DE20114758U1 - Optically readable carrier and adapter for it - Google Patents

Description

Optically readable carrier and adapter for it

The present invention relates to CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, optical disks or the like, hereinafter referred to as optically readable media, and an adapter therefor, in particular one for adapting the optically readable media, which need not be round, for use in a CD, CD-ROM, DVD, optical disk or the like reader, burner or other optically readable media handling device. The invention also relates to "smart cards" made from optically readable media.

A conventional optically readable medium is circular in shape. Typically, the optically readable mediums have an approximate diameter of 120 or 80 mm. Trays of, for example, CD players or CD-ROM drives into which the CDs or CD-ROMs are placed for rotation often have troughs or depressions, such as recesses, sockets or grooves, which provide a receiving location for the optically readable mediums. Typically, these troughs or depressions are generally circular and are proportioned/spaced to accommodate either a 120 mm CD (a conventional CD) or an 80 mm CD (known as a mini CD or single CD).

Recently, however, non-round CDs have been produced, for example for advertising purposes.

The teaching of a first type of such a CD can be found in the German patent application DE 196 07 565. This document teaches a CD which originally has a round shape. However, sectors can be broken off to form a non-round CD. In order to stabilize rotation of a non-round CD in a drive tray, at least three outermost points of the CD are maintained from the edge of the previously round CD so that they hold the CD within the trough or depression of the drive tray,

regardless of whether their diameter is either 120 mm or 80 mm. This prevents the CD from easily jumping or jumping out of the recess or the depression. Fig. 1 shows such a carrier.

Fig. 2 shows a second example of this type of CD with a rectangular shape, where four short circumferential arcs are retained as corners of the rectangular shaped CD, with the sides cut straight. The CD therefore has suitable diagonal dimensions so that the CD will lie in the correct position within the recess of a tray (the diagonal dimensions of the CD are approximately 120 mm).

One problem with this type of carrier is that, due to its non-circular shape, it is noisy when used in a high-speed drive (spinning a circular disk quickly produces no noise, whereas a fast-spinning spindle produces a loud noise). Also, an unbalanced disk spinning at high speed would damage the drive or the drive's laser head.

A second type of promotional CD is described in Hong Kong patent HK 1008469. The Hong Kong patent describes the use of tabs (or projections) on the underside of the CD (see Fig. 3). These tabs are arranged to correspond to a recess of a drive tray and act as a location locator to fit into the 80 mm diameter recess of the tray. Fig. 4 shows a variant of this type of promotional CD in which the corners (and two edges) of the CD are folded to leave curved, folded edges for location in the recess.

Another problem with the above two types of carriers is that neither their storage nor their transport is practical. The first two examples are not of conventional design. Storage in CD containers would usually be necessary. The second two examples are either not stackable due to the

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Noses or they can be easily damaged; the folded corners can easily break away.

It would therefore be desirable to provide an alternative means for stabilising the rotation of a non-circular optically readable carrier, for example in a CD drive, without the requirement that the carrier be limited to having either suitably arranged corners, suitable dimensions or tabs and/or arcuate bent edges, as may be required in the prior art.
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It would also be desirable to provide a new carrier form that is suitable for both storage and transport.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an adapter for a non-circular optically readable carrier, the adapter having a ledge formation adapted to receive the optically readable carrier, whereby, in use, a non-circular optically readable carrier is held in a received position on the ledge formation.
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A non-circular, suitable surface may be provided to allow the edge of the support, or part of it, to abut against it.

The expedient design can be dimensioned to hold the carrier by means of an interference fit.

The adapter may be provided with one or more retaining means for retaining the wearer on the last configuration. Preferably, the retaining means is one or more elastic clamping devices, for example an elastic clip.

Preferably, the adapter comprises a planar element having an edge thickness and an outer diameter according to a conventional round optically readable carrier. However, the adapter may also have a different shape. For example, the adapter may have a non-round shape, but with either appropriately located corners, appropriate diagonal dimensions or tabs or arcuate bent edges as discussed above.

Preferably, the adapter is intended for a rectangular optically readable carrier, in particular for a credit card-shaped, optically readable carrier.

Preferably, the adapter is designed for two or more different sizes and/or shapes of an optically readable carrier.

Preferably, the adapter comprises two or more sets of retaining means, the first set being adapted to retain an optically readable carrier of one size and the other set being adapted to retain an optically readable carrier of a second size.

The two separate sets of restraint devices may have their own associated strip designs.

The adapter may be provided with a recess for receiving the optically readable carrier therein. Preferably, the recess is generally cross-shaped, the cross being defined by two superimposed, orthogonally arranged, differently sized and/or shaped rectangles. The recess provides a means for supporting one or two differently sized and/or shaped optically readable carriers.

The strip design may be offset from a center point of the adapter to allow a wearer with an off-center optically readable surface to

Use on the adapter so that the optically readable surface is centered on the adapter.

The adapter may be provided with a compensating or counterbalancing device so that its centre of mass is positioned away from its centre of rotation. This allows an optically readable carrier having its centre of mass positioned away from the centre of the optically readable part of the carrier to be supported in use on the adapter with the common centre of mass (of the adapter and carrier together) positioned at the centre of rotation of the adapter and carrier.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a non-circular, substantially flat, optically readable carrier is provided. Both sides of the carrier should be substantially smooth, without grooves, tabs or the like, except for a spindle opening and the clamping area. The corners or sides of the carrier may be rounded, but are not defined by equiarcated arcs, i.e. arcs defining different circumferential parts of the same circle.

