Manually operated switch for enabling and disabling an RFID card

A radio operated data card comprising, in combination,

• an on-card antenna,
• on-card electronic circuitry including a data memory and a transceiver for transferring data between said memory and a remote host system via said antenna, and
• a user-activated, normally open electrical switching circuit connected between the on-card electronic circuitry and said on-card antenna, said normally open switching circuit disabling the transfer of information via said antenna until said switching circuit is intentionally closed by A cardholder to enable such transfer, said switching circuit automatically reopening after being intentionally closed by the cardholder to again disable such transfer, and
• a mating external key device in the possession of the cardholder for closing said switching circuit when said key device is brought into proximity to said switching circuit.

A radio operated data card comprising an outer jacket defining a sealed protected housing for internal electrical components, said components comprising:

• on-card electronic circuitry including a data memory,
• an on-card antenna,
• a transceiver for transferring data between said memory and a remote host system via said antenna, and
• normally open electrical switch contacts connected between the on-card electronic circuitry and said on-card antenna, said normally open switching circuit disabling the transfer of information via said antenna until said switch contacts are intentionally closed by a cardholder to enable such transfer, said switching circuit automatically reopening after being intentionally closed by the cardholder to again disable such transfer,
• wherein an external surface of said jacket defines at least one tactile feature whose position is discernable by touch to the cardholder and wherein said jacket deforms when the cardholder applies an external force at said position, the deformation of said jacket closing said switch contacts.