SYSTEM FOR VERIFYING AUTHORIZED USE OF A CREDIT CARD OR THE LIKE

• US 3,691,350 A
• Filed: 07/21/1970
• Issued: 09/12/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Nathans, 36 Stag Dr., Roger J. Kuhns, Tower Rd.
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Nathans, 36 Stag Dr., Roger J. Kuhns, Tower Rd.
• Inventors: Roger J. Kuhns, Tower Rd., Robert L. Nathans, 36 Stag Dr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maynard R. Wilbur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robert M. Kilgore
• Application Number:
  US05/056,771
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.11E,61.11D,61.11R,61.12R,61.12N,61.7B 340/149A,146.3RR 200/46 250/219I
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1066 PIN data being compared to data on card

Abstract

A system is disclosed for machine scanning a first and second set of identification indicia recorded upon a credit card or the like wherein said first set of identification indicia is visible to the human eye and a second set of identification indicia is invisible to the human eye. Circuitry is provided for comparing the visible and invisible sets of identification indicia to determine whether or not they correspond, lack of correspondence thereof indicating the possible presence of a counterfeited card. Further circuitry is provided for having a bank teller, for example, manually insert the card holder'"'"''"'"'s identification number, which is orally transmitted to the teller by the card holder, into the system whereby the manually inserted identification number is compared with the machine scanned coding associated with the card. If all three codes correspond, it is extremely unlikely that unauthorized use of the credit card is occurring or that coded indicia has been misread by the scanner.

Claims

1. A system for reading a first coded set of coded identification indicia visible to the human eye associated with a credit card or the like and for reading a second set of identification indicia which is invisible to the human eye and which is associated with a credit card or the like and for varifying authorized use thereof comprising:

means for scanning said first and second coded sets of identification indicia with a spot of light;

a transducer positioned adjacent said credit card or the like for converting light intensity emanating from said card as said coded sets of identification indicia are scanned into signals corresponding to said light intensity;

a three-level discriminator coupled to said transducer for producing a first electrical signal when said spot of light is congruent with an opaque bit upon said credit card or the like, for producing a second electrical signal when said spot of light is congruent with a non-opaque bit and for producing a third electrical signal when said spot of light is congruent with a bit position which fluoresces in response to being struck by said spot of light;

first storage means coupled to said three-level discriminator for storing said first coded set of identification indicia read off of said credit card or the like;

second storage means coupled to said three-level discriminator for storing said second coded set of identification indicia associated with said credit card or the like; and

first comparator means coupled to said first and second storage means for indicating whether or not the coded sets of identification indicia stored within said first and second storage means correspond with each other.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for scanning comprises a flying-spot scanner including a cathode-ray tube having a face plate which emits visible and ultraviolet radiation upon being bombarded with electrons focused upon said screen by said cathode ray tube.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 further including insertion means for manually inserting a third coded set of identification indicia obtained from the holder of said credit card or the like into said system;

third storage means coupled to said insertion means for storing said third coded set of identification indicia therein;

second comparator means coupled to at least one of said first and second storage means and to said third storage means for indicating whether or not said third coded set of identification indicia corresponds to at least one of said first or second sets of identification indicia read off of said credit card or the like by said scanning means.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 further including a recording device, and means coupled to at least one of said first, second and third storage means for transferring the contents therein into said recorder only if the third set of identification indicia inserted into said system by said insertion means corresponds to at least one of said first or said second sets of identification indicia.

5. A system for reading a first coded set of coded identification indicia visible to the human eye associated with a credit card or the like and for reading a second set of identification indicia which is invisible to the human eye and which is associated with a credit card or the like and for varifying authorized use thereof comprising:

means for scanning said first and second coded sets of identification indicia with a spot of light;

a transducer positioned adjacent said credit card or the like for converting light intensity emanating from said card as said coded sets of identification indicia are scanned into signals corresponding to said light intensity;

a three-level discriminator coupled to said transducer for producing a first electrical signal when said spot of light is congruent with an opaque bit upon said cRedit card or the like, for producing a second electrical signal when said spot of light is congruent with a non-opaque bit and for producing a third electrical signal when said spot of light is congruent with a bit position which fluoresces in response to being struck by said spot of light; and

first comparator means coupled to said discriminator for indicating whether or not both coded sets of identification indicia correspond with one another.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for scanning comprises a flying-spot scanner including a cathode-ray tube having a face plate which emits visible and ultraviolet radiation upon being bombarded with electrons focused upon said screen by said cathode-ray tube.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5 further including insertion means for manually inserting a third coded set of identification indicia obtained from the holder of said credit card or the like into said system;

second comparator means for indicating whether or not said third coded set of identification indicia corresponds to at least one of said first or second sets of identification indicia read off of said credit card or the like by said scanning means.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 further including a recording device and means for inserting said first, second or third coded sets of identification indicia into said recorder only if the third set of identification indicia inserted into said system by said insertion means corresponds to at least one of said first or said second sets of identification indicia.

9. A system for reading a first coded set of coded identification indicia visible to the human eye associated with a credit card or the like, and for reading a second coded set of identification indicia which is invisible to the human eye and which is associated with a credit card or the like, and for verifying authorized use thereof comprising:

a. means for illuminating said first and second sets of coded identification indicia with light;

b. means for reading said first and second coded sets of identification indicia, including transducer means for converting light intensity emanating from said card as said coded sets of indicia are read into signals corresponding to said light intensity;

c. a three-level discriminator means coupled to said transducer means for producing a first electrical signal when an opaque bit upon said credit card is being read, for producing a second electrical signal when a non-opaque bit upon said credit card is being read, and for producing a third electrical signal when a bit upon said credit card is being read which fluoresces in response to being struck by said light;

d. first storage means coupled to said three-level discriminator for storing said first coded set of identification indicia read off of said credit card;

e. second storage means coupled to said three-level discriminator for storing said second coded set of identification indicia read off of said credit card; and

f. comparator means coupled to said first and second storage means for indicating whether or not the coded sets of identification indicia stored within said first and second storage means correspond with each other.