Flexible chip card with display

Claim 1

A chip card for providing portable storage of information, the chip card comprising: a flexible body; at least one semiconductor chip supported within the flexible body and comprising a memory for storing the information; a display element capable of displaying at least a portion of the information stored in the semiconductor chip, the display element being supported within the flexible body and comprising display areas viewable from at least one side of the chip card; circuitry for controlling the display element; the chip card and display element each being capable of undergoing flexing of the type and magnitude experienced during normal use, handling, and storage (e.g., storage in a pocket, wallet, or purse) without permanent damage and without permanent loss of the displayed information; the display element being capable of being flexed, without permanent damage, into the shape of the chip card supporting the display element when the card undergoes the following bending steps: (1) with the contacts facing up, bending the long side of the chip card through a deflection of 1 cm at a rate of 30 bendings per minute, for a total of 250 bendings; (2) with the contacts facing down, bending the long side of the chip card through a deflection of 1 cm at a rate of 30 bendings per minute, for a total of 250 bendings; (3) with the contacts facing up, bending the short side of the chip card through a deflection of 0.5 cm at a rate of 30 bendings per minute, for a total of 250 bendings; (4) with the contacts facing down, bending the short side of the chip card through a deflection of 0.5 cm at a rate of 30 bendings per minute, for a total of 250 bendings; (5) placing the chip card in a machine that applies torsion to its short sides, the maximum displacement being 5 degrees (plus or minus 1 degree) in alternative directions at a rate of 30 torsions per minute for a total of 1,000 torsions.