UNIVERSAL CREDIT CARD
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to credit, debit or smart cards and in particular to a universal credit, debit or smart card.
BACKGROUND ART
Credit, debit and smart cards, collectively referred to herein as credit cards, are well known in the art. Typical cards of this nature include a substrate having a magnetic stripe on one major face thereof. The magnetic stripe extends the length of the substrate and runs adjacent a side edge thereof. Financial transaction data including card type, card owner and financial institution data is recorded on the magnetic stripe and is read by a card reader when a financial transaction is to be completed.
Credit cards having an integrated circuit embedded therein have also been designed. The integrated circuit replaces the magnetic stripe and stores the financial transaction data. The integrated circuit is energized by a card reader when a financial transaction is to be completed so that the financial transaction data stored therein can be read.
Unfortunately, the design of these prior art credit cards requires the credit cards to be inserted into the card reader in a specific manner in order to allow the financial transaction data to be read. Also, these credit cards store data relating to only one financial institution or credit authorizing party requiring individuals to carry many different types of credit cards. Accordingly, an improved credit card design is sought.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel credit card.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a credit card comprising:
a generally rectangular substrate having a pair of opposed major faces; and at least one pair of integrated circuit devices mounted on said substrate and storing financial transaction data to be read by a card reader, the integrated circuit devices of said at least one pair being positioned on one of said major faces adjacent diagonally opposed corners thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the credit card includes two pairs of integrated circuit devices mounted on the substrate. One pair of the integrated circuit devices is positioned on one of the major faces and the other pair of integrated circuit devices is positioned on the other of the major faces. The integrated circuit devices of one pair are positioned adjacent one set of diagonally opposed corners of the substrate and the integrated circuit devices of the other pair are positioned adjacent an opposite set of diagonally opposed corners of the substrate.
In one embodiment, each integrated circuit device stores financial transaction data relating to the same financial institution or credit authorizing party. In an alternative embodiment, each integrated circuit device stores financial transaction data relating to a different financial institution or credit authorizing party.
In one embodiment, the credit card further includes at least one magnetic stripe on one of the major faces of the substrate which extends generally the length thereof. The at least one magnetic stripe has financial transaction data recorded thereon and runs adjacent a side edge of the substrate and between the side edge and an integrated circuit device. Preferably, the credit card includes at least two magnetic stripes, each of which is positioned on an opposite major face of the substrate. The magnetic stripes run adjacent opposed side edges of the substrate. In one embodiment, the credit card further includes at least one fingerprint carrier on one of the major faces of the substrate. The at least one fingerprint carrier is generally centrally positioned on the one major face and is covered by a generally transparent pane. Alternatively, a generally centrally positioned fingerprint carrier can be provided on each major face of the substrate. The present invention provides advantages in that when the integrated
circuit devices store financial transaction data relating to the same financial institution or card authorizing party, the credit card can be read regardless of its orientation when inserted into a card reader. In addition, when the integrated circuit devices store financial transaction data for different financial institutions or credit authorizing parties, the number of credit cards an individual is required to carry is significantly reduced. The card holder simply needs to orient the credit card in the desired manner before inserting the credit card into the card reader so that the appropriate integrated circuit device is read and the desired financial transaction is carried out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a credit card in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the credit card of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a credit card in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 4 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of a credit card in accordance with the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a credit card to be read by a card reader is shown and is generally indicated to by reference numeral 10. Credit card 10 includes a generally rectangular substrate 12 having a pair of opposed major faces 14 and 16. As can be seen, two pairs of integrated circuit devices 18 and 20 respectively are embedded in the substrate 12. One pair of integrated circuit devices 18 is positioned on major face 14 while the other pair of integrated circuit devices 20 is positioned on major face 16. The integrated circuit devices of pair 18 are positioned adjacent one set of diagonally opposed corners of the substrate 12 while the integrated
circuit device of pair 20 are positioned adjacent an opposite set of diagonally opposed corners of the substrate 12.
Centrally positioned on the major face 16 of the substrate 12 is a fingerprint carrier 22 imprinted with a thumb or fingerprint 24 of the cardholder. The carrier 22 is covered by a generally transparent glass pane 26 to protect the carrier 22 while allowing the thumb or fingerprint imprinted thereon to be scanned.
The integrated circuit devices of each pair store financial transaction data including card type and card owner data as well as data relating to the financial institution or credit authorizing party that issued the credit card 10. When the cardholder wishes to complete a financial transaction, the credit card is inserted into a card reader designed to energize an integrated circuit device positioned adjacent a corner of the substrate 12. Depending on the orientation of the credit card 10 when it is inserted into the card reader, a different integrated circuit device will energized. Once the credit card is inserted into the card reader, the card reader energizes the appropriate integrated circuit device so that the data stored therein can be read by the card reader and then subsequently transmitted to the appropriate financial institution or credit authorizing party to allow the financial transaction to be completed. The card reader can also write data to the integrated circuit device for storage therein. The integrated circuit devices may be of the contact type which form physical and electrical connections with a card reader when inserted therein. Alternatively, the integrated circuit devices may be of the non-contact type. In this case, when the credit card is inserted into the card reader, the integrated circuit device is energized by RF waves broadcast by the card reader which in turn cause the integrated circuit device to transmit the data stored therein to the card reader.
The integrated circuit devices may store financial transaction data associated with a specific financial institution or credit authorizing party. In this case, since the integrated circuits 18, 20 are positioned adjacent opposite sets of diagonally opposed corners and on opposite sides of the substrate 12, the credit card 10 can be inserted into the card reader at any orientation while still allowing financial
transaction data to be read.
Alternatively, each integrated circuit device may store financial transaction data associated with a different financial institution or credit authorizing party. In this case, depending on the orientation of the credit card 10 when it is inserted into the card reader, a different financial transaction will be carried out. This reduces the number of credit cards the cardholder is required to carry.
Referring now to Figure 3, an alternative embodiment of a credit card in accordance with the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, a fingerprint carrier 22' covered by a pane 26' is generally centrally positioned on each major face 14', 16' of the substrate 12'.
Referring now to Figure 4, yet another alternative embodiment of a credit card in accordance with the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the credit card further includes a pair of magnetic stripes 150 thereon. Each magnetic stripe 150 is positioned on an opposite major face 114, 116 of the substrate 112. Each magnetic stripe 150 has financial transaction data recorded thereon and extends generally the length of the substrate adjacent an opposite side edge of the substrate. The magnetic stripes are positioned so that they run between the respective side edge of the substrate and an integrated circuit device 118, 120. In this case, the credit card can be used with card readers designed to read magnetic stripes as well as with card readers designed to read integrated circuit devices. Since, magnetic stripes are provided on both sides of the substrate adjacent opposed sides edges thereof, a magnetic stripe can be read regardless of the orientation of the credit card when it is inserted into a card reader.
Although the credit card has been described as including two pair of integrated circuit devices fewer integrated circuit devices can be provided on the substrate. This of course places restrictions on the orientation of the credit card when inserted into the card reader and limits the amount of financial transaction data the credit card can carry. In addition, the credit card may include only one or more than two magnetic stripes if desired. Although particular embodiments of a credit card in accordance with
the present invention have been described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.