Preferably, the optically readable surface (or surfaces if the disc is double-sided) extends substantially to at least two edges of the carrier. Preferably, the carrier is of a size such that no part, either on a surface or an edge thereof, is adapted, in use, to fit into the recess of the tray of a drive to stabilize the carrier in the tray.

Preferably, the optically readable carrier is substantially rectangular.

Preferably, the carrier has the shape or size of a credit card, i.e. it is approximately 1.2 mm thick, 85.6 mm long and 54 mm wide.

Alternatively, the carrier may have an elongated credit card shape, preferably 1.2 mm thick, 96 mm long and 54 mm wide. The increased length, although not essential, creates: a larger space for attaching a smart card chip to the card; an opening (for a CD player spindle) and a clamping area (preferably in the centre of the card) as found on conventional CDs, filling a large part of the card that can conventionally be used on normal credit cards for attaching a smart card chip.

The clamping area may be offset from the center of the carrier. This allows the carrier to have a center of mass that is remote from the center of the optically readable part. A compensation device may be provided in or on the carrier to realign the center of mass of the carrier with the center of the optically readable area.

Preferably, the carrier is also a credit or debit card.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optically readable carrier in which a non-optical device for interaction with another device is included.

Preferably, the non-optical device is either a magnetic stripe or smart card chip embedded therein, or both. The smart card chip may be of the contact type or of the contactless type.

The carrier may have an optically readable area having a first thickness and a smartcard area of a second thickness, with a contact type smartcard chip mounted in or on the smartcard area. The smartcard area may have a thickness of about 0.8mm to fit into a smartcard reader. The optically readable area may have a thickness of 1.2 or 1.4mm to be used in a CD or DVD player.

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However, the carrier according to the third aspect of the present invention may be consistent with the second aspect of the invention.

The carrier according to the third aspect of the present invention may have any preferred or optional characteristic of the second aspect of the present invention, and vice versa.

Preferably, the carrier of the second or third aspect of the present invention fits into the adapter of the first aspect of the present invention.

The various aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a non-circular CD according to the prior art disclosed in German patent application DE 196 07 565;

Fig. 2 shows a variant of the CD type of Fig. 1 according to the prior art

shows;
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Fig. 3 shows a prior art non-circular CD disclosed in Hong Kong Patent HK 1008469;

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the CD type of Fig. 2 according to the prior art;

Fig. 5 shows an optically readable carrier according to the second and third aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows an alternative optically readable carrier according to the second and third aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 7 shows a first embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a projection of the adapter of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view B of Fig. 9;
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Fig. 11 is a rear view of the adapter of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view A of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13

and 14 show sections C-C and D-D of Fig. 12, respectively;

Fig. 15

and 15' illustrate top and bottom views of a third embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention;

Figs. 16, 17

and 18 represent projections of the adapter shown in Fig. 15;
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Fig. 19,20,21,23

and 24 are enlarged views A, B, C, D and E of Figs. 16 and 18;

Fig. 22 shows a section HH through Fig. 21;
Fig. 25 shows a section GG through Fig. 24;

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Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the adapter of Fig. 15;

Fig. 27 shows an optically readable carrier in the form of a CD in which a smart card is incorporated in an optically readable side;

Fig. 28 illustrates an alternative optically readable carrier in the form of a CD containing a smart card;

Fig. 29 illustrates a prior art smart card according to the dimensions required by international standards;

Fig. 29A is a side view of the card of Fig. 29;

Fig. 30 illustrates a credit card sized CD with an offset clamping area; Fig. 30A illustrates a side view of the CD of Fig. 30;

Figure 31 shows a stamping and molding assembly used in a first step in forming beams according to the third aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 32 to

34 show the mould in plan view and enlarged cross-sections;

Figure 35 shows an alternative stamping and molding arrangement used in a first step for forming beams according to the third aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 36 to

38 the mold of a second process in plan view and enlarged

show cross sections;

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Fig. 39 shows a DVD with an offset clamping area;

Fig. 39A shows a side view of the DVD of Fig. 39; 5

Fig. 40 shows a smart card DVD according to the third aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 40A shows a side view of the smart card DVD of Fig. 40; 10

Fig. 41 shows a first method of forming the smart card DVD of Fig. 40;

Fig. 42 shows a phase in a second method for forming an alternative

Smartcard DVD shows;
15

Fig. 43 is a plan view of a mold for molding a DVD disc layer of the DVD of Fig. 40;

Fig. 44 shows an enlarged section A-A through Fig. 43; 20

Fig. 45 shows a stamper and a mold for forming the DVD disc layer of the DVD of Fig. 40;

Fig. 46 shows a plan view of a mold for forming the smart card layer of the DVD of Fig. 40;

Fig. 47 shows a partial cross-section along A-A through Fig. 46;

Fig. 48 shows a mold for molding the smart card layer of the smart card DVD of Fig. 42 according to the third aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 49 shows a partial cross-section along section B-B through Fig. 48;

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Fig. 50 shows a stamper and a mold for forming a smart card layer of the DVD of Fig. 40;

Fig. 51 shows a stamper and a mold for forming a smart card layer of the DVD of Fig. 42;

Fig. 52 to

62 a fourth embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect

of the present invention; and

Fig. 63 to

72 a fifth embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect

of the present invention.

