a) Field of the Invention
A fabricating method for electronic card is to embed an electronic element between an adhesive first outer layer with adhesive stuff layer(s) and a non-adhesive detachable pressing plate. Via pressing process, a quasi-finished laminate is formed with thickness being in preset range. Remove the pressing plate off to form a semi-finished laminate after solidification of the adhesive stuff layer(s). Deposit and press a second outer layer on the semi-finished laminate to form a finished laminate. Cut the finished laminate into single electronic cards.
b) Description of the Prior Art
Following the progress of science and technology, various functional requirements for electronic card used in network shopping, network financial transactions, electronic commercial activities and the like become more complicated. Accordingly, financial fraud and stealing abuse criminal involving electronic card considerably increased. Currently, a new smart card of electronic card, which is also known as intelligent card, with keypad and display is introduced for increasing security concern. The smart card offers user capabilities for verification and confirmation via equipped keypad and display during transaction to improve security. The key process in fabricating the foregoing smart electronic card is to embed a printed circuit board (PCB) serving as control processing unit into the smart electronic card. Then, the smart electronic card can be subsequently packaged for finishing the fabricating process after having the PCB embedded into therein. The conventional fabricating process for the traditional electronic card mainly comprises following steps: firstly, prepare a plastic card body and embed an electronic element into the plastic card body; secondly, prepare some wrapping membranes made of PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), PC (Polycarbonate) thermoplastic substance or metal, then enclose and stick a wrapping membrane over each obverse side and reverse side of the plastic card body; and finally, integrate the wrapping membranes with the plastic card body by proper means in accordance with the feature of the wrapping membrane; For example, if the wrapping membrane is made of thermoplastic substance, a heating fusion can be suitably applied.
However, there are two uncontrollable drawbacks incurred in the forgoing conventional fabricating process, which are inaccurate thickness of the plastic card body and imprecise positioning for the embedding process of the electronic element. Because more electronics are included in the electronic element due to more complicated functional requirement, or additional radio frequency (RF) antenna, the plastic card body may become too thick without desirable accurate thickness. Moreover, because no positioning aid is included in the forgoing conventional fabricating process, a desirable precise positioning for the embedding process of the electronic element can not be definitely obtained. Both of the drawbacks aforesaid will not only damage the quality and yield of fabricating process but also incur extra labor hour in quality control and extra expense in overall manufacturing cost. Besides, the wrapping membrane can easily detach off the plastic card body after having used for certain period. So far, no feasible solution for three drawbacks aforesaid in the forgoing conventional fabricating process is worked out in the electronic card industry. Accordingly, an innovative electronic card with capability being able to solve both drawbacks aforesaid in the forgoing conventional fabricating process becomes an urgent essentiality for the electronic card industry.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fabricating method for electronic card with key concept that interpose an electronic element between two solid planiform outer layers to form a sandwich-like electronic card. Therefore, the basic procedure of the fabricating method comprising following processing steps: firstly, deposit at least an electronic element between a first outer layer a detachable pressing plate; secondly, enclose the electronic element(s) by an adhesive stuff layer; thirdly, apply pressing process such that overall thickness from first outer layer to pressing plate reaches preset range, then a quasi-finished laminate is formed via adhesive stuff solidification; fourthly, remove the pressing plate off the quasi-finished laminate so that a semi-finished laminate is created; fifthly, deposit a second outer layer with a sticky plane over the semi-finished laminate; and finally, apply pressing process on second outer layer and semi-finished laminate, a finished laminate is formed due to solidification of the adhesive stuff layer with the sticky plane of the second outer layer, and cut the finished laminate into single electronic cards to achieve the purpose in accurately controlling the thickness of the electronic card.
The minor object of the present invention is to provide a fabricating method for electronic card with basic procedure of the fabricating method as following. Firstly, embed an electronic element into an alignment carrier, next situate the alignment carrier with the electronic element therein on a first outer layer in precisely positioning manner, and then enclose the electronic element(s) by an adhesive stuff layer, subsequently, deposit, press and remove a detachable pressing plate, as well as deposit and press a second outer layer to fabricate electronic card(s) within preset position without deviation.
