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Positive identification system for authenticating the identity of a card user

  • US 4,226,361 A
  • Filed: 10/27/1978
  • Issued: 10/07/1980
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1978
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A positive identification device for verifying the authenticity of the user of a document coded with visible identification information, where the authorized user of said document has been given a secret code for memorization which corresponds to said visible identification information, said device comprising:

  • a. first entering means comprising at least one user dial for manually entering a user code into said device, said user dial having along its outer edge indicia corresponding to said user code;

    b. second entering means comprising at least one operator dial for manually entering said visible identification information into said device, said operator dial having along its outer edge indicia corresponding to said visible identification information;

    c. an indicator;

    d. a power source;

    e. an electrical circuit having an enabled and disabled state, said electrical circuit comprising a plurality of first switches which are responsive in a predetermined manner to said manually entered user code and which have an on state and an off state, and a plurality of second switches equal in number to said first switches, said second switches each having an on state and an off state, said second switches being responsive in a predetermined manner to said manually entered visible identification information, said first switches and said second switches being respectively wired together so that the state of said electrical circuit becomes enabled only upon the changing of state of said first switches being complementary to the changing of state of said second switches, said electrical circuit being connected with said indicator and said power source, said indicator being responsive to said electrical circuit being enabled, said indicator being activated only if said manually entered user code corresponds to said manually entered visible identification information;

    f. first actuating means for actuating said first switches, said first actuating means being controlled in a predetermined manner by said first entering means, said first actuating means having a plurality of first coupling members equal in number to said first switches, each of said first coupling members being coupled to a respective said first switch, said first actuating means further having a first axle and at least one first cylinder having a circular cavity at each of its ends, each of said first cylinder'"'"'s ends having a rim of narrow width, said first cylinder being rotatably mounted upon said first axle, said first cylinder having upon its surface a plurality of first engaging means for cooperatively engaging with said first coupling members, said first engaging means being arranged in a predetermined manner, said first cylinder being located in close proximity to said first coupling members so that said engaging means can engage said first coupling members, each of said first switches being actuated upon its respective said first coupling members being engaged by said first engaging means, said user dial being rotatably mounted on said first axle, said user dial being secured to said first cylinder, said indicia along the outer edge of said user dial being aligned with said first engaging means in a predetermined manner;

    g. a first stressed torque spring, said first stressed torque spring surrounding said first axle, said first stressed torque spring being connected to and positioned between said user dial and said first cylinder when said user dial and said first cylinder are secured to each other, said first stressed torque spring being compressed and twisted so that it propels said user dial and said first cylinder apart and causes them to rotate in opposite directions upon their ceasing to be secured together, thereby preventing the detection of the predetermined manner in which said indicia along the outer edge of said user dial and said first engaging means were aligned with each other;

    h. at least one first I-beam, the number of said first I-beams greater than one being equal to the number of said first cylinders greater than two, said first I-beam surrounding said first axle, said first I-beam being positioned adjacent said end of said first cylinder opposite said user dial, said first I-beam having spacers of narrow width disposed along its sides and coincident with said rim of said cylinder opposite to said user dial, said spacers being disposed so that said first cylinder and said user dial are compressed together so that they are secured to each other, but would no longer be secured to each other if said first I-beam is displaced a small distance;

    i. second actuating means for actuating said second switches, said second actuating means being controlled in a predetermined manner by said second entering means, said second actuating means having a plurality of second coupling members equal in number to said first switches, each of said second coupling members being coupled to a respective said second switch, said second actuating means further having a second axle and at least one second cylinder having a circular cavity at each of its ends, each of said second cylinder'"'"'s ends having a rim of narrow width, said second cylinder being rotatably mounted upon said second axle, said second cylinder having upon its surface a plurality of second engaging means for cooperatively engaging with said second coupling members, said second engaging means being arranged in a predetermined manner, said second rotating member being located in close proximity to said second coupling members so that said second engaging means can engage said second coupling members, each of said second switches being actuated upon its respective said second coupling member being engaged by said engaging means, said operator dial being rotatably mounted upon said second axle, said operator dial being secured to said second rotating member, said indicia along the outer edge of said operator dial being aligned with said second engaging means in a predetermined manner; and

    j. a second stressed torque spring, said second stressed torque spring surrounding said second axle, said second stressed torque spring being connected to and positioned between said operator dial and said second cylinder when said operator dial and said second cylinder are secured to each other, said second stressed torque spring being compressed and twisted so that it propels said operator dial and said second cylinder apart and causes them to rotate in opposite directions upon their ceasing to be secured together, thereby preventing the detection of the predetermined manner in which said markings and said second engaging means were aligned with each other.

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