Transaction card

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing an opaque, transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features, such as a holographic foil, integrated circuit chip, silver magnetic stripe with text on the magnetic stripe, opacity gradient, an invisible optically recognizable compound, a translucent signature field such that the signature on back of the card is visible from the front of the card and an active thru date on the front of the card. The invisible optically recognizable compound is an infrared ink and/or film, which can be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.

1 . A subassembly comprising:
 at least one of a translucent and transparent subassembly surface; and   a machine recognizable compound containing a first infrared blocking material associated with and substantially covering said surface, wherein said infrared blocking material comprises an isotropic dielectric multilayer film.   
   
   
       2 . The subassembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second infrared blocking material associated with and substantially covering at least one of said surface and said first infrared blocking material. 
   
   
       3 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second infrared blocking material comprises an infrared blocking ink. 
   
   
       4 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second infrared blocking material comprises a birefringement dielectric multilayer film. 
   
   
       5 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein said first infrared blocking material is capable of blocking infrared light in a first wavelength range. 
   
   
       6 . The subassembly of  claim 5 , wherein said second infrared blocking material is capable of blocking infrared light in a second wavelength range. 
   
   
       7 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second infrared blocking material comprises a layered metallic material. 
   
   
       8 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second infrared blocking material comprises a doped rare-earth material. 
   
   
       9 . The subassembly of  claim 2 , wherein said second infrared blocking material comprises an infrared blocking film comprising a plurality of layers disposed on a substrate, said plurality of layers comprising at least two layers having different refractive indices. 
   
   
       10 . A subassembly comprising:
 at least one of a translucent and transparent subassembly surface;   a first infrared blocking material capable of blocking infrared light in a first wavelength range, said first infrared blocking material associated with and substantially covering at least one of said surface and a second infrared blocking material; and,   said second infrared blocking material capable of blocking infrared light in a second wavelength range, said second infrared blocking material associated with and substantially covering at least one of said surface and said first infrared blocking material.   
   
   
       11 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first wavelength range does not overlap with said second wavelength range. 
   
   
       12 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first wavelength range is above about 800 nm and below about 1000 nm. 
   
   
       13 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first wavelength range is above about 100 nm. 
   
   
       14 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first infrared blocking material and said second infrared blocking material comprises a birefringement dielectric multilayer film. 
   
   
       15 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first infrared blocking material and said second infrared blocking material comprises an isotropic dielectric multilayer film. 
   
   
       16 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first infrared blocking material and said second infrared blocking material comprises an infrared blocking ink. 
   
   
       17 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first infrared blocking material and said second infrared blocking material comprises a layered metallic material. 
   
   
       18 . The subassembly of  claim 10 , wherein said second infrared blocking material comprises an infrared blocking film comprising a plurality of layers disposed on a substrate, said plurality of layers comprising at least two layers having different refractive indices. 
   
   
       19 . A method of detecting an article comprising:
 detecting an article by a reader, wherein said article comprises at least one of a translucent and transparent subassembly surface and a machine recognizable compound containing a first infrared blocking material associated with and substantially covering said surface, wherein said infrared blocking material comprises an isotropic dielectric multilayer film;   directing a beam of infrared light on a sensor in communication with said reader; and   determining when said beam of infrared light does not reach said sensor;   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 conducting a transaction in accordance with said determining.