In order to accomplish foregoing objects, the fabricating method for electronic card in the present invention comprises following steps. Deposit an adhesive stuff layer on a first outer layer. Embed at least an electronic element in the adhesive stuff layer and deposit another adhesive stuff layer on the electronic element. Deposit a detachable pressing plate with a non-sticky surface over the adhesive stuff layer such that the non-sticky surface faces towards the first outer layer and apply pressing process such that overall thickness from first outer layer to pressing plate reaches preset range, then a quasi-finished laminate is formed via adhesive stuff solidification. Remove the pressing plate off the quasi-finished laminate so that a semi-finished laminate is created. Deposit a second outer layer with a sticky plane over the semi-finished laminate and apply pressing process on second outer layer and semi-finished laminate, then a finished laminate is formed due to binding solidification of the adhesive stuff layer with the sticky plane of the second outer layer, then cut the finished laminate into single electronic cards.
In foregoing embodiments, the processing steps for first outer layer and detachable pressing plate can be adjustably shifted in accordance with different conditions. For example, firstly, put the detachable pressing plate on a worktable; secondly, form a sandwich intermediate including at least an electronic element with one or two adhesive stuff layer(s); thirdly, sandwich the sandwich intermediate between a first outer layer and detachable pressing plate for pressing process to reach preset thickness; fourthly, form a quasi-finished laminate after solidification of the adhesive stuff layer(s); and finally, remove the detachable pressing plate from the quasi-finished laminate to create a semi-finished laminate. In a preferred embodiment, the pressing process steps for second outer layer and semi-finished laminate can be adjustably shifted in accordance with different environmental conditions. For example, firstly, place the semi-finished laminate on a worktable such that adhesive stuff layer thereof faces upwardly; secondly, stack the second outer layer with a sticky plane on the semi-finished laminate such that the sticky plane of the second outer layer faces downwardly to contact and combine with the semi-finished laminate; and finally, perform pressing process. In another preferred embodiment, foregoing pressing process steps for second outer layer and semi-finished laminate can be adapted as that firstly, invert and place the second outer layer with a sticky plane on the worktable such that the sticky plane of the second outer layer faces upwardly; and secondly, invert and stack the semi-finished laminate over the sticky plane of the second outer layer for performing subsequent pressing process.
In summary of the foregoing descriptions, the key concept of the fabricating method for electronic card in the present invention is that at least an electronic element is embedded between a first outer layer and/or a second outer layer like sandwich manner to form a planiform sandwich intermediate, then via combining the sandwich intermediate with a detachable pressing plate perform pressing process to form an enclosed quasi-finished laminate. The fabricating method for electronic card comprises following processing steps. Enclose a first outer layer (or detachable pressing plate) and electronic element(s) by one or two adhesive stuff layer(s). Deposit a detachable pressing plate (or first outer layer) over the adhesive stuff layer, and apply pressing process such that overall thickness from first outer layer to pressing plate reaches preset range, then a quasi-finished laminate is formed via adhesive stuff solidification, and then remove the pressing plate off the quasi-finished laminate so that a semi-finished laminate is created. Deposit a second outer layer with a sticky plane over the semi-finished laminate, and apply pressing process on second outer layer and semi-finished laminate, and then a finished laminate is formed due to binding solidification of the adhesive stuff layer with the sticky plane of the second outer layer. Finally cut the finished laminate into single electronic cards. By means of the adhesive stuff layer(s) with twice pressing processes, the electronic card body fabricated by the present invention is firmly bound into an entity manner without drawback that the wrapping membrane can easily detach off the plastic card body incurred in the forgoing conventional fabricating process. Thus, the fabricating method of the present invention not only can obtain better profitability due to decrease of the overall manufacturing cost but also can enhance processing feasibility with better yield and quality.
To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
For facilitating your honorable examiners to have better clearly and definitely profound understanding structure, application and features of the present invention, some preferred exemplary embodiments are disclosed in detailed manner below with associated drawings.
