Contactless transaction card and adapter therefor

A method of forming a contactless transaction card, comprising:

• providing at least first, second and third layers of a material, wherein the first, second and third layers each have a shape and size substantially corresponding to a full-sized transaction card;
• defining a shape corresponding to a micro-sized card in the first layer of material by forming a continuous cut through the first layer along a substantial portion of a periphery of the micro-sized card;
• mounting a first integrated circuit chip within the shape corresponding to the micro-sized card of the first layer;
• defining the shape corresponding to the micro-sized card in the second layer of material by forming a plurality of cuts through the second layer along the periphery of the micro-sized card, wherein the plurality of cuts leaves at least one bridge between the micro-sized card and a remainder portion of the second layer;
• mounting a second integrated circuit chip on the second layer;
• providing an antenna on the second layer in electrical connection with the first and second integrated circuit chips, the antenna connecting to the first integrated circuit chip by extending into the micro-sized card portion via the at least one bridge;
• defining a shape corresponding to a micro-sized card in the third layer of material by forming a continuous cut through the third layer along a substantial portion of a periphery of the micro-sized card;
• and
• laminating the at least first, second and third layers together.

An adapter for use with a micro-sized contactless transaction card comprising:

• a base layer shaped and sized substantially according to a standard transaction card;
• an intermediate layer having a thickness substantially corresponding to the thickness of the micro-sized contactless transaction card, and further having a cutout formed therein having a shape corresponding to the shape of the micro-sized contactless transaction card;
• a top layer having a thickness less than that of the intermediate layer and further having a cutout formed therein having a shape corresponding to a portion of the shape of the micro-sized contactless transaction card, the cutout of the top layer being aligned over the cutout of the intermediate layer to form a pocket for holding the micro-sized transaction card;
• and
• an antenna embedded either between the intermediate layer and the top layer or between the intermediate layer and the base layer, and having end portions arranged on a region at the surface of the base layer aligned with the cutouts of the intermediate layer and the top layer, so that insertion of the micro-sized transaction card into the pocket places an integrated circuit chip of the card into operative alignment and contact with the antenna for performing a contactless function.

A method of forming an adapter card for a micro-sized contactless transaction card, comprising:

• providing at least first, second and third layers of a material, wherein the first, second and third layers each have a shape and size substantially corresponding to a full-sized transaction card;
• forming a cutout corresponding in shape to a portion of a micro-sized card in the first layer;
• forming a cutout corresponding in shape to the entirety of the micro-sized card in the second layer, the cutout in the second layer being aligned with the cutout formed in the first layer;
• providing an antenna on the third layer and affixing ends of the antenna at a region of the third layer which is aligned with the cutouts in the first and second layers such that insertion of a micro-sized card in the cutouts places an integrated circuit chip of the micro-sized card into operative contact and alignment with the antenna;
• and
• laminating the at least first, second and third layers together.