Switching between internal and external antennas

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for switching between internal and external antennas. In some implementations, a system includes an antenna, a connector, and a housing. The antenna is configured to communicate wirelessly transactions with transaction terminals. The connector is connected to the antenna and configured to connect a transaction card to the antenna in response to at least insertion in the housing. The housing enclosing at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the connector and including one or more elements that form an opening for receiving the transaction card. In addition, the housing is substantially rectangular and includes a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness different from the first thickness and at least the thickness of the transaction card.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a bottom element including a first portion that forms a cavity for receiving an antenna and a second portion that receives connector;   selectively positioning the antenna in the cavity formed by the first portion;   selectively position the connector in the second portion;   electrically connecting the antenna and the connector;   selectively positioning a top element to overlap the bottom element, the overlapped top element and the bottom element form an opening configured to receive a transaction device configured to wirelessly execute transactions; and   affixing the top element to the bottom element to form a card element that connects the antenna, using the connector, to the transaction device during insertion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the transaction device in the card element to form a card system to connect the transaction device to the antenna for personalization using a current personalization system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the transaction device in the card element to form a card system and connect the transaction device to the smart-card contact pad for personalization using a current personalization system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further personalizing the card system independent of modifying operating aspects of the current personalization system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the personalization comprises at least one of electric personalization, magnetic personalization, or graphical personalization. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the electric personalization further comprising personalizing a secure element in the transaction device to encode transaction application, security information and user data, the user data comprising at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising personalizing a magnetic strip on the card element with user data including at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date, the user data in the magnetic strip matches the user data encoded in the transaction card. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising graphically personalizing by marking or embossing the card element with identification data comprising at least a serial number, an account number, a name, and an expiration date, the identification data matches the user data encoded in the transaction card 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a bottom element that receives a connector;   identifying a top element that contain a cavity to receive the smart card contact pad   selectively positioning the smart card contact pad in the cavity in the top element;   selectively position the connector in the bottom element;   electrically connecting the smart card contact pad and the connector;   selectively positioning the top element to overlap the bottom element, the overlapped top element and the bottom element to form an opening configured to receive an SD card; and   affixing the top element to the bottom element to form a card element that connects an inserted SD card to the smart card contact pad using the connector.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising inserting a transaction card in the card element to form a card system and connect the transaction card to the smart-card contact pad for personalization using a current personalization system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further personalizing the card system independent of modifying operating aspects of the current personalization system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the personalization comprises at least one of electric personalization, magnetic personalization, or graphical personalization. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the electric personalization further comprising personalizing a secure element in the transaction card to encode transaction application, security information and user data, the user data comprising at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising personalizing a magnetic strip on the card element with user data including at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date, the user data in the magnetic strip matches the user data encoded in the transaction card. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising graphically personalizing by marking or embossing the card element with identification data comprising at least a serial number, an account number, a name, and an expiration date, the identification data matches the user data encoded in the transaction card. 
     
     
         16 . A method for personalizing, comprising:
 identifying a transaction card comprising:
 a substantially-rectangular housing enclosing at least a portion of an antenna and at least a portion of a connector and forming an opening for receiving a transaction device configured to wirelessly execute transactions within a first range; 
 the connector connected to the antenna and configured to connect the transaction device to the antenna when inserted into the opening formed by the housing; 
 the antenna configured to enable the transaction card during insertion to wirelessly execute transactions within a second range larger than the first range; and 
 a magnetic strip adjacent a surface of the housing and encoding information for executing contact transactions with transaction terminals; 
   personalizing the magnetic strip on the transaction card with user data including at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising graphically personalizing by marking or embossing the transaction card with identification data comprising at least a serial number, an account number, a name, and an expiration date. 
     
     
         18 . A method for personalizing a transaction system, comprising:
 identifying a transaction system comprising:
 a transaction device configured to wirelessly execute transactions inserted into a transaction card; and 
 the transaction card comprising:
 a substantially-rectangular housing enclosing at least a portion of an antenna and at least a portion of a connector and forming an opening for receiving a transaction device configured to wirelessly execute transactions within a first range; 
 the connector connected to the antenna and configured to connect the transaction device to the antenna when inserted into the opening formed by the housing; 
 the antenna configured to enable the transaction card during insertion to wirelessly execute transactions within a second range larger than the first range; and 
 a magnetic strip adjacent a surface of the housing and encoding information for executing contact transactions with transaction terminals; and 
 
   personalizing the magnetic strip on the transaction card with user data including at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , personalizing a secure element in the transaction device to encode transaction application, security information and user data, the user data comprising at least an account number, a name, and an expiration date.