| abstract |
A card has an electronic device, such as an integrated circuit, a conductive, resistive or capacitive network, or other electronic device, embedded therein. The card, sometimes referred to as a “smart card,” has the electronic device mounted to a substrate, generally by electrical connections formed of solder, electrically-conductive adhesive or flexible electrically-conductive adhesive. The substrate is covered by a layer of melt-flowable adhesive of thickness sufficient to cover the electronic device mounted thereon. The substrate is attached to a card blank to which it is bonded by melt flowing the melt-flowable adhesive. In one embodiment, the card blank has a cavity into which the electronic device and substrate are placed. In another embodiment, the substrate is of the same size and shape as is the card blank and the space therebetween is filled with melt flowable adhesive to bond them together and embed the electronic device therebetween. Further, the substrate may have a pattern of conductive adhesive deposited thereon, such as to form a loop antenna, which also serves to form electrical connections to the electronic device. |