Abstract: A fob (10) such as a key fob has a casing (11) and a resilient clip (12) abutting the casing at a first end of the clip and overhanging the casing to form a substantially J-shaped clip. The casing may be substantially rectangular in shape and may includes a recess for accommodating therein an insert such as a electronic circuit (13) and a cover mounted (16) within the recess so as to overlay the electronic circuit and form a peripheral recess (18) between a rim (19) of the casing and a peripheral edge of the cover that may be hermetically sealed to form a sealed unit. During manufacture, the fob is injection molded wherein the resilient clip abuts the casing at a first end of the clip while lying outside a boundary of the casing. Local heat is then applied to the clip and the clip is bent so that it overhangs the casing.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a contactless smart card device including mounting at least one antenna and at least one smart card module onto a substrate layer, placing paramagnetic material over at least part of the at least one antenna, and laminating the substrate layer and the paramagnetic material to provide a laminate.

Abstract: A smart electronic personal identification document, including a smart identification module and an automated anti-skimming element. The smart identification module includes a contactless chip module and an antenna. The smart identification module is operative to store and exchange personal identification information contactlessly with an external reader. The automated anti-skimming element is configured for preventing unauthorized theft of the information.

Abstract: A fob (10) such as a key fob has a casing (11) and a resilient clip (12) abutting the casing at a first end of the clip and overhanging the casing to form a substantially J-shaped clip. The casing may be substantially rectangular in shape and may includes a recess for accommodating therein an insert such as a electronic circuit (13) and a cover mounted (16) within the recess so as to overlay the electronic circuit and form a peripheral recess (18) between a rim (19) of the casing and a peripheral edge of the cover that may be hermetically sealed to form a sealed unit. During manufacture, the fob is injection molded wherein the resilient clip abuts the casing at a first end of the clip while lying outside a boundary of the casing. Local heat is then applied to the clip and the clip is bent so that it overhangs the casing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for simultaneously communicating with multiple smart card devices (17) supported on a common platform (16) so that each device has a respective chip (18) coupled to a respective communication interface (19). The common platform is positioned on a support surface (25) of a multi-head reader (21) so that the respective communication interface of each device is aligned with a respective head (23) of the reader; and multiple heads of the reader are simultaneously energized so as to effect communication with respective devices. The respective chip (18) and device coil antenna (19) of each of the smart card devices (17) may form a respective inlay, multiple inlays being integrally formed on a common inlay sheet constituting the common platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a document core sheet to produce a document core inlay may include a plurality of processing stations, each for executing at least one step in producing the document core inlay, and at least one supporting table for supporting the core sheet and for transporting the core sheet to each processing station for processing. The processing stations may be positioned surrounding a center such that a closed-loop path is defined. The table may travel along the closed-loop path among the processing stations.

Abstract: A smart electronic personal identification document, including a smart identification module and an automated anti-skimming element. The smart identification module includes a contactless chip module and an antenna. The smart identification module is operative to store and exchange personal identification information contactlessly with an external reader. The automated anti-skimming element is configured for preventing unauthorized theft of the information.

Abstract: A data transaction card having a substrate supporting a chip module coupled to opposite ends of a coil antenna wound so as to form a substantially integral number of main loops and having a supplementary loop having an active area that is different from an active area of the main loops. In one embodiment, the data transaction card has a substantially rectangular substrate having major and minor edges, which supports a substantially rectangular coil antenna having a major dimension that is substantially equal to a dimension of the major edge of the substrate. The coil antenna is positioned relative to the substrate so that a footprint of the coil antenna does not overlap an area of the substrate that is reserved for embossing data therein.

Abstract: A smart electronic personal identification document, including a smart identification module and an automated anti-skimming element. The smart identification module includes a contactless chip module and an antenna. The smart identification module is operative to store and exchange personal identification information contactlessly with an external reader. The automated anti-skimming element is configured for preventing unauthorized theft of the information.

Abstract: A data transaction card having an interface for bi-directional contactless communication, and comprising a support (20) having a cavity (12) for accommodating therein a chip carrier therein module (10). The chip carrier module comprises a substrate (11) having a first side (45) and a second side (46), and an integrated circuit (30) mounted on the first side of the substrate for managing functions of the data transaction card. A coil antenna (40) is electrically connected to the integrated circuit for inductive coupling with remote antenna, connections to the coil antenna being accessible from the first side of the substrate. The chip carrier module is packaged into one discrete unit so as to be amenable to mechanical assembly of the data transaction card without requiring additional electrical connections between the support and the chip carrier module during or subsequent to assembly. Such a construction allows for efficient mass-production of the data transaction card.

Abstract: A self-closing cap for the filling neck of a container, the self-closing cap having integral therewith a smart card having a container coil antenna for communicating with a supply station coil antenna fixed to a supply nozzle when the supply nozzle is inserted into the container through the self-closing cap.

Abstract: A data transaction system for process monitoring, with smart cards of the ISO geometric dimensions, featuring contact and bi-directional inductive coupling communication, for collecting and storing data. The system comprises fixed triggering stations for short range data transfer with the smart cards in response to emissions from sensors. The sensors report data related to variables such as location, device status, operation sequencing and time. A send-and-receive station allows for downloading of the stored data and for loading instruction sets in contact or contactless mode. The smart cards comprise a signal amplifier, transceivers, a processor, memories, timer, an on-board battery, cognizable non-compliance warning, optional feedback and energy saving procedures.

Abstract: A data transaction device having a contactless mode of operation and comprising an antenna coil coupled to a processing unit via an antenna interface for allowing contactless data transmission between the data transaction device and a remote transceiver. A circuit within the antenna interface includes a modulator for modulating a signal transmitted by the remote transceiver and received by the antenna coil with outgoing data generated by the processing unit for transmitting via the antenna coil to the remote transceiver. The circuit further includes a variable loading circuit connected in series with a load seen by the antenna coil and having a capacitance connected across the load so as to effect a change in impedance of the load seen by the antenna coil thus allowing amplitude and/or phase modulation of said signal without complete interruption thereof and regardless of the magnitude of an external capacitance connected across the load.

Abstract: A data transaction device having contact and contactless modes of operation, comprises a semiconductor device for operating in contact and contactless modes in accordance with a respective contact or contactless data communications protocol. A contact field includes contacts fixedly connected to the semiconductor device for allowing data transmission between the contacts and the semiconductor device in accordance with the contact data communications protocol, whilst a coil antenna allows contactless data transmission between the coil antenna and the semiconductor device, in accordance with the contactless data communications protocol. An antenna interface coupled to the coil antenna, to the semiconductor device and to at least some of the contacts in the contact field is responsive to an electromagnetic field across the coil antenna for effecting contactless data transmission.

Abstract: A data transmission system for the non-contact transmission of data between a station and a portable data carrier. The station includes a station transmitter operating at a predetermined frequency for generating a first signal and a demodulator for detecting a second signal superimposed on the first signal. An antenna is coupled via a length of cable to the station transmitter via a matching circuit so as to be operative at said frequency regardless of the length of the cable. The portable data carrier includes supply means for coupling to a source of electric power and a data carrier tuned antenna circuit inductively coupled with the station transmitter so as to receive power from the station. A data carrier data modulator is provided for modulating the first signal with the second signal in response to data stored within the data carrier and, by means of said inductive coupling, enabling the data to be transmitted from the data carrier to the station.