Credit card or check validator

• US 4,208,575 A
• Filed: 01/22/1979
• Issued: 06/17/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valmet Incorporated (Metso Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Valmet Incorporated (Metso Corporation)
• Inventors: Haltof, Garry P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US06/005,226
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/379, 235/381, 340/149 A, 340/149 R, 340/152 R
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• 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 7/1058 PIN is checked locally

Abstract

A validator checks the identity of the holder of a credit card or check by comparing a secret code number derived from the holder with a number derived from the serial number of the credit card or check. The basic components of the validator are a keyboard, a scrambler circuit and a comparator circuit. The scrambler circuit is responsive to the keyboard for receiving a serial number or other indicia from the card as punched into the keyboard. Then a key is pressed to signify end of the card indicia and to switch the keyboard output to the comparator circuit. A number offered by the user is punched into the keyboard; and if the number is correct, the comparator circuit is actuated to indicate validity. Such a machine can use any existing credit card, check, or identification card having a serial number; can operate on serial number and letter combinations of any length; and can operate in a way that is undecipherable for practical purposes.

Claims

1. A credit card or check validator comprising:

a. a keyboard;

b. a scrambler circuit responsive to entry via said keyboard of data derived from indicia on said card or check;

c. a comparator circuit responsive to entry via said keyboard of code data derived from the user of said card or check;

d. manually operable means for shifting an output of said keyboard from said scrambler circuit to said comparator circuit at the end of said entry of said data derived from said card or check; and

e. means responsive to actuation of said comparator circuit by input of a correct sequence of said code data for indicating validity of said card or check.

2. The validator of claim 1 wherein said means for shifting said keyboard output comprises switch means and a key on said keyboard for changing the state of said switch means.

3. The validator of claim 2 including reset means for resetting said scrambler circuit and for changing the state of said switch means to direct said output of said keyboard to said scrambler circuit.

4. The validator of claim 3 including manual means for operating said reset means.

5. The validator of claim 3 including automatic means for operating said reset means when said card or check is indicated to be valid.

6. The validator of claim 3 wherein said key for changing the state of said switch means is formed as an "enter code" key, and said reset means is formed as an "enter serial number" key on said keyboard.

7. The validator of claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes two lamps and an audible signal for distinguishing between valid and invalid cards or checks.

8. The validator of claim 1 including means for receiving a credit card;

means for holding said credit card in said receiving means; and

said validity indicating means comprising means for releasing said card from said receiving means.

9. The validator of claim 8 wherein said card-holding means comprises a pawl arranged to allow insertion of said card into said receiving means and to resist withdrawal of said card from said receiving means.

10. The validator of claim 9 including spring means biased by insertion of said card into said receiving means for popping said card up on release of said pawl.

11. The validator of claim 9 including electromagnetic means for actuating said pawl to release said card.

12. The validator of claim 9 including key and lock means for actuating said pawl to release said card.

13. The validator of claim 12 wherein said scrambler circuit includes a plug-in module that is interchangeable to vary the scramble pattern, and wherein said key and lock means retains said module in place.

14. The validator of claim 8 including means for making said card indicia visible when said card is in said receiving means.

15. The validator of claim 1 wherein the keys of said keyboard are arranged to signify numbers and letters of the alphabet.

16. The validator of claim 1 wherein said scrambler circuit has the capacity to receive different lengths of said card or check indicia.

17. The validator of claim 1 wherein said keyboard has 10 keys for alphabet letters and digits from 0 to 9, a key for said output shifting means, and a reset key.

18. The validator of claim 1 including means for displaying said data derived from indicia on said card or check as entered via said keyboard.

19. The validator of claim 18 including means for recording entries made on said keyboard.

20. The validator of claim 1 wherein said scrambler circuit includes a plug-in module that is interchangeable to vary the scramble pattern.

21. The validator of claim 1 including a plurality of said scrambler circuits and a selector switch for connecting one of said plurality of said scrambler circuits with said keyboard.

22. The validator of claim 21 wherein said scrambler circuits are formed as interchangeable plug-in modules.

23. The validator of claim 20 including key and lock means for retaining said module in place.

24. The validator of claim 1 wherein said scrambler circuit comprises a plurality of shift registers coupled to said keyboard in a predetermined, scrambled pattern so each actuation of a key on said keyboard to enter said data derived from said card or check indicia advances one of said shift registers.

25. The validator of claim 24 wherein said shift registers can receive different lengths of said card or check indicia.

26. The validator of claim 25 wherein the keys of said keyboard are arranged to signify numbers and letters of the alphabet.

27. The validator of claim 1 wherein said comparator circuit comprises a plurality of arrays of AND gates having inputs connected in a predetermined, scrambled pattern to said keyboard.

28. The validator of claim 27 wherein said AND gate arrays also have inputs connected in a predetermined, scrambled pattern to outputs of said scrambler circuit.

29. The validator of claim 27 including a control shift register for shifting each successive entry of said code data to successive ones of said AND gate arrays.

30. The validator of claim 29 wherein said validity indicating means includes a release shift register for advancing a step in response to each output from one of said AND gate arrays.

31. The validator of claim 30 wherein said scrambler circuit comprises a plurality of shift registers coupled to said keyboard in a predetermined, scrambled pattern so each actuation of a key on said keyboard to enter said data derived from said card or check indicia advances one of said shift registers, and means for connecting said AND gate arrays to outputs of said shift registers in a predetermined, scrambled pattern.

32. The validator of claim 8 wherein said card-holding means comprises a pawl arranged to allow insertion of said card into said receiving means and to resist withdrawal of said card from said receiving means, the keys of said keyboard are arranged to signify numbers and letters of the alphabet, and said scrambler circuit has the capacity to receive different lengths of said card indicia.

33. The validator of claim 32 including means for making said card indicia visible when said card is in said receiving means, and said keyboard has 10 keys for alphabet letters and digits from 0 to 9, a key for said output shifting means, and a reset key.

34. The validator of claim 33 wherein said keyboard output shifting means comprises switch means operated by said output shifting key, and including reset means for resetting said scrambler circuit and for changing the state of said switch means to direct said output of said keyboard to said scrambler circuit, said reset means being operated by said reset key.

35. The validator of claim 34 including automatic means for operating said reset means when said card is removed from said holding means, electromagnetic means for actuating said pawl to release said card, and key and lock means for actuating said pawl to release said card.

36. The validator of claim 35 wherein said scrambler circuit comprises a plurality of shift registers coupled to said keyboard in a predetermined, scrambled pattern so each actuation of a key on said keyboard to enter said data derived from said card indicia advances one of said shift registers.

37. The validator of claim 36 wherein said comparator circuit comprises a plurality of arrays of AND gates having inputs connected in a predetermined, scrambled pattern to said keyboard and to outputs of said shift registers.

38. The validator of claim 37 including a control shift register for shifting each successive entry of said code data to successive ones of said AND gate arrays, and wherein said card releasing means includes a release shift register for advancing a step in response to each output from one of said AND gate arrays.

39. The validator of claim 38 wherein said automatic means includes switch means engaging said card and operated by removal of said card, said scrambler circuit includes a plug-in module that is interchangeable to vary the scramble pattern, and said key and lock means retains said module in place.