Starting with a reference to the prior art, it is well known that non-circular shapes of optically readable carrier 10 can be provided. In the example of Fig. 1, the edge sectors 12 can be broken or cut away. However, there remain at least three outermost corners 14 which remain at locations on the periphery 16 of the carrier 10. CD information is recorded on a central ring 18 of the carrier 10, so that breaking or cutting away the edge sectors 12 does not affect the stored information 18 on the carrier 10.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a rectangular carrier 10 is shown, i.e. four sides of a circular carrier have been cut away. The diagonal dimension of the carrier 10 corresponds to the diameter of a conventional CD. The four corners 14 define four arcs of the same circumference 16 (see Fig. 1)

Referring to Fig. 3, the carrier 10 has an irregular shape. The information is again stored on a central part or ring 18 of the carrier 10. Two lugs 20 are provided at suitable locations to form two

Positioning means to align the carrier 10 in a drive bay. Typically, the lugs 20 will be spaced apart such that their outermost edges are approximately 80 mm apart. Also, more than two lugs will typically be provided. A clamping area 19 is located radially within the information stored on the central portion 18, the clamping area 19 having a central opening 21 for a spindle (not shown) of a CD player.

Referring now to Figure 4, a credit card sized carrier 10 is shown. Again, information 18 is recorded on the carrier 10. The corners 22 of the carrier 10 and two of the edges 24 are folded to define folded back edges 26 for alignment in the recess of a drive tray. The sheet diameter is approximately 80 mm.

According to conventional CD technologies, the information is embossed into a highly reflective surface within the carrier by means of a spiral track of depressions or pits. Further details, requirements or descriptions for optically readable carriers have been published by Philips in a number of CD standard specifications developed jointly with Sony, Kodak, JVC and Matsushita.

Details on DVD specifications are available from each of the following companies

available:
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HITACHI, LTD. (Tokyo, Japan)

MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (Osaka, Japan)

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION (Tokyo, Japan)

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
PIONEER ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (Tokyo, Japan)

SONY CORPORATION (Tokyo, Japan)

THOMSON MULTIMEDIA (Paris, France)

TIME WARNER INC. (New York, USA)

TOSHIBA CORPORATION (Tokyo, Japan)

VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LTD. (Yokohama, Japan)

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a first embodiment of an adapter 30 according to the first aspect of the present invention. The adapter 30 comprises a generally circular flat body 32. In the central region of the body 32 an opening 34 is provided. This opening 34 on the one hand allows a central spindle (not shown) such as is generally used in CD players or the like to extend through the adapter and therefore through an optically readable carrier seated therein (not shown). It also reduces the weight of the adapter 30. However, the main purpose of the opening 34 is to enable an optically readable surface of the carrier to be read from either side of the adapter.

In a preferred embodiment, the adapter is made of a plastic material.

Four carrier retainers (carrier holding means) are provided for the body 32. The body material must be resilient so that retainers 36 can bend without breaking. The retainers 36 may each take the form of a retaining element (holding element) mounted on two spring arms 38. However, more spring arms may be provided. A carrier 10 to be inserted into the adapter 30 engages at least two of these retainers, the springback of the spring arms 38 causing a bias against the carrier 10 to hold the carrier 10 on or in the adapter 30.

The retainers 36 are provided as diametrically opposed pairs. The four retainers 36 as shown provide two such pairs. The two pairs are arranged diametrically perpendicular to each other, although they may be arranged in other ways. The first pair

is at a first radius. The second pair is at a second radius. By providing the two pairs at two different radii, for example, two different sizes of rectangular supports 10 can be retained on the adapter, although only one at a time. Likewise, a balanced adapter is achieved by positioning the retainers symmetrically. However, reference is made to embodiments below for other methods of achieving a balanced combined adapter and support arrangement.

As shown in Figure 7, the retainers 36 are formed in the planar body 32 by cutting out a portion of the body 32, thereby providing the respective shapes of the spring arms 38 and the retainers. However, other forms of retainers, such as rotatable clips or adjustable snaps or snap-in removable retainers, may be provided instead.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 14, there is shown a second embodiment of an adapter 30 according to the first aspect of the present invention. Although broadly similar to the first embodiment shown in Figure 7, the figures show various aspects more clearly. Also, this second embodiment has an alternative retainer construction 36.

As shown in Fig. 8, the body 32 has a recessed area 40. As shown in Fig. 9, this recessed area is substantially cross-shaped. A holding device 36 is provided at the end of each cross arm.

The cross shape is formed from two superimposed, orthogonally arranged rectangles corresponding to the two sizes of the carrier 10 to be inserted into the adapter 30.

The recessed area 40 corresponds to a raised area 42 on the rear of the adapter 30, as can be seen from the side view of Fig. 9 and the enlargement of Fig. 10. This area actually corresponds to the outwardly pushed-out recess on the rear of the adapter. This area is provided so that a carrier 10, when seated within the adapter 30, is positioned so that the optically readable surface of the carrier 10 is in the correct reading position in a drive bay, i.e., at a correct height relative to the read (or write) head, in use. This raised area 42 is rounded at its extreme ends (see Fig. 10) to define a deeper portion of the adapter 30, which is delimited by the dashed line 44 in Fig. 11.

