A transaction card having a front “continuous” (with no slit) metal layer (530, 630, 730) with an opening (506, 612, 712) for a dual-interface transponder chip module (510, 610, 710). A shielding layer (540, 640, 742) comprising ferrite material (shielding layer) disposed below the metal layer. An amplifying element (507, 650, 744) disposed under the shielding layer. A metal interlayer (750, FIG. 7B) with a slit to function as a coupling frame (CF). A coupling frame antenna (507) having a single turn or track mounted on a supporting substrate (502). A rear plastic layer (560, 660, 760) formed of non-RF impeding material may capture a magnetic stripe and security elements (signature panel and hologram). The coupling frame antenna (507) may be integrated into the rear plastic layer. A portion of the front metal layer may protrude downward into the shielding layer. A dielectric spacer (548, 648, 748) may be disposed between the shielding layer and the amplifying element. A compound-filled recess for embedding an electronic component is also disclosed.

Aspects described herein may allow for a payment card having enhanced edge patterns. The payment card may include a complex edge morphology on the physical card that may make the payment card more likely to be used by consumers and makes the payment card stand out due to the enhanced edge design. The edge of the payment card may be reeded, crenelated, or may include various shapes of various sizes on one or more of the edge walls extending around the payment card. The edge of the payment card may also include dimples, chips, and/or other complex design patterns cut into the face of the payment card close to the edge. The payment card may also include inclusions of other materials, such as metals, ceramic, and/or polymer to be added which fill or partially fill any voids produced by the edge patterns.

A method for recognizing an object located in an object space includes emitting a distance measuring pulse into the object space by a signal time-of-flight based distance measuring unit. The object is provided with a marker which, in response to the influence of the distance measuring pulse, emits electromagnetic marker radiation in which object information for the object recognition is stored. The method further includes recording the marker radiation by an electrical radiation detector and the object information for object recognition being assigned to the object.

A mini smart card and a method of manufacturing the mini smart card are introduced. The method includes disposing bilayered print layers on a top side and a bottom side of a circuit layer, respectively; performing a heat-compression treatment and then a printing treatment on the circuit layer and the bilayered print layers; removing surface layers from the bilayered print layers; and disposing transparent protective layers on the bilayered print layers, respectively. The bilayered print layers are prevented from deforming under the heat generated during the printing treatment. Removal of the surface layers from the bilayered print layers effectively reduces the thickness of the mini smart card.

System and method of managing one or more surgical articles, wherein the surgical article can include a surgical sponge comprising an identification element, and wherein managing can include counting, locating, or both. The identification element can be a RFID tag. The RFID tag stores unique identification information relative to the surgical sponge. The system and method for detecting RFID tags may include a hand-held RFID reader operable in a first count-in mode and in a second count-out mode; the hand-held RFID reader may be receivable in a cradle that can determine the presence of the hand-held RFID reader in the cradle; and where operation of the hand-held RFID reader in the second count-out mode is enabled when the hand-held RFID reader is present in the cradle and the second count-out mode is disabled when the hand-held RFID reader is absent from the cradle.

A process for making a card includes the steps of forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface, disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer of ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder over the first surface of the core layer, such as by spray coating, and curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer. Card products of the process may have a core layer of metal, ceramic, or a combination thereof that form a bulk of the card.

A process for making a card includes the steps of forming a core layer having a first surface and a second surface, disposing an uncured decorative ceramic layer of ceramic particles disposed in a resin binder over the first surface of the core layer, such as by spray coating, and curing the uncured decorative ceramic layer to form a cured decorative ceramic layer. Card products of the process may have a core layer of metal, ceramic, or a combination thereof that form a bulk of the card.

For protecting confidential information in a printed document, the invention provides a system and method for, on one hand, encrypting the confidential content of the document and then printing the part or parts of the document with confidential information in an encrypted form and the rest of the document in a non-encrypted form, and, on the other hand, decrypting the encrypted document content for display and use or for printing. In addition, for preventing unauthorized copying and tampering of a printed document, the invention provides a system and method for managing a unique tag, which is attached to the document and which authenticates the document.

Disclosed are examples of transaction cards incorporating aluminum or aluminum alloys. The aluminum can be extracted or recycled from a retired aircraft. Other materials can also be incorporated into the transaction card to provide sufficient weight and rigidity to the transaction card. Stainless steel can be incorporated into the construction of the card in combination with aluminum to provide a desired user experience.

An RFID mesh label configured to be integrally incorporated within a vulcanized tire and to further provide unique identifier(s) and/or other information about the vulcanized tire during and/or post-vulcanization, the RFID mesh label including a face layer configured to be positioned adjacent or flush to an outer surface of the vulcanized tire; an RFID layer positioned underneath the face layer, the RFID layer having an RFID device that is configured to provide unique identifier(s) and/or other information about the vulcanized tire upon being read with an RFID reader; and a mesh backing overlying the RFID layer and adapted to be integrally incorporated in a vulcanized tire after subjecting a green tire to a vulcanization process.