A contactless payment device and method transmits a sequence of magnetic-field pulses directly to two or three magnetic-stripe read heads of a point-of-sale terminal. The baud rate at which the data is transmitted is modulated so that track data for one read head channel will be ignored by another read head channel, based on the change to the baud rate and/or the rate of change in the baud rate to improve acceptance of the transmitted pulses received by the read heads of the point-of-sale terminal.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relates to a payment card, and more specifically to a payment card with obfuscated personal identification information and a method of generating the same. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a substrate, one or more sets of personal identification information, and a masking layer. The substrate is formed from a water-insoluble material. The one or more sets of personal identification information is formed on the substrate. The masking layer is selectively positioned on the substrate to obscure at least one set of personal identification information. The masking layer is formed from a water-soluble material.

A credit card with an obscurable account identifier. The credit card further comprises a substrate defining a first surface with a chromogenic feature wherein the chromogenic feature is capable of changing from a first state and a second state based on an activating trigger. In the first state, the chromogenic feature appears with a first optical property that obscures the account identifier, and in the second state, the chromogenic feature appears with a second optical property that reveals the account identifier.

The present invention relates to a multilayer data carrier (40) having an areal see-through window (42), having an opaque core layer (20) that is provided in a sub-region with an areal gap (22) to form the see-through window (42), and two cover foils (24, 26) that are transparent at least in the region of the see-through window (42) and that are laminated onto opposing sides of the opaque core layer (20). Here, according to the present invention, it is provided that the two cover foils (24, 26) are joined with each other across the entire area of the see-through window (42) and that the cover foils (24, 26) that are joined with each other are provided in the see-through window (42) with an embossed relief pattern (44), the embossed relief pattern (44) producing in the see-through window (42) a latent image that, due to light diffraction, comes into view when looked through.

A transaction card construction and a method for making transaction cards provides increased security for transaction card magnetic strips. The transaction card construction includes a card inlay and a clear card body. The card inlay is formed via a lamination press process with the magnetic strip attached to a back surface of the card inlay. The card body may have a window through which a data storage element may be exposed for accessing, such as by a magnetic stripe reader or EMV chip reader. The card body may be formed by adhering the card inlay to the clear card body.

Transaction cards having a security cover to selectively obscure transaction information and related methods are disclosed. A transaction card may include a card body having a first layer and a second layer secured to each other, and a cover portion pivotably movable relative to the second layer about a cover rotation axis coplanar with the first layer via a hinge portion, wherein, when in an obfuscation orientation, the cover portion is coplanar with the first layer such that one or more elements of transaction information is obfuscated when viewing the transaction card.

A modular transaction card assembly includes a card frame having the traditional dimensions of a credit card, and a transaction card that is smaller than a traditional card and that fits into a receptacle of the card frame. The card frame may include a window in which contact pads of the transaction card are positioned and flush with the surface of the card frame when the transaction card is secured in the receptacle. The card frame and transaction card assembled together may form a uniform assembly that appears and functions as a traditional transaction card (e.g., credit card).

Various electronic credentials comprising signal activation are disclosed. An electronic credential core comprises a controller configured to maintain an off-state until activated by a received signal during a personalization process. The electronic credential core further comprises an antenna configured to receive a first signal. The energy in the first signal is harvested by a signal interface. The signal interface generates a second signal using the harvested energy of the first signal. The second signal is provided to the controller. The controller transitions to an active state and continuously performs one or more functions until an onboard battery is depleted. By maintaining an off-state until personalization, the electronic credential can be stored without draining power from the battery, extending the shelf life of the electronic credential.

Metal transaction cards with removable indicia are provided. In some approaches, a transaction card may include a metal body having a first main side and a second main side, and an identification chip coupled to the first main side of the metal body. The transaction card may further include an exterior layer along the second main side, the exterior layer containing identifying indicia, wherein at least a portion of the exterior layer is removable from the second main side by at least one of: a set of perforations through the exterior layer, and a channel provided along an outer edge of the second main side.

A modular transaction card assembly includes a card frame having the traditional dimensions of a credit card, and a transaction card that is smaller than a traditional card and that fits into a receptacle of the card frame. Each of the card frame and the transaction card may be capable of performing contactless data transactions individually. In some instances, the combined assembly of the card frame with the transaction card may detect a proximity of a mobile device to the assembly and generate an authentication credential that is unique to the combination of the card frame, the transaction card, and the mobile device. The authentication credential may be used to authentic the transaction card when conducting a data transaction.