The four retainers 36 of this preferred embodiment are integrally formed with the body 32, which is formed of a retainer 48 and spring arms 38. However, an additional spring arm 46 is provided. The first pair of spring arms 38 is serpentine. It allows the retainer 48 to bend in all planes, including longitudinal, i.e. stretching. This allows the retainer to remain flat even if the retainer 48 is bent out of plane with the body 32. The second retainer arm 46 is a connected pair of arms that provides stability to the retainer from circumferential displacement. Additional strength to the retainer (more attachment areas on the body 32) and a restoring force against radial displacement of the retainer 48 relative to the body 32 are also provided by the second retainer arm 46.

To facilitate radial displacement of the retaining element 48, clamping ribs 50 are provided on both sides of the retaining element 48. These ribs are clearly shown in Fig. 13. One rib 50 is shown in Fig. 10.

The retaining element 48 additionally has a strip 52 which is attached to the front edge, i.e. its edge immediately borders the recessed area 40. This strip 52 provides, in use, a projection for engagement with the

outer side of a carrier 10, thereby holding the carrier 10 on both sides to prevent the carrier 10 from falling out of the adapter 30. The outer side of the carrier 10 will generally be the side containing the readable information 18. For this reason, the strip 52 only projects a short distance, typically 0.5 mm, beyond the cross-shaped recessed area 40.

The strip 52, as shown in Fig. 10, as well as the raised portion 42, is in an outwardly displaced position with respect to the plane of the body 42. As shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12, the strip 52 resembles a molding on the retaining member.

The dimensions of the preferred adapter 30 are shown in Figs. 9 through 14 with the preferred tolerances noted. However, it should be noted that for optically readable carriers 10 having sizes other than those noted above or described below, alternative dimensions for the adapter may be necessary.

Furthermore, instead of the external shape of the adapter being a circle with a diameter of approximately 120 mm, the adapter may merely add a stabilizing means to the carrier 10 of the type described according to the prior art, namely of the type described in DE 196 07 565, with e.g. straight edges, and in HK 1008469, e.g. with suitably positioned lugs.
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Referring now to Figs. 15 to 26, there is shown a third embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention. This adapter is designed to support a single carrier having an offset clamping area provided therein or thereon. Suitable carriers are shown in Figs. 27, 28, 30, 39 and 40. The components and features of this third embodiment are largely the same as those shown in the embodiment of Fig. 9. Therefore, a detailed

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Description of all features may not be necessary. However, only three resiliently applied retaining elements 48 are provided. One is arranged for each of the long sides of the recessed area 40, and one is provided for the short side.
5

Each retaining element 48 is provided with a ledge 52 as before. However, separate compartments 70, 72 are provided for placing a carrier in or on the recessed surface 40. One of these compartments 72 is directly adjacent to the third retaining element 48. This retaining element 48 is positioned for engagement with a short edge of a carrier in use.

The compartments 70, 72 lie in a plane that extends parallel to the plane of the body of the adapter.

The radially innermost edge 74 (relative to the body of the adapter) of the first compartment 72 is arcuate with a radial center located at the center C of the adapter (see Fig. 15). This allows a maximum size of readable area 18 on a carrier held within the adapter to be read with a reading device (not shown).

The second compartment 70 is adjacent to a fourth strip 52 which is fixed and adapted to engage a second short edge of a wearer. No resiliently applied retaining member 48 is required for this strip 52. One of the retaining members on the long sides may also be omitted and replaced by a fixed strip. Other retaining means may alternatively be provided as in the previous embodiments.

As in Figs. 9 to 14, preferred dimensions of the adapter are shown in some of Figs. 15 to 26. These dimensions are all shown in mm. However, it should be noted that for wearers of different sizes and shapes, the shape of the recessed area 40 and/or the positions and shapes of the

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Retaining elements 48 do not have to be suitably shaped to correspond to the shape of the carrier to be held in the adapter.

Referring now to Figure 26, it can be seen that the thickness of the two compartments 70, 72 are not the same. In a carrier with an offset clamping area, the center of mass will not coincide with the center of the clamping area. For this reason, it is necessary to add some sort of counterbalance or counterweight in either the carrier or the adapter so that during high speed rotation, such as would occur in a high speed CD drive or DVD drive, any vibration caused by imbalance can be minimized. By varying the thicknesses of the two compartments, counterweight or compensation can be provided. One skilled in the art would have no difficulty in determining suitable thicknesses for these compartments 70, 72 in the design of the carrier in question. Alternatively, one skilled in the art would have no difficulty in determining what kind of counterweight could be built into the smart card itself. Another alternative would be to build a counterweight into the adapter.

Referring now to Figures 52 to 62, there is shown a fourth embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention. This embodiment is generally similar to the third embodiment shown in Figures 15 to 26. However, the compartments 70, 72 have been redesigned and counterweight holes 200 have been provided.

