Lead-frame, card body of a smart card, smart card, and method of forming a smart card

A prelaminated body for a smart card having at least one lead-frame integrated into the prelaminated body, the at least one lead-frame comprising:

• a planar lead-frame body portion;
• at least one contact pad having a planar contact portion;
• and
• at least one bridging portion of an annular ring shape coupled with the planar lead-frame body portion and extending away from the planar lead-frame body portion towards the at least one contact pad and between the planar contact portion and the planar lead-frame body portion,
• wherein the at least one bridging portion extends out of a plane defined by at least one of the planar lead-frame body portion and the planar contact portion and at least partially in parallel to a substantially normal direction of the planar contact portion,
• wherein the at least one contact pad has a holding portion with at least one opening formed therein.

A prelaminated body for a smart card having at least one lead-frame integrated into the prelaminated body, the at least one lead-frame comprising:

• a planar lead-frame body portion;
• at least one contact pad having a planar contact portion;
• at least one bridging portion of an annular ring shape coupled with the planar lead-frame body portion and extending away from the planar lead-frame body portion towards the at least one contact pad and between the planar contact portion and the planar lead-frame body portion,
• wherein the at least one bridging portion extends out of a plane defined by at least one of the planar lead-frame body portion and the planar contact portion and at least partially in parallel to a substantially normal direction of the planar contact portion;
• and
• an opening formed within the prelam body so as to at least partially expose the planar contact portion of the at least one lead-frame and at least partially remove the at least one bridging portion of the at least one lead-frame such that the planar lead-frame body portion of the at least one lead-frame and the planar contact portion of the at least one lead-frame are electrically disconnected.

A smart card formed from a prelaminated body having at least one lead-frame integrated into the prelaminated body, the at least one lead-frame comprising:

• a planar lead-frame body portion;
• at least one contact pad having a planar contact portion;
• and
• at least one bridging portion of an annular ring shape coupled with the planar lead-frame body portion and extending away from the planar lead-frame body portion towards the at least one contact pad and between the planar contact portion and the planar lead-frame body portion,
• wherein the at least one bridging portion extends out of a plane defined by at least one of the planar lead-frame body portion and the planar contact portion and at least partially in parallel to a substantially normal direction of the planar contact portion,
• wherein the at least one bridging portion of the at least one lead-frame is at least partially removed such that the planar lead-frame body portion of the at least one lead-frame and the planar contact portion of the at least one lead-frame are electrically disconnected.

A card body of a smart card formed from a prelaminated body having at least one lead-frame integrated into the prelaminated body, the at least one lead-frame comprising:

• a planar lead-frame body portion;
• at least one contact pad having a planar contact portion;
• and
• at least one bridging portion of an annular ring shape coupled with the planar lead-frame body portion and extending away from the planar lead-frame body portion towards the at least one contact pad and between the planar contact portion and the planar lead-frame body portion,
• wherein the at least one bridging portion extends out of a plane defined by at least one of the planar lead-frame body portion and the planar contact portion and at least partially in parallel to a substantially normal direction of the planar contact portion,
• wherein the at least one bridging portion of the at least one lead-frame is at least partially removed such that the planar lead-frame body portion of the at least one lead-frame and the planar contact portion of the at least one lead-frame are electrically disconnected.

A method of forming a smart card, comprising:

• providing a lead-frame comprising a planar lead-frame body portion, at least one contact pad having a planar contact portion, and at least one bridging portion coupled with the planar lead-frame body portion and extending away from the planar lead-frame body towards the at least one contact pad and between the planar contact portion and the planar lead-frame portion, wherein the at least one bridging portion extends out of a plane defined by at least one of the planar lead-frame body portion and the planar contact portion and at least partially in parallel to a substantially normal direction of the planar contact portion.;
• preparing a prelaminated card body having the lead-frame integrated therein;
• and
• forming a cavity in the prelaminated card body for at least partially exposing at least one contact pad of the lead-frame.

A method of forming a smart card, comprising:

• providing a lead-frame comprising a planar lead-frame body portion, at least one contact pad having a planar contact portion, and at least one bridging portion coupled with the planar lead-frame body portion and extending away from the planar lead-frame body towards the at least one contact pad and between the planar contact portion and the planar lead-frame portion, wherein the at least one bridging portion extends out of a plane defined by at least one of the planar lead-frame body portion and the planar contact portion and at least partially in parallel to a substantially normal direction of the planar contact portion.;
• preparing a prelaminated card body having the lead-frame integrated therein;
• and
• forming a cavity in the prelaminated card body for at least partially exposing at least one contact pad of the lead-frame, wherein the at least one bridging portion of the at least one lead-frame is at least partially removed such that the planar lead-frame body portion of the at least one lead-frame and the planar contact portion of the at least one lead-frame are electrically disconnected, and wherein the lead-frame is fabricated by etching or cutting or punching a flat lead-frame element out of a sheet or strip or band of material and optionally a deep-drawing or bending one of the sheet or strip or band of material and the flat lead-frame element.