DI capacitive embedded metal card

A transaction card having a card periphery defined by first and second parallel short sides and first and second parallel long sides, wherein the short sides are relatively shorter than the long sides, the transaction card comprising:

• a metal layer having a front surface and a back surface;
• an opening sized to accommodate a transponder chip module, the opening having a first edge parallel and relatively closest to the first short side of the card periphery and aligned with a first portion of the card periphery, a second edge parallel and relatively closest to the first long side of the card periphery, and a third edge parallel and relatively closest to the second long side of the card periphery, the first edge relatively closer to the short side of the card periphery than the second edge is to the long side of the card periphery, and the second edge relatively closer to the first long side of the card periphery than the third edge is to the second long side of the card periphery;
• and
• a plurality of discontinuities in the metal layer, each discontinuity comprising a gap in the metal layer extending from the front surface of to the bottom surface, at least one of the discontinuities extending from a periphery of the metal layer and terminating in the opening, each of the plurality of discontinuities having a length, wherein fewer than all of the plurality of discontinuities extend from the periphery of the metal layer to the opening
• wherein the card has a greater resistance to damage caused by flexure of the card than a reference card having an otherwise identical configuration except for a discontinuity terminus and discontinuity origin located equidistant from the line defined by the first long side of the periphery.

A method for making a transaction card, the transaction card having a card periphery defined by first and second parallel short sides and first and second parallel long sides, wherein the short sides are relatively shorter than the long sides, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a metal layer having a front surface and a back surface;
• (b) creating an opening in the metal layer sized to accommodate a transponder chip module, the opening having a first edge parallel and relatively closest to the first short side of the card periphery and aligned with a first section of the card periphery, a second edge parallel and relatively closest to the first long side of the card periphery, and a third edge parallel and relatively closest to the second long side of the card periphery, the first edge relatively closer to the short side of the card periphery than the second edge is to the long side of the card periphery, and the second edge relatively closer to the first long side of the card periphery than the third edge is to the second long side of the card periphery, the edges of the opening defining corners;
• (c) creating a discontinuity in the metal layer comprising a gap in the metal layer extending from the front surface to the back surface, the discontinuity defining a path from an origin at the card periphery and terminating at a terminus in the opening, wherein one of the terminus or the origin is located relatively closer to a line defined by the first long side of the card periphery than the other;
• and
• (d) disposing the transponder chip module in the opening.

A transaction card defined by a card periphery comprising first and second parallel short sides and first and second parallel long sides, wherein the short sides are relatively shorter than the long sides, the transaction card comprising:

• a metal layer having a front surface, a back surface, a metal layer periphery, and an opening sized to accommodate the transponder chip module, the opening having a first edge parallel and relatively closest to the first short side of the card periphery and aligned with a first portion of the card periphery, a second edge parallel and relatively closest to the first long side of the card periphery, and a third edge parallel and relatively closest to the second long side of the card periphery, the first edge relatively closer to the short side of the card periphery than the second edge is to the long side of the card periphery, and the second edge relatively closer to the first long side of the card periphery than the third edge is to the second long side of the card periphery, the edges of the opening defining corners;
• at least one discontinuity in the metal layer extending from the front surface of to the back surface, the at least one discontinuity comprising a gap having a width and extending from an origin on the metal layer periphery and terminating in a terminus in the opening;
• and
• a self-supporting non-metal layer disposed on at least one surface of the card;
• wherein the card has a greater resistance to damage caused by flexure of the card than a reference card having an otherwise identical configuration but lacking a same self-supporting non-metal layer.

A transaction card comprising:

• a metal layer having a front surface, a back surface, a periphery, and an opening sized to accommodate the transponder chip module;
• at least one discontinuity in the metal layer extending from the front surface of to the back surface, the at least one discontinuity comprising a gap having a width and extending from an origin on the periphery of the metal layer and terminating in a terminus in the opening;
• and
• one or more ceramic reinforcing tabs surrounding the opening and disposed on one or both surfaces of the card.

A transaction card defined by a card periphery comprising first and second parallel short sides and first and second parallel long sides, wherein the short sides are relatively shorter than the long sides, the transaction card comprising:

• a metal layer having a front surface, a back surface, and an opening sized to accommodate the transponder chip module;
• the opening having a first edge parallel and relatively closest to the first short side of the card periphery and aligned with a first portion of the card periphery, a second edge parallel and relatively closest to the first long side of the card periphery, and a third edge parallel and relatively closest to the second long side of the card periphery, the first edge relatively closer to the short side of the card periphery than the second edge is to the long side of the card periphery, and the second edge relatively closer to the first long side of the card periphery than the third edge is to the second long side of the card periphery, the edges of the opening defining corners;
• at least one discontinuity in the metal layer extending from the front surface of to the back surface, the at least one discontinuity comprising a gap having a width and extending from an origin on the periphery of the metal layer and terminating in a terminus in the opening;
• the card having a greater resistance to damage caused by flexure of the card, than a reference card having an otherwise identical configuration, including a discontinuity having the same gap width and having its terminus and origin located the same distance from a line defined by the first long side of the card periphery, but in an absence of one or more strengthening features, wherein the greater resistance is provided by the one or more strengthening features selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) a single discontinuity wherein one of the terminus or the origin are located relatively closer to the line defined by the first long side of the card periphery than the other;
• (b) a plurality of discontinuities, each having a length, wherein fewer than all of the plurality of discontinuities extend from the card periphery to the opening;
• (c) a self-supporting non-metal layer disposed on at least one surface of the card;
• (d) one or more ceramic reinforcing tabs surrounding the opening and disposed on one or both surfaces of the card;
• or
• (e) a combination of any of the above.