ELECTRIC CREDIT CARD SYSTEM FOR USE WITH CASH REGISTER

• US 3,749,887 A
• Filed: 02/24/1971
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Giuliani
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Giuliani
• Inventors: Giuliani, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/118,329
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149A 235/61.7B
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

The invention is a system and method for checking and certifying personal credit cards etc. automatically at a central station by electrical means. Such electrical means is capable of transforming a message or a series of messages from a credit card or the like at a remote switching unit, and then transmitting the message to a central station where data is electrically stored as in a computer means. At the central station the message is automatically answered and the information is electrically, and automatically sent to the switching unit within a matter of seconds.

Claims

1. A card controlled system comprising a register having a plurality of selectable changeable indexes, each index having a first communication means, a first plurality of spaced pairs of sensors positioned adjacent the first communication means, whereby the indexes severally align selected first communication means adjacent the first sensors, a card receiver having a cardreceiving opening and an array of second pairs of sensors positioned in the opening for receiving a card with second communication means adjacent selected pairs of sensors, power means connected to one sensor in each pair of sensors for supplying power thereto, and means operatively connected to the other sensor in each pair for converting information from the sensors into sequential data, transfer means for transferring the sequential data, remote means for sensing the data, comparing means connected to the remote means for sensing the data with stored information, response means connected to the comparing means and to the transfer means for transferring response, reception means connected to the transfer means and to the register for receiving the response, and disclosure means connected to the reception means for disclosing the response.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the register comprises cash register means for computing total amounts from several price inputs thereto, and wherein the indexes comprise indicator means for displaying input prices and totals, indicators having the first communication means directly mounted thereon for placing the indicator-mounted first communication means adjacent the first sensor means as the indicators are displayed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the register comprises a cash register, and wherein the changeable indexes comprise a plurality of severally changeable visual indicators, having numbers thereon representing dollars and cents, wherein the indicators have communicatioN means, and wherein the first plurality of sensors pairs are mounted on a bar extending transversely across the indicators, and further comprising a totalling bar connected to means for starting operation of the sequencing means.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the register comprises a receipt-printing cash register having a printer means controlled by the index means, and totalling means in the register, feed means connected to the printer means for feeding receipts to the printing means, and wherein the disclosure means comprises stamping means connected to the printer means for stamping response indications on receipts.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second pairs of sensors comprise conductors, and further comprising a card positioned in the opening, the card having a unique array of conductive spots overlying the conductors.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising means for pressing the card and its conductive spots on the conductors.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising multiple card receivers, each having a separate card-receiving opening and each having an independent array of spaced pairs of sensors connected to an accumulator and to a sequential switching means, whereby multiple identities of register address, storage address and customer identification may be sensed and sequentially transmitted.

8. A card in the system of claim 1 comprising a rigid planar electrical insulator block having a plurality of electrical conductor spots positioned on a surface thereof at selected predetermined points of intersections of a reproducible geometric array of imaginary lines on the surface of the card.

10. Sensor means in the system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of chamber means, one for each pair of sensors, comprising insulator cylinders extending downward from the upper face and terminating in lower ends, springs positioned within the cylinders and opposite apertures in the cylinder walls above the springs, and wherein the sensors comprise semicylindrical conductors deposited in opposite sides of the cylinders and insulated from each other and from the springs and having rounded outer faces, and wires connected to the conductors and extending outward through the apertures.

11. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the register means includes a cash register which has a plurality of shiftable wheels which displays the total amount of sales, each wheel having numerical digits, each digit having one or more conductor spots approximate thereto, each digit is recognized by the number of conductor spots, and transfer means comprising a bar with a plurality of paired sensor pegs which are bridged electrically and thus circuit means is closed and causes electrical bits which identify that particular number or digit.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the transfer means comprises means for transferring sequential data in short fixed length sequence of electric pulses, whereby multiplexing is facilitated.

13. A card controlled system comprising a card receiver having plural card-receiving openings and plural arrays of pairs of sensors positioned in the openings for receiving plural cards adjacent the arrays with positionally unique communication means on the card adjacent selected pairs of sensors for simultaneously sensing communication means on the plural cards, power means connected to one sensor in each pair of sensors for supplying power thereto, and means operatively connected to the other sensor in each pair for converting information from the sensors into sequential data, transfer means for transferring the data, remote means for sensing the data, comparing means connected to the remote means for comparing the data with stored information, response means connected to the comparing means and to the transfer means for transferring response, reception means mounted adjacent the card receiver and connected to the transfer means for receiving the response, and disclosure means connected to the reception means for disclosing the response.

19. A card receiver in the system of claim 1 comprising, a box having an open face, dividing means dividing a plurality of card-receiving openings in the face, an array of spaced pairs of sensors in each opening, each sensor comprising an exposed electrical contact closely spaced from its paired sensor by an electrical insulator and spaced from other sensors by electrical insulation means, a source of electrical power connected to one sensor in each pair, and a sequencing means connected to the other sensor in each pair.