A conductive coupling frame (CF) having two ends, forming an open loop having two ends or a discontinuous metal layer disposed surrounding and closely adjacent a transponder chip module (TCM, 610), and substantially coplanar with an antenna structure (AS, CES, LES) in the transponder chip module (TCM). A metal card body (MCB, CB) or a transaction card with a discontinuous metal layer having a slit (S) or a non-conductive strip (NCS, 1034) extending from a module opening (MO) to a periphery of the card body to function as a coupling frame (CF). The coupling frame (CF) may be thick enough to be non-transparent to RF at frequencies of interest. A switch (SW) may be provided to connect ends of the coupling frame (CF) across the slit (S, 630). A reinforcing structure (RS) may be provided to stabilize the coupling frame (CF) and card body (CB). The transponder chip module (TCM) may comprise an antenna structure which may be a laser-etched antenna structure (LES) or a chemical-etched antenna structure (CES), and may comprise and a non-perforated contact pad (CP) arrangement. A coupling frame (CF) may be incorporated onto the module tape (MT, CCT) for a transponder chip module (TCM).

A transaction card includes at least one metal layer having one or more apertures therein. A light guide is disposed beneath the metal layer. The light guide has a light output and a light input. The light output is positioned to transmit light through at least the one or more apertures of the metal layer. At least one LED is positioned to transmit light into the light input of the light guide.

A transaction card is described. The transaction card includes a non-plastic layer, one or more embedded electronics, a fill layer, and one or more additional layers. The non-plastic layer has first and second faces and a thickness therebetween, and at least a first opening in the first face. The one or more embedded electronic components are disposed in or adjacent the first opening. The fill layer is in contact with the embedded electronic components, disposed in portions of the first opening not occupied by the embedded electronics. The one or more additional layers are disposed over the fill layer.

A chip card manufacturing method. A module includes a substrate supporting contacts on one surface and conductive paths and a chip on another; and an antenna on a holder, the antenna including a contact pad for respectively connecting to each of the ends thereof. A solder drop is placed on each of the contact pads of the antenna. The holder of the antenna is inserted between plastic layers. A cavity is provided, in which the module can be accommodated and the solder drops remain accessible. The height of the solder drops before heating is suitable for projecting into the cavity. A module is placed in each cavity. The areas of the module that are located on the solder drops are heated to melt the solder and to solder the contact pads of the antenna to conductive paths of the module.

A method for querying information in a visual smart card, comprising: a micro control unit receiving, by means of an input device, a query request inputted by a user (S1); the micro control unit determining information queried by a user request according to a received query request (S2); if first information, the micro control unit reading a first information record which is stored thereby, and parsing the first information record to obtain the first information, the first information being displayed by means of a display device (S3); if second information, the micro control unit sending an application selection instruction to a smart card chip, receiving an application selection response returned by the smart card chip, then sending an information record reading instruction to the smart card chip, receiving a second information record returned by the smart card chip, and parsing the second information record to obtain the second information, the second information being displayed by means of the display device (S4). A visual smart card applicable to said method overcomes the shortcomings in the existing technology wherein the assistance of other devices is required, while carrying out querying by means of operating a smart card directly facilitates a holder of a smart card understanding information in the smart card, improving the ease of use of smart cards.

Two input/output terminals are provided on a lower surface of an RFIC element. An antenna element includes an elastic material and connecting portions respectively connected to the two input/output terminals of the RFIC element, a loop that includes the connecting portions, and open-ended linear antenna portions that define and function as radiators. The line width of the loop is greater than that of each of the linear antenna portions.

An RFIC module is provided that includes a base material having a first face and a second face opposite to each other, an RFIC mounted above the first face of the base material, and RFIC-side terminal electrodes that are formed on the first face of the base material and are connected to the RFIC. An insulator film is formed on the surface of the RFIC-side terminal electrode, and conductor films facing the RFIC-side terminal electrode are formed on the insulator film. Moreover, additional capacitances are formed between the RFIC-side terminal electrodes and the conductor films.

An RFID tag is provided that includes an insulator film, an antenna with an antenna conductor pattern disposed on the insulator film, and an RFIC module mounted on the insulator film. The RFIC module includes an RFIC and an impedance matching circuit. The impedance matching circuit includes a first coil and a second coil. Main planes of magnetic flux loops generated in the vicinities of the first coil and the second coil by the antenna are not parallel to main planes of magnetic flux loops generated in the first coil and the second coil.

An electromagnetic-coupling dual IC card includes an IC module and a plate-like card body. The IC module includes a module substrate having a first surface and a second surface, contact terminals provided on the first surface of the module substrate to be contactable with an external contact-type device, an IC chip having a contact communication function and a contactless communication function and disposed on the second surface, and a first connecting coil provided on the first surface. The plate-like card body includes an antenna sheet embedded therein and has a recess for holding the IC module, the antenna sheet being provided with a coupling coil to be electromagnetically coupled to the first connecting coil, and a main coil connected to the coupling coil to perform contactless communication with an external contactless-type device. The first connecting coil does not overlap with the contact terminals in plan view.

An electronic module for a chip includes a first dielectric substrate provided on one of the faces thereof with a first microelectronic chip whose input/output terminals are connected to first connection pins which are arranged around the first microelectronic chip, and a second dielectric substrate which is placed directly opposite the first substrate and which is provided on one of the faces thereof with a second microelectronic chip whose input/output terminals are connected to second connection pins which are arranged around the second microelectronic chip. The first and second microelectronic chips are arranged on the faces of the substrates directed towards the interior of the electronic module. A dielectric shim has a calibrated thickness and separates the first and second dielectric substrates. The shim has through-holes or vacancies accommodating electrically conductive materials connecting some of the first connection pins to some of the second connection pins.