An RFID enabled metal transaction card comprising (i) a transponder chip module (TCM) having a RF payment chip (IC) and a module antenna (MA), (ii) a coupling frame (CF) in the form of a metal card body (MCB) having an electrical discontinuity comprising a slit (S, S.sub.CF) and (iii) a discontinuous metal frame (DMF) assembled to the metal card body (MCB) in a peripheral area thereof and having a slit (S, S.sub.DMF). The discontinuous metal frame (DMF) is electrically isolated from the metal card body (MCB) and may be coated with an insulating medium. The DMF camouflages the slit in the metal card body and mechanically stabilizes the structure of the card body, especially during insertion in an automatic teller machine (ATM) or point of sale (POS) terminal.

A process for manufacturing an electronic module intended to be implemented in a dual-interface portable object is provided. The process includes at least the following steps: Using a single-sided film consisting of one or more contact regions and a dielectric comprising one or more apertures, Using a substrate comprising one or more electrically conductive regions intended for the contactless communication of the object, Securing said single-sided film and said substrate together, Positioning an integrated circuit and connecting it to the contact regions of the single-sided film and at least to one terminal of at least one of said electrically conductive regions, Depositing a protective layer incorporating at least said integrated circuit.

Also provided is a module obtained by means of the process.

This disclosure is directed to an electronic identification card or electronic card having various features. The electronic card may include an integrated circuit and a contact plate for electrically interfacing with the integrated circuit. The contact plate may include an array of terminal electrodes that are offset with respect to the edges of the contact plate. The electronic card may be coated with a coating layer that extends at least partially over a ferromagnetic element or film. The electronic card may also include a metal substrate having exposed chamfer portions that may provide a visual contrast to the coating layer and also improve the handling and use of the electronic card.

Systems and methods for augmenting a dedicated payment instrument to leverage built-in access to real-time support from a central system are provided. Methods may be executed via computer-executable instructions that are stored in a non-transitory memory of the instrument and run on a microprocessor embedded in the instrument. Methods may include receiving a request from a user of the instrument, via one or more sensors, to initiate a support session. The sensors may include a camera, a microphone, and/or a tactile sensor. Methods may include transmitting the request to the central system via a wireless communication element, and receiving, from the central system, support session data. Methods may also include displaying, on a display screen, information based on the support session data.

A card core includes a body defining a cutout and a discontinuity. The cutout includes an opening in the body defined by an edge and the discontinuity includes a channel defined by the body extending from an outer surface of the body to the cutout. At least one circuit element is positioned within the cutout. The cutout defines a size and geometry such that a gap is defined between the at least one circuit element and the edge to electromagnetically isolate the at least one circuit element from the body.

Transaction cards, systems and methods involving an on-card display and an associated mobile computing device utilized for authenticating transactions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary transaction card may comprise transaction circuitry configured to conduct purchase transactions involving a mobile computing device coupled to or associated with the transaction card, communication circuitry configured to communicate with a provider of the transaction card, an e-ink display configured to display a QR code on the transaction card for use in authentication, data storage configured to store the QR code, and computer readable media having instructions for initiating a second-factor authentication process and displaying the QR code on the e-ink display to be captured by the mobile computing device and transmitted to a system or server for validating the second-factor authentication process.

A card core includes a body defining a cutout and a discontinuity. The cutout includes an opening in the body defined by an edge and the discontinuity includes a channel defined by the body extending from an outer surface of the body to the cutout. At least one circuit element is positioned within the cutout. The cutout defines a size and geometry such that a gap is defined between the at least one circuit element and the edge to electromagnetically isolate the at least one circuit element from the body.

A smartcard (SC) having at least a contactless interface, such as having a dual interface transponder chip module (TCM) with a chip (IC), a module antenna (MA) for the contactless interface, and contact pads (CP) for a contact interface. Metal layers (ML) may have openings (MO) for receiving the module, and slits (S) or nonconductive stripes (NCS) extending to the openings, thereby forming coupling frames (CF). A card body (CB) for the smartcard may comprise two such metal layers (front and rear coupling frames) separated by a layer of non-conductive (dielectric) material. A front face card layer and a rear face card layer may complete a multiple coupling frame stack-up for a smartcard. Various slit designs (configurations, geometries) are described and illustrated. The slit may be filled. The slit may be reinforced.

A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Gift cards may be inputted by a user into such a payment card or other device such that a user can combine gift cards. Similarly, a user be provided with a global payment account that can be utilized in multiple countries that have different standards for formatting data. A user may be provided with a default country (e.g., United States) but may have a way to select that the user is in a different country (e.g., Japan). Accordingly, a user may select that a Japanese data structure be transmitted through a magnetic stripe reader when the user is in Japan.

(i) Smartcards (SC) manufactured from a web of metal inlays (MI; FIGS. 12-14) with the coupling frame (CF) forming the metal card body (MCB) supported by metal struts (struts). In the production of smartcards having a coupling frame (CF) with a slit (S), the slit may form part of graphic elements (FIGS. 10-12). (ii) Printing and coating techniques may be used to camouflage the slit (FIGS. 9A-9D). (iii) Surface currents may be collected from one location in a card body (CB) and transported to another location (FIGS. 15AB). A flexible circuit (FC) may be connected to termination points (TP) across the slit (S), or may couple via a patch antenna (PA) with the slit (S). The flexible circuit may couple, via an antenna structure (AS) with the module antenna (MA) of a transponder chip module (TCM).