The holes 200 remove weight from the adapter to provide a counterbalance effect. The holes 200 may be positioned or resized anywhere on the adapter depending on the magnitude and location of the imbalance requiring correction.

In the third embodiment, i.e. in the embodiment shown in Fig. 16 to 26, the difference in thickness (0.9 mm and 0.5 mm for the compartments

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70 and 72 respectively) not only to provide a counterbalance effect but also to compensate for a 2-step thickness of a carrier (see the description relating to Figs. 27 and 28 and others). The carrier has a 0.4 mm step. Therefore the two compartments 70 and 72 also have a thickness difference of 0.4 mm. If the carrier is held on the adapter with the side to be read, i.e. with the thickness step opposite the compartments 70 and 72, the step will not provide an out-of-plane reception of the carrier in the adapter. In this fourth embodiment, however, the thickness of the two compartments 70, 72 is the same (0.5 mm). A counterbalance means is provided, for example, by the shape of the compartments 70 and 72. However, again the compartments are preferably shaped so as to avoid interference with data recording from the optically readable surface. A further counterweight effect is of course also achieved by the holes 200.

Although the compartments have the same thickness, this fourth embodiment can also be used with the read side of the carrier facing the compartments 70, 72. A small difference in thickness (0.4 mm) of a smart card carrier should not cause a major problem.

In order to enlarge the optically readable area through the opening 34, an arcuate step 202 is provided on the two strips 52 on the long sides of the recessed surface 40.

However, experiments have shown that the carrier should preferably not be held on the adapter with the non-reading surface facing the compartments 70, 72. This configuration is preferred because other configurations (i.e. with the side to be read facing the compartments 70, 72) may damage the laser head. The adapter may strike the laser head because the lowermost part of the adapter would necessarily be closer to the laser head than the carrier due to the ledges 52.

♦ ·

Referring now to Figures 63 to 72, there is shown a fifth embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention. This fifth embodiment again includes many features common to the previous embodiments and therefore does not require a detailed description.

It is designed to support an optically readable support having a substantially circular shape but with sectors cut from opposite sides, thereby presenting two straight, parallel edges and two opposite, equiarcated edges having a preferred diameter of 80 mm.

This fifth embodiment is therefore an adapter which serves as an adapter for a small optically readable medium (preferably one which does not stabilize itself in the drive tray) to be played in a 120 mm tray of a player. It will therefore make it possible to play such a medium, for example, in a recessed loading device which cannot handle 120 mm discs.

It is therefore to be appreciated that adapters according to the present invention can be made to support many other shapes of optically readable carriers, not only those shown here, for example irregular shapes.

It is noted that due to the tolerances imposed by the licensors in the field of CD, DVD and smart card technologies, the size of the relevant components is predefined to enable components manufactured by one manufacturer to be compatible with other devices manufactured by other manufacturers. Therefore, the figures show specific size requirements and tolerances. However, should the technologies change, it is noted that other dimensions may be more appropriate.

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Reference is now made to the second and third aspects of the present invention, wherein Figures 5 and 6 show a first and second embodiment of such a carrier.

Referring first to Figure 5, the carrier 10 is substantially credit card shaped and sized. It is approximately 1.2 mm thick, 85.6 mm long and 54 mm wide.

Referring to Fig. 6, the carrier 10 is insignificantly longer than 95 mm.

Both sides of both embodiments are flattened to the edges except for the outermost edges which are slightly rounded to blunt them (these carriers are often used by users). The carriers 10 have a central opening 54 into which a drive spindle will extend in use. Spacers 56 (including a clamping area) are provided around the opening. A ring 58 is provided which corresponds to a ring found on conventional CDs and may include etched lettering (not shown) which often corresponds to copyright information. Outside of this there is an area 18 for receiving the optically readable information. The present technology imprints the information by means of a spiral track. Therefore, in practice, the information area 18 is limited to a ring.

The supports 10 can be single-sided or double-sided.

A metallic or magnetic stripe may be located in or on the carrier. This stripe may be designed to carry data that is not optically readable. For example, a magnetic stripe may be used to contain credit card details.

A smart card chip may also, or alternatively, be embedded in or provided on the carrier 10.

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The increased length of the carrier 10 shown in Figure 6 provides a greater space for fitting a smart card chip on the carrier 10 without disturbing the information ring 18, although this is not essential to the manufacture of carriers according to the present invention. The opening 54 and the spacer portion 56 (i.e. a clamping area 19) in the center of the carrier 10 take up a portion of the carrier 10 that has traditionally been used in credit cards to fit a smart card chip. By making the carrier longer, the chip can be fitted to the carriers 10 according to the present invention at a conventional distance from the edge of the carrier 10 without repositioning the clamping area on the card. This allows the chip on the carrier 10 of the present invention to be read by conventional smart card readers. However, contactless smart cards also exist. These include chips that use electromagnetism and an antenna built into the chip to communicate. Such contactless smart cards do not require that their chips be located at any particular location other than a location that does not interfere with the optically readable part and the clamping surface 19.

Further information about smart cards is provided in various international standards, in particular ISO/IEC 7810 and ISO/IEC 7816, which concern contact smart card types.

Although not shown in the illustrations, magnetic stripes and/or smart card chips as such are conventional in credit card technology. A person skilled in the art would therefore have no difficulty in adding such items to the optically readable carrier 10 of the present invention.

