Electronic security card and system for authenticating card ownership

• US 3,934,122 A
• Filed: 08/15/1974
• Issued: 01/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Riccitelli
• Original Assignee: James A. Riccitelli
• Inventors: Riccitelli, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urynowicz, Jr., Stanley M.
• Application Number:
  US05/497,734
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.7 B, 235/61.11 H, 235/61.12 C, 235/61.12 N, 340/149 A
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1025 Identification of user by a PIN code

Abstract

An electronic security card and system for authenticating ownership of the card is disclosed. The system comprises a security card and a terminal. The security card includes logic circuitry which is responsive to a plurality of input signals and which is operative to provide an output signal if the input signals are in a preselected sequence and to develop a feedback control signal which is applied to, and deactivates, the logic circuitry if the input signals are not in the preselected sequence. The terminal comprises a source of input signals, a switching network for selectively interconnecting the source to the logic circuitry so as to apply a sequence of input signals to the logic circuitry when the security card is received by the terminal, and an indicator responsive to the output signal and operative to provide an indication of the authenticity of the user of the security card. The logic circuitry includes a plurality of stages, each of which comprises an AND gate and a flip-flop, and which is arranged so that the signal developed at the output of one of the stages is applied to gate a preceding stage.

Claims

1. A system for authenticating the ownership of an electronic security card comprising:

a security card means including logic circuitry which is responsive to a plurality of input signals and is adapted to provide an output signal when said input signals are in a preselected sequence and to develop a feedback control signal which is applied to and deactivates said logic circuitry when said input signals are not in said preselected sequence; and

terminal means for receiving said security card means, said terminal means including a signal source operative to provide a plurality of input signals, a switch means for selectively interconnecting said signal source means to said logic circuitry so as to apply a sequence of said input signals to said logic circuitry when said security card means is received by said terminal means, and indicating means responsive to said output signal and operative to indicate that said selective interconnection occurs in a predetermined manner.

2. A system for authenticating the ownership of an electronic security card as recited in claim 1 wherein said logic circuitry includes a plurality of stages arranged so that the signal developed at the output of one of said stages is applied to the input of a preceding stage so as to gate said preceding stage.

3. A system for authenticating the ownership of an electronic security card as recited in claim 2 wherein said security card means further includes reset means for initializing each of said stages, and wherein said terminal means includes means for energizing said reset means, and reset indicating means responsive to said reset means to provide an indication when said logic circuitry is initialized.

4. A system for authenticating the ownership of an electronic security card as recited in claim 3 wherein said logic circuitry further includes a plurality of conductors for carrying said input signals, said conductors being connected to said reset means, and wherein said security card means further includes an integral molded structure encapsulating said logic circuitry, said reset means and said conductors, said conductors extending within said structure so as to terminate at one edge thereof.

5. A system for authenticating the ownership of an electronic security card comprising:

a security card including a first stage having a first AND gate with first, second and third input terminals, a first bistable multivibrator serially connected to said first AND gate and having an initially-off output terminal, a second stage having a second AND gate with first, second and third input terminals, a second bistable multivibrator serially connected to said second AND gate and having an initially-on output terminal and an initially-off output terminal, the initially-on terminal being connected to said third input terminal of said first AND gate;

a third stage having a third AND gate with first and second input terminals, and a third bistable multivibrator serially connected to said third AND gate and including an initially-on output terminal and an initially-off output terminal, the initially-on terminal being connected to said third input terminal of said second AND gate;

a fourth stage having an OR gate with a plurality of input terminals, a fourth AND gate serially connected to said OR gate and including a first input terminal, and a fourth bistable multivibrator serially connected to said fourth AND gate and including an initally-on output terminal that is connected to said first input terminals of said first, second, third and fourth AND gates;

a fifth AND gate connected to said initially-off output terminals of said first, second and third multivibrators and including an output terminal;

a first plurality of conductors selectively connected to said second input terminals of said first, second and third AND gates and said plurality of input terminals of said OR gate; and

reset means coupled to said first, second, third and fourth bistable multivibrators for initializing the corresponding output terminals thereof; and

means for receiving said security card and including source means operative to provide a plurality of input signals;

a second plurality of conductors coupled to said source means and arranged to mate with respective ones of said first plurality of conductors of said security card when said security card is received;

switch means for selectively interconnecting said source means and one of said first plurality of conductors of said security card such that a sequence of said input signals is selectively applied to said AND gates, whereby when said sequence is such that input signals are applied consecutively to said first, second and third AND gates then an output signal is developed on said output terminal of said fifth AND gate, and when said input signals are applied in any other sequence or to said fourth stage, then said first, second, third and fourth AND gates are deactivated; and

indicating means responsive to said output signal and operative to indicate when said proper sequence has been applied.

6. An electronic security card for use in a system for authenticating the ownership of said security card which includes a card authenticator for receiving said security card, said authenticator housing an electronic source operative to provide a plurality of input signals, switch means for selectively interconnecting said source to said security card and indicating means responsive to an output signal and operative to indicate when a predetermined interconnection is made, said security card comprising:

a logic circuitry network responsive to a plurality of input signals and operative to provide an output signal when said input signals are in a preselective sequence and to develop a feedback control signal which is applied to and deactivates said logic circuitry network when said input signals are not in said preselected sequence; and

a conductive means for interconnecting said logic circuitry network to said switch means and said indicating means, said logic circuitry network and said conductive means being encapsulated within a card-shaped plastic member.

7. An electronic security card as recited in claim 6 wherein said logic circuitry network includes a plurality of stages arranged so that the signal developed at the output of one of said stages is applied to the input of a preceding stage to gate said preceding stage.

8. An electronic security card as recited in claim 6 wherein said card authenticator includes reset indicating means to provide an indication when said logic circuitry network is initialized, said security card including reset means coupled between said switch means and said reset indicating means for initializing each of said stages.

9. An electronic security card as recited in claim 6 wherein said logic circuitry network includes:

a first stage having a first AND gate with first, second and third input terminals, and a first bistable multivibrator serially connected to said first AND gate and having an initially-off output terminal;

a second stage having a second AND gate with first, second and third input terminals, a second bistable multivibrator serially connected to said second AND gate and having an initially-on output terminal and an initially-off output terminal, the last mentioned initially-on terminal being connected to said third input terminal of said first AND gate;

a third stage having a third AND gate with first and second input terminals, and a third bistable multivibrator serially connected to said third AND gate and including an initially-on output terminal and an initially-off output terminal, the last mentioned initially-on output terminal being connected to said third input terminal of said second AND gate;

a fourth stage having an OR gate with a plurality of input terminals, a fourth AND gate serially connected to said OR gate and including a first input terminal, and a fourth bistable multivibrator serially connected to said fourth AND gate and including an initially-on output terminal that is connected to said first input terminals of said first, second, third and fourth AND gates;

a fifth AND gate connected to said initially-off output terminals of said first, second and third multivibrators and including an output terminal;

said conductive means including a plurality of conductors formed so as to terminate on one edge of said security card and connected to respective second input terminals of said first, second and third AND gates and said plurality of input terminals of said OR gate, and to said output terminal of said fifth AND gate; and

reset means coupled to said first, second, third and fourth bistable multivibrators for initializing the corresponding output terminals thereof whereby when a sequence of said input signals is applied on said conductors to said AND gates such that input signals are applied in order to said first, second and third AND gates, an output signal is developed on said output terminal of said fifth AND gate and when said input signals are applied in any other sequential order or to said fourth stage, said first, second, third and fourth AND gates are deactivated, said conductors applying said output signal to said indicating means to provide an indication when the proper sequence has been applied.