IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 3,806,704 A
• Filed: 08/02/1971
• Issued: 04/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Shinal
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Shinal
• Inventors: Shinal, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sloyan, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US05/168,265
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.7B,61.11A,61.11D,61.11E,61.11R 178/18,19,20 340/347AD,146.3SY,146.3K,149A 73/432 194/4R
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/247 electronically, e.g. by comparing signal of hand-writing with a reference signal from the pass

Abstract

This invention comprises a system for identifying persons by means of checks, badges, tokens, or the like. The system includes apparatus for analyzing the signature of the person to be identified to determine certain characteristics which can be digitally expressed; an encoder for encoding the digital information representing the signature; a card embosser for recording that digital encoding onto a check, token, badge, or the like; said token etc., which remains in the possession of the person to be identified; and apparatus for providing a check station at each location where the person is to be identified. The check station includes a surface upon which the person'"'"''"'"'s signature is written, an encoding system, and a comparator for comparing the signature information recorded on the card, token, badge or the like and that produced at the station. The system can also be used to determine the authenticity of the badge, token, card or the like.

Claims

1. Apparatus for verifying the combination of a record member and the person presenting it, said apparatus comprising:

a. a surface on which a person may write using an ordinary writing instrument such as a pen or pencil;

b. first means for deriving a first digital signal representative of the physical displacements of a writing instrument in the plane of the writing as a person initially writes a repeatable combination of characters;

c. means for applying indicia representative of said first digital signal to said record member;

d. means for generating an analog signal representative of the physical displacements of said writing instrument in the plane of the surface as a person subsequently writes the same combination of characters;

e. first means for deriving from said analog signal a second digital signal representing the number of changes in the direction of said writing instrument;

f. means for reading said indicia from said record number and for reconverting it into said first digital signal; and

g. means for comparing said first and second digital signals whereby verification may be had upon their correspondence.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for deriving a second digital signal comprises means for generating a pulse for each change in direction of said instrument.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said means for generating comprises a circuit formed of a sheet of material having a prescribed electrical resistance, an electrically conductive element situated beneath said sheet and separated therefrom, and means for applying an electrical potential between said element and said sheet so that the resistance in the circuit varies as the movements in the plane of said member of said instrument forces different portions of said sheet in contact with said element.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 further comprising a base and means for supporting said surface upon said base, said support means comprising said generating means and including at least one strain gage, and means for applying a source of electrical energy to said strain gage so that as said instrument traverses said surface the strain gage changes the amount of current flowing from said source.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said generating means includes a piezoelectric element, and means for attaching said piezoelectric element to said surface so that as said surface is traversed by said instrument the piezoelectric element is deflected to generate an electrical voltage.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said reading means includes means for sensing raised portions of said token and means for generating an electrical pulse for each raised portion sensed, and means for guiding said token past said sensing means.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said reading means includes means for sensing sharp changes in radiant energy from said token.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 2 further including recording means, means for supporting a record acceptor adjacent to said recording means, and means for connecting said recording means to said comparator so that the contents of said comparator may be recorded upon said record acceptor.

9. Apparatus for verifying a writing In realtime, said apparatus comprising a flat surface adapted to be written upon with an ordinary writing instrument, said apparatus including:

a. means for generating first digital data representative of the changes in the direction of movement of a writing instrument when a person initially writes a selected expression. b. means for applying said first digital data to a token to be recorded thereon, c. means for generating an electrical waveform which represents changes in the direction of movement of said instrument in the plane of said surface when said person subsequently writes said selected expression, d. means in said apparatus for converting said waveform into a train of electrical pulses, e. means for reading from said token said first digital data and for converting said digital data into a second train of pulses, and f. comparator means for comparing said trains of pulses for correspondence.