Card types

Many cards on the plastic card market do not have typical auto identification features, like a magnetic strip or electronic system. Their main disadvantage is their data saved in a card are difficult to read automatically. A card of this type is in fact a small piece of plastic with a print on it. Similarly to other kinds of cards they are made usually of PCV, PE, PET or ABS, and bear printed data on an issuer or owner with a photo. Usually a batch of identical cards is prepared, which next are individualized (personalized) by applying personal data of a card owner or a successive card number. Sometimes a card bears a bar code. A holographic foil layer, a needle etching or a microprint, can protect an overprint. Also a hologram or a scrape-off foil can be applied. Cards without typical auto-ID elements are usually used as regular's cards, simple ID-cards or ID-cards for simple loyalty bank systems and access control systems (bar codes). On account of the price they are more and more often replaced with cards of other types.

One of a less expensive card type enabling to carry information, which can be read automatically. With regard to the price they are next only to printed bar code cards. Magnetic strip cards serve usually to create systems involving a great number of cards, where the criterion for selection of a card type is its price. A drawback of these cards is it is difficult to protect data they bear. This applies both to reading and modification. For systems using magnetic strip cards all essential information should be contained within computer systems and a card itself should be only a carrier of the ID-number. Contemporary HICO (high coercivity) cards, as being more difficult to demagnetise, are most commonly used. A card is characterized by its high coercivity of the magnetic strip (2700 to 4000 oersted) and data are entered into three paths: the firsts path can take 76 alphanumeric characters, the second one 37 numeric characters and the third one 105 alphanumeric characters. Still, some older types of cards the so-called LOCO (low coercivity) cards occur on the market. These cards have also three data saving paths, however, a low coercivity (300 - 400 oersted) makes them easy to demagnetise. Magnetic strip cards are predominant in loyalty and pay systems.

Cards called often "chip cards" or "smart cards". They can be recognized by their characteristic electric contacts immersed in plastic. Directly under these there is an electronic system, a "brain" of the card. Electronic contact cards can be divided into two main groups: memory cards (containing mainly the EPROM memory to save data) and processor cards (which in fact are a self-dependent computer with its own microprocessor, RAM, ROM, EPROM and a card operation system). The contents of such a card are managed by a microprocessor operated by an operation system and executing a programme saved in the memory. Depending on the type and price electronic contact cards differ in their memory size and the saved data protection level. These cards can be only a data carrier or they can process data, which are fully protected against unauthorized access. Contact cards are more and more often used for loyalty systems, information protection systems and electronic signature systems.

They look like ordinary plastic cards, however, inside its plastic there is an immersed electronic system and an aerial. Providing most of the advantages of contact cards they are devoid of the most serious defect of an electronic contact cards i.e. a fast wear of the contact when used often. Electronic proximity cards communicate with a reader in a contact less way and are power supplied by the induction. Cards are fully waterproof, and their life averages several years. Depending on the model they can be a simple carrier of an ID-number or can communicate with a reader via both sides. In case of a two-side communication a reader can modify data stored in a card e.g. by deduction of points entered at issuing a prize in a loyalty competition. Cards have a protocol for communication with a reader, anti-collision protections and are protected against transmission tapping.

As simple to use and durable they are very popular. These cards are irreplaceable for access control systems and work time recording systems. More and more used for other systems like loyalty systems. The proximity system was officially approved by MENIS as an additional system on blanks of Electronic Student IDs (ELS).

Plastic cards bearing at least two information carriers. Most common info carriers: electronic contact system, electronic proximity system, magnetic strip or bar code. A hybrid card is e.g. a card with a contact system and a magnetic strip or a card with a magnetic strip and a printed on it bar code. Other kind of hybrid cards used often is a card with two different electronic systems: a contact and a proximity system. Reasons for introducing hybrid card are various, most common is when a system must be extended when a facility operates a great number of readers other than the one to be introduced. With hybrid cards it not necessary to use two cards or to replace all previous readers with new ones, which is expensive. A typical example of a hybrid card is a blank of electronic students ID (ELS). A card bears an electronic contact system and an electronic proximity system for additional applications.

Dual cards are often confused with hybrid cards containing two electronic systems (contact and proximity). The difference is these hybrid cards contain two separate (different) electronic systems (info carriers), where a dual card (dual interface) comprises only one electronic system connected via two interfaces, a contact and a proximity interface.

The advantage of this card type is proximity card readers and less expensive contact card readers can be used.

A token is an info carrier integrated inside a key pendant or a plastic watchstrap. Inside there is an aerial and an electronic system identical as that of a proximity card. The only difference is the casing. In some cases, e.g. for a swimming pool systems a standard card is more conveniently replaced with a "hand watch". There are many card alternatives on the market. ID-systems can be integrated within key pendants, rings and "watches". The look of ID elements is only up to designer's imagination and depends as well on the price of a casing. With tokens we have to take into account a slight decrease in the distance from which a reader can read this information carrier, which drawback is related to a smaller aerial in a token than in a card.

2008-07-01