The present invention is a fabricating method for electronic card. The main concept is that multiple card laminates of large area are firstly fabricated on a worktable 1 simultaneously, then cut each card laminate into single pieces of predetermined dimensional size. The fabricating method can be analyzed into following key steps: firstly, bond a first outer layer and electronic elements into an integral quasi-finished laminate; secondly, via depositing, pressing and removing a detachable pressing plate, transform the quasi-finished laminate into a semi-finished laminate; thirdly, via depositing and pressing a second outer layer, transform the semi-finished laminate into a finished laminate; and finally, cut the finished laminate into single electronic cards.
Please refer to
(a) Deposit a first adhesive stuff layer on a first outer layer;
(b) Embed at least an electronic element in the first adhesive stuff layer;
(c) Deposit another second adhesive stuff layer on the electronic elements;
(d) Deposit a detachable pressing plate with a non-sticky surface over the adhesive stuff layer such that the non-sticky surface thereof faces towards the first outer layer;
(e) Apply pressing process on foregoing all components to form a quasi-finished laminate with thickness being in preset range after solidification of the adhesive stuff layers;
(f) Remove the detachable pressing plate off the quasi-finished laminate so that a semi-finished laminate with top and bottom adhesive stuff layers is created;
(g) Deposit a second outer layer with a sticky plane over the semi-finished laminate such that the sticky plane thereof contacts and combines with top adhesive stuff layer of the semi-finished laminate; and
(h) Apply pressing process on second outer layer and semi-finished laminate, a finished laminate is formed due to solidification of the contacting top adhesive stuff layer with the sticky plane of the second outer layer; and cut the finished laminate into single electronic cards.
Further detailed disclose foregoing processing steps are provided as below.
Please refer to
Said first outer layer 2 is a solid planiform, which is preferably made of metal or thermoplastic substance such as PVC, PET, PC, PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol) and the like;
Said adhesive stuff layer 4 is made of sticky substance, whose feature preferably has rapid solidification property;
Said electronic element 3 is a printed circuit board (PCB) having antenna and relevant electronic components pre-made therein; and
Said second outer layer 8 is a solid planiform with a sticky plane 81, which is beforehand coated by sticky substance such as adhesive material or binding agent so that it has property of stickiness.
Besides, for facilitating the fabricating method of the present invention, a worktable 1, a detachable pressing plate 5 and an alignment carrier 10 are provided with functions as below:
Said worktable 1 serves as a fundamental working platform;
Said pressing plate 5, which has a non-sticky surface 51 formed thereon, serves as a controllable means for thickness of a sandwich intermediate; and
Said alignment carrier 10, which has a holding pit 11 created therein, serves as a positioning aid for precisely embedding the electronic element 3 into the adhesive stuff layer(s) 4;
Wherein, the sandwich intermediate is defined to include at least an electronic element 3 with one or two adhesive stuff layer(s) 4 (as shown in
The processing steps of the fabricating method are orderly performed as below. Firstly, prepare a worktable 1 then put the first outer layer 2 on the worktable 1; secondly, deposit a first adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing first outer layer 2; thirdly, embed at least an electronic element 3 in the foregoing adhesive stuff layer 4; fourthly, deposit another second adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing first adhesive stuff layer 4 with embedded electronic elements 3 so that the electronic elements 3 are enclosed by both upper and lower adhesive stuff layers 4 to form a sandwich intermediate as defined above (as shown in
Please refer to
Alternatively, the alignment carrier 10 can be handled with substituted processing steps as below. Firstly, embed the electronic element 3 into the holding pit 11 of the alignment carrier 10; and then situate the alignment carrier 10 with the electronic element 3 therein on the first outer layer 2 or adhesive stuff layer 4 in precisely positioning manner. With this means, not only the electronic element 3 can be precisely positioning but also the yield of the card fabrication can be increased.