The carriers 10 of the present invention are dimensioned to fit into adapters 30 according to the first aspect of the present invention. As such, the present invention enables optically readable carriers to be constructed without the constraints of the non-circular carriers of the prior art. The need to include either tabs 20, bent-back edges 26 or the like is

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no longer necessary. The same applies to the requirement for the carrier to be of a size having portions either on a face or on an edge that are suitable, in use, to fit into a recess of a drive tray to stabilize the carrier in the tray.
5

The present invention provides carriers 10 that can be read by a computer using both optically the optically readable information and, on the other hand, for example, the magnetic stripe or a smart card chip. This enables the use of different methods of electronic transactions with a card, for example electronic commerce, electronic money transfer or payment.

The elimination of tabs in prior art devices is also important as it allows the optically readable carrier 10 to also be used as a real credit card (which can be 'swiped' through a reader) and can be easily carried in a wallet.

Embedding a magnetic stripe or smart card chip into the carriers 10 of the present invention can be accomplished by conventional methods known to one skilled in the art. However, Figs. 27 to 51 show various smart card CDs or DVDs and various methods that have been developed to manufacture them.

Many of the figures include dimensions. These dimensions are provided to enable the manufacture of CDs or DVDs that meet certain standard requirements for both smart cards and CDs or DVDs.

Although smart card chips of any type can be provided in or on CDs or DVDs, i.e. contact or non-contact, this invention is primarily concerned with contact type smart card chips, i.e. those having gold contacts engaging spring contacts or the like provided in a smart card reader. For this reason, the position of the

Smartcard chips on the CD or DVD are important in order to position the chip correctly when used in a smartcard reader.

It should be noted, however, that if contactless smart card chips are used, the position of the smart card chip on the CD or DVD is less important. As long as it does not interfere with the part of the CD or DVD used to hold the optically readable data, the smart card chip can be positioned anywhere, since contactless smart cards are read using an electromagnetic signal that can be effective over a range of perhaps half a meter, for example.

The international standards for contact smart cards are set out at least in ISO/IEC 7810 (identity cards) and ISO/IEC 7816 (contact integrated circuit cards). These standards provide standard sizes for smart cards, for example that they have a thickness of 0.76 mm ± 0.08 mm. The standardized location for the contacts leading from the smart card microcontroller is also set out in ISO/IEC 7816. Although these sizes are preferred due to compatibility with devices from other manufacturers, these sizes are not essential.

There are many different uses for smart cards. A common application is electronic payment, where certain amounts of money are deducted from the card by transferring the transfer amount in digital form. For example, when paying electronically over the Internet, only the amount of the transfer needs to be transferred instead of transferring account and/or password information over the Internet. This increases the security of payments, as it is possible to keep account information secret.

When smart card issuers issue smart cards, they generally also want to issue promotional and/or marketing materials.

For example, videos showing new products or services might be desired and/or access software for certain information might

may be required. In theory, such materials and software can also be stored in a smart card microcontroller. However, in practice this is not desirable due to various reasons such as cost. For this reason, by combining both current CD and/or DVD technology and smart card technology in one unit, costs can be reduced without increasing the amount of information available. It is found that smart card microcontrollers can handle changing information, whereas CDs tend to be written to only once (ROM). Where the information involved is static information, i.e. information that will not change, CD technology is ideal for making such recordings.

The size requirements of the readable part of a CD or DVD are regulated by licensors such as Philips. CD and DVD technology is essentially a licensed technology from them. For this reason, it is generally important, but not essential, that CDs are manufactured to the following specifications:

(i) Readout system: Track shape: 1 spiral; no track interruption in the information area

(ii) Center hole diameter: 15 ±0.1 mm

(iii) Thickness of information area: 1.2 ± 0.3 or - 0.1 mm

(iv) Clamping range: 26<D<33 mm

(v) Thickness of clamping area: 1.2 + 0.3 / - 0.1 mm
(vi) Recording area:

(a) Starting diameter of the program area: 50 + 0 / - 0.4 mm

(b) Maximum starting diameter of the insertion area: 46 mm

(c) Minimum outer diameter of the decay area: outer diameter of the program area plus 1 mm

and preferably

(d) Maximum diameter of the program area: 52.4 mm

Referring now to Figure 27, the smart cards according to the present invention have a body portion with two separate thicknesses. The first portion, the CD portion 200, has a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm. This corresponds to the standard requirements for CDs. However, the second portion, a smart card portion 202, has a thickness of 0.8 mm. This corresponds to the standard requirements for smart cards. A line 76 shows the boundary between these two portions 200 and 202.

Fig. 28 shows another example of a smart card according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the boundary defining line 76 between the two parts 200 and 202 is curved.

In these two embodiments, the smart card 78 is shown with contacts 77. According to ISO/IEC 7816, there should be eight contacts.

Referring now to Figure 29, a prior art smart card is illustrated. As can be seen, the smart card chip 78 is located in substantially the same location as in the smart cards according to the present invention. However, the card has a single thickness (see Figure 29).

29A). Nevertheless, conventional smart card readers should still be able to read smart cards according to the present invention since the leading edge of the smart card has the correct thickness and the card does not have to be fully inserted into the reader.

