction card is inserted into that holder, an integrated circuit chip of the inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of the antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the integrated circuit chip.  
     
     
         37 . The carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, the carrier further comprising a plurality of antennas corresponding in number to the number of contactless transaction card holders and located so that when a contactless transaction card is inserted into each respective holder, an integrated circuit chip of each respective inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of a corresponding antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the respective integrated circuit chip.  
     
     
         38 . A carrier for a plug-in sized contactless-type integrated circuit card, comprising: 
 a support device;    at least one holder for a contactless transaction card provided on a surface of the support device; and    an indicator on the support device for indicating an proper position at which predetermined contact points of an antenna is to be placed, such that when an antenna is placed at the proper position, such predetermined contact points of the antenna will be located so as to become aligned with a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit chip of a contactless transaction card inserted into the holder to thereby enable transmission of information in the form of electromagnetic signals between the contactless transaction card placed in the holder and a transaction reader.    
     
     
         39 . The carrier according to  claim 38 , wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a portable electronic and/or communication device.  
     
     
         40 . The carrier according to  claim 39 , wherein the support device is a cover which fits over the housing of a mobile telephone or a battery pack thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The carrier according to  claim 39 , wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a laptop or notebook computer.  
     
     
         42 . The carrier according to  claim 39 , wherein the support device is an accessory or a cover for a handheld or palmtop computer.  
     
     
         43 . The carrier according to  claim 38 , wherein the support device is a carrier card.  
     
     
         44 . The carrier according to  claim 38 , wherein the holder is configured to accommodate a contactless transaction card which is sized and shaped like a standard plug-in sized SIM card.  
     
     
         45 . The carrier according to  claim 38 , wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, wherein one of the holders is located so that when an antenna is placed at the indicated position and a contactless transaction card is inserted into that one holder, an integrated circuit chip of the inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of the antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the integrated circuit chip.  
     
     
         46 . The carrier according to  claim 38 , wherein the at least one holder is a plurality of contactless transaction card holders, the carrier further comprising a plurality of indicators on the support device for indicating respectively proper positions at which predetermined contact points of a corresponding number of antenna are to be placed, the number of indicator locations corresponding in number to the number of contactless transaction card holders, the indicators being located so that when a respective antenna is placed at each indicated position and a contactless transaction card is inserted into each corresponding holder, an integrated circuit chip of each respective inserted contactless transaction card becomes aligned with and electrically engaged with the predetermined contact points of a corresponding antenna to thereby enable electromagnetic transmission of information to and from the respective integrated circuit chip.  
     
     
         47 . A contactless transaction card assembly comprising: 
 a carrier card;    at least one contactless transaction module each including a module body and a contactless transaction-type integrated circuit provided on the module body, each contactless transaction module being mounted on the carrier card; and    at least one antenna unit each having an antenna operatively aligned and in electrical engagement with the integrated circuit of a corresponding contactless transaction module for transmitting information to and from the integrated circuit via electromagnetic signals, and wherein each antenna unit is separable from and subsequently re-engageable with the respective integrated circuit by a user.    
     
     
         48 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 47 , wherein each contactless transaction module is mounted in the carrier card by virtue of the respective module body of each module being die cut into the carrier card.  
     
     
         49 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 47 , further comprising at least one holder formed on the carrier card, wherein a respective holder is provided for each of the at least one contactless transaction modules.  
     
     
         50 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 49 , wherein each holder is formed so that the corresponding contactless transaction card is frictionally held in the respective holder.  
     
     
         51 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 49 , wherein each contactless transaction card is detachably and reattachably mounted in a corresponding holder.  
     
     
         52 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 47 , wherein the at least one contactless transaction card is a plurality of contactless transaction cards and the at least one antenna unit is one antenna unit, such that the antenna of the antenna unit is operatively but separably aligned with the integrated circuit of only one of the plurality of contactless transaction cards at a time, and wherein the plurality of contactless transaction cards are interchangeably connectable to the antenna of the antenna unit.  
     
     
         53 . The contactless transaction card assembly according to  claim 47 , wherein the at least one contactless transaction card is a plurality of contactless transaction cards and the at least one antenna unit is a plurality of antenna units corresponding in number to the number of contactless transaction cards, such that the antenna of each antenna unit is operatively but separably aligned with the integrated circuit of a corresponding one of the plurality of contactless transaction cards.