Please refer to
The processing steps of the fabricating method for the second embodiment are orderly performed as below. Firstly, prepare a worktable 1 then put the first outer layer 2 on the worktable 1; secondly, deposit at least an electronic element 3 on the foregoing first outer layer 2; thirdly, deposit an adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing electronic element 3 so that the electronic elements 3 are enclosed by the adhesive stuff layer 4 (as shown in
Please refer to
The processing steps of the fabricating method for the third embodiment are orderly performed as below. Firstly, prepare a worktable 1 then put the first outer layer 2 on the worktable 1; secondly, deposit a first adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing first outer layer 2; thirdly, embed at least an electronic element 3 in the foregoing first adhesive stuff layer 4, then deposit another second adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing first adhesive stuff layer 4 with embedded electronic elements 3 so that the electronic element 3 are enclosed by both upper and lower adhesive stuff layers 4; fourthly, by facing the non-sticky surface 51 of the pressing plate 5 towards the foregoing adhesive stuff layer 4, deposit the pressing plate 5 over the foregoing adhesive stuff layer 4 so that a first work-in-process is assembled (as shown in
For the foregoing processing steps of the fabricating method in the second and third embodiments of the present invention, in order to precisely position the electronic element 3 without deviation, the embedding process thereof can be aided by an alignment carrier 10 with a holding pit 11 (as shown in
Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention has an adjustably shifting capability of processing steps for first outer layer 2 and detachable pressing plate 5 processed in previous steps. For example, please refer to
The processing steps of the fabricating method for the fourth embodiment are orderly performed as below. Firstly, prepare a worktable 1, then put the detachable pressing plate 5 with a non-sticky surface 51 on the worktable 1 such that the non-sticky surface 51 facing upwardly; secondly, deposit a first adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing non-sticky surface 51 of the pressing plate 5; thirdly, embed at least an electronic element 3 in the foregoing adhesive stuff layer 4 so that the electronic element 3 is enclosed by the adhesive stuff layers 4; fourthly, deposit another second adhesive stuff layer 4 on the foregoing first adhesive stuff layer 4 with embedded electronic element 3 so that the electronic elements 3 are enclosed by both upper and lower adhesive stuff layers 4 to form a sandwich intermediate as defined above (as shown in
Please retrospectively refer to
In conclusion the disclosure heretofore, the key feature of the fabricating method for electronic card in the present invention is that at least an electronic element 3 is embedded between a first outer layer 2 and/or a second outer layer 8 like sandwich manner to form a planiform sandwich intermediate, then via combining the sandwich intermediate with a detachable pressing plate 5 perform pressing process to form an enclosed quasi-finished laminate 6. Therefore, the processing order for depositing first outer layer 2 and placing detachable pressing plate 5 steps is adjustably shifted in accordance with practically processing status.
Accordingly, the basic processing steps of the processing step adjustably shifted fabricating method are orderly performed as below. Firstly, prepare a worktable 1 then put the detachable pressing plate 5 with a non-sticky surface 51 on the worktable 1 (as shown in
As mentioned in the previous paragraph “PRIOR ARTS OF THE INVENTION”, there are three uncontrollable drawbacks incurred in the forgoing conventional fabricating process, which are inaccurate thickness of the plastic card body, imprecise positioning for the embedding process of the electronic element and the wrapping membrane can easily detach off the plastic card body after having used for certain period. With the fabricating method for electronic card in the present invention, these three uncontrollable drawbacks can be effectively solved. By means of twice pressing processes, one of which is aided by the detachable pressing plate 5, the thickness of the plastic card body can be accurately controlled to desired range. And by aid of the alignment carrier 10 with a holding pit 11, the positioning for the embedding process of the electronic element 3 can be precisely controlled to satisfactory level. Moreover, by means of the adhesive stuff layer(s) 4 with twice pressing processes, the electronic card body fabricated by the present invention is firmly bound into an entity manner, which solves the drawback of the wrapping membrane can easily detach off the plastic card body incurred in the forgoing conventional fabricating process. Thus, the fabricating method of the present invention not only can obtain better profitability due to decrease of the overall manufacturing cost but also can enhance processing feasibility with better yield and quality.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.