Referring now to Figs. 30 and 30a, there is shown a credit card sized carrier conforming to the specification established by Philips for compact discs.

The carrier 100 comprises a clamping area 102, an introduction and a table of contents area 104, a program area 106 and a discharge area 108. The clamping area 102 has a minimum diameter of 33 mm. The introduction and contents area 104 has a

Outside diameter between 46 and 49.6 mm. The program area has an outside diameter between 49.6 and 52.4 mm. The output area has an outside diameter between 52.4 and 53.4 mm. The card has a length and width of approximately 85.6 by 54 mm. A center hole 21 is provided within the clamping area for a spindle of a compact disc player. As can be seen in Fig. 3OA, the thickness of the compact disc is approximately 1.2 mm. These dimensions correspond to the standard requirements set by Philips, for example.

Referring to Figs. 39 to 39A, a credit card sized DVD according to international standards is shown.

As can be seen, the dimensions are broadly the same as for the compact disc. However, the card is formed from two layers. Furthermore, the introduction and contents area 104 has an outer diameter between 45.2 and 48 mm. Furthermore, the program area 106 has an outer diameter between 48.0 and 52.4 mm. Furthermore, the clamp area on the DVD is generally larger. This is achieved by making the maximum inner diameter of the clamp area 26 mm instead of 22 mm.

The thickness of the DVD is approximately 1.4 mm, although thicknesses in the range of 1.2 + 0.3 / - 0.06 mm generally meet the standard requirements. Thus, based on the dimensions given above, an inventive smart DVD card corresponds to a smart CD card dimensioned according to the international standards.

Referring now to Figures 31 to 34, there is shown a stamper and mold assembly for forming a molded carrier according to the embodiment shown in Figure 27, wherein an area is provided for receiving a smart card on the optically readable side. A thinner area 110 is formed in the surface for the smart card portion. Therefore, this is a 2-stage thickness. By forming a 2-stage thickness in a single molding step,

&bull; » &diams; ·

a stable map is produced. However, the thinner region can be formed by milling a thinner region in a single thickness layer.

The molding process is otherwise the same as the conventional one. As can be seen in Fig. 32, the thinner area 110 is further deepened to form a receptacle 112 for inserting a smart card chip.

Referring now to Figure 35, an alternative method of forming the carrier of the present invention is shown. In this method, a similar stamp and mold arrangement is provided. However, there is no receptacle 112 for a smart card chip. In this embodiment, a smart card chip is preferably positioned on the opposite side of the card from the previous example. For this purpose, a receptacle for the smart card may be provided on the opposite surface of the readable surface of the plate, e.g. by means of an additional milling step. The receptacle is not shown. Of course, the receptacle may be milled on any surface.

Referring now to Fig. 40, a DVD smart card device is shown. The DVD smart card 120 comprises two layers 122 and 124. These layers are shown separately in Figs. 41 and 42. The first layer 122 comprises the optically readable portion of a DVD carrier. Its shape is conventional, although small, with an external diameter of 54 mm. The second layer 124 is essentially credit card-shaped. Its thickness is 0.8 mm, which complies with the thickness requirements for smart cards. A smart card chip 126 is provided thereon at the location required by the international standard. By bonding the DVD layer 122 to the credit card layer 124, the DVD carrier is completed to a conventional thickness.

As seen in Figure 41, the first layer 122 is bonded to the second layer 124 by a bonding layer 125. The use of an adhesive in the formation of dual layer DVDs is known in the art.

-29-

The two discrete layers can be formed using similar molding techniques as discussed above.

Figures 43 and 51 show stamp and mold arrangements for the various components.

As shown in Figures 43-45, forming the first layer 122 having a DVD readable layer involves pressing a stamper against a mold cavity as before. This forms a plate. The mold cavity is shown in Figure 43 (and in an enlarged detail in Figure 44).

Considering the second layer 124, it can be formed in two ways. The first possibility (a), shown in Figs. 46, 47 and 50, involves pressing a layer 124 with a receptacle 130 for a smart card chip. The second possibility (b), shown in Figs. 48, 49 and 51, has no receptacle for a smart card chip. If a smart card chip needs to be added to this second layer 124, it can be provided in a conventional manner, such as by milling a receptacle 130 in an additional step. The receptacle can thus be provided on both sides of the layer. The mold shown in Figures 46 and 47 comprises an outer circular block 136 having a cavity 138 with an upwardly extending portion 140 for forming the receptacle 130. A hole 142 is provided to enable the central opening for the finished smart card CD/DVD carrier to be formed in the layer, e.g. by punching the hole in the die 144 shown in Figure 150 during the molding/stamping process.

The present invention has been described above purely by way of example. It is to be noted that modifications in detail can be made within the scope of this invention. In particular, the above disclosure is not limited to adapters suitable for two carrier sizes. The present invention also covers adapters suitable for more than two

carrier sizes. The adapter can also have an outer diameter of 80 mm to stabilize smaller carriers.

Claims (56)

1. An adapter for a non-circular optically readable carrier, the adapter having a ledge configuration adapted to receive the optically readable carrier, whereby in use a non-circular optically readable carrier is held in a received position on the ledge configuration. 2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein a non-circular, functional surface is provided for abutting an edge of the carrier or a part thereof. 3. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the functional surface is dimensioned to hold the carrier by means of an interference fit. 4. Adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is provided with one or more holders for holding the carrier to the strip configuration. 5. Adapter according to claim 4, wherein the holders comprise at least one elastic clamp. 6. Adapter according to claim 4, wherein the holding device is an elastic clip. 7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a planar member having an edge thickness and an outer diameter according to a conventional round optically readable carrier. 8. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter has a non-circular shape and comprises at least one positioning means for determining the position of the adapter in a compartment of a CD player, said positioning means comprising one or more appropriately positioned corners, appropriate diagonal dimensions or tabs/arcuate bent edges. 9. Adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is designed for a substantially rectangular, optically readable carrier. 10. Adapter according to claim 9, wherein the adapter is designed for a credit card-shaped optically readable carrier. 11. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the strip configuration is configured to accommodate optically readable carriers of different sizes and/or shapes. 12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the adapter comprises at least two sets of holders, the first set adapted to hold an optically readable carrier of one size and the other set adapted to hold an optically readable carrier of a second size. 13. An adapter according to claim 11, wherein the two separate retainer sets have their own associated ledge configurations. 14. Adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is provided with a recess for receiving an optically readable carrier. 15. The adapter of claim 13, wherein the trough is generally cross-shaped, the cross being defined by two superimposed, orthogonally arranged, differently sized and/or shaped rectangles. 16. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the strip configuration is offset from a center of the adapter. 17. The adapter of claim 16, further comprising a counterweight configuration. 18. Non-circular, substantially flat, optically readable support. 19. An optically readable medium containing non-optical means for interaction with another device. 20. An optically readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the non-optical device is a magnetic stripe. 21. An optically readable carrier according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the non-optical device is a smart card chip. 22. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein its corners are rounded but are not defined by uniformly curved arcs. 23. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the carrier is a double-sided optically readable carrier. 24. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the optically readable surface extends substantially to at least two edges of the carrier. 25. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the carrier is of a shape having no part, either on a surface or an edge, adapted, in use, to fit into a recess of a tray of a drive for stabilizing the carrier within the tray. 26. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the optically readable carrier is substantially rectangular. 27. An optically readable carrier according to claim 26, wherein the carrier is approximately 1.2 mm thick, 85.6 mm long and 54 mm wide. 28. An optically readable carrier according to claim 26, wherein the optically readable carrier is approximately 1.2 mm thick, 95 mm long and 54 mm wide. 29. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the carrier is a credit or debit card. 30. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 19 to 29, having a clamping region offset from the center of the carrier. 31. An optically readable medium according to any one of claims 19 to 30, comprising a counterweight device. 32. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 31, wherein both sides of the carrier are substantially smooth, without grooves, tabs or the like, except for a spindle opening and a clamping area. 33. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 32, comprising an optically readable region having a first thickness and a smart card region having a second thickness, the smart card region therein or thereon being a contact type smart card chip. 34. An optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 33 adapted to fit in an adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 17. 35. An adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 17, adapted to hold an optically readable carrier according to any one of claims 18 to 33. 36. Data carriers containing:
a body with several adjacent edges;
a first body portion extending inwardly from one of the adjacent edges and having a first thickness;
a second body portion extending inwardly from another of the adjacent edges and having a second thickness different from the first thickness;
a boundary between the first and second regions, the boundary extending between the plurality of adjacent edges;
a first data carrier located within the first or second area; and
a second data carrier located in the other area. 37. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the first data carrier is an optically readable carrier. 38. A data carrier according to claim 37, wherein the optically readable carrier is selected from a group consisting of CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs and optical disks. 39. A data carrier according to claim 37, wherein the body has at least three adjacent edges. 40. A data carrier according to claim 39, wherein the body has rounded corners. 41. A data carrier according to claim 37, wherein the optically readable carrier has opposing surfaces, each of the opposing surfaces being optically readable. 42. A data carrier according to claim 37, wherein the optically readable data carrier has a thickness which complies with standard requirements for optically readable data carriers and varies between 1.1 and 1.5 mm. 43. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the body has a length varying between 85.6 and 95 mm and has an approximate width of 54 mm. 44. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the body and the first data carrier are a one-piece element. 45. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the body and the first data carrier have a layered structure. 46. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the body extends in a plane and has a central axis perpendicular to the plane, the first data carrier having an axis of symmetry parallel to and spaced from the central axis. 47. A data carrier according to claim 46, wherein the body has a counterweight configuration formed to balance the body with respect to the central axis. 48. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the boundary is straight. 49. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the boundary is curved. 50. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the second region is thinner than the first region and has a thickness varying within a range of 0.68 to 0.84 mm. 51. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the second data carrier is non-optical and comprises a smart card element selected from the group consisting of a magnetic stripe and a chip. 52. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the chip has gold contacts for external engagement. 53. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the second region has a receptacle which receives the second data carrier. 54. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the first and second data carriers are adjacent to each other. 55. A data carrier according to claim 36, wherein the first and second data carriers are spaced apart from each other. 56. Smartcard comprising:
a first region and a second region;
an optical data carrier provided on the first region, having a thickness of between 1.1 and 1.5 mm; and
a non-optical data carrier provided on the second region, with a thickness varying between 0.68 and 0.84 mm.